In other internet radio news, I was watching that movie Pirate Radio about the illegal British Rock Radio in the 60′s. Great and funny movie. And then Alex and the awesome guys at London’s Recharged Radio let me know that they are going to put “High Achievers, Part III” into rotation this month. God love the British Radio Pirates! Give those British bastards some love too!

I’m offering up an official, limited edition “I Heart Suffering” Trucker Hat!

All you have to do is:

1. FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER (Skip if you’re already following)
Follow @sm_sparks

2. TWEET THIS TO YOUR FOLLOWERS
Tweet

And you’re entered!

DOUBLE your chance to win by “Liking” us on Facebook:

Like Faith, My Atheist Love

And you can QUADRUPLE YOUR CHANCES by joining the FMAL mailing list below:

Winner will be announced December 15th!

I’ve release a new “single” called Runner. It’s a song I wrote for my wife who took up long distance running a few years ago. Something to keep her motivated while she’s pounding through the long miles. During her last 1/2 marathon, just as she was starting to fade during the last 5k, it came on her playlist and got her through (so she tells me), so maybe it’ll be good luck for you too.

It’s a bit of weird song in that there isn’t a traditional chorus. It’s 5 minutes (or nearly 8 minutes in the Marathon Mix version) of the same 4 cord guitar progression. The drums and ancillary parts give the song dynamics. Normally I wouldn’t subject you to such a repetitive song, but it fits with running, which is entirely repetitious. Somehow it works if you give yourself into it. It seemed to fit with the hypnotic pattern and emotional journey one goes through in doing anything difficult and requiring stamina.

Runner is the first song for a new release I’m working on, tentatively called The Happiness EP – one song for each of my darling family members. I expect it will be done by the summer of 2012.

You can download for free here: http://closertofour.bandcamp.com/album/runner-single

http://insomniaradio.net/2011/09/24/faith-my-atheist-love-sweet-fear/

Rodrigo was nice enough to feature “Sweet Fear” on his program. Anyone who’s a friend of independent music is a friend of mine. Check out Recharge and his various programs.

Cowboy Cantor www.cowboycantor.com
I Land Music www.rechargedradio.com
Insomnia Radio: Portugal http://portugal.insomniaradio.net

ButterfliesRadio.com

rechargedradio.com

insomniaradio.net

PureIndieRock.com

Cowboy Cantor Podcast

 http://aiiradio.net

Last night, on the eve of my birthday, I sat up on out front stoop drinking wine and chatting with Jess. We talked about the times in our lives, the moments, where it could have gone horribly wrong. Her labour with our third child, when the doctor almost sent her home, and then one innocent question later, had her on the operating table and the baby born 9 minutes later. Finding out they both could have died if we’d been sent home. Or the time my oldest son, fell into a large, soapy tub of water when we were at a fair when no one was watching. That few seconds of , ‘where’s toby’ before realized he was drowning.

There are dozen of such moments in my life that could have gone so badly and changed everything. Tt terrifies me when I think of it too much. The what ifs. My life would be complete different if those tragedies had struck. There wouldn’t be songs and optimism. Just regret and pain. Some things you just do not get over.

So today as I’m enjoying being 40, I feel very grateful for what I do have, that bad things did not happen. That I’m here, and Jess is here, and my kids are here, and life is pretty fucking good. That there are songs to make. And I’m not going to think too hard about it. Trust the fates or whatever, that things work out as they should.

–

Hey friends,

“High Achievers” is in the bag and ready to release on September 1st, but I need your help picking the “single”. There’s four three songs that I think are candidates, but I’ve been working on this damn thing for months now, so I have ZERO perspective. Help me pick which song is going to be the signature track that promotes the EP. Vote by posting a comment.

***Sweet Fear*** WINNER

Souvenirs

**Gulls** Runner Up

High Achievers, Part 3

Thanks for listening. Remember, vote by commenting on this post.

You are so awesome!

Shane

I honestly think of myself as a fundamentally positive, happy person but I’m thinking I might be a bit deluded. I’ve got a ton of things to be grateful for – awesome kids, gorgeous wonderful wife, solid business, great people in my life. An idealic little world in Shawnigan Lake. But these demons do persist, at times. And I find stupid things set me off.

It comes out in the songs. It comes out in my moods. It comes out in some unhealthy choices. I find myself casting about for little props to take the edge off. Making songs helps. Maybe it’s turning 40. Maybe it’s just the pre-release angst of making personal songs. Maybe it’s the hangover of several difficult years that has left me half-expecting the next hard thing to happen.