My sister's wedding was on Saturday last weekend.
It was in the Victoria, BC area and was probably the most beautiful day of the year to date. I was delighted when she asked me to play acoustic guitar while the guests were arriving and exiting during the ceremony and to be the MC & DJ during the reception. It was a fabulous day and her & her new husband/my new brother in law looked perfect together.
Now I don't want to get into specifics of the weekend but I'll break it down for you. There was an incident during this wedding day where I felt all the responsibility and weight of our family on my shoulders. I felt like in a few years, as the eldeset in the family, it will become my responsibility to shoulder the burdens of life as time passes. I will be looked to during hard times to be the person that for kind advice for problem solving or for diffusing family arguments/conflicts. I'm lucky to say that I won't be doing it alone. My closest friend is my younger brother and he is a born leader. We will be the people to carry our family when times get tough.
This realization was a culmination of a few events last weekend but what really hit me wasn't just the above. What really hit me is how lucky my parents are to have each other. Through the triumphs, through the failures, through the hardships, through the successes of life & raising a family, they have been there for each other. At my sister's wedding I looked at my new brother in law and knew that that's what he will be for my sister and that's what she will be for him. I looked at my brother who was the preacher at the ceremony and I hoped he would find someone to help carry him. I thought of my life and how badly I need that person with me. Not just during the hard times, but also the good times. When memories are made. Through everything.
I hope you find this person in your life.
I wrote a song a few years ago in Mexico.
That's what these feelings are about.
Have a listen here
Love,
Marty
@martyzylstra
April 29, 2011
April 18, 2011
the Vancouver Sun Run
One of my favourite pastimes is running.
I got into it in about 2003 when I first decided to quit smoking. My theory was that if I quit one addiction I would have to replace it with another addiction.
Up until now, it's held true.
Most people who love to run long distances (5k or greater) will tell you about the natural high you get once you hit the "zone". For me this "zone" is when you are breathing perfectly, your stride is right, and it almost feels like you've left your body. In the past, this only happens to me after 8 kilmeters or greater and only when I'm street/trail running. It's glorious.
Yesterday was the Vancouver Sun Run.
It's a 10k race designed for former/novice/casual runners to get back into shape and to join in the spirit of activity. The Sun Run organizers do an excellent job of making it a fun experience for the 50,000 + people who come out and join in.
I'd run it before twice and the last time I was involved I decided I wasn't interested in running it again because of the congestion and swarms of people. I was too focused on "time".
I changed my mind when I was offered a free entry from my office team and got involved in the community spirit that goes along with this amazing 10 k race.
Yesterday as I was jogging in the crowd I attained a bit of zen. It felt good to experience the race with all of these people. I just kept a steady pace and didn't worry about weaving in and out of the crowd. It was exhilarating.
I've been training on a treadmill and to feel the wind in your face and the sun in your eyes on a beautiful spring day in Vancouver made me feel alive. It made me feel more alive then I've felt in a long long time.
I'm really glad I joined in and I'm really glad daily excercise is part of my life instead of smoking a pack of cigarettes.
I hope you find the joy of running.
Love,
Marty
@martyzylstra
I got into it in about 2003 when I first decided to quit smoking. My theory was that if I quit one addiction I would have to replace it with another addiction.
Up until now, it's held true.
Most people who love to run long distances (5k or greater) will tell you about the natural high you get once you hit the "zone". For me this "zone" is when you are breathing perfectly, your stride is right, and it almost feels like you've left your body. In the past, this only happens to me after 8 kilmeters or greater and only when I'm street/trail running. It's glorious.
Yesterday was the Vancouver Sun Run.
It's a 10k race designed for former/novice/casual runners to get back into shape and to join in the spirit of activity. The Sun Run organizers do an excellent job of making it a fun experience for the 50,000 + people who come out and join in.
I'd run it before twice and the last time I was involved I decided I wasn't interested in running it again because of the congestion and swarms of people. I was too focused on "time".
I changed my mind when I was offered a free entry from my office team and got involved in the community spirit that goes along with this amazing 10 k race.
Yesterday as I was jogging in the crowd I attained a bit of zen. It felt good to experience the race with all of these people. I just kept a steady pace and didn't worry about weaving in and out of the crowd. It was exhilarating.
I've been training on a treadmill and to feel the wind in your face and the sun in your eyes on a beautiful spring day in Vancouver made me feel alive. It made me feel more alive then I've felt in a long long time.
I'm really glad I joined in and I'm really glad daily excercise is part of my life instead of smoking a pack of cigarettes.
I hope you find the joy of running.
Love,
Marty
@martyzylstra
April 14, 2011
Celebrate
I like to look back on old songs and think about what headspace I was in while writing the lyrics.
These lyrics is pretty heavy because it came at a time when my family went through very severe loss and also at a time when there was a lot to celebrate (hence the chorus lyric). It's a very sorrowful song to me and brings back heart ache and pain that I never want to think about. That's the hardest part, right? healing. I hope this song will speak to you too.
Celebrate (Sweetheart)
In the board room I was feeling bored so soon
I wanna save your soul tonight
In the office as I put on my make up
you make me sick I want to wake up
you live a lie
you can't decide
if you're wrong or right
celebrate let's celebrate
forget your pain let's celebrate
for just one day
let's celebrate
In the office I was getting off on us
I can't be taking off I want to fake it
out tonight
In the board I was getting bored so soon I want to wake up
from this nightmare
out tonight
i can't decide
if you're on my side
celebrate let's celebrate
forget your pain let's celebrate
for just one day
let's celebrate
celebrate
--
here's a link to the album
Love,
Marty
@martyzylstra
Sweetheart
@sweetheartband
These lyrics is pretty heavy because it came at a time when my family went through very severe loss and also at a time when there was a lot to celebrate (hence the chorus lyric). It's a very sorrowful song to me and brings back heart ache and pain that I never want to think about. That's the hardest part, right? healing. I hope this song will speak to you too.
Celebrate (Sweetheart)
In the board room I was feeling bored so soon
I wanna save your soul tonight
In the office as I put on my make up
you make me sick I want to wake up
you live a lie
you can't decide
if you're wrong or right
celebrate let's celebrate
forget your pain let's celebrate
for just one day
let's celebrate
In the office I was getting off on us
I can't be taking off I want to fake it
out tonight
In the board I was getting bored so soon I want to wake up
from this nightmare
out tonight
i can't decide
if you're on my side
celebrate let's celebrate
forget your pain let's celebrate
for just one day
let's celebrate
celebrate
--
here's a link to the album
Love,
Marty
@martyzylstra
Sweetheart
@sweetheartband
April 12, 2011
Paul Filek
In 2007 I met Paul Filek.
We were both auditioning for a really big singing competition known as Canadian Idol (yes, I auditioned for Canadian Idol). Why? I thought that this audition would help me grow as a singer and maybe I would learn from the experience. I wrote a blog about it here
Anyway, as I was walking through Metrotown through the waves of people waiting for their chance to audition and I saw this interesting looking guy playing an acoustic guitar and practising. He was a really great singer so I sat down and during a song, I pulled my guitar out and started playing along. We got to talking and had an instant connection.
We shared a similar sense of humour and musical journey and began a friendship that has lasted over 4 years. At the time I was really interested in his career because he seemed to have a drive to suceed more than anyone else I've met in the music industry up until that point. Back then he told me that he was thinking about moving to Vancouver from Kamloops to further his music career and asked if I knew some bars he could bartend in. I offered my suggestions and even sent an email or two to a few people but about a month later around the time he was moving he decided not to work a day job. As we talked about it he said he had some paying gigs and didn't really need the money because he'd kept his costs low by living with family and selling CDs and playing weddings and other engagements for decent cash.
We kept in touch quite a bit over the next couple of years and tried to get together whenever possible and every time we talked he was still not working a day job. He was really busy getting more and more gigs for better and better money. I was shocked. He had sold over 2000 CDs and was still not working a day job.
This guy's drive is phenominal.
He is a great singer and a strong songwriter. He writes about love and partying and things that everyone can relate to. He's not breaking new ground musically but what he is doing is connecting to people all over Western Canada. He now has 3 independant recordings and I've still never seen anyone work as hard as him. This is all without the Vancouver music industry's help.
I love it.
His new song called, "Falling for you", was recently recorded with an awesome producer and friend of mine Jeff Dawson (Daniel Powder, the Dudes, State of Shock) and I think it's his best sounding recording yet.
Download Falling for You on iTunes here
Find out more about Paul here on his website
He has some upcoming shows you should check out if you're in the area:
April 21st: Edmonton at the Rouge Lounge
April 23rd: Calgary at the Uptown Theatre
Love,
Marty Zylstra
@martyzylstra
We were both auditioning for a really big singing competition known as Canadian Idol (yes, I auditioned for Canadian Idol). Why? I thought that this audition would help me grow as a singer and maybe I would learn from the experience. I wrote a blog about it here
Anyway, as I was walking through Metrotown through the waves of people waiting for their chance to audition and I saw this interesting looking guy playing an acoustic guitar and practising. He was a really great singer so I sat down and during a song, I pulled my guitar out and started playing along. We got to talking and had an instant connection.
We shared a similar sense of humour and musical journey and began a friendship that has lasted over 4 years. At the time I was really interested in his career because he seemed to have a drive to suceed more than anyone else I've met in the music industry up until that point. Back then he told me that he was thinking about moving to Vancouver from Kamloops to further his music career and asked if I knew some bars he could bartend in. I offered my suggestions and even sent an email or two to a few people but about a month later around the time he was moving he decided not to work a day job. As we talked about it he said he had some paying gigs and didn't really need the money because he'd kept his costs low by living with family and selling CDs and playing weddings and other engagements for decent cash.
We kept in touch quite a bit over the next couple of years and tried to get together whenever possible and every time we talked he was still not working a day job. He was really busy getting more and more gigs for better and better money. I was shocked. He had sold over 2000 CDs and was still not working a day job.
This guy's drive is phenominal.
He is a great singer and a strong songwriter. He writes about love and partying and things that everyone can relate to. He's not breaking new ground musically but what he is doing is connecting to people all over Western Canada. He now has 3 independant recordings and I've still never seen anyone work as hard as him. This is all without the Vancouver music industry's help.
I love it.
His new song called, "Falling for you", was recently recorded with an awesome producer and friend of mine Jeff Dawson (Daniel Powder, the Dudes, State of Shock) and I think it's his best sounding recording yet.
Download Falling for You on iTunes here
Find out more about Paul here on his website
He has some upcoming shows you should check out if you're in the area:
April 21st: Edmonton at the Rouge Lounge
April 23rd: Calgary at the Uptown Theatre
Love,
Marty Zylstra
@martyzylstra
April 7, 2011
Sweetheart: Local Vancouver Press in the Georgia Straight
So I got a text from my friend Lindsay at Secret Study at lunch today while I was working out.
(I thought I'd throw that in there to show that I keep fit)
She told me to check out page 56 in the Georgia Straight. The "Straight" as they call it here in Vancouver is a free local weekly arts & entertainment magazine. It's a great source for Vancouverites to find out what is going on that week in the city. I literally read it all the time.
Anyway, so I turn to page 56 and this is what I read:
Sweetheart's "Love Disaster" - "In need of a melancholic yet upbeat-breakup song? Look no further than Sweetheart, a group that makes pop music so perfect that we're yearning for a gold-digging girlfriend just so we can dump her with this one playing in the background"
that was a nice review right?
Well the best part is that I didn't send the song in. I didn't phone or email the magazine. In fact, "Love Disaster" isn't even released in any format to the public yet. It will be on our upcoming EP, XOXOX but that isn't out yet. We just got the masters last week.
This tiny little post makes me feel really optimistic about things to come for Sweetheart.
Email us: sweetheartband@gmail.com and I'll send you a pre-release MP3 of Love Disaster.
Love,
Marty
@martyzylstra
(I thought I'd throw that in there to show that I keep fit)
She told me to check out page 56 in the Georgia Straight. The "Straight" as they call it here in Vancouver is a free local weekly arts & entertainment magazine. It's a great source for Vancouverites to find out what is going on that week in the city. I literally read it all the time.
Anyway, so I turn to page 56 and this is what I read:
Sweetheart's "Love Disaster" - "In need of a melancholic yet upbeat-breakup song? Look no further than Sweetheart, a group that makes pop music so perfect that we're yearning for a gold-digging girlfriend just so we can dump her with this one playing in the background"
that was a nice review right?
Well the best part is that I didn't send the song in. I didn't phone or email the magazine. In fact, "Love Disaster" isn't even released in any format to the public yet. It will be on our upcoming EP, XOXOX but that isn't out yet. We just got the masters last week.
This tiny little post makes me feel really optimistic about things to come for Sweetheart.
Email us: sweetheartband@gmail.com and I'll send you a pre-release MP3 of Love Disaster.
Love,
Marty
@martyzylstra
April 6, 2011
Nirvana
On April 5th, 1994 Kurt died.
I will never forget the day I first heard Nirvana. We were just kids on a school trip and someone had a cassette tape of Nevermind. It went into the bus stereo and even at a young age you could taste the excitment in that record from the opening guitars of Smells Like Teen Spirit to the closing of Something's in the Way. A few years later I got my first guitar and learned to play starting with mostly Nirvana songs. It changed my life.
I remember wishing Kurt hadn't died and thinking as a teenager that if I'd only had a chance to meet him that I could save his life and convince him not to give up.
That's the hardest part about this world. It's easier to give up on yourself then it is to continue and follow your dreams. At your lowest moment only you can save yourself. And as you sometimes catch yourself staring into people's eyes on the streets, you don't really know their path. You don't really know what is in their hearts or what kinds of pain they are carrying.
As I grew up and found new music and grew as an artist the feelings from hearing those first chords of Teen Spirit stay with me. I may not have become a songwriter had it not been for that album and that band. The days of Kurt have long since passed but I remember the year before he died from about April '92 to April '93 as being some of the best memories I've ever had. I was young and anything in the world seemed possible. The world was slightly less bright without the music that Nirvana made. I'm sure on December 8th, 1980 many people felt the same way.
But here we are.
There is hope so don't be afraid. And don't give up.
Love,
Marty
@martyzylstra
I will never forget the day I first heard Nirvana. We were just kids on a school trip and someone had a cassette tape of Nevermind. It went into the bus stereo and even at a young age you could taste the excitment in that record from the opening guitars of Smells Like Teen Spirit to the closing of Something's in the Way. A few years later I got my first guitar and learned to play starting with mostly Nirvana songs. It changed my life.
I remember wishing Kurt hadn't died and thinking as a teenager that if I'd only had a chance to meet him that I could save his life and convince him not to give up.
That's the hardest part about this world. It's easier to give up on yourself then it is to continue and follow your dreams. At your lowest moment only you can save yourself. And as you sometimes catch yourself staring into people's eyes on the streets, you don't really know their path. You don't really know what is in their hearts or what kinds of pain they are carrying.
As I grew up and found new music and grew as an artist the feelings from hearing those first chords of Teen Spirit stay with me. I may not have become a songwriter had it not been for that album and that band. The days of Kurt have long since passed but I remember the year before he died from about April '92 to April '93 as being some of the best memories I've ever had. I was young and anything in the world seemed possible. The world was slightly less bright without the music that Nirvana made. I'm sure on December 8th, 1980 many people felt the same way.
But here we are.
There is hope so don't be afraid. And don't give up.
Love,
Marty
@martyzylstra
April 4, 2011
Show Review: Jets Overhead & the Racoons at Venue, April 2nd, 2011
I've known Jets Overhead for almost 16 years.
I was in high school bands in Victoria (area) on Vancouver Island and grew up musically with these wonderful people. I was extremely lucky to play shows and share the stage with the former incarnation of JOH and even played in a band with their star drummer, Luke Renshaw.
My weekend was hectic and I'd been looking forward to the show from the moment I heard about it but as usual I was considering flaking and staying home. I'm glad I didn't. I ran into my friend Rob from Boompa/Secret Study on my way downtown and he generously offered his "plus 1" guest list. I accepted and we had a good chat on the way to the show.
the Racoons:
I was looking forward to the Racoons set almost as much as I was to see JOH and I can say that they are intriguing. They are a trio with 2 guitars/keyboards and a drummer. The vocals are reminicent of current indie but also a late 80's/early 90's vibe similar to Joy Division but with a hint of later Isaac Brock's Modest Mouse. They use dynamics within the songs flawlessly and their use of drums to build the songs was creative and keeps the listener interested. They also used some drum samples and I really liked the sounds that were flowing from the stage. It was different from the usual 4 piece, 2 guitars/bass/drums. I liked the use of backing tracks and drum loops but I felt that there was some authenticity lost within the live show. I would suggest adding a bass player because a great bassist can add to the live sound and may make the band stand out even more. My only other critique would be to improve on stage banter. When there was banter it felt forced and I wasn't sure if they had a CD available or any merch to purchase. Overall they closed the set extremely strong with 2 upbeat dancier numbers that suggested Arcade fire influences and Interpol bleakness. I'd also like to hear the recordings and will review these later on in this blog.
Jets Overhead:
It's been a long journey for Jets Overhead to this night to Vancouver. I felt the band catch hold last year when it seemed you couldn't turn the radio on to any local station without hearing a Jets Overhad song from their last LP "No Nations". I was extremely happen for them and loved to see this well deserving band finally grab hold of long deserved success. Venue is a about a 500 person capacity and to fill this room you really need a strong fan base as Vancouverites are known world wide as not being very supportive to live music. That being said, Vancouver truly delivered on Saturday and the crowd was in a great mood and you could sense the electric energy to hear JOH.
Adam & Antonia are the live focal point of Jets Overhead. They are at the centre of the stage with Piers and Jocelyn flanking them stage right and left. The way their voices fit together feels magical and I noticed right away the timbre in Antonia's voice matches Adam's and compliments perfectly. You can feel the love between them (they are married) and I think the feelings for each other come out strongly in the lyrics and vibe in the band. It's a lovefest. I've been listening to this band's music since day 1 and on this night their set included most of my favourite songs. I won't get into specifics but their live show is still blowing me away. It feels organic and the minimal use of guitars keeps the listeners attention on the lyrics and melodies within the vocals. The drums do not overshadow any of the songs and the songs are usually built with a strong bass line which sometimes is just a single note. It was a beautiful experience to see these old friends again. I hope you will find out more about them and their music will speak to you as much as it has to me in my heart.
I suggest you find out more about Jets Overhead here
Purchase a few songs from the iTunes store here
Love,
Marty
@martyzylstra
I was in high school bands in Victoria (area) on Vancouver Island and grew up musically with these wonderful people. I was extremely lucky to play shows and share the stage with the former incarnation of JOH and even played in a band with their star drummer, Luke Renshaw.
My weekend was hectic and I'd been looking forward to the show from the moment I heard about it but as usual I was considering flaking and staying home. I'm glad I didn't. I ran into my friend Rob from Boompa/Secret Study on my way downtown and he generously offered his "plus 1" guest list. I accepted and we had a good chat on the way to the show.
the Racoons:
I was looking forward to the Racoons set almost as much as I was to see JOH and I can say that they are intriguing. They are a trio with 2 guitars/keyboards and a drummer. The vocals are reminicent of current indie but also a late 80's/early 90's vibe similar to Joy Division but with a hint of later Isaac Brock's Modest Mouse. They use dynamics within the songs flawlessly and their use of drums to build the songs was creative and keeps the listener interested. They also used some drum samples and I really liked the sounds that were flowing from the stage. It was different from the usual 4 piece, 2 guitars/bass/drums. I liked the use of backing tracks and drum loops but I felt that there was some authenticity lost within the live show. I would suggest adding a bass player because a great bassist can add to the live sound and may make the band stand out even more. My only other critique would be to improve on stage banter. When there was banter it felt forced and I wasn't sure if they had a CD available or any merch to purchase. Overall they closed the set extremely strong with 2 upbeat dancier numbers that suggested Arcade fire influences and Interpol bleakness. I'd also like to hear the recordings and will review these later on in this blog.
Jets Overhead:
It's been a long journey for Jets Overhead to this night to Vancouver. I felt the band catch hold last year when it seemed you couldn't turn the radio on to any local station without hearing a Jets Overhad song from their last LP "No Nations". I was extremely happen for them and loved to see this well deserving band finally grab hold of long deserved success. Venue is a about a 500 person capacity and to fill this room you really need a strong fan base as Vancouverites are known world wide as not being very supportive to live music. That being said, Vancouver truly delivered on Saturday and the crowd was in a great mood and you could sense the electric energy to hear JOH.
Adam & Antonia are the live focal point of Jets Overhead. They are at the centre of the stage with Piers and Jocelyn flanking them stage right and left. The way their voices fit together feels magical and I noticed right away the timbre in Antonia's voice matches Adam's and compliments perfectly. You can feel the love between them (they are married) and I think the feelings for each other come out strongly in the lyrics and vibe in the band. It's a lovefest. I've been listening to this band's music since day 1 and on this night their set included most of my favourite songs. I won't get into specifics but their live show is still blowing me away. It feels organic and the minimal use of guitars keeps the listeners attention on the lyrics and melodies within the vocals. The drums do not overshadow any of the songs and the songs are usually built with a strong bass line which sometimes is just a single note. It was a beautiful experience to see these old friends again. I hope you will find out more about them and their music will speak to you as much as it has to me in my heart.
I suggest you find out more about Jets Overhead here
Purchase a few songs from the iTunes store here
Love,
Marty
@martyzylstra
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