PinnedMember-onlyDo shortcuts short circuit your creativity?Some things simply take time. — Creativity is something you need to nuture and develop. What happens when you are constantly outsourcing it? There are now so many tools to aid our creativity that they may be starting to undermine our creative. Oh, that website template again! That stock photo! There are now 2 billion websites in the world, of which 25% are active. …Creativity3 min readCreativity3 min read
PinnedMember-only40,000 Years Developing the Comfort Zone and Now You Want Us to Leave?Don’t get out of your comfort zone, find your true comfort zone. — We’ve all heard it, the only way to succeed in this brutal, modern world is to get out of our comfort zone. And what exactly is the point of that? There appears to be a direct line between exiting the comfort zone and burnout. …Self Improvement3 min readSelf Improvement3 min read
PinnedMember-onlyThe Exactly 7 Step Program™ to Self Awareness.Be you, but be a better you. — Welcome to the Robert Gowty Academy for Fixing Things That Aren’t Broken. I’ve been in discussions with Adjunct Professor, the Celtic Chameleon, and we’ve identified a gaping hole in the marketplace. So, we’re about to launch a pilot program called Self Awareness 101. You’re invited to join the waitlist*. *Given…Humor2 min readHumor2 min read
Published in Rock n’ Heavy·PinnedMember-onlyHaunted by the Inner TurntableMusic cuts a deep groove into the psyche. — Every time I hear Bridge Over Troubled Water I’m transported to a precise place. Standing on a polished wooden floor, a floor I had polished myself, staring at a blank wall. And I’m not just reminded of a place, I’m reminded of my mental state. Drunk. Crying. Alone. Needless to…Rock3 min readRock3 min read
Published in Rock n’ Heavy·17 hours agoMember-onlyPink Floyd: From Stars to Superstars.From prog rock to classic rock. — By the time Pink Floyd recorded Meddle they were already a successful band. Atom Heart Mother was number one in the UK and had made it into the top 10 around the world. Had it been the last record they ever recorded, they would still have made their mark on…Music14 min readMusic14 min read
Published in The Pub·Mar 18Member-onlyEvery Great Unwritten Novel Needs a Soundtrack.I need something to listen to while I’m not writing it. — As you may or may not be aware, I am currently working on my great sci-fi magnum opus. It’s a series in three parts, with each part consisting of a trilogy of three novels. For the mathematically challenged, that’s nine books in total. As you can imagine, it’s going about…Smillew Is Lackadaisical3 min readSmillew Is Lackadaisical3 min read
Published in The Riff·Mar 18Member-onlyThe Roberts: A Super GroupI’ve got a cricket bat in the shed. That’s all you really need to manage a rock band. — As this is my first foray into the world of rock and roll management, it makes sense to go big or go home. What would be the easiest path to success with a cricket bat in hand? A supergroup. The other day, I was practicing my signature, ruminating on…Music5 min readMusic5 min read
Published in Dead or Alive·Mar 18Member-onlyDead or Alive in the Highlands of Tasmania.We were on a road trip from the south, heading over the top, through the highlands to Devonport. It was a beautiful, warm, late autumn day. Skies were clear and a gentle cool breeze blew off the Great Lakes. It would be cold tonight. There were still a few kilometres…Dead Or Alive2 min readDead Or Alive2 min read
Published in Plethora Of Pop·Mar 13Member-onlyThe Rate-A-Record What the Hell is Country Music Anyway Edition?Warning: The Australians are Revolting! — The genesis of this particular Rate-A-Record begin in England with our fine colleague, Alex Markham and the false attribution of the one hit wonder moniker. Whether an artist is truly a one hit wonder has a certain geographic dimension to it. The first artist that came to mind was Marc…Music3 min readMusic3 min read
Mar 12Member-onlyCreativity Starts With Quantity Over Quality.Great ideas rarely arrive fully formed. — Yesterday is one of Paul McCartney’s biggest and most enduring hits. Yet it began life at the breakfast table over a plate of scrambled eggs. Scrambled Eggs. Oh how I love to eat those scrambled eggs. Songwriting is an excellent medium through which to examine the creative process as it…Creativity4 min readCreativity4 min read
