JPF Home Page Forums Welcome: We're All In This Together

Hi Folks,

This is a message board to support our new JPF Networking initiative. At this time only moderators can add new posts, but please feel free to respond to any appropriate post you see. Here's the info on the program which was titled "Brian's Big Idea" in the February 2009 Just Plain Notes Newsletter. I've included the "My Take" essay and the actual "Brian's Big Idea" below:
-------------------------------------------------------
Just Plain Quotes:

"There are some things you can't share without ending up liking each other." -J. K. Rowling

"Beliefs are what divide people. Doubt unites them." -Peter Ustinov

"Many of us are more capable than some of us... but none of us is as capable as all of us!" -Tom Wilson

"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." -Abraham Lincoln

"We project ourselves on everyone else. We see hate in others because we ourselves hate. We see love in others because we ourselves love. We see talent and potential in others because we believe those qualities are in ourselves. When we see others as a hopeless case, it's because we feel that way about ourselves." -Brian Austin Whitney

My Take:

I love to watch foreign films. It's not about being "artsy" so much as being curious to see what other cultures, languages, ethnicity's and political vantage points do with universal themes of love and hate, friendship and adversaries, mystery and intrigue, humor and sadness and how those storylines filter through a different point of view. What I find more often than not, that no matter where it comes from, those universal human experiences all look and sound pretty much the same in the end. So why is it that when we extract ourselves from that shared storyline we often have very different feelings about those telling the stories? Why is it that we allow our views of people we think we don't know from other places and cultures to be so corrupted?

This thought process was upon me as I watched a really nice little film called "The Band's Visit." It's an Israeli film that tells the story of an Egyptian Police Ceremonial Band who mistakenly travels to the wrong Israeli town on their way to a performance to open an Arab Cultural Center. Almost the entire movie takes place in less than 24 hours and there's not a great deal that actually happens. In fact, it sort of felt like a typical night I might have out on the road when I travel around to visit musicians in their hometowns. But the tiny little uneventful storyline was a beautiful telling of universal themes and feelings and emotions and even how music from a completely different culture (Chet Baker in this case) could bring 2 people together a world away. I don't want to give anymore of the movie away, but as I sat and watched it, it was very clear to me that these two cultures that often divide people even across the oceans of the world, could be so exactly like our own. After years of traveling and staying with strangers I just met, I have seen this first hand. Human beings are far more alike than different no matter what other circumstances are involved.. We love the same, hurt the same, laugh at the same jokes and have many of the same dreams. So why is it that we so commonly view others around the world or even in our own town or family as "us" and "them," where often many of "them" turn out to be the bad guys in our ego centric world?

I think it's because we project ourselves on everyone else. We see hate in others because we ourselves hate. We see love in others because we ourselves love. We see talent and potential in others because we believe those qualities are in ourselves. When we see others as a hopeless case, it's because we feel that way about ourselves. We use easy to see differences, be it race, nationality, religion, political party or financial status as excuses to project the very best and the very worst about ourselves outward and away from us. If only we could stop it right? If only we could rise above it, or at least give others more of a benefit of the doubt. I feel relatively enlightened on this topic, but I still make those same mistakes every day. Does anyone know how to get around it? If you do, how might you share that with the world?

I have my own idea about how to at least bring the musicians of the world a little closer together. If it works, it might lead to something big. If it doesn't, it will lead to a lot of new and interesting friends. That sure sounds like a win-win to me. Check out "Brian's Big Idea" in the first article below if you're interested. And if you aren't, check out that little movie about 2 cultures that aren't supposed to get long very well running into each other in the most simple and human sort of way. Maybe afterwards you'll consider joining us.

For generations we've had to live with the world that our parents handed us. I'd like to think that with the Internet and other modern resources at our disposal, we could do a lot better than we collectively are right now. I'd like to think that as the world grows smaller and more interdependent, we could finally all start to live like we really are all in this together. If Aliens from Outer Space attacked us, we'd do it. Why wait?

Learn, Succeed, Thrive. We're All In This Together!
------------------------------------------------------
Brian's Big Idea:

I have always wanted to do more to bring together our grassroots music community. I do my best to travel as much as possible (we'll be visiting the UK and Ireland this fall) and I've actually met over 25,000 JPF members in their own hometowns over the past 11 years in 48 US States and 16 Countries. But I am only one man with limited resources and only so many hours in a day. So my big idea for today is to try and reach out beyond borders, beyond nationalities, beyond belief systems and connect with more of you in places I haven't and may never actually visit in person. I want to find at least 1 musician in every country around the world that I can extend my hand to, if not in person, at least via technology. I want to do away with the biases and the misunderstandings and the prejudices that all of us have built into our psyches and embrace real people living very similar human lives around the globe. And to do this, I need YOUR help.

My concept is this:

1. I want to connect with 1 USA musician/writer from every USA congressional district. I want this person to be someone that is open and willing to have an ongoing dialog with all their counterparts across our country and eventually around the world. This isn't political or musical per se. It's about music makers using that commonality as an excuse to come together.

2. I want to connect with 1 motivated musician/writer from every country on planet Earth. The short term goal is to open an ongoing dialog to learn more about how you are more similar to the rest of us than different, while still celebrating those unique qualities and characteristics gained from your own local culture and belief systems. In other words, I want to get to know you as a fellow human, and then I want to learn about what makes you and your country unique.

The long term goal would be for that person to help find representation across their own country (it could be political districts, states, provinces or anything else that would help represent all the diversity within and across your country). Because I am limited to English as my only functional language, I'll need to connect with someone who can communicate with me in English.

If we achieve these two goals, I want to parlay this larger widespread and all encompassing group of musicians into a communication and cooperation network that can actually do some good, not only for those of us directly involved, but to those of us we each reach in our own lives. Imagine how much we could do together? Since it's clear our politicians have a limited ability to truly come together, perhaps that notion is better left to the creative community to lead the way. Music and Art is at the root of most cultures.

I realize this is an almost impossibly ambitious idea. But so was creating JPF from scratch and seeing it grow to 52K members around the world with very little resources, and no real standing to start with in the music community.

There's no limit to how many people can participate from a given place as long as we find at least 1 in each location. Though we received Awards entries from 160 countries, I don't currently know many of those folks and have only visited 16 countries to date. We want to find real people who are sincerely motivated to make it happen and who will be open to projecting their own positive attributes on their fellow humans around the globe.

So who is with me?

If it's you, then please email me at jpfolkspro@aol.com with your name and contact info including where you live and if you're in the USA, what Congressional District you live in, and what you can bring to the table in terms of time and help on this project. Place "We're All In This Together (insert state/country)" in the subject.

Let's put JK Rowling's words at the top of this newsletter to the test.. Let's all share in something. We're bound to find we like and understand each other more than we might have expected.

Curmudgeons need not apply.

Hi-
Cori Connors here, from the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains, near the Great Salt Lake in Utah. We have a healthy cluster of performing songwriters here in the Intermountain West. Happy to shake hands with the rest of the world!

Hello Cori & all the rest of you musicians all over the world. I'm not a great messageborder, so I don't know if I've done it right or not. Anyway, my name is Katie McMahon and I used to be the the lead singer in the Riverdance show. Now I live in Minneapolis ad make my Irish trad/classical music. This is a fun and nice idea to connect with all of you.

Hi Cori,
I've been out through the Wasatch. Beautiful country.
Katie--Lead singer for Riverdance!!!Wow!! "I'm" impressed. I never got to see them in person but loved to listen to them.
Though I'm not much musician, I "did" get a three way cut on an Irish album 2 or 3 years ago--John Breen's album. You may not have heard of him but a heckuva' a voice IMO.
I'm of Welsh and some Irish ancestry and write some Irish and Celtic stuff
Welcome to you both
Wy

Cori and Kate,

Welecome to the site. Could you guys post your info on the post we linked you in the newsletter? (It's just below this one on this board). That way we can keep the inductions all together for everyone.

Glad to have you both on the site! If you read through just the folks who have posted already it's very exciting to see the diversity already involved.

I know it can be confusing if you've never been on a message board before. Here's the direct link to the "Say Hello To The World" post.

http://www.jpfolks.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/698637/page/1#Post698637

Brian

Hi Brian

Let me know when you come to the UK. I'll certainly extend my hand to you when you come.
I'm a songwriter only (ie I don't perform) and I would very much like to find someone to perform my songs. Having been writing for over 40 years, I now have quite a backlog!

Mike Grimshaw

just saw this..

hello I m Prayag from India..i m just 18. not so experienced. But i try to get into music as best as i can. English is not my first language. so it's lil difficult for me, but just a lil difficult. i m working on it to break this barrier !

m really glad to join such community. although i dont come here frequently, but yea i do come and contribute as i can !

thanks, regards

Prayag

Prayag,

Nice to see you here. You should post this on the "Say Hello To The World" message just below this one.

Come back more often. We need to hear what's going on in India.

Brian

Shucks. Ah laked hit.
Since I have never tried a sonnet, I don't have room to criticise, but I do have a syllable count comment. Not knowing your location, I will give you a southerners concept. In the south ten is a two syllable word, pronounced teyun. Same with tharee and fower and faeve and siyux and aieet.

Hi Brian,

I live in the north of England and would welcome you if you come up here, offer you hospitality and conversation and anything else you would require ... let us know.

I don't consider myself a typical Englishman nor would I ever presume to speak for the English as a whole, it is a very divided country in many ways but you would be made welcome.

Let us know ... thanks for a great website.

Hey Brian,
Eliot (SideShow) from Oz

Good to be back!

Still writing and playing HEAPS - just gotta get some more gigs!!
I run open mic nights in katoomba, Blue Mtns Australia every Wednesday - ALL welcome!

Hi,
We are the abiogenesis,a rock progressive/fusion band from Nagaland, India . Not satisfied with just playing mainstream music and their hunger to take music to a higher level, the band went further into exploration & experimentation which resulted in a new form of world music which they have named 'Howey' . .They incorporate a part of the past and take it to the future through their music making giving an eclectic and genre-bending sound. They also play a new wind musical instrument made of bamboo invented by a band member Moa. Abiogenesis is the only band in the world that plays Howey & Bamhum. The band's action-packed shows and positive do-or-die attitude are already getting increasing notice around the world, they have performed in 500 plus gigs in India,Thailand and Myanmar.
Discography:
1.. 'Aeon Spell' released through Saregama in June 2007 ,was listed for Nominations in the 50th Grammy Awards.
2. ‘Rustic Relish’ released through their indie label APH Records which was listed for Nominations in the 51st Grammy Awards.
Slice of Heaven is Abiogenesis 3rd album released in July 2010.
Band Members:
Arenla: Vocals / Lead Bamhum. Front lady & co-composer of the band. (Nagaland)
Moa : Guitar/Bamhum/Harmonica and main composer of the band. (Nagaland)
Daniel Engty: Lead guitar/jews harp- Krongchui (Assam)
Larry : Bass. (Meghalaya)
Imli: Drums/Percussions (Nagaland)

Bands website: www.abiogenesis.altpro.net
www.myspace.com/abiogenesis8
www.facebook.com/abiogenesis8
Videoss at: www.youtube.com/abiogenesis88
Photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27758380@N07
http://www.flickr.com/photos/39322443@N05

Slice of Heaven available at:
USA http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/abiogenesis5
USA https://www.createspace.com/1835883
USA http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=8311165
USA http://www.boostindependentmusic.com/artist/Abiogenesis
UK www.equaldreams.com/ed/album.html?album=483680
UK https://www.songstall.com/abiogenesis
Finland http://en.equaldreams.com/abiogenesis
Indian Distributor: UM PRO Records
um.unicornismovement@gmail.com

Cheers!
Moa

Hi Brian. You have a great community here. I'm originally from London UK but now live just a hour outside. I'm thankful to the universe as I do not only write songs but I perform, record and produce my own tracks with my co-writer and have done so for the last 10 years. By the shear amount that we have improved in that time I expect that if not soon then at some point in the near future we will be living the dream. This site has inspired me somewhat recently and now I'm on here pretty much every day, hoping to become a valued member of the boards. I will prove to be a good contact over the coming years and I would always be pleased to talk with you and make connections.

JD

Hi Brian
I'm another guy from the North of England. Your very welcome to call in for an English cup of tea if you are in my area. Suppose I could even manage something stronger too lol

Hi To any and all I may have missed saying hello to. We're trying to decide the next tour in Europe/UK and also the USA. We had considered Croatia, Greece, Turkey, Israel & Egypt but things seem a bit dangerous and unstable for American tourists these days. Same with Spain and Portugal (due to economical issues). Hopefully the danger is exaggerated, but certainly Egypt and Greece are out. Next we considered Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Belgium and Germany. I think we have a large number of members in those countries.

We also may instead do a USA tour instead. Still trying to figure it out. The US dollar makes it tough to leave the USA and even Canada is now too expensive.

That said, I really hope we can start meeting you all face to face via Skype very soon. That's a goal of mine.

Brian

I'LL BE BACK!!!
-The Spaminator

Just WHO IS Spaminator and what's makes him/her/robot think they're the spaminator....Mike I see you edited this hope you spamed it away....

glyn

Hello---I am president of Sunset Island Music , The home of new music and unsigned bands. We promote through our sites, through our radio program, through our TV Show and by sponsoring concerts and charitable events across the US. Please visit us at http://www.sunsetislandmusic.com and friend us at http://www.facebook.com/sunsetislandmusic and follow us at http://www.twitter.com/sunislandmusic