Old dogs definitely learn new tricks

First GarageBand recording... at 59

Yep, that's right: it's never too late. I started having piano lessons when I was 6, decided to learn the guitar in my late teens, created a handful of songs for my kids and wife when I was in my early 40's, then life took over and I only found myself interested on recording (with GarageBand) when I was 59, by November of 2020. Since then, I have learned quite a while about improving my results and have been experimenting with the bass, harmonica, mandolin, ukulele. I hadn't ever played any of them before, it's been fun. And a tambourine, a shaker and an atabaque (a Brazilian little drum). 

Last year I started using Logic Pro as well, I love how Apple devices just work and allow me to create so easily. Free advertising, but I'm really grateful. Other than that, it's an AudioBox USB96, one of the cheapest interfaces available--but it does the job. 

I have never played in front of an audience, except for my first piano teacher's students’ presentation, when my then 4-year-old sister bumped on the piano bench, it fell and made an incredibly loud noise and we were ashamed to death. I don't plan to do it anymore, especially when I'm the one playing all the instruments in my songs.

More about me

Different story? Sure. Uncommon? Maybe.

So, I decided to start home-recording and suddenly I'm hearing Rock music is on the way to its demise. A bunch of comments everywhere that the audience is getting old and dying. Lots of comments everywhere about other kinds of music. But it's what I grew up with and it's what I want to create. So I keep doing it, trying to reach younger fans in the process. Not convinced Rock needs saving though, I just can't believe it. But I'm sure everyone can appreciate good music, no matter their age.

I was born and grew up in Brazil, listening to Bossa Nova, Samba, Brazilian pop music. I was never really connected to them, although they're incredibly rich and can be extraordinarily beautiful. Maybe some of it stick with me. But as a young piano player I was mostly being taught classical music, then I soon wanted to learn the romantic themes of movies, that's when I started playing those songs by ear. Fast forward to my late teens, I got hooked into the Beatles' songs the year Lennon died, thanks to a record my younger sister bought. There was no return. Most of what I heard the rest of my life was their type of music, and Clapton, Traveling Wilburys (and Tom Petty, Roy Orbison, Jeff Lynne, still trying to find time to listen more to Dylan, outside of that band), Supertramp, Rita Lee and others. 

Of course then, English is not my native language. I have an accent. I moved to the US when I was 35, so although I've been here for over 20 years, there's no way to eliminate that. But I have Rock in my veins, somehow. I can easily create a song from nothing. And English is Rock's language.

I woke up with some of my songs in my head, or part of them, as the bass intro from "No Good Dreams". I feel like there's some sort of Magic involved. I love it when I can record in one sitting and right after I create the song, that's when I think I capture that magic better.