I just received an email from DJ Peter Van Zeijl that music from my CD "I'm Taking My Time" is on the playlist for Folk en Zo (www.folkenzo.net). Broadcasted every Wednesday evening from 8 until 10 (local time Holland) on Dollard Radio (www.dollardradio.nl) 105.8 FM coming from Winschoten, the Netherlands!
Yes, I am very pleased and honored that my humble efforts are being played overseas... and (full disclosure) I was also approached via email by old acquaintances from South Africa to ask me to send music to them in other parts of the world. So, I hear that "I" am being played in Hobart, Tasmania; Durban, South Africa... and a couple of other countries as well.
As I mentioned, I am truly chuffed (i.e. pleased) that this is happening, for many reasons other than having my ego stroked... and that my music is being re-discovered by old and new acquaintances.
These days, as one of the multitudes of DIY musicians, I have "invested" a ton of my own meagre financial resources into making my own CD. We do this for many reasons: but in my case, and I am certain I am not alone here, this latest and only solo CD was made because if I did not do it, I might never have the opportunity again, so I "did it myself" after much toil, sweat, and self-examination.
But, can I get it played locally? (Other than on WICN, Worcester, Massachusetts... Thank you, Nick Noble!) I don't really know. Maybe, and I am almost positive about this: it may be because I recorded parts of it at home, and the fancy bits in a local well-equipped studio, pulling in the help and talent of musicians I know and have played with for years, I also produced it myself. Maybe that was a mistake. One can hardly expect to be that self-critical, or can one? Next time, I will hire a producer, if I can afford one.
In retrospect, I am sure I could have sung a lot better, and perhaps not approached some of the vocals like an actor might (and besides,I was 66 years old at the time I completed the recording sessions, and no, I can no longer sing like John Denver or other wonderful vocalists... maybe I should have tried. Aaaah, ain't hindsight wonderful?)
So, I join many of my local compatriot musos here in the greater Boston area, who have their own CDs to flog, in wishing that our local 24-7 folk station would play our music... but then, I don't expect they will... what the hey, I 'll just keep on mailing out my CD to radio stations in other parts of the country and the world at large... perhaps I will hear about more airplay, perhaps not, but like a lot of others, there are boxes and boxes of "product" down in mine and their basements, keeping our homes from flying away in a high wind. Who said music isn't useful?
Heck, why not just navigate over to my music page, and listen to my stuff there. (Although: it would sound a lot better on the CD, on your own player... really!)