Laugh and Shout Part 2: A night of collaboration

So, last night my good friend KJ and I had our show, “Laugh and Shout Part 2.” It was so much fun! Every time I do a show in which I get to just sing and play the piano, I realize how at home I really am on stage. For some reason, being on stage makes me feel so alive. No matter how much I practice, I still always leave room for the unexpected—for those moments when I just feed off the audience and let them help me make magic. Performing for an audience always feels more like a collaboration to me. We all make the show together. It’s an exchange of energy.

But speaking of collaboration, we took it to another level last night. Of course KJ and I collaborated, but I also had the chance to collaborate with some other friends of mine. Marcus the Artyst, surprised the audience by playing from his seat and then walking down the aisle in the middle of a song—he killed it! Two other good friends of mine, Clayton Brooks and Tim Stylez, helped me with my segment “storytime,” as I told the story of my development of a singer with the song “Thank You Lord.”

It’s weird to me how some people get jealous when they see other people doing great things. Some people always look at others as if they have something to “take” from them. I don’t look at things that way. Whenever I see somebody talented, instead of thinking, “Ugh, I have to compete with them,” I think instead, “Wow! How can I work with them?” That’s my approach to this business. I always feel so blessed to have talented friends. Instead of wanting to compete with them, I want to work with them.

I wonder how different the world would be if people thought more about collaboration as opposed to competition.

Check out this "Deluxe" version of "Stay with Me" below! Also, more videos can be seen at www.LumumbaSeegars.com/video



Giants.

I live in New York now. That's all.

See you next week.

P.S. I still love the Houston Texans.

Confidence through Revision

This week I spent a lot of time working on music for a new project of mine. It’s funny because if you would have asked me if I was a songwriter when I first moved to New York, I would not have been able to give a definitive answer. However, the more I just write and listen to other music, the more I feel like a songwriter. I used to be very shy about my music and self-conscious, but now I’m finally getting to the point where I am confident enough in my songwriting to understand that it is always a process.

Not every song I write is great, but I now have the confidence to work through a song and bring it to where I want it to be. I haven’t (as far as I can remember) had a song that I wrote that I didn’t end up editing or revising a good amount. Even when I loved the initial product. So much of my confidence in songwriting is coming from this process of revision – I can continuously improve upon a product that I care about.

I also had the privilege of working with someone this weekend who had a knack for bringing things out of me that I didn’t even think were possible. It’s so funny how we often pigeonhole ourselves to the point that we don’t even think that we can try different styles. Well, I’m in the process of trying new things, and it’s liberating. I love it. I can’t wait to share this new music that I’ve been working on with people!

Peaaaaaaaaaace.



A Gchat Conversation

Gah. Once again, I’m one day late for my “weekly” reflection. As soon as I get internet in that new apartment of mine…I have realized, though, that not having constant access to the internet can be a good thing. Now, when I finally get the internet, I spend more time actually being productive as opposed to having random gchat conversations that usually resemble this one:

Me: So…how’s it going?

Friend: Great. U?

Me: cool. Same.

Friend: Yeah.

Me: So…what are you doing?

Friend: At work. Bored.

Me: Yeah

Friend: So…u?

Me: Looking at some lines. Listening to some music.

Friend: Oh nice, that’s wassup.

Me: Yeah, 2012 is gonna be crazy.

Friend: Yeah. Nice.

Me: Yeah, you check out my website yet?

Friend: Oh yeah, not yet. Will do soon. I’m swamped at work.

Me: Oh no worries. It’s www.LumumbaSeegars.com Check it out.

Friend: Oh thanks.

Me: Yeah, it’s in the email I sent you.

Friend: I know

Me: Oh ok, cool.

Friend: So…any gigs coming up?

Me: Yeah Feb 25^th. Laugh and Shout part 2. It’s going to be crazy.

Friend: Nice nice.

Me: Yeah, 2012 is gonna be crazy.

Friend: Yeah…so…I’m gonna get back to work now.

Me: Okay. Talk to you soon. We should hangout soon

Friend: Oh yea, definitely. Let’s do brunch?

Me: Yeah we should! Let’s play it by ear.

Friend: Sounds good. Peace.

Me: Peace. Oh, btw, did you see my latest blog entry?

Friend: No, not yet. I’ll read it after I check out your website.

Me: Ok cool cool. Ohhh, what about my latest policymic article?

Friend: Naw, I’ll check that out after your blog.

Me: Awesome. We def need to do coffee soon.

Friend: Yeah, we should.

Me: Cool. Let’s play it by ear.

Friend: Great.

Me: Ok, I’ll let you go to your meeting. I need to go work on music.

Friends: I thought you were doing lines?

Me: Meh. I go back and forth.

Friends: Cool. Peace.

Me: Peace.

I bore myself sometimes…

But anyway, congrats to the Giants and the Patriots! I actually rooted for the Raven and 49ers, but I guess you can’t rely on field goal kickers and punt returners for happiness. I’d rather just watch Vernon Davis cry or Barack Obama sing.

Okay, time to go work on lines, write music, or bother somebody on gchat…

Peace.



Happy MLK Day

So, I know I’m one day late for my weekly reflection; however, I don’t have internet at my new place yet, and I was unable to get to a hotspot yesterday. I’m currently on a bolt bus on an impromptu trip to Philadelphia, though, which allowed me to get internet, too! Why this trip? Well, depending on what happens, I’m sure it’ll be cause for future posts (cliffhanger?)…

So, this past week was pretty awesome. The show I participated in on Thursday had some amazing performances. I got a great reception, and people seemed to really appreciate my music. I had such a blast watching the other performers, though. The show started off with an energetic percussion piece, ended with a vivacious African dance piece, and included soulful singing, ballroom dancing, house music, and more in the middle. And to top it off, we raised money and clothing for a great organization called “Do Something.”

Sunday’s performance: oh my gosh. It was the world premiere reading for an opera about Harriet Tubman. Those voices. That composing. I’m just saying. But I can’t really articulate it. But wow. Like for serious. Hey Black folks – we might have another opera to audition for! That reminds me: I really want to see “Porgy and Bess” on Broadway…

But seriously, it’s always great to work with people who are great at what they do. On top of that, when the subject matter is as important as the life of Harriet Tubman, you can’t help but be moved. It was a short, but very fun experience. I hope more people get to hear the music someday.

So…today is the national holiday to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I do hope we all take the time to remember what he, and so many others, fought for. I wanted to do something special with my music in order to commemorate this day, so I teamed up with my buddy Marcus the Artyst to do a short tribute to Dr. King. I sing and he plays the saxophone on “We Shall Overcome.” It can be found here on my website:

www.LumumbaSeegars.com/music

I hope you enjoy it, and please have a great day!