Some found words from Ken
The following is a blog story that Ken wrote on October 14, 2008. It was written a few months after he completed the production of his album “From A Distance”. I thought it would be a treat to publish his words and thoughts from that time in this blog. - Tony
KEN TOBIAS - October 14, 2008
I've been feeling the need to write some new songs recently. This usually happens after I've written and produced a new CD project and played a few gigs around the new release. Those songs along with my older hits start to get a little old news for me so I find myself exploring new chord changes or banging out beats on my lap or drums or trying to get my limited keyboard fingers rolling and searching for some new key to the door of my music muse.
I'm always looking for events in the world that hit my creative nerves and observing people in love or lust or conflict. One way I find to write is through reading. I'm reading a book called Pope Joan a novel of historic fiction written by Donna Woolfolk Cross about a controversial subject. Did a women in the 9th century hide her sex and become the head of the catholic church. There is information that seems to support this premise. I've always been interested in this kind of intrigue and this could make for a great story song.
I live in my home town now and it is my base of operation. I've been visiting some of my old haunts where I played before I left to seek my musical fame and fortune. I've been thinking about the musical characters who influenced my growth as a musician here in Saint John. Some real Local Legends like Dutch Mason, Bill Bran, Norm Calp who I worked with on several projects in the early days of my musical career. I remember Pete And The Blue Shadows playing blues and rock n roll or the Rythymares band or Brian "Bongo" Walsh rockin out with his Elvis pompadour or David Kindred's outstanding guitar playing. These guys and some of the local shrines like, Lilly Lake or Belmont we all played in, could make for a great song.
Songwriting is difficult for me at the best of times and I know I'm not alone. The great songwriter Gordon Lightfoot once told me he had some difficulty in writing a new album because he had to face the conflicts in his life. I feel the same way sometimes except it's the lack of conflicts or love relationships that make me sweat blood. My few thoughts on songwriting. {KT}