A Change In Listening Habits:

I am well aware that your surrounding environment has an impact on behavior and productivity. For this reason I seized an opportunity to live in “the barn.” Yes, there is a magical spot in Ithaca, NY called “the barn.” I have my drums set up in the main living space, right across from the wood burning stove. There are big windows that reveal the most pleasant view of the surrounding landscape.

Something very interesting has happened to me while living here. I’ll preface it with this: In the barn there is a record player and hundreds of vinyl records on big tall shelves. I have not listened to a single one of them. This may be surprising, given that I am a musician and listening to music is part of my job. I simply have not felt compelled to listen to any records from top to bottom. My listening habits have changed. They have reverted back to when I was much younger, from middle school through high school. I never really listened to a lot of albums in those days. Maybe a handful. I always enjoyed radio so much more, flipping through channels and seeing what was on the air. I like the spontaneity of it. I like not having to decide what I put on. It’s less of a commitment that way. If I don’t like what I’m hearing I press a button and change the station. Listening to the radio taps me into more of a collective consciousness than if I am curating everything I listen to. I do not want to add more decisions to my day. The less decisions I can make the better. I feel great not having to choose what I listen to. On the radio, the disc jockey picks for me.

I have listened to quite a bit of music in my day, and it is easy to pick up on patterns now. I can tell how most songs are going to make me feel after only listening for a few seconds. There are exceptions of course, but the general rule holds up. I feel free now. Free to cycle through the radio stations and see what’s on, whether it’s top 40, college radio, or NPR.

I have had some experience leading my own radio shows throughout college and I kinda miss it. I like talking over the airwaves. Perhaps I will find a way back to it. Fish as an on air personality? I would love it!