Musical alchemy-anarchy in progress …

In many of my songs, I sneak in prose of the masters. A Wayward Waltz is one of those songs. For your Halloween pleasure, here is the song and the original poem by Edgar Allen Poe. 

To One in Paradise Edgar Allan Poe 

THOU wast all that to me, love,
         For which my soul did pine—
     A green isle in the sea, love,
         A fountain and a shrine,
     All wreathed with fairy fruits and flowers,
         And all the flowers were mine.

     Ah, dream too bright to last!
         Ah, starry Hope! that didst arise
     But to be overcast!
         A voice from out the Future cries,
     “On! on!”—but o’er the Past
         (Dim gulf!) my spirit hovering lies
     Mute, motionless, aghast!

     For, alas! alas! with me
         The light of Life is o’er!
         No more—no more—no more—
     (Such language holds the solemn sea
         To the sands upon the shore)
     Shall bloom the thunder-blasted tree,
         Or the stricken eagle soar!

     And all my days are trances,
         And all my nightly dreams
     Are where thy dark eye glances,
         And where thy footstep gleams—
     In what ethereal dances,
         By what eternal streams.

Hey, GreySlade fans! Just wanted to reach out to everyone and give you an update on the coming and goings here at the studio. Having a studio has been a dream of mine since I was in my teens. In the year 2000, that dream became a reality. To quote Willy Wonka, inside my studio all of my dreams become realities, and some of my realities become dreams. It’s been nothing but a magical experience for me. At times it’s been an incredibly fulfilling hobby. Other times it’s been a full-time job that paid the bills. And other times it’s been a nice stream of additional part-time income.

On my personal creative front, I’ve contributed my own art to the community in a myriad of ways. My music has been featured in dance productions, local theater, local radio and television, independent short films, HBO, and several compilations, and it has earned prestigious awards from the surrounding art community. My design work and photography have also earned some awards and have included album covers, art publications, commercial work, and more. Every time anything I create is appreciated, I feel deeply honored.

I’m disappointed to report that the recording part of my studio is currently unavailable with an uncertain future. As much as I love producing and recording, there are things I love even more – much more – and I need to do whatever it takes to maintain those things. Feed those things. Life is short. Scary short. We fight for what we believe in, in the tiny window we have, and vitalize and celebrate the truly worthwhile things.

As I continue on this most honorable quest for which I believe a King Arthur knight would advocate, I plan to keep working on other creative projects. I’m writing a book (memoir) about my adventures from the last 10 years, which will describe with humor and bittersweet regret my successes, failures, trials, tribulations, fun, and follies … My discovery of what is truly important in this life. I hope it will contain a spectacular and happy ending that is visualized but not fulfilled … yet. I write this book not knowing how it will end, which is both exciting and terrifying.

I’m also putting out a small collection of lyrics and photographs. I believe this modest coffee table book will serve as an emotional window into my soul, which not many have had the opportunity to experience. I hope it is embraced.

Even though I won’t be producing music, I’ll still be making and playing music with my new band. We start rehearsing in November. I think this will fun. 

For nearly a quarter of a century, I’ve been producing music and art. It’s been an amazing experience. The recording part has always been the foundation, but it has been me at the center of it all, and I plan to keep moving forward whatever happens. Thank you for reading this newsletter and letting me be a part of this art community for so many years. We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams. -CH

I’m going to repost this. Halloween is creepy – but also fun! (Not down!) So enjoy this creepy at times, but always fun music from GreySlade Music!