Musing Around: Silent Voices

As an artist and a creative person, I have always found it part of my task and obligation to find my own voice. What I mean by this is finding out how I truly wish to express myself in my very own individualistic way. As a writer and a vocalist, it is a complete pun... but it's true. I have been writing since I was a very little girl. Exploring my voice and the way I like to communicate my ideas and creativity through stories and literary imagery. It is a very private process, that the end result becomes a song or story or poem or letter to a friend. I release the song or not. I share my poems or not. I may or may not mail that letter. But i still put the work into completing something that I was at least half happy with.

Its not until recently that I feel I have been able to begin executing my ideas clearly and eloquently in my own "voice". Through ridicule and judgement and self judgement, i persevere. Alas, something I can be proud of. This is part of the artistic way I believe.

I wanted to share this because I think that in any aspect of life it becomes a daunting task to maintain integrity and hold true to your own beliefs and your own "voice". I wanted to encourage everyone to push through and keep singing! Loudly!

-naima

"Tabu" Gustavo Cerati Cover Performed by Galaxy Of Tar

Galaxy Of Tar releases its third track from The Covers EP

"Tabu" Originally Written and Recorded by Gustavo Cerati

The Covers EP is a completely FREE Download

Available HERE

Musing Around: A Single Moment

As people, I think we have a tendency towards judging everything that is in front of us. We step into a new situation and immediately begin to form opinions. It occurred to me that maybe if people stopped focusing so much on what is in front of them and more on what is around them, than possibly what is in front of them may become more important and meaningful.

Each moment lasts for an eternity. Each moment has the magnificence of space in its entirety. Each moment has the possibility to be engraved on your memory forever. When I drop my judgement and allow the present to be everything it truly is, rather than what I wish it would or would not be, it becomes all the more beautiful. I can see people as who they truly are. Music becomes wondrous. A smile means all the much more...

Just a thought in passing...

-Naima

Musing Around: Walk the Desert, It Heals the Wounds that Remind Us Of Mortality

I never really understood how small I am compared to everything. All things that occur, occur within my head. I speak and converse with people, I listen and I learn in order to understand different perspectives than my own. But it isn't until those moments of overwhelming omnipresence that I am reminded of how truly minute my life is.

I scaled the canyons, and swam in the monsoon that trapped us there. I walked the desert into towns with no names and nameless faces. All my vanity has evaporated as I knew it would. And now, all I feel is everything.

Life is just an excuse to live... and then we die. Each day, is a gift and every breath of air should be a choice to really live life to its fullest.

-Naima

"Those Shoes" Eagles Cover Performed by Galaxy Of Tar

Galaxy Of Tar releases its second track from 'The Covers EP'

"Those Shoes" Originally Written and Recorded by The Eagles

'The Covers EP' is a completely FREE Download

Available HERE

Musing Around: "The War Of Art"

As an artist and a creative person, I find that sometimes the most difficult thing to do is creating and be artistic. I often wake up wanting to just roll back over in bed and sleep in till say 11 or 12 in the afternoon eventually waking up to shower, eat, call a friend, take a break, nap and later than sooner get around to working on writing music or practicing. Ahhh the life.

Its nice to take in the day sometimes when there's no rush or pressure or schedule, but more often than not, I have a sense of urgency that I am not being productive. Somewhere in the back of my mind I can hear a little voice telling me that I am not living to my truest potential or following my heart the way it deserves. My heart has never led me the wrong way. So even though I may feel relaxed, all in all I'm not enjoying myself completely.

I was given a book for christmas by my awesome sister Ife Mora who is also a vocalist and songwriter. Its called "The War Of Art" by Steven Pressfield. This is great book and was truly inspiring. It gave me a different perspective on the creative process and made me face the honest truth about my procrastination and tendency towards relaxing. One most important impression I got from this book: Work everyday on your craft as if it were a 9-5. Put in the work and the work will eventually prove to be something quite remarkable.

Roll over, pull yourself together and truly work giving it all you got.

Naima

Musing Around: Language Is Dead

I am of course an avid supporter of language and finding beauty there within. I think people have take it so much for granted that, language in a lot of ways has lost its artistry- save the poets and writers and lovers of words. I have seen in movies and read in some of my favorite books that there were times when poets would set up a small stand in the local town square and sell their sonets to the regular people. Where if a boyfriend messed up, he would hire a poet to write an apology letter accompanied by flowers. People once respected the writer enough to invite them into their personal lives.

Well, the love letters and poems have been high jacked by simple one liners "i love you", "i'm sorry" Hallmark paper cards. The art of language in a lot of ways has become lost, dead even.

I believe to the core of my soul that all people deserve to be spoken to with the upmost respect. Words and language is one of the most powerful tools we have as human beings. Most often its not a blow to the face that starts a fight, its the words spoken to provoke it. Lovers begin their relationships with a simple "Hello". I spend my days creating worlds around a simple idea using the art of language to compose it and communicate it.

One the other hand, I am a musician as well. And while I do believe in the gravity of the spoken language, I also believe that there is an instinctual wordless communication between people and animals alike that is based more upon feeling and expression.

I create everyday not just for myself, but to share my creative expression with other people. To share what I can not share in words through music or art or photography. When someone writes back that they like a song or that they hate it, I know my message has been understood.

-Naima