SOMEDAY by Matthew James Swegsda

Blip fans, it has been a while but that's not always a bad thing is it? When your favorite tv prog finishes it is sad but it makes the return so much better.

So think of this like season 2.

I did it... I moved to Glasgow with a friend, found a flat that is perfectly situated and a job that seems to fit just like Michael Jacskon's glove did his crotch grabbin hand. Let us have it popeye... "Poifik!". Amen my spinach loving friend.

As you know I was living in Cyprus for nearly 2 years and when there I met a Cypriot producer who asked me to audition my vocals for a track that was on his new album. It was recently released on all major online platforms to buy. Itunes etc. It is featured on an album of various artists written and produced by Cypriot Producer/writer Kostas Petropoulos and the album name is 'CRY OF THE RED PISCES' which is his 5th album and the track name is 'SOMEDAY'. This was my debut into the music industry and I found it pretty weird to be able to listen to myself on spotify and buy my own song from itunes on my iphone. I made a promotional video myself that you can check out on the link below and was approached by up-coming music video producer 'Fenella Blue Lawrence' who is now currently shooting my 1st official music video and that will be launched in November.

SOMEDAY SONG LINK

KEITH LEMON: "So what's the message?"

The song tells of how we all wait for that something, that someone, that "someday". But did we ever wonder what if that "someday" never comes... then what? When I 1st read the lyrics I felt as though I could have written this song so rather than go with my 1st thought to say no to Kostas, I decided to step out my comfort zone and go with it. I seemed to connect with the song but I was also against it in some respects. I found myself pondering about my "someday". Maybe we are just too blind to see that we already have our "someday" and we continue to chase things instead of just being. My "someday" is now!

KEITH LEMON: "So what's the message?" ;)

In amongst what was a stressful period of looking for a flat and attending some rather unpleasant job interviews I managed to stumble across a competition called OPEN MIC UK. It's kind of like UK live and unsigned for singer writers and solo artists. Up until then I had wanted to stay clear of X-factor and BGT style things but this seemed more underground and said they were looking for original acts who could release an album and tour it if crowned winner. I was moving to Glasgow to gain experience performing, using a mic, town the stage and work a crowd and I had never had any industry standard critique before so I signed up for the audition and went to the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow early September. So my 1st performance in Glasgow just days before I moved there was the biggest of my life and I got through! "Ya wee dancer ye!" The feedback was that I had a great energy, my original song 'Imagination Heaven' was good and I had a great image. I was happy with that and started preparing for the regional final showcase again at the royal concert hall and for this i had to do a mash up of an original song with an original styled cover of a modern song. I did the most recent song I wrote called OUTER SPACE which was written just 5 weeks before the regional finals mashed up with a dark swig styled version of Tulisa's Young.

Song link coming soon for that.

KEITH LEMON: "So what's the message?"

Keith, it's simple. We all need a break from the people we love and we escape to these places and sometimes lose track of the things that mean the most to us. We dont always get it perfect but if a trip to outer space is just what you need to touch down to reality then get your moon boots looked out and board the ship. As we get older we may not agree with some of the missions we boldly went on when we were young. All part of the journey ;)


KEITH LEMON: "So what's the message?" ;)

Message aside here's what the judges had to say...
Great guitar style, original song is an instant winner and image was cool. However they said I had huge mic control issues.

I think they got it spot on. It was enough to get me through to 1 of 5 area finals across the UK near leeds on Nov 24th and one of the judges did offer to help me with my mic control so generally I was pleased with my comments but disappointed with my execution and know that I have to step that up to make it to the o2 in London and that is only one performance away. I closed the show and had the largest support from any other regional final across the UK which earned me some studio time in what they boasted as the biggest and best studio in Glasgow so 1st official ep coming soon...

I am currently heading out to open Mic venues, I have arranged an open door practice session in my home town soon to gain vital experience and feedback in a venue similar in size to the venue I will be heading to next and I have 2 professional singers helping me with my mic control. My living room now looks like an open mic! The bedroom busker is stepping out the bedroom! Next step is City busking so looking forward to that too.

I've met many buskers recently in my time as a fundraiser for Shelter Scotland. It seems to be a perfect job for me right now. I travel around Scotland meeting new people and it is the ultimate confidence builder and I love it. I want to tell you about my favorite experience as a fundraiser so far and about one of the most interesting people I have met along my journey. Here's what I posted on facebook the very same day soon after the experience:

"Went for a wee overnight stay at dumfries to get my fundraise on and it was class. Had a surreal and exceptional experience today signing up a woman who was given an M.B.E. from the queen and she totally blew me away. 1st off she insisted to buy me a coffee and have a seat while we chatted. She was an artist, poet and songwriter so while I gave her my life story and musical journey so far she sketched a picture of me on the back of a postcard and then gave me a poem to read that was named 'The Home Guard' and it was pretty awesome. Needless to say it was the best moment I have ever had as a fundraiser and it's why I love my job. Most engaging conversation I have had in a long time. It began with a kind gesture and climaxed with me knowing I will defo keep in touch with this incredible woman who was almost 60. Looks are deceiving. This woman experienced sleeping rough in Glasgow in her past and her unique take on life was truly inspiring. These are the people we have forgotten about and these are the people who have cracked true happiness. For every sad part of a story there is always a silver lining. If people can get through hardships and continue to do what they love, share it with complete strangers and be happy then we need more of that in our lives. Wouldn't trade what happened today for a lottery ticket. Society tells us who have made it in life and I think they got it wrong to a degree. She left with a parting shot that 50/50 is the right balance and money makes the world go round so do what you have to do that allows you to do what you can do. Slightly crazy or incredibly perceptive... I think the latter for these unbelievably interesting people that seem to pop up every now and then at EXACTLY (as time westwood says) the right moments. I believe some people are just too blind to see the possibility that is in the mirror regardless of what surrounds them. I work with a guy who handed a stranger on the street 100quid a few weeks ago to help him out on pure trust and belief the guy would use it wisely. Some unbelievable folk out there! I challenge everyone of you to make a complete stranger smile tomorrow and I guarantee it will feel great."

This comment along with one of my soundcloud tracks will be featured on the Shelter official website soon that gets over 1million hits per year. Just seems to be all happening at once and it's crazy!

One word for that experience in Dumfries... MAGIC!

And on that note, I was recently included in a virtual book party after being approached by Goodreads author Kate Policani to use one of my soundcloud tracks as the soundtrack for her her virtual book video trailer. The title was 'Don't judge a book by it's MAGIC'.

Last couple of months has seen my life transform yet again and the journey is heating up fast. The future is unpredictable and it is scary to a degree but also extremely exciting. This is only the start. This is where the real hard work begins for me. This is what I have been building towards and this is what makes sense. 2012 was and still is my year to show how creative I am along with the rest of Scotland and I thank Blipphoto and the Seeus campaign for giving me the opportunity to share my creativity with the world. 2013 is the year that I will transform that creativity into a finished project. My aim is to release my debut album through a record label and then tour it. Plans can change but something's are set in stone... I am expression, I am inspiration and I am patiently waiting for the right platform to touch the hearts and minds of many.

"When you need it, ask for it. When you are waiting for it, have faith. When you have it, respect it and share it" - Matthew James Swegsda (Matt James a.k.a. Swiggy).

Swig out ;)