tag:charluxx.com,2005:/blogs/news
News
2020-01-03T21:04:57-05:00
Charluxx
false
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/6059477
2020-01-03T21:04:57-05:00
2020-01-04T09:55:50-05:00
A Social Media Experiment
<p><strong>An unspoken modern addiction </strong></p>
<p>Hi! It’s Charluxx. </p>
<p>I conducted a <strong>social media experiment</strong> over the last few weeks. The results are not encouraging. But they are very revealing. </p>
<p>I come from a marketing background in the sense that I’ve work in that field for quite a few years. So I believe I have a good understanding of what it implies and the underlying mechanics at work. </p>
<p>In November, the editor-in-chief of the <strong>Journal Le Tour</strong> (a bilingual regional quarterly that has a readership of approximately 10,000 in print plus their website and social media outlets) suggested we do a <a contents="Charluxx&nbsp;interview" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://journalletour.com/charluxx/" target="_blank"><strong>Charluxx </strong></a><strong><a contents="interview" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://journalletour.com/charluxx/" target="_blank">interview</a></strong> for the winter edition. </p>
<p>I decided to compose, record and offer <a contents="a free song" data-link-label="letour" data-link-type="page" href="https://charluxx.com/letour" target="_blank"><strong>a free song</strong></a>. First, for the readers, but I would expand the reach in a second stage on social medias. </p>
<p>The reason behind this was thus: I have been fairly active in the last year on social medias promoting my music and therefore my “brand.” A few weekly blogs (that I’m struggling to support for lack of time) and social commentary posts that are in line with my message. A lot of people close to me (colleges and friends) and some family members have expressed interest in my music. They wanted to know more and hear more. <em>Or so they said. </em>Months of work on a groovy website, a launch on social media. The reaction: crickets... complete utter and deafening silence from my friends and family. I’ve launched four singles and five instrumental versions. Songs sale: two. Literally two. We are talking about 1$ for a song here. Spotify on the other hand has at least 75,000 streams. So I thought, hmmm if 1$ is too much to ask for,<em> I’ll offer a free song and see what happens!</em> </p>
<p>So, on November 25th 2019, the paper comes out. November 26th, I posted a link to the interview on social medias. I reposted it on December 16th 2019. I—very conservatively—figured that probably 10% of the paper’s audience would read the article, so that puts it at around more or less 1,500 people. I then extrapolated that 10% of those would grab the free song, so around 150 downloads. On my social medias and website I have a few thousand followers, so add a few more right? <em>Wrong.</em> Three downloads, count them: <strong>three</strong>. That includes friends, acquaintances, and more importantly, family. </p>
<p>For the sake of clarity: it is not that people did not like the song (I’m okay with that, my music might not be everyone’s cup of tea, tastes are such) no, they did not even <em>listen</em> to the song. My website keeps track. </p>
<p>And so, on to phase two: advertising. I had a 10$ voucher from Facebook. The cool thing about Facebook ads is that they also appear on Instagram therefore you get twice the reach (puzzlingly, the opposite is not true.) I created a cute and colourful advert with an obvious copyright infringement (I used the Road Runner©) that reads “Free <em><redacted></em><redacted>Bird Seeds<em></redacted></em></redacted> Song.” The ad went live on December 29th 2019. I stopped it today on January 3rd 2020.So far, it has reached 28,500 people on Facebook with 7000 “post engagement” (whatever that means) 530 “likes” and apparently 135 “clicks” (a number my website does not corroborate, at all: the page has had 42 visits from December 26th to January 3rd.) On Instagram, a further 6350 “likes.” Song downloads?: <strong>Zero</strong>. Not. A. Single. Download. </p>
<p><strong>What does it all mean? </strong></p>
<p>Well, I’ve been studying social medias ebbs and flows for the past few years. It has lead me to somewhat an alarming conclusion. This study confirms it rather drastically. </p>
<p>Social medias have shortened people’s already minuscule attention span. I’m not talking about kids here. I’m talking about everyone, whatever your age may be. Actually, YOU are the exception as you are reading this. You are engaged. And for that I thank you. </p>
<p>I’ll grant you, we are over solicited. But the problem therein does not lie No. We crave more, constantly looking for and needing the next “shiny.” We see something of interest? We click “like” then we move to the next item on the list. We do this for hours. We rarely leave comments, if at all. Why stop? The temptation to go on is too strong, the <strong>addiction</strong> too great. </p>
<p>It is an addiction: what’s next? What else? We want, we NEED more. Until no more... to be continued tomorrow, or in a few hours. </p>
<p>We do not engage any longer. Not for friends, nor for family. The second we see it, it’s already gone. Old news. </p>
<p>Viewed in this context, how do you capture people’s attention? </p>
<p><strong>Influencers</strong></p>
<p>They’re the new breed of “celebrities.” Social media “gurus” who do <strong>one thing</strong>, be it play video games, show you how to apply makeup, cook, create playlists, promote a specific brand of alcohol, etc. It’s the new marketing goldmine. One of the last remaining ones. Corporations get behind these people, sponsor them, give them free products, edge them on, their audiences are in the millions and their posts are viewed by billions. </p>
<p>Welcome to the new reality. Magazines are a dying breed, newspaper are becoming extinct, television is hemorrhaging viewers to paid services, radio as well... radio? </p>
<p>Reaching out and touching people, connecting with them, is becoming so very difficult. </p>
<p>The first step to any type of recovery from an addiction is realizing there is a problem. Then, limiting your input and prioritizing quality over quantity.</p>
<p><strong>Connect more and support freely. We all need it. </strong></p>
<p>Surf responsibly, comment often, take your time, follow links that your friends and family share to reach you and engage with you. Dialog. And please SHARE.</p>
<p>Be wise my friends, stay groovy... and comment below, I have yet to receive as single comment! <strong>Ever. </strong></p>
<p>Peace and Love, </p>
<p>Charluxx </p>
<p>The illustration contains elements taken from <a href="%E2%80%9Dhttps://www.vecteezy.com/free-vector/colorful-background%E2%80%9D">Vecteezy</a></p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/6050484
2019-12-29T16:25:54-05:00
2019-12-29T16:26:17-05:00
Free Song!
<p>A little surprise for you!</p>
<p>Put some funk in your holidays with an insightful <strong>Charluxx</strong> interview and a <strong>free song</strong>!</p>
<p>You can read the interview here: <strong><a contents="journalletour.com/charluxx/" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://journalletour.com/charluxx/" target="_blank">https://journalletour.com/charluxx/</a>.</strong></p>
<p>Get your free song <strong><a contents="here" data-link-label="letour" data-link-type="page" href="/letour">here</a> </strong>(<em>only until January 25th 2020!)</em></p>
<p><strong>Happy Funky Holidays!</strong></p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/6049020
2019-12-27T21:30:10-05:00
2019-12-28T10:01:15-05:00
Sense
<p><strong>And why we ignore it. </strong></p>
<p>Hi! It’s Charluxx. </p>
<p>It’s the holidays around much of the planet and a time when we hear stories and songs about Peace on Earth and goodwill to all. I love it. But, looking at the current political “situations” and election “results” of the last few years, a general unease creeps in. </p>
<p>Case in point: I genuinely though British people were smarter than their United States brethren, who somehow thought it was a good idea to elect Donald Trump. But I have serious cause for doubt seeing <em>they</em> thought it was a good idea to elect Boris Johnson, whose name is an anagram for Donal Trump... well it really isn’t, but it might just as well be, they are the same idiot! I have also lost faith in Brazilians since they decided the best course of action was to promote Jair Bolsonaro to president, or the Filipinos for choosing Rodrigo Duterte as their representative! </p>
<p>It makes me wonder... </p>
<p>Why don’t we listen to people that make sense? </p>
<p>Not just a little sense “to seem genuine” but real, unbiased, unfiltered, authentic and common sense. </p>
<p>The reason we listen to people that make no sense at all and outrageously lie is simple: they have better marketing. </p>
<p><strong>Marketing </strong></p>
<p>Think about it. </p>
<p>Rich people got together and figured out that to control a population you have do so through their toughs. First, you put them in their place: you don’t educate them properly, you control the medias, you control the heard (pun intended.) You limit access to basic healthcare. Then, you get them to recite your story. You sell them water. </p>
<p>That’s marketing. </p>
<p>Marketing on a national and global scale requires money. </p>
<p>Why do you think most politicians are old white men? They come from money. </p>
<p>Pretty. Much. All. Of. Them. </p>
<p>Why do you think most corporations are ruled by old white men and women? Again: money. </p>
<p>I’ll say it again: these people comprise 1% of the world’s population, but control most of the money, and therefore have power... They own all the major corporations, they own most of the medias, they get elected. In short, they get to decide and dictate what they want you to know and to believe. So, they control education and communication. That is a very lethal double-edged sword. </p>
<p>You’ve probably noticed that we’re living in a world where reason is a waste of time. Wander not. Your Facebook, Twitter and Instagram posts about how the world really is and should be don’t faze them: they control that too. Sad to say but true. </p>
<p><strong>Keep posting </strong></p>
<p>Ironically—and this is something the powers that be fear—modern day communications and all its social medias is another double-edged sword: it can be used for change, unfortunately for both good and evil. The Rohingya genocide in Myanmar (Burma) was facilitated and abetted by Facebook, but so was the Arab Spring. It is responsible for most of the world’s elections processes being meddled and influenced by Russians, to their geopolitical advantage of course. But it is also bringing awareness, and will hopefully help us tackle some of the biggest challenges we face as a species: human rights violations and genocides, climate change, massive deforestation, the oil, the meat, and the drug industries. </p>
<p>Just be weary that you can easily be controlled. </p>
<p><strong>Use due diligence </strong></p>
<p>These are two of the most important things I learned in University that have served me best throughout the years: </p>
<ol> <li>Don’t believe what you read and hear to be correct: just because you read or heard it somewhere does not make it so. </li> <li>When in doubt (you should always be so) do a quick search on the Internet, double and triple check, consult and verify the source(s)!.. <br> We have the tremendous chance to live in a moment in time when we literally hold humankind’s knowledge in the palm of our hands. I refer to my phone as “The Oracle.” (Did you know more people on this planet own a mobile phone than a toothbrush?) </li>
</ol>
<p>Does this make sense to you? </p>
<p>It should. </p>
<p>Now, tell me, why did you vote for?.. </p>
<p><strong>What to take from this text as a resolution for the coming year(s)? </strong></p>
<p>Again, two things: </p>
<ol> <li>Use social medias to create a network to educate people about changes for good: what we can all do to make the world the better place it should be. </li> <li>Vote. And vote humanely, vote green, it’s the only way the planet will survive: money (currency) will always be, the environment that sustains us will not. </li>
</ol>
<p>Use your holidays dose of goodwill and change the world. YOU can do it. One post at the time. </p>
<p>Peace and Love, </p>
<p>Charluxx.</p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/6046119
2019-12-26T13:59:01-05:00
2019-12-26T13:59:01-05:00
Happy Funky Holidays!
<p>Hi! It's Charluxx.</p>
<p>Wishing you and your families Happy Funky Holidays!!</p>
<p>Peace & Love.</p>
<p>Charluxx</p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/5982092
2019-11-27T13:23:04-05:00
2020-09-20T16:47:11-04:00
Interview with Charluxx
<p>An interview with Charluxx in the Winter edition of the <strong>Le Tour</strong> paper.</p>
<p><strong><a contents="https://journalletour.com/charluxx/" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://journalletour.com/charluxx/" target="_blank">journalletour.com/charluxx/</a></strong></p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/5954766
2019-11-08T22:00:50-05:00
2019-11-24T15:10:41-05:00
Feeling Music
<p><strong>It fills you up.</strong></p>
<p>Hi! It’s Charluxx. </p>
<p>On a grey day, while crossing a waterway this summer, I was reminded how much a ferry’s foghorn is felt as much as it is heard. </p>
<p>I’ve been thinking a lot about this these past few days: How you can feel music, even if you cannot hear it. </p>
<p>I often wear headphones while mixing—my music is really meant to be heard thus—and it always surprises me that I can still feel the bass all the way down to my core, and even my feet. To the point that I often take them off just to confirm that the sound isn’t also coming through the speakers, or a passing vehicle. </p>
<p>Music heard in clubs, or any loud environment, can truly be felt. Specially the bass and the drum. What we musicians call <em>the bottom end</em>. </p>
<p>I love the recent trend, specially in hip-hop, to bring sign language translators on the stage during live performances for the hearing impaired.</p>
<p><a contents="Signkid" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-england-london-46071832/signkid-the-deaf-hip-hop-artist-who-feels-the-music" target="_blank"><strong>Signkid</strong></a> is a deaf performer, and <strong><a contents="Matt Maxey" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/17/health/turning-points-deafinitely-dope-chance-the-rapper-matt-maxey/index.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=fbCNN&utm_content=2019-03-15T14:33:31&fbclid=IwAR1o8XTqFmv1UBJYqut0XN6lE-eI_TlRlpumg3GMC19SQn9z-2oyA3MLa5c" target="_blank">Matt Maxey</a></strong> is the CEO and founder of <strong>DEAFinitely Dope</strong> interpreting hip-hop music for artists like <strong>Chance the Rapper</strong>, <strong>D.R.A.M.</strong>, <strong>Eminem</strong>, <strong>Snoop Dog</strong>, <strong>Kendrick Lamar</strong>, to name a few. Just watch <a contents="this impressive video" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://time.com/5655889/twista-sign-language-interpreter-amber-galloway-gallego/" target="_blank">this impressive video</a> of sign language interpreter <strong>Amber Galloway Gallego</strong> keeping up with Twistas Raps! </p>
<p>It makes sense (pun intended) to cater to this seldom thought of aspect of music, the part that is felt rather than conventionally heard. </p>
<p>When you’re on the dance floor or at a live show, you can really feel the music, like a ghost, moving through you. </p>
<p>Vibrations travel at different speeds and affect different parts of your body. </p>
<p>I had the opportunity to experience this a few year ago while suffering from a very nasty bout of ear infection. I lost my hearing for a good two weeks. All I could hear were the sounds coming from inside my body. Showering was intense as I could hear distinctly the water hitting my head, I could feel the sounds in my head. </p>
<p>I was able to determine that bottom end sounds, such as the bass, the drum, the cello, are felt in your guts, in the pit of your stomach. </p>
<p>Midrange sounds, like the average human voice, the piano, the violin, can be felt in your chest. </p>
<p>High pitch sounds, like the guitar, the recorder, cymbals, are felt in your head, between your ears. </p>
<p>As a musician I try to make sure that my songs target theses specific area. </p>
<p>In the mixing phase in the studio, we make sure that each frequency lives on its own so that it is easily differentiated. That way each instrument and voices occupies their own register so that it lives in its own area of the song, the better to be heard... and felt. </p>
<p>This is important to me because my music is meant to be heard loud and danced to. </p>
<p>Mixing is a dark art of compression and layering frequencies so that it sounds good in every possible situation. It’s always about compromise. </p>
<p>According to a 2017 <a contents="Neilsen report" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.nielsen.com/us/en/insights/article/2017/time-with-tunes-how-technology-is-driving-music-consumption/" target="_blank"><strong>Neilsen report</strong></a>, music is heard on:</p>
<ul> <li>Smartphones (43.5%)</li> <li>Computers and laptops (36.6%)</li> <li>Television (23%)</li> <li>Tablets (20%)</li> <li>Headphones (14.8%)</li> <li>Wireless speakers (12.5%)</li> <li>Radio (8.7%) </li>
</ul>
<p>When you examine this, it means that roughly 92% of music is being listened to on<em> mono sources</em>, not stereo! </p>
<p>This is alarming for musicians! Mono sources are not as efficient in conveying power, and therefore feelings. </p>
<p>This is my humble opinion, but it seems to me that music, like art, architecture, politics, and pretty much everything else these days seems to be regressing. We are in a slow decline... which is ironic considering how important the notion of progress is in most of our societies. </p>
<p><strong>My advice? </strong></p>
<p>Listen to music with (preferably “over the ears”) headphones, on a good pair of speakers, or in a club.</p>
<p>That is where music lives, how it is meant to be heard, how it is meant to be sensed. </p>
<p>Stay groovy my friends! </p>
<p>Peace and Love, </p>
<p>Charluxx.</p>
<p>The illustration contains graphics from <a href="%E2%80%9Dhttps://www.vecteezy.com/%E2%80%9D">Vecteezy</a>.</p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/5939136
2019-10-25T13:49:08-04:00
2019-11-08T22:15:48-05:00
Melodies
<p><strong>Easy Does It.</strong></p>
<p>Hi! It’s Charluxx. </p>
<p>At the local grocery store, in a small seaside village, a white hair man attending the aisle started whistling the melody of a famous children’s television show of old. It stopped me in my track and really touched me. For a few reasons... </p>
<p><em>First: </em>I could feel the little boy in him just at the surface. </p>
<p><em>Second: </em>That melody was still with him, probably 60 years later. </p>
<p><em>Third: </em>We often whistle something that brings us to our inner happy place, for comfort, reassurance, to make ourself feel good, or because we feel good, so it isn't guarded, it is spontaneous and true. Like a cat kneading your chest. It's about security, it feels like home. </p>
<p><em>Lastly: </em>simple melodies are the ones we remember, the ones we sing along, the ones we whistle. Years later.</p>
<p>I have seen and heard so many songs cram too much in or just being too complex for my taste. </p>
<p>You look at their song’s musical structure and it fills the place up, so many layers of sounds that you loose touch with the obvious: the song. Just find a melody and play it. </p>
<p>Good designers know not to be afraid of white space, they embrace it, use it to guide your eye to where the important information is. The same can be said about music: don’t envelop the melody in too much sound, give it space, let it breathe. Dare I say it... let it be. </p>
<p>My mastering engineer often tells me that my songs structures are simple, that the musicality is minimal. Well, most of the time I’ve got a drum, some percussions, a bass, a guitar, at least one keyboard, and my voice on quite a few tracks. I wouldn’t call it minimalistic by any stretch of the imagination. It sounds full and it contributes to the melody. But it isn’t complex. </p>
<p>For me, complexity often thwarts musically. The melody gets lost in the music. Sure it sounds good. But can you whistle it? Can you sing along? </p>
<p>Here’s a simple rule: If you can hum it, you’ve got a tune. It’s the KISS principle. </p>
<p>As a reminder—and a caveat—not all song, not all music, needs to be a tune. I’m just exploring the art of the melody here. </p>
<p>A lot of music is played in chords, or a combination of notes. Personally, I like to play notes. Sure I use chords too, but sparingly. To add texture, rarely to create melodies. </p>
<p>That’s my <strong>James Brown</strong> influence. For him, every instrument was a drum. The percussive sound. For me, as a bass player, every instrument is a bass in that you don’t really play chords on a bass, you play notes. </p>
<p>I do play chords on the guitar though... but everything else is pretty much notes. </p>
<p><strong>Notes = Melodies.</strong></p>
<p>We live in an age that considers simple things to be too basic, to be to... simple, therefore not developed enough. </p>
<p>We value complexity. The problem is, we get lost in complexity way too easily. </p>
<p>I’ve seen this in science, in entertainment, in politics a lot. In general, we look for complex answers to simple problems. </p>
<p>Over complicating is no solution. It often leads down a dead end path. A good trick is to always look for easy answers first, then gradually explore more complex possibilities. </p>
<p>In music that means creating a melody with simple notes. If it sounds too thin, then add chords to support the melody, not the opposite. </p>
<p>There’s a reason simple melodies stay with you. They work. They are effective, and efficient. They remove the superfluous to concentrate on the obvious. </p>
<p><em>Let that be today’s life lesson. </em></p>
<p>I’d love to know: what do <strong>you</strong> whistle when no one is watching, when you don’t think about anything, when you’re just being happy? </p>
<p>Stay groovy my friends! </p>
<p>Peace and Love, </p>
<p>Charluxx.</p>
<p>Illustration: <a href="https://www.vecteezy.com/free-vector/melody">Melody Vectors by Vecteezy</a></p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/5931833
2019-10-18T20:26:19-04:00
2019-10-24T13:00:24-04:00
I’m Back!
<p><strong>I’d like to apologize for being in absentia. </strong></p>
<p>Hi! It’s Charluxx. </p>
<p>Why was I away, where was I? </p>
<p>A few reasons, but no excuse: I left my position as a cook, got a contract that took me away from my computer... but mostly, it was mental exhaustion. </p>
<p>Between the restaurant, making music, the website and the social medias, I was working over 90 hours a week. </p>
<p>Something had to give. I needed the rest. I needed to walk in the forest with my cats. I needed to reflect. </p>
<p>In a way, this also served as a bit of a test... to see who’s out there, who’s following me. </p>
<p>These past few weeks were a chance for me to see what the response to my lacking presence would be. There wasn’t any. Then again, that’s modern “Online” life for you: we are all just fleeting distractions, soon and easily forgotten. </p>
<p>I was disappointed. I must admit that I expected more. I’ve mentioned my health scare of the last few years. I got no concern from any of you. </p>
<p>And I do want more from you people! My Tunisian friends, my Canadian fans, my Indian brethren, Brazilian, U.S., Spanish, French, Polish, Portuguese, German, Dutch, Turkish, Egyptian and British friends. </p>
<p>I’m trying to build a tribe of like minded people that can exchange ideas in a safe environment and even work on solutions to make this world of ours a better place. The place it could and should be. </p>
<p>Music is but one piece of the plan. Bloging and building a community is yet another. </p>
<p>Register your name and add your voice to mine. Let us dialogue, share, learn and take action. </p>
<p>With that in mind, I’m making a few changes to the blogs. Philosophy Fridays and Video Wednesdays stay unchanged, Artist Spotlight switches from weekly to monthly, but is joined in alternance by a new feature: Album of the month. </p>
<p><strong>Taking stock </strong></p>
<p>Let me remind you (and myself!) why I’m doing this... </p>
<p>I create songs to make people feel comfortable. </p>
<p>I create songs for you to have a safe place to be at. </p>
<p>I create songs to titivate you. </p>
<p>I create songs to titillate you. </p>
<p>I create songs to make you think. </p>
<p>I create songs to make you realize. </p>
<p>I create songs to make you move. </p>
<p>I create songs to make you groove. </p>
<p>I create songs to activate you. </p>
<p>I create songs to stimulate you. </p>
<p>I create songs to touch you. </p>
<p>I create songs to bring us together. </p>
<p>I create songs to inspire. </p>
<p>I create songs to sex you up. </p>
<p>I create songs about Love. </p>
<p>I create songs to spread the Love. </p>
<p>I create songs about justice, freedom, and equality for all. </p>
<p>I compose because I can. </p>
<p>I compose because I cannot help myself. </p>
<p>I compose because I Love it. </p>
<p>I sing songs to reach you and bring us closer. </p>
<p>I do this because I want to play a part in making this world a better place. </p>
<p>Join me. </p>
<p><strong>Back on track </strong></p>
<p>I took this time away to prepare blogs in advance. I composed and recorded a lot of music... often two songs a day! </p>
<p>So, I’m back, I feel strong, I feel rested, and I cannot wait to share my creations with you! </p>
<p>Until then, stay groovy my friends. </p>
<p>Peace and Love, </p>
<p>Charluxx.</p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/5883743
2019-09-06T21:15:09-04:00
2019-09-07T06:07:01-04:00
A Man
<p><strong>For the first time in my life, I feel like a man. </strong></p>
<p>Hi! It’s Charluxx. </p>
<p>I’ve finally deserved that moniker. I’ve earned it. </p>
<p>Throughout my life, I’ve wondered, kept asking myself when indeed I would become a man. </p>
<p>But, you see, a man is made. Not bestowed by age. </p>
<p>Although now older, I would say my mental age is late 20s. That’s when I feel I hit my apogee emotional growth wise. </p>
<p>I pursued leisurely instead of financially. But because I pay attention, I’ve managed to live a somewhat glamorous lifestyle. I raced cars. I ride very fast motorcycles. I worked in the tech industry for companies like IBM, Adobe, and Apple. I worked in the newspaper industry. I owned a bookstore when I was 19. I worked as a consultant, as a trainer, as a teacher. I was a chef. I worked as an artist. </p>
<p>I went to University... by force of will, not because of my (inexistent) grades. Chutzpah. Got a degree in Sciences, but I never worked in that field for a day. I just needed to prove to myself that I could do it. That’s all. </p>
<p>I’ve always been interested in a lot of things. Music, first and foremost ...I know a lot about music. Books. Graphic novels. Movies. Video games. Photography. Graphic Design. Nature. Animals. Anthropology. MotoGP. </p>
<p>Curiosity feeds the mind. My definition of intelligence is simple: are you curious?.. do you question everything? If you are and do, that makes you intelligent. But as a caveat, I must say that I’ve learned that in life there are a lot of different types of intelligence... but that is for another Philosophy Fridays ;-) </p>
<p>If you are curious and figure things out, you can do what you want in life. Be what you want to be. If circumstances permit. </p>
<p>Observation opened doors because it allowed me to see patterns: the way things work. And as an Hyper Sensitive Person: to feel them. </p>
<p>But, in my head, after all that learning and all that work... and getting on in age, I still didn’t consider myself a man. </p>
<p>I’ve been told by quite a few people that I was “manly.” But what does that mean? It did not register, for what was staring at me in the mirror but a boy with a head full of wonders and questions. That didn’t seem or feel manly. </p>
<p>I don’t know if it’s because I’ve had to deal with adversity quite a lot, but after my latest brush with death, I learned to just Love, with a capital L. I’ve decided to pursue my destiny and become what I needed to be: a musician. I’ve just left a job I was highly unhappy in. I’m all in. </p>
<p>I’m starting again, once more. I’ve done it all my life. I had thought it would get easier with time. It doesn’t seem that is the case. But there is beauty in that. It keeps you sharp. </p>
<p>So, what makes a man? Why the sudden epiphany that I was one? </p>
<p>I took a step back and searched my soul. </p>
<p>This is what I came up with: </p>
<p>A man will open doors for everyone. A man is a good father, a friend, an ear and a shoulder. A man doesn’t judge, because he understands that everybody has issues—we’re all learning as we go along. A man respects all animals and insects—to be gifted life is amazing, who are we to take it so impudently? A man talks to children from one intelligent being to another. A man is courteous and composed. A man laughs. A man cries. A man knows it is a woman’s right to choose. A man knows a woman is not a “bitch” but an equal. A man respects everybody’s right to be happy and to be who they are and want to be. A man is an intersectional feminism. A man knows that sexuality flows. A man supports those in need. A man helps. A man gives freely. A man is humble. A man knows how to relax and enjoy life’s simple pleasures. A man knows his responsibilities and acts accordingly. A man does not support white supremacy, nor fascism. A man sees a person, not a colour. A man fights for equality. A man has the courage to uphold his convictions. A man measures others by dignity, not by accrued wealth. A man isn’t afraid to ask for help or seek advice. A man doesn’t know everything. A man tries his best. A man is a mensch. </p>
<p>You have to let go of a whole lot of societal barriers to become a man. You have to earn it. </p>
<p>I’m far from perfect, but I strive, and I hold myself to higher standards. </p>
<p>That is what finally made me realize I had obtained this sought after elusive status. </p>
<p>And with that my friends, whoever you are, wherever you may be, I hold you in my heart and I Love you. </p>
<p>Stay groovy! </p>
<p>Peace and Love, </p>
<p>Charluxx.</p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/5868346
2019-08-23T21:59:53-04:00
2019-08-23T23:17:04-04:00
Support
<p><strong>What you can do to support independent musicians </strong></p>
<p>Hi! It’s Charluxx. </p>
<p>I’m not happy to write this week’s blog. </p>
<p>Everything I’m about to tell you falls so squarely into the common sense column that it seems redundant to touch on it. </p>
<p>Unfortunately common sense seems very much on the decline. So much so that people have to be reminded of how, and why, doing the right thing matters. </p>
<p>It doesn’t help that righteous politicians are lying so much and that their lies are getting so reality altering outrageous that we constantly need to re-define and reaffirm what IS real. </p>
<p>Fact checking becomes a burden for the masses who like their information pre-digested. </p>
<p>We swipe up, we swipe left. Clicking little hearts as we go along. Not getting further invested... unless cats are involved, then take action! </p>
<p><strong>So, here goes... </strong></p>
<p>Did you ever stop and think that behind each song or music blog, there is a musician reaching out with something to say, with something to share. You are here, so I know you have.</p>
<p>The sad reality is we live in an age of instant (and often free) access to pretty much anything we want. </p>
<p>Why pay for something, no matter how small the price tag, when we can get it for free? </p>
<p>Well let me educate you fine people on the reasons why. And what we can do about it. </p>
<p>It is a sad reality nowadays that the cumulation of wealth is a de facto norm, instead of the obvious path of sharing, helping and supporting. </p>
<p><strong>One for one instead of one for all </strong></p>
<p>Society puts the wealthy on a pedestal: they have succeeded, they are worthy of respect and admiration—never mind that the rich are 99% <strong><a contents="born into wealth" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2014/05/04/thomas-pikettys-capital-summarised-in-four-paragraphs" target="_blank">born into wealth</a>. </strong>That has set a terrifying precedent. We are so busy trying to make money, to survive, that we conveniently forget to help each other along the way. </p>
<p>Here’s the good news: the first step to remedy the situation is actually <strong>free</strong>. </p>
<p>It is called <strong>sharing</strong>. Sharing helps and supports us. </p>
<p>When we share, everybody benefits. Starting at the family level, then the community, the region, the province, the country, the planet. Simple mathematics. Simple common sense. </p>
<p>Encourage local businesses, not giant corporations. You might pay a little more, but your money helps feed families in your community, instead of going on a yacht payment for a CEO who exploits workers. The same rule applies to independent artists. </p>
<p><strong>Planting a flower or a tree </strong></p>
<p><em>Sharing on social medias is our bloodline as musicians. </em></p>
<p>When you like or love (thank you!) our posts, you plant a flower. It is beautiful and we enjoy it. But, there is it, it lives a short life for your very own enjoyment, then fades away. </p>
<p>When you share, you are planting a tree. It branches out, reaches for the sky and touches many. Once again, simple mathematics, makes sense. That is what helps us. A lot. </p>
<p>So <strong>please share</strong>, plant the seed of a tree... it doesn’t cost a penny. Even if you are not that crazy about our music, someone you know might be. It’s all about finding, and reaching, our audience. </p>
<p><strong>Buy our music</strong></p>
<p>Independent musicians make 100% profit (or close to it) from sales. Every dollar counts. If you like a song, encourage us. </p>
<p>If you can, buy the album(s.) Most albums are between 10$ and 20$. Think about it. That is very little to support someone. It’s way less then the price of a movie. You get hours of entertainment and the music is yours to keep and enjoy for years to come. Albums are less expensive than most books! </p>
<p>Come to think of it, an album is pretty much the best value for your money in all of entertainment. </p>
<p>On a personal note, I do not have a lot of money. But in the last few months I have purchased four albums, three from friends, one from a distant cousin. Total cost: 55$ I feel good about that. I discovered new music and I helped someone. </p>
<p>On the surface, it might be hard to see that, for a musician, an album usually represents years of work. But it is so much more. An album bears an incredible emotional weight. It is an outpour of hard work, sweat and (sometimes) tears. It is a baring of our soul, it is essentially a labour of Love. If you do not feel that Love, then by all means, do not part with your money. </p>
<p>Now for the part that saddens me, and prompted me to write this week’s column.</p>
<p>I wanted my website to showcase my songs and therefore allowed unlimited free listening, in the hope that likes would morph into purchases... Alas all are listening but none are buying :-( </p>
<p>This was a very hard decision to take—and one not driven by greed—but unfortunately, starting today, I am switching all songs to 30 second previews. If you like a song, you will have to buy it. I am so sorry to have to do this, but I have spent so much time, effort, energy and money into making this music, I need to recoup a little bit. I need to survive. I truly hope that you understand. </p>
<p>If you do not have a lot of money and still want to listen to my songs, you can do so on your music streaming platform of choice, <a contents="Spotify" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/2oSzOlqPY2UNwmAUfAS7rp?si=cVLfM90DRCe0PmklG-fsQA" target="_blank"><strong>Spotify</strong></a>, <a contents="Apple Music" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://music.apple.com/ca/artist/charluxx/1457285587" target="_blank"><strong>Apple Music</strong></a>, etc. At least—unlike on this website—I get paid... Okay, so we’re talking fractions of pennies per play sure, but at least it’s something. </p>
<p>Thank you for reading this! </p>
<p>Stay groovy my friends. </p>
<p>Peace and Love, </p>
<p>Charluxx.</p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/5865921
2019-08-21T23:13:44-04:00
2019-08-22T06:03:02-04:00
Video Wednesdays - Happy Birthday Charluxx!
<p>Just a little merry jingle I made for my birthday ;-) </p>
<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="Ymlyod2NYuU" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/Ymlyod2NYuU/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ymlyod2NYuU?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="540" width="960" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p>© 2019 Charluxx | Sexy Funk Records</p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/5863242
2019-08-19T19:24:44-04:00
2019-08-19T20:04:42-04:00
Artist Spotlight: Alan Parsons
<p><strong>Music meets mind </strong></p>
<p>I remember the first time I heard <strong>The Alan Parsons Project</strong>. </p>
<p>One evening my dad says to me “you’ve got this listen to this” and he puts on <em>Pyramid</em>. </p>
<p>I was all ears. I was entranced. I was in trance. The sounds were enthralling, the music filled the room like no other music had before. It was so beautiful. The melodies, the singing, the arrangements, the production. It was instant Love. This was a new sound: clean, sharp, inventive, expansive. It brought about shades and memories of <strong>Africa</strong>. </p>
<p>Then <em>Hyper-Gamma-Spaces</em> comes on and my mind literally expanded. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. It was dramatic, original, powerful and exciting. It elevated me. </p>
<p>This song is single-handedly responsible for my life long obsession with music making. It made me see and understand patterns. This is the first song that made me understand the relationship between music and mathematics. </p>
<p>I have to admit something... I hate mathematics. I absolutely do. I do not have the brain for it. I understand its beauty and its undeniable importance, it just isn’t for me. But at the basic level, such as the one we use in music, it is a thing of beauty. And something I can deal with.</p>
<p>Melody is found in repetition and variations. On the album <em>Graffiti Bridge</em>, <strong>Prince</strong> sings "There’s Joy In Repetition." Repetition is knowing what’s coming and being able to sing along. That’s Joy. You are no longer just a listener, you participate and your mind knows it, it knows. That’s when you get chills. </p>
<p>I listened to the pattern of <em>Hyper-Gamma-Spaces</em>, the sequence of the notes, the melody it shaped. Memorized it. Obsessed over it. Dreamt about it. </p>
<p>My mother had recently bought an old upright piano. So, I learned how to play that song, as best I could. Along with <strong>Beethoven’</strong>s <em>Symphony No. 9</em>... but that’s another story. Beginnings. Learnings. </p>
<p>As I’ve stated before, my parents were music afectionados. Music was always playing at our house. But electronic music wasn’t favoured. That, I discovered later by myself. So consequently, <strong>Alan Parsons</strong> was my first foray into this world. </p>
<p>A lot of the electronic music of the day was very intellectual, whereas Alan Parsons made it incredibly melodic and accessible. He incorporated it naturally where it belonged. In a new type of rock music. A hybrid of sorts. Combining rock, classical, pop, electronic and synthesizers. The genesis of this Project was the need to bring this new sound to life. </p>
<p>Pyramid was my entry point, and I was hooked. </p>
<p>I asked my dad if he had any more. He did. <em>Tales Of Mystery And Imagination Edgar Alan Poe</em>,<em> I Robot</em>, and <em>Eve</em>. Jackpot! </p>
<p>I played these albums so much, I still know every single note and every single word by heart. </p>
<p>The ways Alan Parsons and his musical partner <strong>Eric Woolfson</strong> created little worlds built around a central theme, a common ground, from which came little gems that ran the gamut of genre and style effortlessly. </p>
<p>As an adolescent I found refuge in theses magical places they created. </p>
<p>Then came <em>Turn Of A Friendly Card</em> (one of my favourite Autumn album... to me it captures that feeling of the year perfectly) followed by <em>Eye In The Sky</em>. Two glorious albums. </p>
<p>In my life, no more than a month or so goes by between listen. Part of my staple. </p>
<p>I credit Alan Parsons for discovering <strong>Edgar Allan Poe</strong> and <strong>Gaudi</strong>, renewing my interest in ancient <strong>Egypt</strong>, and falling in love with synthesizers and vocoders. </p>
<p><strong>James Brown</strong> and <strong>Stevie Wonder</strong> opened the gates to the <strong>Funk</strong>, to the <strong>Soul</strong>. Alan Parsons was my gateway into a new musical universe, one of the <strong>mind</strong>. Along with <strong>The Beatles</strong>, these four are the pillars of my musical edifice. </p>
<p>I wrote a song called <em>Thank You (Sexy)</em> as an homage to them, and ALL my musical teachers. It is on my forthcoming album <strong>Sexy Funk</strong>.</p>
<p>My Alan Parsons Project playlist: the first six albums... although I encourage you to discover all their albums, and solo efforts!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="380" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/playlist/2VV7StEtjIbd26guc03Fp7" width="300"></iframe></p>
<p>Favourite Album: (Tie) <em>I Robot</em> and <em>Pyramid</em><br>Favourite Song: <em>I Wouldn't Want To Be Like You</em><br>Favourite Moment: Seeing Alan Parsons live in Toronto!<br>Favourite Memory: Sharing this discovery with my father. <br>Favourite Picture: Eric Woolfson (left) and Alan Parsons (right)</p>
<p><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/331400/0b1b4b7d87fbe10cd8b93aa7bee315c9ba116e08/original/eric-wolfsson-and-alan-parsons.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>Thank you Alan Parsons for making a musician out of me. I REALLY want to work with you!!</p>
<p>Peace and Love,</p>
<p>Charluxx.</p>
<p> </p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/5862188
2019-08-18T21:44:33-04:00
2019-09-05T06:06:05-04:00
SUMMER BREAKing News
<p>Hi! It's Charluxx.</p>
<p>I need a break.</p>
<p>Because it's summer, and because I'm exhausted.</p>
<p>I work two jobs. One that doesn't pay well... and one that doesn't pay. Insert LOL here.</p>
<p>I tried so hard to meet the <em>August 21st release date for my album</em>. It made poetic sense to give birth to my musical baby on my birthday.</p>
<p>Alas, it cannot be so.</p>
<p>I want it to be as good as I can make it. It needs to be. And for that I need a bit more time. </p>
<p>So, I've revised the launch to be late September. Until further notice... no date has been fixed yet.</p>
<p>I will let you know as soon as I can. It is worth the wait!</p>
<p><strong>I'll be off social medias and this website after August 23rd's Philosophy Fridays, returning for September 6th's Artist Spotlight.</strong></p>
<p>In the meantime, I'll be making music and writing blogs.</p>
<p>Hope you are enjoying your summer and having the breaks you all deserve.</p>
<p>Stay groovy my friends.</p>
<p>Peace and Love,</p>
<p>Charluxx.</p>
<p> </p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/5861438
2019-08-17T20:30:44-04:00
2022-04-12T01:29:11-04:00
A Sad Hopeful Story
<p><strong>Strap yourself in because this is a sad story. But it’s a sad story with an great ending! </strong></p>
<p>Hi! It’s Charluxx. </p>
<p>Apart from almost dying in a car accident when I was 19, then losing my son years later. Everything was relatively fine for me until 2012. I had raced cars, worked for big companies, become a graphic designer, an art director, a teacher, a software developer, and so much more. I worked mostly in communications. How to reach people. How to facilitate communication with each other. I drew from a <strong>Bachelor of Science in Anthropology</strong>, to analyze the world and try to make sense of it. I felt relatively accomplished. </p>
<p>Then my world turned upside down. I was living happily in <strong>Vancouver</strong>, I place I love and to whom my heart belongs to. One day—through <strong>Facebook</strong>—I fell in love all over with a childhood friend whom I’d had a crush on since I was nine. We met in <strong>Tunisia</strong>. Salam Tunisian readers! Years later, I sold ninety percent of my belongings, left Vancouver with my kayaks, but more importantly with my motorcycle—the joy of my life, my own personal black and red rocket ship: a <a contents="2011 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.topspeed.com/motorcycles/motorcycle-reviews/kawasaki/2011-kawasaki-ninja-zx-10r-ar113311.html" target="_blank"><strong>2011 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R</strong></a> 1000cc of unbridled force (seriously, look it up!)—to be with her. </p>
<p>She broke my heart. </p>
<p>But it did so much more to me. I had to sell my motorcycle. After two months I couldn’t find employment. Not a single reply from dozens of sent résumés. I was disconnect from the world, I was alone. Ironic because part of my reasoning for moving back to <strong>Quebec</strong> was to be closer to my family. I had been gone for twenty years. And now, surrounded by said family, I was the loneliest I had ever been. I found work in restaurants, a world I knew next to nothing about. The it hit me, <strong>Depression</strong>, with a big D. Not good. </p>
<p>Three<em> annus horribilis</em> later, I had worked a plan to go back to Vancouver. </p>
<p>In the days leading to my departure (already had my one-way ticket) I had a call from an old family friend, she had a big job for me, working for a <strong>union</strong>. Big salary. I met Isabelle, the love of my life. Took the job. Hated it... <em>I am so not office person material! </em></p>
<p>However, it did mean that I was able to purchase and totally pay for—within a year!—a brand new <strong>2014 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R</strong>. Same motorcycle as the previous one, but black and green. That was the reason I took the job. Period. I was back on my wheels, my little world, my happy place. Until some scumbags stole my motorcycle... and I was fired. In the same month. </p>
<p>I had to leave my apartment in <strong>Montreal</strong>. Sad. Put most of my belongings in storage and moved in with <strong>Isabelle</strong> in a happy place in the country with a forest for a backyard. Proposed, got engaged. That was really good. </p>
<p>Then two things happened one after the other: I had to fight the insurance company tooth and nails for months to get the money owed me to purchase a new motorcycle, that broke me... then I got <strong>cancer</strong>. The Big C. Definitely not good. </p>
<p>So I’m lying down in a <strong>CT Scan</strong> machine, with radioactive liquid running in my veins, while the news breaks on the radio that <strong>Corno</strong> a famous Montreal painter just passed away from throat cancer... the very reason I’m strapped in this tube for. </p>
<p>So for two months I go five days a week to a Hospital an hour away from home, get bolted to a <strong>radiation therapy</strong> machine via a molded upper torso and face mask, to get the maximum amount of radiation permitted... and there's also <strong>chemotherapy</strong>. </p>
<p>Now, let's not belittle this, chemotherapy is hard. The first time, not so bad, but the arm into which the <strong>Cisplatin</strong> was injected reacts, I get <strong>thrombosis</strong> and my artery flames up. I get through that. The second dose of chemotherapy wasn’t as pleasant, I spent almost two weeks in the hospital, touch and go. My potassium levels are so low they have to inject me with what can only be described as liquid fire in slow intravenous drips for hours on end. I had better days. </p>
<p>Then, because the cancer was in my throat, and for lack of better terms “having it microwaved,” I can’t eat anymore. So two weeks and 28 kilos later, I have a tube in my nose that goes directly to my stomach, so I can feed myself protein shakes... for three months. Also not enjoyable. </p>
<p>In the end: cancer gone... but so are my <strong>salivary glands</strong> (who got nuked out of existence, along with my <strong>uvula</strong>), my sense of taste is gone, as well as sensations in my extremities. I also got fired—during my treatments!—from the restaurant I worked at. </p>
<p>Three years later, my tastes have come back to about fifty percent, except for sugar that tastes nasty and... salty. I cannot enjoy anything sweet anymore. Although not such a bad thing in our over sugared North American society. I had to go back working in a kitchen... which gave me <strong>tinnitus</strong> because my ears were weakened. Ironically, no unions in kitchen, so I’m left, with no recourse, with a constant ringing in my ears because of a lousy low paying alimentary job. </p>
<p>But, and this is a big one: <strong>I’M ALIVE</strong>. </p>
<p>Being forced to rest allowed me to pick up on my dream of becoming a musician. I most likely would not have the time/chance/guts, to follow my <strong><a contents="Destiny" data-link-label="Destiny" data-link-type="page" href="https://charluxx.com/destiny"><em>Destiny</em></a></strong> (a plug for my own song!) so that worked out for the best! </p>
<p>After all that, I’m so grateful to still be here, happy and healthy. A friend of mine, diagnosed around the same time, didn’t make it through, RIP <strong>Stephanie</strong>. </p>
<p><strong>The moral of this story? </strong></p>
<p>Don’t wait for life to strike in order to take action. Don’t hold back on your dreams or postpone your true calling. </p>
<p><em>Just remember this: the safe option can fail too, take the risk. </em></p>
<p>Thank you reading my story and stay groovy my friends. </p>
<p>Peace and Love. </p>
<p>Charluxx.</p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/5860506
2019-08-16T16:34:37-04:00
2019-08-17T11:02:56-04:00
Sorry!
<p>I'm really not feeling well, so I'm postponing Philosophy Fridays until tomorrow.</p>
<p>Sorry for the inconvenience.</p>
<p>Peace and Love,</p>
<p>Charluxx.</p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/5859462
2019-08-14T18:15:00-04:00
2019-08-16T14:56:24-04:00
Video Wednesdays - We Got This
<p>The start of the song "We Got This" from my upcoming album "Sexy Funk."</p>
<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="er3HREp6rGA" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/er3HREp6rGA/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/er3HREp6rGA?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="540" width="960" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p>© 2019 Charluxx | Sexy Funk Records</p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/5855999
2019-08-12T23:33:57-04:00
2019-08-15T18:25:26-04:00
Artist Spotlight: James Brown
<p><strong>The Godfather of my Soul </strong></p>
<p><strong>James Brown</strong>. Probably the single most important figure in music. </p>
<p>Putting the musical emphasis on <strong>The One</strong>, the first beat of every measure. He created a new genre, Funk. </p>
<p>It isn’t an exaggeration to say that although music existed before James his impact forever altered its very nature. </p>
<p>Funk gave birth to <strong>Boogie</strong>, <strong>Disco</strong>, <strong>Rap</strong>, <strong>Hip Hop</strong>, <strong>House</strong>, <strong>Dance</strong> and so much more. He is still the world’s most sampled recording artist. </p>
<p>There is a little bit of James Brown in pretty much all modern music. </p>
<p>Mr. Brown was an astonishingly gifted performer, a multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, dancer, and so much more. A true icon. </p>
<p>He was an incredibly active social activist. When I was a child and living in <strong>Cameroon</strong>, James Brown was revered. In <strong>Africa</strong>, he was the living proof that you could make it in the white man’s world. I get chills every single time I hear <em>Say It Loud – I’m Black and I’m Proud</em>. You cannot underestimate the importance of that song, because it was so much more than that, it was a manifesto. It spurred a movement. </p>
<p><em>Funky President (People It's Bad)</em> is as relevant today as it was in 1974:</p>
<p><em>We got to get together and buy some land <br>Raise our food just like the man <br>Save our money, do like the mob <br>Put up your factory and own the job<br>We've got to get over, before we go under</em></p>
<p>On and off the stage he was bigger than life. This is captured with aplomb in the great biopic <em>Get On Up</em>. The amazing <strong>Chadwick Boseman</strong> is mesmerizing in his portrayal of James Brown, warts and all. </p>
<p>Musically he never sang a song the same way, he lived in the moment. In the movie <strong>The Blues Brothers</strong> he is the only performer who was recorded live. <strong>Aretha Franklin’</strong>s performance is put together from many takes and is ultimately lip-synced. She too made every performance of her songs unique. </p>
<p>James was stylish, sexy, confident, he inspired people. He sure inspired me! The timing, the beat, how every instrument becomes percussive. The groove. </p>
<p>Like all the greats, <em>The Hardest Working Man In Show Business</em> had a few defining stages in his career, <strong>Gospel</strong>, <strong>R&B</strong>, <strong>Soul</strong>, from his <strong>Little Richard</strong> influenced style of singing, to creating his own signature groove, Funk music. In 1967 James released <em>Cold Sweat</em>, considered to be the first true Funk song. It featured the accent on The One, the drum solo that introduced the rhythmic break that became the foundation of sampling. Cold Sweat was revolutionary. Not only did it usher a new genre, it shocked and panicked musicians at the time who had no idea what to do with this new musical expression. It departed from the conventions and established norms. </p>
<p><strong>Will Durant</strong> said <em>“The only real revolution is in the enlightenment of the mind...”</em> That James did. He enlightened and entertained. And still does. </p>
<p>My own bag (to use James' lingo) is all James in that I use my music for social commentary, my musical structure so heavily inspired, my live shows will be tributes to his. Ye shall see. </p>
<p>My James Brown playlist is actually his: <strong>Star Time</strong> a 71 track compendium he supervised. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="380" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/playlist/35LgKWx9tgZkx1PavcHxCl" width="300"></iframe></p>
<p>Favourite Album: <em>Star Time</em><br>Favourite Song: <em>Rapp Payback (Where Iz Moses)</em><br>Favourite Moment: <a contents="James Brown and Sammy Davis Jr." data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87Mjj0kmC_A" target="_blank">James Brown and Sammy Davis Jr.</a><br>Favourite Memory: Seing James on <em><a contents="Late Night with David Letterman" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miwzvkESBI8" target="_blank">Late Night with David Letterman</a></em><br>Favourite Picture:</p>
<p><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/331400/86ea3ab4eb0cd67eafc26b9644adc23a382df5f8/original/3e164a8b659cb57a3aae57de5c61ae57.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>James Lives. </p>
<p>Peace and Love. </p>
<p>Charluxx.</p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/5853503
2019-08-09T21:22:33-04:00
2019-08-10T06:09:52-04:00
Cats
<p><strong>I’ll join the clowder... just to see. </strong></p>
<p>Hi! It’s Charluxx. </p>
<p>Okay, so <strong>cats</strong>. </p>
<p>I figured when I post or share a cat related story I actually <strong>get likes</strong>. My post as a musician, with a social message, with really groovy music... not so much. So... cats. </p>
<p>Aesthetically, I created a composite of my cat <strong>Minifée</strong> to appeal to my many Indian fans. <strong>Go India</strong>! Thank you for liking me! </p>
<p>The way I see it, cats have got it mostly figured out... When they have the freedom to do so, to discover themselves in a safe environment. </p>
<p>So, right there that eliminates a good percentage of them. A lot of cats are badly domesticated <em>(declawed and kept inside)</em>... they are the slaves, but they are alive. Stray or feral cats have a two year survival rate when they pull through the 50% chance of dying in their first few months. </p>
<p>A cat is a creature of wonder. When they are happy and safe, you can see them evolve and grow before your eyes. Cats, like me, are observers. They look at their world and figure it out. They will investigate whatever varies from the norm. Immediately. They will asses the possible danger and deal with it in kindly fashion, i.e.: fight or flight... when the conditions are right. They will focus their extraordinarily enhanced nervous system and use all of their very sharp senses. First, is it moving? Is it moving towards me? Is it aware of me? (those take priority.) Smell, check. Sounds, check. Is anything moving within a 3% parameter, anything above 4%, they will spot. </p>
<p>Cats have more nerve endings than humans, a stronger and better adapted skeleton—ours isn’t even completely developed yet, evolution wise, for walking upright!—more bones, and sharper senses by a factor of a lot! Hearing: 5 times better. Smell: 200 million odour-sensitive cells in the nostrils, humans: 5 million. Touch: one word: whiskers, on their faces and their front paws. Sight: their visual cortex is more developed than most mammals. Cats attain full alertness faster than any other creature. </p>
<p>Cats have a “vocabulary” of around 100 vocal sounds (compared to a dog’s 10) and use the same pitch, volume, and intensity of sound as humans use in speech. </p>
<p>Cats have almost twice as many neurons in their brains than dogs, around 300 million, compared to around 160 million. Fact: that is more than 50 times the amount of neurons then the president of a well known country in Northern America who’s name rhymes with rump... Where it’s been suggested his brain actually resides. </p>
<p>Cats cat run faster and jump a lot higher. A very gifted athlete can run maybe 43 kph, an average cat? 48 kph! The world record for the vertical high jump for humans, with a running start, is 2.4 metres. An average cat can easily jump more than 1.5 metres, without running, which is more than seven times their own height. Humans? Well, if you were very short, say 1.2 meters high, and happened to be the world record holder that’s still only twice your height. If the average person was 1.5 meters tall we would be able to jump straight up over 10 meters in the air!</p>
<p>In University my biology teacher was asked what animal was best adapted to their environment on the planet. His answer, without hesitation, was felines. They are found in every ecosystem, from the harsh deserts to the icy plains of the tundra. </p>
<p>More bones, better senses, better reflexes, retractable claws... and a tail. In short: cats rule! </p>
<p>Being a cat myself, I understand these creatures. </p>
<p>To me, cats are like most adults: they can be left alone, whereas dogs are like children in that they require constant attention. I appreciate the subtleties and finesse a cat brings. </p>
<p>Contrary to popular belief, cats are not “independent.” They can take care of themselves, that's quite different. But that scares people. Specially macho types <em>(men and women)</em> who feel the need to dominate another creature. Cats will simply not let you. So there.</p>
<p>People often laugh at me when I call my cats by name. Well guess what, cats do recognize their name. Duh. And they take walks with Isabelle and I too!</p>
<p>Here’s a little video I shot of Minifée whom I’ve trained<em> (or did she in fact train me... not quite sure about that one!)</em> to recognize the word “bounboun” (a made up word based on bonbon) to jump on a chair and catch little cat treats. Cats are apparently easier to train than dogs. The difference—and I love this!—is that they will only do it if they feel like it. You have to appreciate that. <strong>Free wil</strong>l. </p>
<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="qGKCQFfJPAM" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/qGKCQFfJPAM/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qGKCQFfJPAM?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="540" width="960" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p>Here’s to cats. Like every single living creature they have feelings and require Love. Respect and treat them well. They will pay you back in kind. Subtle they are but also full of imagination and tenderness. </p>
<p>Hope you enjoyed this little cat diversion.</p>
<p>Next week more music and philosophy.</p>
<p>Until then, stay groovy my friends.</p>
<p>Peace and Love. </p>
<p>Charluxx.</p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/5852150
2019-08-07T18:40:00-04:00
2019-08-08T21:49:52-04:00
Video Wednesdays - Slide
<p>This is an instrumental preview of part of the Verse and the Chorus from the song "Slide" </p>
<p><em>This is a pre-mixed, work in progress song. It will change. </em></p>
<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="7p2HdvQObQg" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/7p2HdvQObQg/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7p2HdvQObQg?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="540" width="960" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p>© 2019 Charluxx | Sexy Funk Records</p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/5848724
2019-08-05T23:52:53-04:00
2019-08-06T10:25:28-04:00
Artist Spotlight: Erykah Badu
<p>aka <strong>Sara Bellum</strong> aka <strong>@FatBellyBella</strong> aka <strong>Medulla Oblongata</strong> aka <strong>Low Down Loretta Brown</strong> aka <strong>Analogue Girl in a Digital World </strong></p>
<p>Hi! It’s Charluxx. </p>
<p>The first time I saw and heard <strong>Erykah Badu</strong> I was absolutely mesmerized. Wow. Here was someone that operated on a different wavelength. Mind you, all the greats do. From the start, she was already there. </p>
<p>She was classy, sassy, sexy, had a unique point of view, was outside the norm... It was<strong> Instant Love™</strong>! </p>
<p>In 2001 I was working in the tech sector when the bottom dropped out and was suddenly left without a job. I went into a depression. During those troubled times, Erykah was there, holding my hand trough her music. <em>Mama’s Gun</em> became my refuge, my solace. <em>Baduizm</em> was the way out of the schism. </p>
<p>Erykah is not just an amazing musician, she is an amazingly accomplished artist. Her style is her own. She just is. She is an icon. </p>
<p>Musically, she has been called <em>the First Lady of Neo Soul</em> or <em>the Queen of Neo Soul </em>but to me, she created her own genre. Within whose parameters she fluctuates so perfectly. Nobody sounds like her. She has a flair for melodies and a feel for the groove. It all flows seamlessly. She runs the gamut from whisper to roar effortlessly. Her voice is liquid gold. Her tone is the very pulse of the Earth.</p>
<p>Hers is a voice that reflects the environment she navigates and the world we live in. Her characters are fleshed out and real. Her lyrics are clever, poignant and witty. Her point of view on society are moving and her social commentaries are pretty damn spot on. </p>
<p><em>Let me stand on my soap box and let me say this loud and clear right now: black women’s voices are some of the most important voices to listen to. We are fortunate that there are so many amazing ones. Just listen to what they have to say. Learn a few things. Thank you, that is all.</em></p>
<p>Her albums are lavishly produced, incredibility textured, spectacularly diverse little gems that will stand the test of time with the best of them. </p>
<p>I listen to Erykah Badu all the time. I have never stopped. She grounds me and I find that reassuring in this world. </p>
<p>I keep studying how she does it. She is a big inspiration, musically, stylistically, magically. </p>
<p>She is one of the artist on this planet that I’d most love to collaborate with one day! </p>
<p>If you’ve never seen her live, I urge you to do so. It is probably more akin to a spiritual experience than a purely musical one. She will entrance you, transport you to her world for the duration then gently bring you back down to earth. Changed and full of wonder. </p>
<p>Follow her on <strong><a contents="Instagram" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.instagram.com/erykahbadu/" target="_blank">Instagram</a></strong> for the full effect! </p>
<p>Favourite Album: <em>Mama's Gun</em><br>Favourite Song: (Triple tie) <em>Kiss Me On My Neck</em>, <em>Love Of My Life Worldwide</em>, and <em>The Cell.</em><br>Favourite Moment: Every second of her in Janelle Monáe's Q.U.E.E.N. video... my favourite video ever!<br>Favourite Memory: Discovering her in 1997.<br>Favourite Picture: </p>
<p><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/331400/048bac55c26119916aec3811fb83b9179bf73579/original/20131212-055937.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>Erykah’s playlist?.. Her five albums, in chronological order for your enjoyment. You’re welcome! </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="380" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/playlist/36zfs5SNy7gZLtPuCRQLbs" width="300"></iframe></p>
<p>If you've never seen it, do yourself a favour and check out her incredibly brave video for <a contents="Window Seat" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hVp47f5YZg" target="_blank"><strong>Window Seat</strong></a>.</p>
<p>I love you Erykah Badu!</p>
<p>Peace and Love, </p>
<p>Charluxx.</p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/5845922
2019-08-02T18:41:29-04:00
2019-08-02T20:35:27-04:00
The Completion Hurdle
<p><strong>Do one thing, complete it, move on... </strong></p>
<p>Hi! It’s Charluxx. </p>
<p>Today, I have one thing to tell you: <strong>Finish what you start</strong>. </p>
<p>As a musician, that is one of the best piece of advice I can give you. </p>
<p>As a bonus, it works for everything in life. </p>
<p>That particular advice was given to me by a very wise young lady<em> (shout-out to Maxime!) </em>while working in a kitchen at a restaurant. </p>
<p>So, <strong>do one thing</strong> above all else: <strong>when you start a song, finish it</strong>. Do not leave it for later, do not start a new one—a quick demo excepted (more on that bellow)—however tempting that may be! Be in the moment, ride that wave. Create. Worry about everything else later. Don’t hold back. Put everything into it. </p>
<p>Coming back to a song after moving on can be a hard process. I speak from experience. You have to get back to the feeling, the groove, the state of mind you were in. You have to re-capture that unique energy, that fleeting musical moment. Sometimes to good effect. Sometimes you just cannot. Songs change, and you have to learn to deal with that. Embrace the change. Be the change. </p>
<p>One of the (many?) problems that we have as musicians is this: when we start a new are song, it becomes so much better than the previous one(s) and therefore we just want to concentrate on it. Until a few hours—or minutes!—later when the muse strikes again... and then the new song is much more interesting. </p>
<p>You’re constantly enamored by the siren’s call. Yes your new song is good, great even, but no—and know—it is not better. It is just different. When you go back and listen to your uncompleted songs, you’ll realize that they are just as good as they were when you invented them, sometimes better... it’s just not as shiny as the new one you’re working on... </p>
<p>On a societal level, we are, unfortunately, demented consumers by design. It’s in our DNA. We want the new shinny. We need the new shinny. Human nature and whatnot. Be aware of this. Take your time. Make it work. Be better. </p>
<p>My dad gave me a piece of advice when I was a teenager and working to pay my share. He said, and I paraphrase here, <em>“whatever you do, always give your best, that way, no matter what happens, you can sleep well at night.”</em> I love my dad. This has been my life’s mantra. <strong>Always give your best</strong>. </p>
<p><strong>Neweritis. </strong></p>
<p><em>(Newer-itis)</em>—like Hepatitis—is a real affliction. I can safely say that I speak for other artists—this is not just something that affects me as a musician—as I am beyond certain this is a condition that impacts many a creative type. Having talked to musicians friends, knowing they suffer from it as well, I can indeed confirm its existence. </p>
<p>How do we combat this annoying scourge?.. <em>let's face it, this isn't exactly life and death here now is it?</em></p>
<p>Well, what I do is this: I start recording a song... Then inevitably another one presents itself. So, I stop and record a quick demo <em>(thank you <strong>Apple</strong> for making the brilliant (free) <a contents="Music Memos" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.apple.com/music-memos/" target="_blank"><strong>Music Memos</strong></a>!)</em> of this intruding song, with notes regarding what to do with it, then I immediately come back to the song I am working on and complete it before moving on.</p>
<p>When I come back to these demos, since I haven’t invested time into them, they feel new. And I truly start to work on them proper. One at a time... okay sometimes two at the time. But that one is on me. </p>
<p>Once in a while, I will allow for an invading song to take precedence and will leave aside the “main” song temporarily to concentrate on the new one. I allow myself these exceptions to be in the moment. <strong>Spontaneity is the mother of invention</strong>. When a new song is so compelling that it requires immediate attention, <strong>you listen</strong>, <strong>you need to heed that call</strong>. </p>
<p>With this is mind, I can tell you this: every single musician on the planet has many unfinished songs. That one icon you worship? Unfinished songs. These <strong><em>Legends©</em></strong> ...unfinished songs. </p>
<p>This is <strong>The Completion Hurdle</strong>. It is a psychologically factor: the fear of completion. </p>
<p>Finishing something can be very hard. It is an ending of sorts. It is a conclusion. Hard. Not everyone can take an idea, conceptualize it, create it, and finish it. Some can do it sometimes. Some can rarely do it. But some do. To be that person is the goal. </p>
<p>There is also the dreaded fear of failure. A head full of doubts... <em>“Am I doing the song justice?”</em> <em>“I’m not sure I can make this song be as good as I hear it in my head.”</em> Dismiss these thoughts! You can and will make it every bit as good as it sounds in your head. In most cases, even more so! You are a musician. You have a gift that few people posses. Believe in yourself. That is the genesis of it all. It is you. It is your soul, your voice, your sound, your music... How can YOU be wrong? </p>
<p>As a musician, I know in my heart that I will never reach my apex. I’m way more than okay with that. In fact, the very though of it excites me and motivates me. It stirs and awakens a healthy competition spirit within me. I want and I need to be better than I am. I desire to be, as the <em>(great <strong>Fiona Apple</strong>)</em> song goes, <em>“<a contents="A Better Version Of Me" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YGQtWdLj9o" target="_blank">A Better Version Of Me</a>.” </em></p>
<p>The best song I ever wrote? Haven’t written it yet. Not by a longshot. On my deathbed, I’ll let you know how close I got. </p>
<p>Until then, stay groovy my friends!.. we’ve a long way to go with so much amazing <strong>Sexy Funk</strong> coming your way! I cannot wait for you to hear! I’ve been giving little tasters with my weekly <strong>Video Wednesdays</strong> blog. I’ve got so many amazing songs coming up. They. Will. Make. You. Groove! ;-) </p>
<p>Peace and Love, </p>
<p>Charluxx.</p>
<p>p.s.: thank you for reading my blog, I appreciate it so much ❤️</p>
<p>The illustration above includes content from <a href="https://www.vecteezy.com">Vector Graphics by Vecteezy!</a></p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/5843676
2019-08-01T00:09:11-04:00
2019-08-01T00:16:50-04:00
Video Wednesdays - You Gonna Do What They Say?
<p>Preview of part of the Verse and part of the Chorus from the song "You Gonna Do What They Say?" </p>
<p>This is a pre-mixed, work in progress song. It will change. </p>
<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="JheekxwcCS0" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/JheekxwcCS0/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JheekxwcCS0?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="540" width="960" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p>© 2019 Charluxx | Sexy Funk Records</p>
<p> </p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/5840295
2019-07-29T12:10:17-04:00
2019-07-29T13:25:17-04:00
Artist Spotlight: The Beatles
<p><strong>Paul, John, George and Ringo </strong></p>
<p>Hi! It’s Charluxx. </p>
<p>This being my fourth Artist Spotlight, I thought it would be appropriate to focus my attention on the Fab Four. </p>
<p><strong>The Beatles</strong> have always been a very important part of my life. Before I was even born, in my mother’s womb, they were there with me. </p>
<p>My parents were real music freaks. Music was always playing at our house. They had all the latest releases. I was exposed to a lot of music. We went to a lot of concerts. Rock, Folk, Jazz, Classical, Blues, R&B... They always brought my sister and I along. We would fall asleep to the sweet sounds, the smells and the wonderful energy.</p>
<p>I loved it all. But The Beatles... there was something more to them. <em>They were magical. </em></p>
<p>Their music is the sound of my youth, of my dreams, of my very being. </p>
<p>As I grew older I discovered them anew when the words became meaning. When the melodies became memories. When the sounds turned to symbols. </p>
<p>In a relatively short seven year span from 1962 to 1969 they reinvented music as we know it, then reinvented it again and again. Their musical exploration and evolution from album to album was something to behold. <em>Help!</em> was the start of a new age, <em>Rubber Soul </em>shook the world to attention, <em>Revolver </em>blew open the door to a new consciousness, <em>Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band</em> is probably the greatest, most revolutionary and influential album ever, <em>Magical Mystery Tour</em> is such a work of Love, <em>The Beatles (The White Album)</em> is a stunning collection of brilliant songs, <em>Yellow Submarine...</em> such a stunning and trippy venture, <em>Abbey Road </em>is the roots to the tree of my soul, and lastly the fitting farewell to an extraordinary adventure that is <em>Let It Be</em>. </p>
<p>I cannot think of a single band—or artist—in history whose sound evolved so quickly, so markedly, was so significant and contributed so much to society, than the four lads from Liverpool. </p>
<p>The Beatles were bigger than religion, they were fashion, they were music itself. </p>
<p>More than music however, The Beatles were the pulse of my early life. And have never ceased to be. </p>
<p>I feel such Love for them, collectively and as individuals, each with their own unique beat. They taught me so much. About who I was in this life. About melody. About harmony. About perception. So much has been written and said about their distinct personality, but for me it was the sum of the parts, the meeting of the minds, the bond that transcends all, that made them so special.</p>
<p>I’ve always felt that theirs was a sound that had direct access to my core and was able, as such, to imbue my life with a sense of profound happiness and meaning. Very few can lay claim to that. </p>
<p>The Beatles have led me on a lifelong journey of discovery. Trying to learn more, to analyze, to gain a deeper understanding, I have read many books, countless magazines, and a plethora of articles. I have listened to their music, seen their films, heard their interviews. I have taken a Beatles guided tour of London and visited the landmarks... it felt like a pilgrimage. </p>
<p>Even though my music is a new type of <strong>Funk</strong>, a close examination of its <strong>DNA</strong> reveals the clear ancestry of <strong>PJGR</strong>. My music is black infused at heart, but so was theirs! So was everyone’s. </p>
<p><strong>Favourite Album</strong>: <em>Abbey Road</em><br><strong>Favourite Song</strong>: I love so many of them, it's like choosing one's favourite child, but I will single out <em>Tomorrow Never Knows</em> and <em>Come Together.</em><br><strong>Favourite Moment</strong>: As a child, a magical summer afternoon at my aunt Michelle's apartment listening to <em>Rubber Soul </em>with the lingering scent of <strong>Patchouli</strong> in the air.<br><strong>Favourite Memory</strong>: Growing up with them.<br><strong>Favourite Picture</strong>:</p>
<p><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/331400/37cffba0406e320be2a10fbfc6a2413ae0938ddf/original/beatles-1.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>My Beatles playlist is a collection of singles... and eight full albums!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="380" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/playlist/2WqBOUqRrgMGGNtuLNoJaq" width="300"></iframe></p>
<p>The Beatles have brought so much enjoyment to so many people’s life. They will forever have a special place reserved in this heart of mine. </p>
<p>Peace and Love, </p>
<p>Charluxx.</p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/5838290
2019-07-26T18:47:05-04:00
2019-07-26T21:00:18-04:00
HSP
<p><strong>The highs and lows of being a Highly Sensitive Person </strong></p>
<p><em>Can’t stop these feelings I got! </em></p>
<p>Hi! It’s Charluxx. </p>
<p>As an <a contents="Highly Sensitive Person" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sensory_processing_sensitivity" target="_blank"><strong>Highly Sensitive Person</strong></a>, I feel everything. I FEEL everything. Like my nervous system is in overdrive. </p>
<p>A light touch of my skin proves intense, and can sometimes be almost unbearable. My hearing is solicited to the point that it is overwhelming in a crowd. I go into sensory overload. </p>
<p>Interestingly and somewhat contradictorily, I have a very high pain threshold. A strange dichotomy for sure. A light touch to my face is quite uncomfortable, but I can burn myself or break a bone and not even wince. Nature is incredible. There is a unique balance in life that is simultaneously logical and illogical... but always magical. Negativity being finely balanced with positivity. </p>
<p>Like the saying goes “Good things can come from bad situations.” </p>
<p>For all it’s disadvantages I am incredibly grateful to have this condition. </p>
<p>It has proved incredibly useful throughout my life. Because I am especially sensitive to subtle stimuli, I have been able to achieve extraordinary feats. </p>
<p>I ride a brutal motorcycle, an <a contents="Aprilia RSV4" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.aprilia.com/ca_EN/bikes/road/V4/RSV4-RR-19/" target="_blank"><strong>Aprilia RSV4</strong></a>, and I ride it <strong>hard</strong>. That is also why I was able to race cars. Turns out most riders and race car drivers are HSP by nature. It makes sense. You need to be one with your vehicle, feel the transmitted information, integrate that incredibly precise feedback into instant reaction and translate it into maximum forward drive. </p>
<p>Nerves are sensorial: touch, smell, sight, earring, taste, but they are also emotional. Our body is really a vehicle for our brain, our central nervous system. In this context, it is easy for me to be overwhelmed. </p>
<p>Sometimes it feels like I am raw nerves.</p>
<p>Turns out not everyone is fine with that. Life is more intense when your nerves are over-solicited. I can be hard to deal with. Not that I do it on purpose, I’m no diva. I just feel things more intensely than most people do. I often respond in kind. I am aware of it. It’s just that I can be intense as a result. </p>
<p>I feel things acutely, mentally and physically. As such, I become impatient quickly. Being aware of this is good because I can temper it. I try hard anyway. I’ve also learned to shield myself. Naturally, I’ve tended towards quiet solitude. Meditation. Yoga. </p>
<p>Musically, it makes me sensitive to subtle vibrations and variations. I am attuned. I hear each sound, each instrument, clearly and distinctly. I often feel that I am one with music. I love that. </p>
<p>If that sounds like someone you know—or even you—I recommend patience. </p>
<p>Patience always being a good answer for anything anyway. </p>
<p>Hopefully this journey of discovery into the very soul of me has been: </p>
<p>a) informative <br>b) interesting <br>c) revelatory <br>d) all of the above ;-) </p>
<p>Stay groovy my friends. </p>
<p>Peace and Love, </p>
<p>Charluxx. </p>
<p>p.s.: here are a few resources if you’d like to know more: </p>
<ul> <li><a contents="The Secret Life of a Highly Sensitive Person&nbsp;" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://medium.com/s/story/the-secret-life-of-a-highly-sensitive-person-e5e49ab4918b" target="_blank"><strong>The Secret Life of a Highly Sensitive Person</strong> </a></li> <li><a contents="6 Habits Of Highly Sensitive People&nbsp;" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/02/26/highly-sensitive-people-signs-habits_n_4810794.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAEWa2cvBRrhipfD0dYiBlmUBp3aqbIN9wkZbvXP_QhVemLQbPkzUpo359TlXjk-CuD0rQOel12dc9FPlSgT18Apg8Emg32IGIX1s5Rx_8cX5rjx2Qrl3w-Jk-iEe1lSxs77cjmk-DTzH0bAFr1rrjk3cesO7BKNKBEo9EViW38RT" target="_blank"><strong>6 Habits Of Highly Sensitive People </strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/5835817
2019-07-24T23:29:59-04:00
2019-07-26T18:47:45-04:00
Video Wednesdays - All Alone Together (Feel The Heat)
<p>Preview of the Chorus for the song <strong>All Alone Together (Feel The Heat)</strong></p>
<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="v8qSSdl6WTI" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/v8qSSdl6WTI/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/v8qSSdl6WTI?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="540" width="960" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/5833370
2019-07-23T00:36:36-04:00
2019-07-23T09:51:17-04:00
Artist Spotlight: Donna Summer
<p><strong>The First Lady of Love </strong></p>
<p>Hi! It’s Charluxx. </p>
<p>The very mention of the name <strong>Donna Summer</strong> brings a very special electric feeling to my whole body. She has that effect on me. Her music vibes to the beat of my heart. Her voice send chills down my spine. Just picturing her brings me a sense of joy. </p>
<p>You hear about an individual having a certain “je ne sais quoi,” something more than “regular” people... Donna had that in spades. From the mid to late 70s she was a superstar. She was everywhere. She was undeniably the defining voice and face of the disco era. </p>
<p>She might have hated the whole <strong>Queen of Disco</strong> sex-goddess image that marketing gave her, but she did fit the bill perfectly. She was suave, creative, sexy, and radiated confidence. She was a seventies version of <strong>Josephine Baker</strong>. She broke down barriers and opened doors. Like Josephine, she moved to Europe and was quickly celebrated. </p>
<p>Her first big hit <em>Love To Love You Baby</em> (which she co-wrote with <strong>Giorgio Moroder </strong>and <strong>Pete Bellotte</strong>) is seldom heard in its original album version that clocks in at nearly <em>17 minutes!</em><strong> </strong>and features such an exquisitely groovy bassline. It is dance party heaven. </p>
<p><em>I Feel Love</em> still blows me away. It was absolutely revolutionary when it came out and without exaggeration changed the sound of music forever. That song is considered by many as the birth of techno music. </p>
<p>To me, Donna Summer’s music stood out, in that it made me happy. When I hear it I just want to sing out loud and fly. <em>Last Dance</em> elevates me. Her version of <em>MacArthur Park</em> is shear perfection, in spite of winning my <strong>silliest lyrics ever award</strong><em> “Someone left the cake out in the rain, I don’t think that I can take it, ‘cause it took so long to bake it, and I’ll never have that recipe again” </em>Seriously? </p>
<p>I fell in love with Donna when I first heard <em>Love Is In Control (Finger On The Trigger.)</em> That was it. That song still makes me dream. I love it. I bought the album, simply called <em>Donna Summer</em> it was produced by <strong>Quincy Jones</strong>. It also contains one of my favourite cover of a song of all times <em>State of Independence</em>. Pretty sure I wore out the vinyl of that album! </p>
<p>Donna Summer’s ode to the working woman’s struggles <em>She Works Hard For The Money</em> brought renewed awareness to women’s rights in the 1980s... a fight that unbelievably still goes on in 2019! </p>
<p><strong>Favourite Album</strong>: <em>Donna Summer</em><br><strong>Favourite Song</strong>: <em>Love Is In Control (Finger On The Trigger)</em><br><strong>Favourite Moment</strong>: When she was posthumously inducted into to the <strong>Rock and Roll Hall of Fame</strong> in 2013.<br><strong>Favourite Memory</strong>: Having a schoolboy crush on her when all the other boys only had eyes for <strong>Farrah Fawcett</strong> ;-)<br><strong>Favourite Picture</strong>: </p>
<p><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/331400/709b6668bf317b71861d7bbdd22ca6bbdfc1bba3/original/donna-summer-donna-summer.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>Again, I have created a compilation playlist for you to enjoy.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="380" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/playlist/3Jh48bCkhetezqq7njz7TM" width="300"></iframe></p>
<p>I have a question: where is the Donna Summer movie? She deserves one!</p>
<p>Rest in peace Donna. Your spirit will enliven generations to come. </p>
<p>Peace and Love. </p>
<p>Charluxx.</p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/5831721
2019-07-21T16:52:25-04:00
2019-07-21T16:52:25-04:00
Thank You!
<p>This has been a good week on social medias!</p>
<p>Over 85,500 people reached on Facebook, with 2415 interactions!</p>
<p>Instagram is going strong too!</p>
<p>Twitter... you need to pick up the pace! ;-)</p>
<p>So, thank you for that!</p>
<p>Peace and Love,</p>
<p>Charluxx.</p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/5830487
2019-07-19T22:34:18-04:00
2019-07-20T16:54:48-04:00
The Process
<p><strong>How I write a song... </strong></p>
<p>Hi! It's Charluxx.</p>
<p>Today, I gave myself a challenge.</p>
<p>I decided to write a song in a few minutes... see what I could come up with. </p>
<p>Typically, I either wake up with a song—melody and/or lyrics—or it just comes to me randomly during the day. </p>
<p>Sometimes it comes to me as lyrics, oftentimes it comes as melody, half the time it is both. </p>
<p>So, today I came up with a song in literally 15 minutes. I started singing and within a few seconds I had the melody, it had evolved and then settled. </p>
<p>I seem to be that attuned these days. In all fairness, I do spend a few hours every day writing, playing, recording, mixing, and editing songs. So that has to be kept in mind. </p>
<p>Once I have a melody, I used a free App on my iPhone called <a contents="BPM" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/bpm/id296956954" target="_blank"><strong>BPM</strong></a>. That’s shorthand for <strong>Beats Per Minutes</strong>. It is simple and efficient. I just tap the screen to the beat as I sing my melody and it tells me the speed of the song. </p>
<p>Next, I go to <a contents="Logic Pro" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.apple.com/logic-pro/" target="_blank"><strong>Logic Pro</strong></a>, my <a contents="DAW" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_audio_workstation" target="_blank"><strong>DAW</strong></a> of choice. That’s a <strong>Digital Audio Workstation</strong>. Think of it as a recording studio in the computer. With this software—that is always on!—I start a new song by using a template that has 6 tracks, 1 each for drum, bass, guitar, keyboard, voice, and a “click track.” A <a contents="click track" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Click_track" target="_blank"><strong>click track</strong></a> is basically a metronome that keeps the beat. </p>
<p>I start by imputing the BPM that I got, then I start singing to the click track so that I’m on the beat. Not to brag at all here, but I’m naturally spot on, even without said click track. I just use it because it’s a beat and a beat is always groovy. </p>
<p>Once my voice with the melody and lyrics is on—as was the case today—I listen to it, and I start hearing a drum pattern, if it wasn't already in my head. As an aside, when I don’t have the lyrics, I just sing made up phrases (often happy accident happen and it becomes actual lyrics!) </p>
<p>So, I play the drum part (most of the time with an actual sampled drum kit, sometimes with an electronic drum kit) using my keyboard, it has an integrated drum pad. I use an <a contents="AKAI MPK mini mkII" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.akaipro.com/mpk-mini-mkii" target="_blank"><strong>AKAI MPK mini mkII</strong></a> keyboard (best keyboard ever!) You can read about my gear <strong><a contents="here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://charluxx.com/about#gear">here</a></strong>.</p>
<p>Once the drum beat is down—it took 3 or 4 minutes today!—I listen again and I come up with a bassline in the proper key. I use a free companion App by Apple called <a contents="Music Memos" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.apple.com/music-memos/" target="_blank"><strong>Music Memos</strong></a>—is is absolutely brilliant—that tells me what key I’m in. I do have perfect pitch, but it does help! I pick up my bass and play the groove that I came up with in my head. Today I did it in one take. Sometimes it can take a dozen take to get it perfectly... same with the singing and guitar playing. </p>
<p>Then, I plug my guitar and again using the proper key—or a complimentary key—I experiment and find an interesting melody or a cool strum pattern. I then record that. </p>
<p><strong>There it is. </strong></p>
<p>Fifteen minutes later, I had my song. Verse and chorus. Full disclosure, I did not record the bridge... but I do have it in my head. </p>
<p>Next comes the editing. Playing with different “virtual” pedal boards that distort and shape the sound of the guitar and the bass to get “just the right sound.” After that comes the applying of different effects to give the voice more presence, to add depth to the instruments, to shape the song and bring it to what I hear inside. That takes the bulk of the time, for me about three to four days.</p>
<p>That's how I create songs. </p>
<p>I love the process. I’m always refining it, to make it more efficient, but mostly to allow for spontaneity and playfulness. </p>
<p>Music is my way life. I think musically. I write musically. I move musically. </p>
<p>Hope you enjoyed this little insight into my musical mind. </p>
<p>By the way, I will reveal today’s song in a few weeks. I can’t wait, it is simply stunning! I would do it sooner, but I’m putting the finishing touches on my album... that comes out on my birthday, August 21st, wink wink ;-) </p>
<p>Stay tune for way more! </p>
<p>Keep on grooving my friends. </p>
<p>Peace and Love, </p>
<p>Charluxx.</p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/5828218
2019-07-17T22:29:03-04:00
2019-07-29T13:23:30-04:00
Video Wednesdays - The Groove Lives Here
<p> </p>
<p>Funky bassline, part of the song "The Groove Lives Here."</p>
<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="ULxzAQybl6o" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/ULxzAQybl6o/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ULxzAQybl6o?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="540" width="960" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/5825900
2019-07-16T01:01:58-04:00
2019-07-17T22:33:49-04:00
Artist Spotlight: Elton John
<p><strong>Rocket Man </strong></p>
<p>Hi! It’s Charluxx. </p>
<p>Went to see <a contents="Rocketman" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2066051/" target="_blank"><strong>Rocketman</strong></a> at the theatre. Loved it. The movie's structure reminded me of a fairytale. It was flamboyant, colourful, sad, funny, and imaginative... and Taron Egerton absolutely nailed it!</p>
<p>So it makes sense, timing wise, that this week's artist spotlight should be on <strong>Sir Elton John</strong>. </p>
<p>I’ve always loved Elton John. When I was a kid, he was such a huge star. I am fortunate to have been raised by parents who love music and bought so many albums. I grew up with all the greats, they seemed to me to be part of the family, like aunts and uncles... Stevie, James, Suzi, David, John, Paul, George, Ringo, Janis, Marvin, Curtis, Van, Ray, Ella, Nina, and of course uncle Elton. He was bigger than life, he was the pinball wizard! </p>
<p>It’s very hard for me to remember which Elton John song I first heard, although it is most likely <em>Your Song</em>, but I remember being blown away by the <em>Goodbye Yellow Brick Road</em> album. That was such an eye opener. </p>
<p>I have listened to that album thousands of times. </p>
<p>A few years ago, I made the terrible mistake of moving in with an antagonistic girlfriend. I fell into depression and ended up sleeping on the living room sofa for two months. To this day, I’m still not sure what happened to me then, but every single second I was conscious, an Elton John song played in my head, as precise as a recording. For two months. Always a different song (he’s got quite the catalogue!) playing on repeat, every single second of every single waking moment. For two months. I was convinced I was becoming completely mental. It stop suddenly, the day I walked away. </p>
<p>It is a miracle—and I feel lucky—that I can still listen to him now. But that is the appeal of his music. It doesn’t seem to matter what you associate it with, it remains part of your life and stays enjoyable as hell! </p>
<p>As a musician, I really appreciate the artistry and mastery at hand in his song making. The playfulness on apparent display between the music and the <strong>Bernie Taupin</strong> lyrics. That piano!.. so funky! I love the way he sings all of his songs with such passion, plays with words and really uses his voice as an instrument. Too often these days you recognize an artist because they sound exactly the same from one song to the next. Not Elton!</p>
<p>Even though I don’t try to emulate anyone—at least not consciously—it is obvious that I am under the influence of greats like <strong>Elton John</strong>, <strong>Stevie Wonder</strong>, <strong>James Brown</strong>, <strong>Suzi Quatro</strong>, <strong>David Bowie</strong>, <strong>The Beatles</strong>, <strong>Janis Joplin</strong>, <strong>Marvin Gaye</strong>, <strong>Curtis Mayfield</strong>, <strong>Van Morrison</strong>, <strong>Ray Charles</strong>, <strong>Ella Fitzgerald</strong>, <strong>Nina Simone</strong>, <em>and so many others! </em></p>
<p>Elton is definitely a master craftsman, you can hear it in the textures, the complexity (and simplicity) of his arrangements, the layering of sounds and the shear elation of his piano playing... listen as he tickles the ebonies and ivories on <em>Honky Cat</em>. </p>
<p>A few months ago, I woke up with a melody in my head, I was trying to figure out which classical composer it belonged to... then it hit me, after many hours of musing, that it was an Elton John song: <em>Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word.</em> That left me with an even greater appreciation of his talent.</p>
<p>Do yourself a favour, go see Rocketman, listen to his music, learn about the man, you will be elated.</p>
<p><strong>Favourite Album</strong>: <em>Goodbye Yellow Brick Road</em><br><strong>Favourite Song</strong>: (Tie) <em>Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding</em> and <em>Madman Across the Water</em><br><strong>Favourite Moment</strong>: When he infuriated the rightwing Christians in the United States by declaring:<em> “I think Jesus was a compassionate, super-intelligent gay man who understood human problems. On the cross, he forgave the people who crucified him. Jesus wanted us to be loving and forgiving. I don’t know what makes people so cruel. Try being a gay woman in the Middle East — you’re as good as dead.”</em><br><strong>Favourite Memory</strong>: Holding the gatefold vinyl version of <em>Goodbye Yellow Brick Road</em> as a child and marvelling at all the illustrations, photos, and attention to details.<br><strong>Favourite Picture</strong>:</p>
<p><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/331400/4f1c18495126e0f0170b617e8fb300a402b1dea8/original/gettyimages-184061204-03c0b926-6227-41cd-8d58-abddf3bcf253.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>There are so many amazing Elton John songs. As always, I have compiled my ultimate playlist for your enjoyment, and hopefully discovery. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="380" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/playlist/6Cyc6DcZyHqnHR8w80TpfK" width="300"></iframe></p>
<p>We owe a dept of gratitude to this great human being, for enriching our life with unforgeable music, for his fight against AIDS through his <a contents="Elton John AIDS Foundation" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://ejaf.org" target="_blank"><strong>Elton John AIDS Foundation</strong></a> and, as a high profile gay man, for all his work on behalf of the <strong>LGBTQIA</strong> community. </p>
<p>Peace and Love. </p>
<p>Charluxx.</p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/5823155
2019-07-12T22:02:22-04:00
2019-07-16T01:52:50-04:00
Words
<p><strong>How singers reach out lyrically. </strong></p>
<p>Hi! It’s Charluxx. </p>
<p>What we do as musicians is, we appropriate words. We even invent new ones. That’s what we do. </p>
<p>We will pronounce them differently, change the emphasis, morph them, stretch them. </p>
<p>I’ll give you a few examples. </p>
<p>In my song <strong><a contents="Destiny" data-link-label="Destiny" data-link-type="page" href="https://charluxx.com/destiny">Destiny</a></strong> (at the 2:40 mark) I say <em>“I’d like to send an S.O.S.”</em> I morph the word <strong>send</strong> and <strong>sand</strong>, to evoke a desert island—what I think about when I hear the word <strong>S.O.S.</strong>—and the reason I do that is completely to bring you closer to my vision. </p>
<p>How the inimitable <strong>David Bowie</strong> transforms the word <strong>Changes</strong> in <em>Changes</em>. Try to imagine the song without that effect, just the word "changes." Not a hit then... Instead it’s an earworm. </p>
<p>The same trick is used by rebels <strong>The Who</strong> in <em>My Generation</em>, where <strong>Roger Daltry</strong> stutters the key words to emphasize them: “say,” “sensation,” “generation,” “down,” “get,” “cold.” Again, you remember it. Effective, creative, daring, are words that come to mind when it comes to the musicianship involved. Worth listening to again and again. The message and the music: decisive and empowering. </p>
<p>I love how my street poet<strong> Ice-T</strong> literally punches out the word <em>Power</em>, and echo’s it. That’s powerful. He doesn’t need to scream it. Confidence is found in one’s tone, not one’s loudness.<em> Think about that.</em> He does it again on <em>Drama</em>, an intimate account of the criminal life—and one of my all time favourite songs—on one of the dopest album ever: <em>Power</em>. <strong>Ice-T</strong>, in my humble opinion, is the absolute rap phrasing master. </p>
<p>Listen how the great, late <strong>Bob Marley</strong> sings the word <strong>Redemption</strong> in <em>Redemption Song</em>. It’s might seem very subtle but it is anything but. Hear how he brings "<strong>redem"</strong> up and drops "<strong>ption song</strong>." He’s releasing, redeeming. Remember, this was a contemplating man’s legacy song, as he had been diagnosed with cancer. </p>
<p>In the song <em>Right Thurr</em> the inventive <strong>Chingy</strong> pronounces the word <strong>There</strong> as <strong>Thuur</strong>... and we all remember that song. And if you were to hear it for the first time (try it here, I’ll wait) I guaranty you it didn’t leave you indifferent. You will remember it. Whether you loved it (you got taste) or hated it (for whatever reason, stylistic or other). That is now in you. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="380" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/playlist/3s4w8lDdTwBfyLvRVrpFzq" width="300"></iframe></p>
<p>There are so many examples of word manipulation. It’s usually what makes a song distinctive. Makes it stand out. </p>
<p>So, why? Why do we do this as musicians? </p>
<p>Well, obviously, it’s about being heard. Communication. We are talking to you. We tell you stories, legends, myths, the life that we live, our fantasies, our tragedies, our nightmares, our dreams... </p>
<p>We make you laugh, cry, sing along, dance, but most of all, and above it all: we bring you joy. Whatever your style(s) of music, whoever you are, music is enjoyable. </p>
<p>And by appropriating words, we can make them potent. When you sing it with us (thank you!) that is the ultimate high. And we know we made it through, it worked. </p>
<p>As a musician, you are sharing, you are reaching out... you have an audience. It’s your responsibility to teach well, to spread the right messages. To help, to guide along gently, to provoke, to wake them up. They are listening. We musicians are not excluded, we are you too. We just have something to say. </p>
<p><em>Listen carefully the next time you hear a song you like. </em></p>
<p>Thank you for listening. </p>
<p>Peace and Love, </p>
<p>Charluxx.</p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/5820056
2019-07-10T12:05:00-04:00
2019-07-16T01:52:28-04:00
Video Wednesdays - Resist Teaser
<p>Just a little teaser of the Bass in the Bridge section of my upcoming song Resist.</p>
<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="nhVSnvbS52E" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/nhVSnvbS52E/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nhVSnvbS52E?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="540" width="960" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/5818249
2019-07-09T01:46:27-04:00
2019-07-09T04:17:01-04:00
Stevie Wonder
<p><em><strong>Hotter Than July </strong></em></p>
<p>Hi! It’s Charluxx. </p>
<p>Seeing as we are now in July, I thought it fitting to showcase the amazing <a contents="Stevie Wonder" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.steviewonder.net" target="_blank"><strong>Stevie Wonder</strong></a>. </p>
<p>Fitting as well because I wanted Stevie to be <em>my first artist spotlight.</em> He’s certainly my biggest influence musically, as well as a human being. </p>
<p>I was a ten year old living in <strong>Tunisia</strong> when I first heard <em>Songs in the Key of Life</em>. It completely blew me away. As a kid, I felt so bad for Stevie Wonder because of his blindness. Living in such beauty, I couldn’t imagine a world without sight. It made me sad. Such a world would surely be devoid of glee... until I heard <em>Sir Duke</em>. I knew then that Stevie was above it all, I knew he was a happy man. That song could only have been written by a joyous person. And just like that, the world made more sense. It was really a day that change the course of my life, I understood that whatever happened to me, I would be okay. Because of Stevie Wonder. </p>
<p>As a musician, I rank Stevie Wonder up there with <strong>Mozart</strong>. He is that special breed of talent whose impact will forever be felt. There was music before Stevie Wonder... and after. Well, you know how that goes. Whether you realize it or not, his influence is such. </p>
<p>We overuse the word <strong>genius</strong>, but for Stevie Wonder I'll make an exception. As someone (<strong>Rriv2014</strong>) said on <strong>YouTube</strong> "The title "Genius" seems to be below his skill level as a musician."</p>
<p>As an adolescent, I had a few posters in my bedroom, the usual fare: <strong>Star Wars</strong>, <strong>Spider-Man</strong>... but right above my bed, in a place of honour, <strong>Stevie Wonder </strong>and <strong>Martin Luther King</strong>. </p>
<p><em>He is that important to me. </em></p>
<p>I had my Stevie Wonder playlist on (again) at work recently when a colleague walked by, listened and said “You know, I bough a lot of records in my life and this guy is probably the only one whose albums only have good songs.” That made my day. </p>
<p>Whenever I feel down I play <em>Sir Duke</em>, because, how can you not be lifted by the shear energy and jubilation? </p>
<p>I love Stevie Wonder. Just yesterday in <strong>London</strong>’s <strong>Hyde Park</strong> he told the crowd “Those of you who know the right thing to do: do the right thing. Unity has never been this hard.” It’s funny because I read this quote in an article in <strong>The Guardian</strong> where he is described as “The R&B legend.” That is a misnomer if I ever heard one, Stevie Wonder is a Legend, period. Forget a single genre, that is way too restrictive to encapsulate the man. </p>
<p>Whenever I record a song, I always keep him in mind. Is this funky enough? How can I modulate this note or these notes to make it more classy, more groovy, more Stevie? </p>
<ul> <li>
<strong>Favourite Album</strong>: (Tie) <em>Songs in the Key of Life and</em> <em>Hotter Than July</em>.</li> <li>
<strong>Favourite Song</strong>:<em> Boogie On Reggae Woman</em>. "Can I play?"</li> <li>
<strong>Favourite Moment</strong>: <a contents="this!" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBA4vWQRBA0" target="_blank"><strong>This</strong>!</a>
</li> <li>
<strong>Favourite Memory</strong>: Seeing Stevie live in Montreal with 100,000 people all cheering and dancing!</li> <li>
<strong>Favourite Picture</strong>: <a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/the-work-of-adger-cowans/5/" target="_blank"><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/331400/6fd560be4876cb02e84220531ce7378ca0986def/original/muhammad-ali-and-stevie-wonder-adger-cowans.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Here’s my Stevie Wonder playlist. It will bring you happiness. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="380" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/playlist/7GzTEAA5uU6sudySSkfNRi" width="300"></iframe></p>
<p>With my heart full of love, thank you Stevie Wonder for enriching my life as a man and as a musician. </p>
<p>Peace and Love. </p>
<p>Charluxx.</p>
<p>p.s.: Stevie just announced that he will undergo kidney transplant in September. Please keep him in your thoughts. ❤️</p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/5814465
2019-07-05T00:05:00-04:00
2019-07-05T15:37:46-04:00
What It Is!
<p><strong>Where it’s at, where I’m at... </strong></p>
<p>Hi! It’s Charluxx. </p>
<p>This week I’m going to do things a bit differently. </p>
<p>Every Friday I ramble on about a specific subject. </p>
<p>This week I’m doing an impromptu and off the cuff <em>state of my affairs</em> as a musician, but also as a human being. </p>
<p>As a musician, I’m putting the finishing touches on my album <strong>Sexy Funk</strong>. The writing and recording process of which began in November 2018. Since then I have written well over a hundred songs. Twenty percent are done. Sixty percent of them have complete structures and are within a day of being done. The other twenty percent are demos that have varying degrees of polish. They each need a good two or three days. Three to four days is the time it takes me to write, record, process and pre-mix a song. I have absolutely no idea how that compares to other musicians. So, wild guess, probably an average time. </p>
<p>As a musician, I’ve so far released four singles, in order: <a contents="Gravity" data-link-label="Gravity" data-link-type="page" href="https://charluxx.com/gravity"><strong>Gravity</strong></a>, <a contents="Justice" data-link-label="Justice" data-link-type="page" href="https://charluxx.com/justice"><strong>Justice</strong></a>, <a contents="Global" data-link-label="Global" data-link-type="page" href="https://charluxx.com/global"><strong>Global</strong></a>, and <a contents="Destiny" data-link-label="Destiny" data-link-type="page" href="https://charluxx.com/destiny"><strong>Destiny</strong></a>. Along with the accompanying<strong> <a contents="instrumental versions" data-link-label="Instrumentals" data-link-type="page" href="https://charluxx.com/instrumentals">instrumental versions</a></strong> of said songs.<em> I’m about to release my fifth single next week. </em></p>
<p>As a human being, I have worked my little butt off! Saving every bit of money to purchase equipment, instruments, software, plug-ins... and studio mixing time. I have made sacrifices. Also... I've made some Sexy Funk! All in all, I am loving every single minute of making music. </p>
<p>As a human being, the response I got from my friends and most importantly my family... has been <strong>mostly complete and total radio silence</strong>. Thank you <strong>Isabelle</strong>, <strong>Allan</strong>, <strong>Deana</strong>, <strong>Jean-François</strong>, <strong>Nancy</strong>, <strong>Tommy</strong> for being the exception! To be honest, this lack of support has made me sick to my stomach. I know songs are expensive at one dollar. Supporting friends and family is hard, I know. I accept that. <em>Expectations versus reality. </em></p>
<p>As a musician, I’m surprising myself. And that is totally cool. But mostly, I’m growing, learning and adapting. I’ve created a unique sound, a new genre, that requires to be discovered. I need to be heard with headphones... set pretty loud. This is <em>feel good music</em>, it was designed to tickle your ears, titillate your brain, move your body and stir your soul. <em>Try it out.</em> </p>
<p>As a musician, I’m slowly making my presence grow on social medias. Starting next week, I’m going to be posting more frequently. On top of my weekly <strong>Philosophy Fridays</strong> column, I’ll post a weekly video of an upcoming song on Wednesdays. Mondays, will be my artist(s) of the week spotlight. Added to that will be a monthly featured album. I’m really excited about this. It gives me the opportunity to share my influencers and teachers with you. Hopefully it will allow you discover something that was missing from your musical life. </p>
<p>As a human being, I want express my gratitude to everybody that is reading this. I seem to have a few avid readers and followers. If that’s you, thank you so very much! I really mean that. <em>I write this for you. </em></p>
<p>As a musician and a human being, I am so grateful to be able to pursue my true passion. To be able to envision making a living with my music. To have the talent to deliver... The world better be ready for me. I’m about to make my presence known. <em>Sexy Funk heading your way!! Get ready to groove! </em></p>
<p>Peace and Love, </p>
<p>Charluxx.</p>
<p>p.s.: Say hi!.. let me know who you are in the comments below!</p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/5814318
2019-07-04T22:36:12-04:00
2019-07-05T20:35:24-04:00
Destiny [Instrumental] now available
<p>The <strong>Sexy Funk Universe</strong> is pleased to announce the release of not <strong>one</strong>, but <strong>two</strong> instrumental versions of Destiny!</p>
<p>The first version, <a contents="Destiny [Instrumental]" data-link-label="Instrumentals" data-link-type="page" href="/instrumentals"><strong>Destiny [Instrumental]</strong></a> is the regular instrumental version without any vocals.</p>
<p>The second version, <a contents="Destiny [Instrumentalish]" data-link-label="Instrumentals" data-link-type="page" href="/instrumentals"><strong>Destiny [Instrumentalish]</strong></a> is the instrumental version with all the vocalizations, <em>but no lyrics, no words.</em></p>
<p>It think you'll agree that listening to these versions will not only give you an appreciation of this song... you'll also discover a new song!</p>
<p><strong>Because, and this is a treat!: </strong>Charluxx tweaked the original to put back the music in the silences that were created for the Choruses. He also played around with the notes and re-recorded passages, then he added an effect on the vocalizations.</p>
<p>You can hear the original <a contents="here" data-link-label="Destiny" data-link-type="page" href="/destiny"><strong>here</strong></a>.</p>
<p>Enjoy!</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/331400/2795fa07f7677350fd91554a3b0f36e77c561357/original/destiny-instrumental-cover.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.png" class="size_m justify_left border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/331400/533e17f3aaa5f53bb93a64e5aee82e37d54a381d/original/destiny-instrumentalish-cover.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.png" class="size_m justify_left border_" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/5808853
2019-06-29T17:09:35-04:00
2019-06-30T05:53:16-04:00
Summer Music
<p><strong>What’s the soundtrack of your summer? </strong></p>
<p>Hi! It’s Charluxx. </p>
<p>Finally, summer is here! </p>
<p>So in this spirit, let’s discuss seasonal music. </p>
<p>Every year, there is a lot of talk about the <strong>song</strong> or <strong>songs of the summer</strong>. </p>
<p>Whatever song the propaganda, er.. marketing machine decides to get behind and put into heavy rotation any given year. There is a complex science behind developing such a song... then it all comes down to business. </p>
<p>Admittedly, there are songs that unavoidably capture that “summer feeling” more than others. </p>
<p>Personally, songs such as <strong>Jimi Hendrix</strong>’ <em>Purple Haze</em>, <strong>Bob Marley</strong>’s <em>Could You Be Loved,</em> <em>Aquarius (Let the Sunshine In)</em> by <strong>The 5th Dimension</strong>, <em>Master Blaster</em> by <strong>Stevie Wonder</strong>, <strong>Nelly</strong>’s <em>Hot in Herre</em>, <em>Uptown Funk</em> by <strong>Mark Ronson</strong> and<strong> Bruno Mars</strong>, do the trick. </p>
<p>However, I’ve always preferred to have a soundtrack of the summer. Every year I seem to gravitate towards an album that ends up on repeat for most of the summer... and more. </p>
<p>Last year it was <strong>Jamiroquai</strong>’s <em>Automaton</em>, the year before <strong>Donald Fagen</strong>’s <em>Sunken Condos</em>. Before that <strong>Daft Punk</strong>’s <em>Random Access Memories</em>, <strong>Manu Chao</strong>’s <em>Clandestino</em> and also<em> Próxima Estación: Esperanza</em>, <strong>Amadou & Mariam</strong>’s <em>Dimanche à Bamako</em>, <strong>The Eric Burdon Band</strong>’s<em> Sun Secrets</em>, <strong>David Bowie</strong>’s <em>Aladdin Sane</em>, and sooooo many others! </p>
<p>It can even be an actual soundtrack. Recently the movie <em>Baby Driver</em> offered an amazing collection of summery songs.</p>
<p>These albums create a mood at a point in my life and stay with me for years. I can always go back to what I was feeling at any particular time by listening to the music that accompanied me then. </p>
<p>It is said that the sense of smell is one of the strongest memories we have. I wholeheartedly agree with that. A smell will trigger a rush of remembrance that is crystal clear. </p>
<p>Arguably, I would put music a close second. For me, music instantly brings me back to the core feelings, the disposition I was in, at that specific time, and let’s me experience it all over again. It is a magical feeling...<em> if you let it be.</em> </p>
<p>There IS such a thing as the soundtrack of our life. </p>
<p>A lot of us have probably thought about what song we want played at our funeral. My uncle <strong>Ernest</strong> died quite young and his favorite song was <em>Space Oddity</em> by <strong>David Bowie</strong>. It was played in church during the memorial service and there wasn’t a dried eye in the place. It shook the 12 year old me to the core. By so doing, revealing another aspect of the power of music. How it connects us, affects us and stir up powerful emotions. </p>
<p>Summer music is like that. </p>
<p>The climate is better. We wear less clothes. We feel lighter. More open. Summer invites a sense of freedom and happiness that music accompanies wonderfully. That is how it slips into our consciousness. </p>
<p>This year, with the appending arrival of my Album’s release (<strong>Sexy Funk</strong>: July 2019) I’ve been spending a lot of time with my own music. </p>
<p>I love my music. I make it for myself. I figure: if I love it, people will too. (It makes me sad when I hear musicians talk about how they never listen to their own music. Not satisfied?) </p>
<p>So, I’ve had the incredible fortune to create my own summer soundtrack. That is a feeling I’ve never experienced before, and it is quite a high! </p>
<p>I recently saw <em>Rocketman</em> at the cinema, so I’m re-listening to <strong>Elton John</strong>, especially <em>Goodbye Yellow Brick Road</em>. Brilliant work! That for sure will accompany me throughout the summer. </p>
<p>That being said, I’m still awaiting fervently and excitedly this summer’s musical discovery that will stay with me for years to come. </p>
<p>Hope you find yours too... and maybe—fingers crossed—it will feature a song of mine, or my album! </p>
<p>Enjoy the summer! </p>
<p>Peace and Love, </p>
<p>Charluxx. </p>
<p>p.s.: share your summer soundtrack in the comments below!</p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/5800093
2019-06-21T22:30:06-04:00
2019-06-22T06:24:50-04:00
My First Album
<p><strong>About Time... </strong></p>
<p>Hi! It's Charluxx.</p>
<p>It’s taking me an awful long time to become Charluxx. </p>
<p>Sexy Funk, my up and coming first album... <em>is actually my second album.</em> </p>
<p>The first, I never got to record. </p>
<p>I started writing music in my 20s. I made an album, wrote all the songs, music, lyrics, played all the instruments with a keyboard that I rented from <a contents="Italmelodie" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://coolopolis.blogspot.com/2016/02/italmelodie-legendary-montreal-music.html" target="_blank"><strong>Italmelodie</strong></a> in Montreal. I recorded with an <a contents="Atari ST" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atari_ST" target="_blank"><strong>Atari Mega ST</strong></a> computer using a <a contents="Music Sequencer" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_sequencer" target="_blank"><strong>Music Sequencer</strong></a> called <a contents="Cubase" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steinberg_Cubase" target="_blank"><strong>Cubase</strong></a>. I put all my ideas on computer disks, recording tape and on paper... and nothing happened. Submitted a song to a Canadian music fund program, somebody stole it (I heard it on the radio a few weeks later.) Played a funky bassline to a musician I knew ...he stole it. I had a crisis. I couldn’t afford musicians and studio. I shelved the whole thing. </p>
<p>The music was always there though. Throughout the years I have recorded a lot of song ideas. </p>
<p>To be quite candid, I felt I wasn’t quite ready yet. I needed to further my musical education. I’ve been listening. Studying. Understanding. </p>
<p>Now I’m ready to unleash. And it is something unique. But the musicality was there from the start. </p>
<p>So, to honor the 20 year old me, I am going to finish and release the album “Blue Sky From The Window.” </p>
<p>I’m also writing a book that chronicles the journey, and showcases all the paintings I did in that productive era. </p>
<p>My second album is already written, so it will have to wait a bit, but might be my third record. There is some serious gold in there. I can’t wait for you to discover it and help me applaud this talented “unknown” musician. </p>
<p>Stay tuned, stay funky! </p>
<p>Peace and Love, </p>
<p>Charluxx.</p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/5793647
2019-06-16T16:33:13-04:00
2019-06-16T16:58:16-04:00
Global (Instrumental) now available
<p> </p>
<p>Hi! It's Charluxx.</p>
<p>Continuing the tradition, where each of my songs will see instrumental releases, comes <a contents="Global (Instrumental)" data-link-label="Instrumentals" data-link-type="page" href="/instrumentals"><strong>Global (Instrumental)</strong></a>.</p>
<p><a contents="Global" data-link-label="Global" data-link-type="page" href="/global"><strong>Global</strong></a> was an early song. I was experimenting a lot with sounds and settings to find my groove. I think you'll agree that it sounds dope.</p>
<p>Next week, a little surprise in store for you...<em> not 1, but 2 instrumental versions of Destiny!</em></p>
<p>Stay tuned my sisters & brothers. Stay groovy. Stay Sexy Funky!</p>
<p>Peace and Love,</p>
<p>Charluxx.</p>
<p>p.s.: <i>And no, my nephew Sam has still not shown any interest in my music whatsoever despite my efforts to create instrumentals as per his suggestion... but then again, none of my family have! So there's that. #disappointed #whereistheloveandsupport? #harshreality #;-)</i></p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/5791268
2019-06-14T00:05:00-04:00
2019-06-14T05:52:57-04:00
“REAL” music
<p><strong>What makes music “real?” </strong></p>
<p>Hi! It’s Charluxx. </p>
<p>A few days ago two acquaintances who shall remain nameless <em>(thanks... Marc et Ian!)</em> said I should play “real” music with them, not “computer” music. </p>
<p>I thought that was rather condescending... </p>
<p>If the “computer” doesn’t make it “real,” <em>stop listening to music.</em> Because all music ends up in the “computer” before you hear it. </p>
<p>I, for one, am so frickin’ glad the “computer” makes it possible. The reason it did not work for me the first time out is because I was poor, and I could never have afforded to rent a studio and record. </p>
<p>Now I can record singles and albums, at home! Sure I mix and master it at a studio (all my money goes there), but I record everything at home. With my “real” guitar, my “real“ bass, my “real” keyboard, and my “real” voice. So what if I pre-mix it in the “computer” and create some cool sounds and effects? That’s my sound! </p>
<p>I could never have done it any other way. So my music isn’t as “real” as a consequence? </p>
<p>How about the message I voice, the catchy melodies, the groovy basslines, the funky guitar playing, the shear range of my voice, the diversity of my style from one song to the next? Not “real?” </p>
<p><strong>What make “computer” music less “real?” </strong></p>
<p>A kid repeats a note on a laptop and sings a made up lyrics song, is that not “real” music (because he’s not a professional?) </p>
<p>Having a musical talent and expressing it electronically and making millions of dollars a year while at it isn’t “real?” </p>
<p>It is as real as can be baby... Not any different that banging rocks together and signing along. </p>
<p>Plus, someone (me) whose sound is so new and is such a perfectionist that he (me again) prefers to compose alone, makes the “computer” the only “real” option. </p>
<p>I’ll find my dream team of players and artists, I’ll find my like minded tribe. I’m inching towards putting together a live Sexy Funk band complete with horns, dancers, costumes, light show, because that’s my sound! </p>
<p><strong>Will my music finally be “real” then? </strong></p>
<p>I love my “computer” damnit, it allows me to be my funkiest best! It allows be to bring on the Sexy Funk. </p>
<p>If you think my music isn’t “real” music, I dare you to relax, put it on, and not groove to it! </p>
<p>Peace and Love, </p>
<p>Charluxx.</p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/5783107
2019-06-07T00:05:00-04:00
2019-06-07T13:27:55-04:00
LOVE
<p><strong>Here’s a secret everybody:</strong></p>
<p><em>We crave the wrong things.</em> </p>
<p>Not everyone, but judging from the current political mess we are in collectively on the planet, a lot of people do not crave the right things. </p>
<p>Here’s an example, see if you recognize yourself: at the end of the day you crave a nice meat and some Netflix or Internet time or gaming session. </p>
<p>Is that you? </p>
<p><em>You crave the wrong things. </em></p>
<p>You subdue your cravings. </p>
<p>Put another way: your pleasure centre has been satisfied thanks to the healthy dose of dopamine you just provided it with by eating and being stimulated by words and imagery. </p>
<p>Like a satisfied stomach, your pleasure centre is full. </p>
<p>No cravings anymore. </p>
<p>Eat less, do not turn on your electric life.</p>
<p>Seek like mended people, seek your tribe: <strong>you belong</strong>. </p>
<p>Have sex with someone you love, if you cannot, treat yourself with kindness, make love to your self. </p>
<p>Take time to be with someone, really be with another person. Communicate honestly and directly, no small talk. </p>
<p>Have fun, dare and be free. Not everybody can. Enjoy it if you still have it. </p>
<p>Organize and change the world. Greta Thunberg is doing it. One person. </p>
<p>Women: have abortions if you need, ask for support, this is a hard thing to go through, do not do it alone, people can help. </p>
<p>Men: (you know who you are) behave damn it! Be feminists too. </p>
<p>Everyone: everybody benefits from equality. We have enough resources, they just need to be redistributed equally. Enough with greed already!!!</p>
<p>Crave freedom, crave life, crave Love.</p>
<p>They are some of the most precious thing we have. </p>
<p>To quote the great Stevie Wonder: "Love's in need of love today."</p>
<p>Tell your friends, pass this on.</p>
<p>Peace and Love, </p>
<p>Charluxx.</p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/5778543
2019-06-03T16:00:33-04:00
2019-06-05T17:38:15-04:00
Destiny is upon us...
<p>That's righty-o! </p>
<p><strong>My new song Destiny is now available! </strong> </p>
<p>This one is my first "different" song from what you've heard so far... </p>
<p>When I played it for the first time to my amazing acolytes Mark "<strong>MusicMan</strong>" Gibson & Pascal "<strong>Atomas</strong>" Lavallée at the studio, they were surprised. This was early on in our relationship and they did not know that my sound was so varied. Now they expect every song I bring them to be different. This is good. </p>
<p>So, Destiny?.. I composed this song in the summer of 2017. It was faster. I was exploring my background as a child growing up in Africa, and of my love of music from around the world. It existed as an instrumental. It was always in the back of my mind... until I got the inspiration. Where it needed to go musically. I wanted a quiet voice, something different from my "loud" voice. I wanted quiet, talked, almost whispered. As a gentle reminder of the way things are and how they can be. </p>
<p>I heard vocalizations in my head, so I recorded them. My voice has a good range. I can sign high, I can sing low. I love harmony, so I recorded layers of voices. </p>
<p>The song features two different instruments for the main melody: a <a contents="Persian&nbsp;Santoor" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santur" target="_blank"><strong>Persian Santoor</strong></a> and a "<a contents="Metal Drum" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steelpan" target="_blank"><strong>Metal Drum</strong></a>" (or more specifically their electronic counterpart). I play all the instruments. </p>
<p>The <strong>Cover</strong> for the single is a stylized <strong>Mandala</strong> I got from <a contents="vecteezy.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.vecteezy.com/" target="_blank"><strong>vecteezy.com</strong></a> (Free plug, but I use their free service all the time. So I think a shoutout is only fair!) I had my photographer <a contents="Danny Landry" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://dannylandry.com/" target="_blank"><strong>Danny Landry</strong></a> take a shot of me doing a Yoga pose. I love Yoga. Exercise for the body and the soul. </p>
<p>I think the intersection of the song and Yoga harmonizes naturally. </p>
<p>(Full disclosure: I'm not a Yoga fanatic, I just enjoy it, simply. I have no special clothes for it. Truthfully, I haven't done it in a while so I want to start doing it again.) </p>
<p>The song is about empowerment and Karma. You reap what you sow. If you are ready, the results will follow. <em>That is destiny. </em></p>
<p><em>The Roman philosopher <strong>Seneca</strong> reasoned that “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." </em></p>
<p>That is what this song is about. </p>
<p>Want to know more? Check out the <a contents="Destiny Portal" data-link-label="Destiny" data-link-type="page" href="/destiny"><strong>Destiny Portal</strong></a> page, where you can read the song's <strong>Lyrics Analysis</strong> and <strong>Music Analysis </strong>and everything else related to the song.</p>
<p>Peace and Love, </p>
<p>Charluxx.</p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/5776023
2019-05-31T23:12:57-04:00
2019-06-01T15:38:35-04:00
The Bass
<p><strong>Why I consider myself first and foremost a Bassist </strong></p>
<p>Hi! It’s Charluxx. </p>
<p>The first time I “got” the bass while listening to music was when I heard <a contents="Stanley Clarke" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://stanleyclarke.com" target="_blank"><strong>Stanley Clarke</strong></a> playing <em>Lopsy Lu</em>. That moment would changed my world. Even though I had no idea at the time, being all of 10 years old. </p>
<p>I asked my dad what made that amazing sound. He told me about the bass and about Stanley Clarke. I had an epiphany of sorts. One of many in my life... a LOT of them music related. More on that later...</p>
<p>The bass is one of those instruments that no one really notices but is essential in music. In modern music the electric bass or its electronic counterpart is used. In jazz the role is played by the upright bass. In classical music the cello and double bass are its equivalent. </p>
<p>The reason the bass is seldom heard is because it is mostly relegated to a background role, along with the drum, part of what we call the rhythm section. Together they create the underlying rhythm, the beat of the song. </p>
<p>Modern music is full of conventions, placing the bass pretty low on the totem pole of instruments is an unfortunate consequence. We discern mostly the guitar, the piano, the keyboard, the singer(s), and even the drum, before we notice the bass. </p>
<p>Another reason for this is because the bass is felt more than it is heard. </p>
<p>The bass is played on the low end of the musical spectrum, unlike the guitar and keyboards, that are mostly on the higher end frequencies. It is easier for us to hear those sounds.</p>
<p>On the dance floors of this world, and thanks to sub-woofers, the bass plays a key role in getting you to groove. </p>
<p>In funk music the bass is a little bit more upfront. </p>
<p>With my <strong>Sexy Funk</strong> brand of music, I mostly put the bass front and center—like Stanley Clarke. It’s funky that way. It’s sexy that way. </p>
<p>For me it drives the song, gives it life and goes straight for your guts. The higher ranges instruments tickle your upper body, your brain, your intellect almost. The bass... well that’s the sexual instrument: it stimulates your core, it makes you move, it can make you horny. As a musician and a composer, I like doing that. A lot. </p>
<p>Here are some of my favorite basslines, and bassists, that you probably know, or that deserve to be discovered:</p>
<ul> <li>
<em>Taxman</em> and <em>Come Together</em> <strong>The Beatles</strong> (<strong>Paul McCartney</strong> is an amazing bassist!)</li> <li>
<em>Rio </em><strong>Duran Duran</strong> (played with funky gusto by the inimitable <strong>John Taylor</strong>)</li> <li>
<em>Good Times </em><strong>Chic</strong> (by the legendary <strong>Bernie Edwards</strong>)</li> <li>
<em>Another One Bites the Dust </em><strong>Queen</strong> (<strong>John Deacon</strong> heavily influenced by Bernie Edwards)</li> <li>
<em>Pump It Up </em><strong>Elvis Costello</strong> (a funky tour de force by bassist <strong>Bruce Thomas</strong>)</li> <li>
<em>Another Brick In The Wall</em> and <em>Money </em><strong>Pink Floyd</strong> (played by über talented <strong>Roger Waters</strong>)</li> <li>
<em>I Wish </em><strong>Stevie Wonder</strong> (<strong>Nathan Watts</strong> at his groovy best)</li> <li>
<em>Know How </em><strong>Young MC</strong> (funky as hell <strong>Kevin O’Neal</strong> on the bass)</li> <li>
<em>Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) </em><strong>Sly and The Family Stone</strong> (by the father of the slap technique that revolutionized modern bass playing and bassist extraordinaire: <strong>Larry Graham</strong>)</li> <li>
<em>Give It Away </em><strong>The Red Hot Chili Peppers</strong> (<strong>Flea</strong> is a phenom!)</li> <li>
<em>Let It All Hang Out </em><strong>The Nails</strong> (by the extraordinary <strong>George Kaufman</strong> on the bass)</li> <li>And last but not least, <em>Dean Town </em><strong>Vulfpeck</strong> (<strong>Joe Dart</strong> is a God!)</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="380" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/user/6cgqhr2a4g42qsp4adjl90529/playlist/4c0KXYrqKHbxr77UIL2x0O" width="300"></iframe></p>
<p>I’m sure I’m forgetting a few very important ones, but these basslines moved me and had a profound effect on my musical upbringing. </p>
<p>So there you have it, thank you to my brother Stanley Clarke for opening my eyes and my ears and laying down the foundation of my funky bass soul. </p>
<p>As an added bonus, bass players are usually laid back cats... and frickin’ cool ?</p>
<p>Peace and Love, </p>
<p>Charluxx.</p>
<p>p.s.: Let me know what your favourites baselines or bassists are...</p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/5767206
2019-05-24T16:37:05-04:00
2019-05-24T16:38:32-04:00
Facts mixing session
<p>Mixing session in progress for my upcoming song Facts... a “duet” of sorts with President Barack Obama ;-)</p>
<p>As always my wonderful collaborator Mark Gibson at the console.</p>
<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="TYrTm2VDH00" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/TYrTm2VDH00/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TYrTm2VDH00?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="540" width="960" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/5766351
2019-05-24T00:07:25-04:00
2019-05-24T05:54:17-04:00
Writing a Song
<p>Hi! It’s Charluxx. </p>
<p>You want to write a song? Or maybe understand how a song is created? </p>
<p><em>Writing a song is easy.</em> Allow me to explain... </p>
<p>When I started making music years ago, I had no idea what I was doing. </p>
<p>I had ideas about melodies and lyrics. I just did not know how to turn those ideas into songs. </p>
<p>So, I got a few songwriting books. All of the books I read explained at great lengths the <strong>AABA</strong> or <strong>ABAB</strong> forms, also known as <strong>thirty-two-bar form</strong>. </p>
<p>To give you a little bit of theory here and explain it better, a “bar” or “measure” is usually 4 beats. You’ve all heard somebody signing or shouting “1,2,3,4” before a song starts or in a song (a good example is <strong>The Beatles</strong><em> I Saw Here Standing There</em>) Repeating 1,2,3,4 four times gives you a bar. </p>
<p>A typical 32 bar form song uses four sections of usually eight bars, so 4 x 8 = 32. </p>
<p>Two sections (A) followed by (B) the “bridge” also known as a middle-eight (because these eight bars are found close to the center of the song) and a return to the familiar (A) section to finish the song. </p>
<p>Each section (A) of which there are 3, can be either a verse or a chorus. The (B) section is used to contrast the verse and chorus. </p>
<p>To better understand this, listen to <strong>The Beatles</strong> <em>A Day in the Life.</em></p>
<p>This song has no chorus so the melody for the 3 (A) sections is the same, and the bridge (B) has a completely different melody:</p>
<p><em><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/331400/3f613bfc60dc967ced0a1cbf9c04827dc51ada6d/original/a-day-in-the-life.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></em></p>
<p>So, that’s what I learned in these books. The rigid structure. The analytical way a song is constructed. </p>
<p>I understood the method, the problem is that none of these books showed me how to apply it. </p>
<p>This is a very intellectual way of looking at something as visceral as music. And in my humble opinion it does not work. </p>
<p>Why? Because musician are artists. We think emotionally. </p>
<p>Yes, most musicians have an understanding of the “mathematical” side of music: notations, pitch, melody, harmony, chords, rhythm, etc. But music is something that you feel. These books were teaching a blind person to understand paintings. </p>
<p>So, a few hundred pages later, I was back to square one. I got the theory. I just couldn’t see the painting. </p>
<p>So... why did I start this article by saying that writing a song is not difficult? </p>
<p>Because it isn’t. Forget books. Writing a song is simple. </p>
<p>Let me show you how to do it. </p>
<p>First think of a melody. Hum something, it doesn’t need to be complicated, whatever comes to you naturally. </p>
<p>A simple way to find a melody is to think of a phrase, for example “I’m going downtown.” Sound it out and come up with something pleasing. </p>
<p>Apply that melody to a few more phrases and you have either a verse or a chorus. </p>
<p>How do you tell a verse from a chorus? The chorus is the “hook” of the song and it is usually found in the title of the song. A verse is something that lyrically leads you to the chorus. </p>
<p>Once you have your melody, think of a second melody. Either elaborate on your first melody or come up with another one altogether. Then find a third melody to be the bridge. Again, think of a phrase and how to sing it. </p>
<p>A good way to create a song is to tell a story. Find what you want to say and think of the words to tell the story. Songs use poetic language to describe things in colorful ways. </p>
<p>Here’s a good exercise to write a song: Write down 8 paragraphs of 4 lines each. The first two paragraphs could be the verse, the second two the chorus, the next two the bridge, the last two the chorus again. Then find a way to sing them by applying three different melodies (the verse, the chorus, the bridge.) </p>
<p>Simple. </p>
<p>When you stop to think about it, all of us have a pretty extensive musical education: we listen to music. You just need to pay attention when you hear it. </p>
<p>Listen to your favorite songs and identify the verses, chorus and bridges, see how they are built. Write down <strong>V</strong>, <strong>C</strong>, and <strong>B</strong> (for Verse, Chorus, Bridge) to make sense of it. You’ll end up with something like <strong>VVCVBCVV</strong> or <strong>CVVCVVBCVVCVV</strong> or <strong>VCVCBVCVC</strong> or <strong>CVCBCVC</strong>. Every song is unique and the structures vary a lot. A song can be many things. </p>
<p>Of course when crafting a song you’ll need more: intros, transitions, pre-chorus, segues, instrumental solos, outros, etc. But that is just technique that you’ll learn and develop along the way to becoming a songwriter. </p>
<p>If you listen and analyze my songs, you’ll notice that my structures vary a lot from song to song. I’m not one to have a formula and repeat ad nauseam. </p>
<p>In the <strong>Daft Punk</strong> song <em>Giorgio by Moroder</em>, <strong>Giorgio Moroder</strong> says <em>“Once you free your mind about a concept of harmony and of music being correct you can do whatever you want.” </em></p>
<p>That quote has helped me become the musician I am today. It allowed me the freedom to develop my music and find my “voice” knowing that it is uniquely me and that it isn’t a bad thing at all.</p>
<p>Hope this helps you!</p>
<p>Peace and Love, </p>
<p>Charluxx.</p>
<p>p.s.: as always, leave your comments below... I'd love to get feedback!</p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/5760467
2019-05-19T18:04:51-04:00
2019-05-19T22:28:31-04:00
Global now out... globally!
<p>Hi! It's Charluxx.</p>
<p>I'm so happy that my new single is now live everywhere!</p>
<p>I'm getting excited because now I have a few songs out there for everyone to sample.</p>
<p>And also because my album is nearly finished! A few more weeks and it will be in your hands... <em>if you buy the CD!</em></p>
<p><strong>I need your help.</strong></p>
<p>The single is called <strong><a contents="Global" data-link-label="Global" data-link-type="page" href="/global">Global</a></strong>.<em> </em></p>
<p><em>I want it to live to it's namesake and go global, go viral. </em></p>
<p>It's my statement of intent, as I sing: <strong>"I'm about to take this Global"</strong></p>
<p>It's a brand new groove in search of an audience. </p>
<p>It deserves a chance to find a home and be heard... </p>
<p><strong>Spread the word, be my friend ❤️ </strong></p>
<p><strong>Please Listen / Love / Share</strong></p>
<p>Peace and Love.</p>
<p>Charluxx.</p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/5758595
2019-05-17T16:58:53-04:00
2019-05-19T18:10:23-04:00
Justice is out... in the form of my new single ;-)
<p>Hi! It's Charluxx.</p>
<p>My second single <a contents="Justice" data-link-label="Music" data-link-type="page" href="/music"><strong>Justice</strong></a> came out a few weeks ago and I've been so busy creating new music that I forgot to mark the release in this news feed. Doh!</p>
<p>This song means a lot to me because of the lack thereof in our world today where the extreme right has taken over so many countries on this wonderful little planet off ours. Brazil, Russia, the Philippines, the provinces of Alberta and Ontario here in Canada, and make no mistakes, the USA has a fascist regime in place with a white supremacist at its head. Just to name a few.</p>
<p>Why is this the case? Because these people are backed by powerful and organized interest groups with nefarious agendas. Like the evil depicted in most religions, they disguise themselves and lure you in with false pretences. They already have all the money. Now they want our soul. They need to enslave us totally. That is the reason behind their rise to power. Only by removing all our collective remaining rights will they feel they have achieved their goal. They start with education and indoctrinating our children. They brainwash the mass by controlling a lot of the medias. Beware of the nonsense and fake smiles.</p>
<p>We need to understand. <strong>We need to stop electing white old men to decide for everyone</strong>. We don't trust our grandfathers to handle or understand smart phones (or TV remotes) yet we elect them and trust them with our future. Seriously people, WTF? </p>
<p>So, what can YOU do?</p>
<p>Do your research. Educate your kids. Read medias that are independent, like <a contents="The Guardian" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.theguardian.com/international" target="_blank"><strong>The Guardian</strong></a>. Double-check the sources. Dismiss what insults your intelligence. <strong>Due diligence is key</strong>. Share messages of love and hope. VOTE. Get involved in your community. Do not tolerate hate, bigotry, sexism, racism. Speak up against it, you will feel better and hopefully make someone understand, wake them up gently but firmly. Vote for women, vote for youth, vote for people that understand and represent your community, vote for "minorities." Do not vote for anyone that takes money from corporations, period (you can find this information the internet.) Together we CAN change this world.</p>
<p>As for me, I'm using my voice, my words, and my actions thanks to my platform as a musician.</p>
<p><strong>Justice</strong> is the first song of many that is uplifting yet carries a strong social message. More songs will follow very soon: <strong>We Got This</strong>, <strong>Facts</strong>, <strong>Resist</strong>, and others.</p>
<p>Stay tuned here: to get alerted to new releases sign up to my mailing list (in the <strong><a contents="Home" data-link-label="Home" data-link-type="page" href="/home">Home</a></strong> or <strong><a contents="Contact" data-link-label="Contact" data-link-type="page" href="/contact">Contact</a></strong> sections) or follow me on my social medias (at the bottom of the page.)</p>
<p>We need social reforms now more than ever. We need to "Rock the boat so we can get some calm" to paraphrase myself.</p>
<p><strong>The artwork for the single is a drawing from a child (a neighbour of my dad's) whose permission I have to use it (thank you!) For me, it captures so much: the lines evoke musical wavelengths, the raised hand that is reaching for Love, the heart breaking off its chains and being set free. </strong></p>
<p>Peace and Love,</p>
<p>Charluxx.</p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/5757802
2019-05-17T00:05:00-04:00
2019-05-17T16:25:54-04:00
Analytical Thinking
<p><strong>(What Goes On Inside My Head)</strong></p>
<p>Hi! It's Charluxx.</p>
<p>If I ask you to define a match, you might take one of several approaches.</p>
<p>1) You might use the purpose method—what it does—and tell me that it is used to light something on fire.</p>
<p>2) You could describe, as if to a blind person, that it is a small and longish stick of wood cut in a rectangular shape with a mixture of chemicals forming a teardrop shape at one end.</p>
<p>3) Going deeper and being more precise you could ad that when struck against an abrasive surface it will trigger a chemical reaction that results with the mixture catching on fire.</p>
<p>4) You might use an anthropological perspective and explain that it is the one true revolution of humankind’s history based on the deeply routed and primal need to harness the power of fire.</p>
<p>5) You could take a philosophical approach and theorize on the importance of this invention as embodiment of a metaphysical constant of the world.</p>
<p>6) The scientific point of view explains in minute details the different chemicals involved and the Newtonian law of physics that states that for every action, there has to exist an equal and opposite reaction.</p>
<p>There are so many routes to take when defining something. In my former life as a graphic design teacher one of the exercise I did with my students is give them a blank piece of paper and a pen and ask them to draw a line. Do not think about it, just draw a line. Everyone draws something different, because in our mind is an image of what that looks like and, this might come as a shock to you, but everybody is different. Every brain is unique. Every soul is who you are. It is who you are and how you are wired by society, your own history, and genetics. </p>
<p>When I think of a match, I think of stable and unstable matters. How they can both be found on one object. However there is a catch, at first both these matters are stable but each as it’s own set of conditions to become unstable. A bit like humans in that a given set of circumstances, state of mind, and a specific stimuli will trigger an emotional or physical reaction. Taken one step further, the fight-or-flight response. I then—and first—examine the “business end” of the match and ask myself how it is made. There is a laboratory somewhere that creates the mixture with a very precise ratio of all the required ingredients. </p>
<p>At this point I should tell you my background so that you understand where I’m coming from as a person. I would describe myself as a self-trained observer. I do have a degree in Anthropology, but I have never worked a day in my life as an anthropologist. I left University partway through my Masters degree. I started working as a graphic designer because I wanted to. I looked, I learned by watching professionals work and documentaries, by reading lots of books and emulating what I liked. I raced cars, I ride an needlessly overpowered motorcycle. I worked as a chef, I worked for IBM, Adobe, Apple, I taught at colleges. As you know, I'm a musician, I play various instruments and compose music. I enjoy music, movies, reading, and video games. From all these experiences I surmised the information that was important and dismissed what insulted my intelligence (to paraphrase Walt Whitman). By now you probably have the notion that I am not a “typical” person. </p>
<p>Back to the match and the science behind it, once the mixture is ready it is placed mechanically on a specifically engineered piece of wood or cardboard whose standardized dimensions are created in a processing plant, from an exact wooden or paper source. It is then packaged, distributed, then sold or given away to be used. The chemical composition is important and it is created to always, and without fail, react the same way. From what I can surmise, there are two kinds of matches: the ones with a single compound, and the ones with a combination of two composites. They have slightly different requirements to achieve the same result. The ignition of the aggregate is achieved by scrubbing the material against the grit of a rough surface, or a rough chemically treated surface in the case of the single compound match. </p>
<p>It is then that the atoms shift and transform from a stable state to an unstable one. The resulting flame then goes through the three phases of life as we understand: birth, life, death. A matter that maters but for a few precious seconds. Molecules are formed from the atoms released from their containment, and quickly change again until they must finally part—always the finality. Things are, and then they aren’t. </p>
<p>This fire becomes the catalyst that sets off the stability of the second matter—the wood or cardboard—that causes it to ignite and itself burn. The difference between the two matters is essential, and they must coexist in order to achieve the desired effect. The wood or cardboard cannot inflame by itself, just as the flame could not persist without the fuel provided. That is the very essence of life. However much we try to fool ourself otherwise, that is the core of society. Our differences makes us be, makes us strong. Love, peace and understanding is what we can gain by contemplating a simple apparatus that is used to either keep us warm, help feed us, or let us see in the dark. Or you can willingly choose the appeal of its destructive powers—you are after all the byproduct of environmental factors and genetics. </p>
<p>One of my “pet peeves” is how some people will go too far back in time to tell you a story, or will use an extraordinary amount of information to explain something. In that context, the story of how I look at a match seems to fall into that category... but really does not. All of the above, it happens in a matter of seconds in my head. The trick in life is to distill that information and impart the vulgarized version of it—when you think of it that is a horrible way to describe the process of making something simple: vulgar. I consciously “go straight to the point” most of the time, it is communicationally more efficient. Imaginably not unlike a volcano that appears calm on the surface but is very active inside. Once in a while a little eruption relives the tension, and I explain my thought process. </p>
<p>The important thing in life is to train yourself to look at things differently, from a variety of perspectives. Think of things, really think about them. Synthesize. Then divulge the essence, the “gist” of it. It might not make you a better person but it will make you a more understandable human being. </p>
<p>All of that goes on inside my head... including thinking about this story, and telling it to you.</p>
<p>Peace and Love,</p>
<p>Charluxx.</p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/5749366
2019-05-10T00:05:01-04:00
2019-05-17T16:25:42-04:00
Justice
<p>Hi! It’s Charluxx. </p>
<p>I recently released my second single <a contents="Justice" data-link-label="Singles" data-link-type="page" href="https://charluxx.com/singles"><strong>Justice</strong></a> (with a lot more to come in a short little while!)</p>
<p>Because I wrote the song about the need to take back control of our collective lives, I decided to do a blog on the state of Justice. </p>
<p>So today I want to broach a big subject: <em>What we have done wrong as an evolved species, as humans.</em></p>
<p><strong>Societal imbalance </strong></p>
<p>The answer to this question is simple: We have abandoned each other. </p>
<p>Nothing more and nothing less, frankly not any better than a lot of other animals. </p>
<p>But, we are supposed to have a huge advantage over the other creatures of the world: intelligence. We created our own world and universe that is frankly mind-blowing. We should have the ability to be caring and compassionate with each other. But we keep hurting each other. </p>
<p>Greed has ruined the earth, literally. As I sing in the upcoming song <strong>Lit</strong> <em>“Justice is rigged, the rich have bought it.”</em> </p>
<p>In a world where just 1% of the population has all the wealth and is in control of the other 99% something has to give. Such an imbalance cannot exist forever in nature, it is bound to fall. We just need to push. Gently but firmly. </p>
<p><strong>Let the numbers speak</strong></p>
<p>I’ll make it clear to you using arithmetics and use Canada as an example because it is where I presently reside. </p>
<p>Let me introduce you to <strong>Galen Weston</strong> part of the Weston family (a long lineage of inherited money), owner of Loblaws (a supermarket chain), and Canada’s third-largest fortune, estimated at nearly $14 billion, Mr. Weston refuses to pay his workers a decent living wage... Much like another poor excuse for a human being: <strong>Jeff Bezos</strong>, the world’s wealthiest person at $160 billion. That is beyond greed. </p>
<p>It got me thinking, if he is the third richest person in Canada, who are the others? </p>
<p>So I did a bit of digging. All of this information is readily available on the Internet. Luckily for us so is most of humanity’s knowledge... we live in an era that could be so wonderful! </p>
<p>In March 2019 <strong>Forbes</strong> released their annual <a contents="Richest People on Earth" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.forbes.com/billionaires/#12fa6906251c" target="_blank"><strong>Richest People on Earth</strong></a> list. There is a pretty impressive number of Canadians on the list: 45 billionaires. The top 10 alone on the list (including Galen Weston) account for around $117 billion. The top 45: $153 billion. </p>
<p>In a country of 37 million inhabitants 1% would be 370,000 people. Think about that. These 45 individuals represent just a tiny fraction of 1% of Canadians. </p>
<p>The 87 richest families in Canada have more money than 12 million people, one third of the population! </p>
<p>What’s interesting is that their fortune doesn’t change much over the years, which means they are holding on to the money, not spending it and definitely not contributing to society. And they hardly pay taxes. </p>
<p>According to various estimates Canada has over $600 billion sheltered in tax havens. </p>
<p>Why are they keeping all this money to themselves? They do not use it and probably never will. How is that good for humanity? It is cartoonishly farcical. Poor people contribute more to the economy. The disparity is so enormous that it cannot be properly illustrated with a chart. </p>
<p>It is the same in your country, look it up... depending where you live of course, some of you don’t have access to this information because of your government’s censure. But, it is mostly readily available. </p>
<p><strong>A story as a metaphor</strong></p>
<p>A few years ago while living in Toronto I was witness to an incredible event. An allegory of sorts for the ills of the world. </p>
<p>I was sitting by a pond that was surrounded by at least a hundred Canadian geese. It was a very hot summer day, yet none of them were in the water even though they wanted to be. Why? There was a magnificent white swan in the middle of the pond. It would violently come after any goose that had the temerity to venture into the water. </p>
<p>I had several thoughts while observing this... </p>
<p>First, if all the geese decided to go in the water simultaneously, the swan would have no choice but to let them. He just could not possibly fight all of them—99 to 1?—and would have had to leave eventually or accept this new reality and share the pond, status quo instated, non violently. But this did not happen of course. </p>
<p>Second, this fable of sorts is the very problem we face in society: we glamorize rich people and put them on pedestals. In general, we dare not question them, defy them or demand equality. </p>
<p>Why? Because of fear. As I sing in my upcoming song <strong>We Got This</strong>, they control the medias and put themselves and their ilks in such a bright light. They are, for all intents and purposes, untouchable gods. These people control the governments. If you try to raise awareness to the plight of 99% of us, they will use the full force of the media to paint you as the aggressor and justify violence against you. </p>
<p>We are indoctrinated to fear and oppose “the other” anyone who thinks differently, has different beliefs, is a different color, etc. This keeps us in check and prevents mass organization. </p>
<p><strong>Demanding justice</strong></p>
<p>Change can be achieved, it can be done. History shows us that such imbalances can be resolved non-violently. When we put our differences aside, united we can change society. </p>
<p>What are we waiting for? </p>
<p>Peace and Love, </p>
<p>Charluxx.</p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/5742467
2019-05-03T22:09:27-04:00
2019-05-04T02:00:49-04:00
Back Next Week
<p>Hi! It's <strong>Charluxx</strong>. </p>
<p>After a two weeks hiatus due to unforeseen circumstances <strong>Philosophy Fridays will be back next week</strong>.</p>
<p>Sorry!!</p>
<p><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/331400/2c14b47839f66d7021073eb6846010a760abece1/original/backnextweek.gif/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_left border_" /></p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/5732932
2019-04-25T22:23:48-04:00
2019-04-25T22:23:48-04:00
Another mixing session for the song Listen To The Crowd
<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="r0vVbxx7nQs" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/r0vVbxx7nQs/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/r0vVbxx7nQs?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="540" width="960" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p>Working on the song Listen To The Crowd after adding +/- 65 tracks of background vocals!</p>
<p>This is the beginning of the song without any vocals...</p>
<p>I added a cool effect from an iPhone app called Hyperspektiv (https://www.hyperspektiv.com)</p>
<p>At the helm is Mark Gibson my amazing mixing engineer and all around cool dude.</p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/5726201
2019-04-19T19:19:46-04:00
2019-04-25T17:54:14-04:00
Activism
<p>Hi! It's <strong>Charluxx</strong>.</p>
<p>I’ve never been an activist. </p>
<p>In this digital age, I’ve supported causes by signing petition and sharing them on my social networks But that’s it. Really. </p>
<p>I’ve never been to a political rally, I did participate in a demonstration once, a march against the Gulf invasion by the USA. I’m not a member of any group. <a contents="Groucho Marx" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groucho_Marx#Personal_life" target="_blank"><strong>Groucho Marx</strong></a> once said <em>"I don’t want to belong to any club that would have me as a member."</em> That sounds about right to me. Truthfully, organizations scare me. I tend to prefer grassroots movements. Fast and nimble as opposed to steady and slow. I’m sure I’m wrong... but I cannot help the way I feel. </p>
<p>Seeing all the terrible things that are happening now on this little planet. Seeing greed and selfishness go absolutely rampant, berserk even. I felt compelled to get of the metaphorical couch and do something. </p>
<p><em>Well, I also wanted to get Isabelle and I a better life... but that’s another story. </em></p>
<p>So, something. What was that something going to be? </p>
<p><strong>Writing</strong></p>
<p>Online, I read the <a contents="BBC" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world" target="_blank"><strong>BBC</strong></a> and <a contents="The Guardian" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk" target="_blank"><strong>The Guardian</strong></a> everyday. I really enjoy The Guardian's columnist’s work (specially <a contents="Arwa Mahdawi" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.theguardian.com/profile/arwa-mahdawi" target="_blank"><strong>Arwa Mahdawi</strong></a>, <a contents="Eva Wiseman" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.theguardian.com/profile/evawiseman" target="_blank"><strong>Eva Wiseman</strong></a>, <a contents="Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.theguardian.com/profile/rhiannon-lucy-cosslett" target="_blank"><strong>Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett</strong></a>, <a contents="Alexis Petridis" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.theguardian.com/profile/alexispetridis" target="_blank"><strong>Alexis Petridis</strong></a>, and <strong><a contents="Gary Younge" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.theguardian.com/profile/garyyounge" target="_blank">Gary Younge</a>.)</strong> So I thought I could write a column myself. Why not? I’ve got a unique voice—because of my upbringing, travels and varied experiences—I’m pretty sure I can write. I think I’m good at explaining things, making them clear. So that would be my way to reach out and try to wake people up. To start something. But my heart wasn’t in it... yet. </p>
<p>I love writing and as you can plainly see, I’m doing it right now. <strong>I will still end up at The Guardian, that’s the goal</strong>. I want to write about experiences and points of views, about injustice and inequality. About us as a species, and to help steer us in the right direction. Start a dialog.</p>
<p><strong>Music</strong></p>
<p>But... I needed a focus. Then the floodgates opened about my music. For years I’ve been making music, but even though I knew it was good, I was missing the confidence to really pursue it. I don’t know what changed but it sure did change. I know where I’m going. As I sing in the (upcoming) song <strong>I Control The Boogie For You</strong> <em>“You might not know where I’m coming from, but you know where I’m going.”</em> </p>
<p>And so, with music as a focus, I found a wonderful platform to reach people and share something beautiful. Beautiful because music touches us, it moves us physically and mentally. It makes us feel good. I want to make people feel good. I want to provide <strong>Aural Pleasure</strong> (another forthcoming song.) </p>
<p>I see myself a no-nonsense kind of person. What I project I cannot control, that’s never been my focus. I just am. So, you can take me or see me as you like, but that’s not the real me. I don’t show that one a lot. You have to obtain my confidence. Not exactly an easy task. I’m a wild cat. Really. I feel closer to the feline species than to most humans. Also I have a tendency to be “in my bubble” a lot... </p>
<p>Ultimately I think those very attributes allow me to have a specific point of view that I can explore through my music and my writings. I’m inviting you in. I’m providing a bit of wisdom—not the bubblegum type I hope—a bit of food for thoughts, and hopefully giving you a different perspective of what’s going on, and what I think we should do collectively to change things.</p>
<p>Peace and Love, </p>
<p>Charluxx.</p>
<p><em>Original image by <a contents="Rawpixel Ltd" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.rawpixel.com" target="_blank">Rawpixel Ltd</a> (retouched by me.)</em></p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/5717236
2019-04-12T11:44:07-04:00
2019-04-25T17:54:31-04:00
For The Love Of Music
<p>Hi! It's Charluxx.</p>
<p><strong>I love music!</strong></p>
<p>Music has the power to transcend borders, age, colors, genders, species and societal boundaries.<strong> <a contents="Ice-T" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.icet.com" target="_blank">Ice-T</a></strong> once said <em>“I feel sorry for anybody who only listens to one form of music.” </em></p>
<p>I love music in most of its forms. Some genres really touch me, some leave me cold, some chill me, some inspire me, some depresses me. Ultimately what matters is the reaction. When we hear new music for the first time we have one of three reactions: like, dislike, or indifference. That is a basic human reaction to everything—or to anyone—new. If we like, or dislike, we have a connection. That matters. The worst reaction is indifference because that is nothingness. Like the saying goes:<em> Nature abhors a vacuum.</em> Indifference is a void that cannot exist in harmony. It isn’t remembered or cherished, it has no existence of it’s own. Unlike love or hate that stay with you because they are strong emotions that we hold close to the heart. They have and add value to our lives, or takes control and destroy them if unchecked. </p>
<p><a contents="Joe Jackson" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://joejackson.com" target="_blank"><strong>Joe Jackson</strong></a> quotes <a contents="Duke Ellington" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.dukeellington.com" target="_blank"><strong>Duke Ellington</strong></a> in the liner notes of his album <a contents="Night and&nbsp;Day" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_and_Day_(Joe_Jackson_album)" target="_blank"><strong>Night and Day</strong></a> <em>“I am an optimist,”</em> says the great American composer <em>“Music is mostly all right, or at least in a healthy state for the future. In spite of the fact that it may sound as though it is being held hostage.”</em> I love that quote. You may not like what you hear, but do realize that someone is saying something. That’s important in and of itself. We owe it to the person to at least listen without judging. To not be indifferent even if we don’t understand. Because one day we might.</p>
<p>As we age our tastes change, they evolve, they rarely stay stagnant. Sure, some people always listen to the same things, it makes them feel secure. I understand that. Just being aware of that fact can open doors though. Keep an open mind. Listen to other types of music. Go into it without prejudice and you might just come out of it with a new understanding, a new appreciation, a revelation. </p>
<p>I will share links to music I find inspiring, be it <em>funk, jazz, hip-hop, classical, blues, rock, pop, folk,</em> and everything in between, around and in the middle. Some music I don’t like or understand, but that’s okay, I’m human. I just make an effort to not be indifferent. To listen. </p>
<p><strong>Here is a useful trick: do not compare what you hear with anything you’ve heard before. Don’t think or say “that sounds like...” Just take it in for what it is: something new and unique. </strong></p>
<p>As for my music, I made a conscious decision to only be positive. I firmly and strongly believe that positivity engenders positivity. I have a hard time with all the negativity, but I do understand the need for it. However, I do not tolerate messages of hate, racism or sexism, that has no place in the human discourse, let’s move past that. I do bring up issues that are important and not nice but I surround them with a positive spin. Like the saying goes, a <em>shit sandwich</em> whereby saying something positive first, then the negative, followed by something positive. It makes the negative easier to swallow, and allows the person at the receiving end to retain dignity. I have used this technique as a teacher, as a co-worker, and now as a musician. It’s important for me to reach out with love and encouragement so that people can feel empowered. </p>
<p>I feel privileged as a musician to explore new ideas, new sounds, new techniques, that to me is the essence of creativity. I often feel like a conduit. When you open the door to creativity you will feel inspired. I wake up with songs in my head. Music and lyrics. Certain spots have a life of their own, be it at work, at home, in the bath, in the shower or walking. I listen to the music the world makes around me. A car going by, a cat meowing, the wind blowing in the leaves, a bird signing. An idea is a spark, it ignites, it burns and spreads like a wild fire in my mind. So much more to come...</p>
<p>Peace and Love,</p>
<p>Charluxx.</p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/5716129
2019-04-11T15:16:09-04:00
2019-04-11T15:16:09-04:00
Mixing session for Justice
<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="Xp_P5YNSDBE" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/Xp_P5YNSDBE/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xp_P5YNSDBE?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="540" width="960" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p>A little preview of the chorus of my next single Justice. I can't wait for you to hear it! </p>
<p>Mixing session by my fabulous sound engineer and collaborator Mark Gibson! </p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/5716039
2019-04-11T14:20:43-04:00
2019-04-11T14:20:43-04:00
The Instrumental version of Gravity is now available!
<p>The instrumental version of Gravity is now <a contents="available" data-link-label="Instrumentals" data-link-type="page" href="/instrumentals">available</a>!</p>
<p>I will make all my songs available as instrumentals. This is but the first one ;-)</p>
<p>Peace and Love,</p>
<p>Charluxx.</p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/5710608
2019-04-07T10:28:38-04:00
2019-04-07T10:28:38-04:00
Mixing session for Listen To The Crowd
<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="69JAdWa2u8c" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/69JAdWa2u8c/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/69JAdWa2u8c?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="540" width="960" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p>My super talented engineer Pascal Lavallée at work on Listen To The Crowd from the Sexy Funk album. Go Pascal!!</p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/5710605
2019-04-07T10:07:32-04:00
2019-04-07T10:13:47-04:00
Recording Session for the song Facts
<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="mRMXsX5qkM4" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/mRMXsX5qkM4/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mRMXsX5qkM4?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="540" width="960" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p>Recording the back vocals under mood lighting at Kindo Studio for the song Facts with my amazing singers Isabelle, Maude and Serena! I love you ladies ❤︎❤︎❤︎!</p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/5778391
2019-03-26T13:55:00-04:00
2019-06-03T13:59:37-04:00
Gravity Mixing Session
<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="ZsU2nPMjyhQ" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/ZsU2nPMjyhQ/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZsU2nPMjyhQ?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="540" width="960" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p>The dynamic duo of Mark Gibson and Pascal Lavallée—my awesome engineers—mixing my first single Gravity, from the album Sexy Funk out May 28th 2019. </p>
<p>Kindo recording studio, Cowansville, QC, Canada.</p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/5691246
2019-03-24T10:14:40-04:00
2019-03-28T16:07:35-04:00
Gravity Single
<p>Hi, it's <strong>Charluxx</strong>.</p>
<p>The time has finally arrived... and I am beyond happy!</p>
<p><strong>Gravity</strong>, my first single is out and will be available world wide on <strong>March 28th 2019</strong>.</p>
<p>You can already purchase it <a contents="right here" data-link-label="Store" data-link-type="page" href="/store">right here</a>.</p>
<p><em>This is the achievement of a lifetime of dreams.</em></p>
<p>I have been working hard on my <strong>Sexy Funk</strong> album since September 2018. Gravity is the song we selected to be the first single.</p>
<p>I really hope you like it and I can't wait to hear your comments.</p>
<p>I created the single's cover as a tribute to <strong>Herbie Hancock</strong> and one of my favorite albums of all time: <a contents="Head Hunters" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_Hunters" target="_blank"><strong>Head Hunters</strong></a>.</p>
<p>I used an African mask that I've had since I was a child growing up in Cameroon. I created the logo to be a play on the word gravity.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/331400/d60987068e731746b408bd86186ee4963981d7a7/original/img-6079.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_right border_" /></p>
<p>Gravity is a good teaser for the album. <em>The other songs will blow you away!</em></p>
<p>Peace and Love,</p>
<p>Charluxx.</p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/5778390
2018-11-28T13:55:00-05:00
2019-06-03T13:52:35-04:00
About my logo...
<p>Hi, it's Charluxx. </p>
<p>I wanted a logo that was unique, represented me well, and was also a call to action. </p>
<p>So I started with the shape of the XXs and made them into a representation of two human figures with their left arms raised into the air. This was inspired by the iconic photograph of <a contents="Tommie Smith " data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.tommiesmith.com/" target="_blank"><strong>Tommie Smith</strong> </a>and <a contents="John Carlos" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.johncarlos68.com/" target="_blank"><strong>John Carlos</strong></a>' podium victory celebration at the <strong>1968 Olympics in Mexico City</strong>. They followed in the footsteps of <a contents="Jesse Owens" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.jesseowens.com/about/" target="_blank"><strong>Jesse Owens</strong></a> in their silent, graceful and powerful protest. These three men are giants and their message is of paramount importance, even more so today. <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/331400/495f8e1fa39e55c3636b96128fe36e032025d835/original/mexico-city-olympics.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_right border_" /></p>
<p>Their's was a defiant gesture, much like<strong> <a contents="Colin&nbsp;Kaepernick" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://kaepernick7.com/" target="_blank">Colin Kaepernick</a></strong> kneeling for the National anthem (a BIG shoutout to Colin, my man!) It was a political and social statement. It was against injustice, against racism. It was for unity. It was a call to action. </p>
<p>On a lighter note, I then used my two favorite colors, purple and red (more on that in a forthcoming post.) </p>
<p>The XXs are touching and overlapping each other equally, they are united and are stronger that way. </p>
<p>I also wanted them to stand alone without my name attached. </p>
<p>For the font, I used <a contents="Agency FB" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agency_FB" target="_blank"><strong>Agency FB</strong></a>, one of my preferred fonts. I find it slightly quirky, distinctive, and dynamic, qualities I see in myself. </p>
<p>I call my logo <strong>UNITY</strong>: that's what it means to me. </p>
<p>I hope it inspires you. </p>
<p>Peace and Love,</p>
<p>Charluxx.</p>
<p> </p>
Charluxx
tag:charluxx.com,2005:Post/5696101
2018-11-28T00:08:48-05:00
2019-06-03T14:07:32-04:00
Philosophy Fridays
<p>Hi, it's <strong>Charluxx.</strong></p>
<p>My favorite class in University was Osteology.</p>
<p>Well, I shouldn’t say it was my favourite class because it was hell... The first time we went in the bones lab—literaly surrounded by hundred of skulls, complete human skeletons, and thousands of bones and teeth—they’re was a blackboard on which the previous group had written “L’ostéo, s’pas rose”... in pink (that's French for "Osteology's not rosy"). </p>
<p>The class lasted two years and it boiled down to one single exam.</p>
<p>After two years, I knew more about bones and teeth than most doctors do.</p>
<p>The class was HARD, but it did contain my favourite times in a school environment... Our teacher, Ken, used to visit us once a week— there was only eight of us, and rarely there at the same time—on Fridays and he would talk with us about everything, fashion, politics, music, current events, and so much more.</p>
<p>A few Fridays into this after we had talked for a few hours he got up and said: “I love our little philosophy Fridays.” He was cool. He was older than us, he had a brown and grey beard, wore mostly brown sweatshirts with blue or white shirts with ties. He was stylish like an uncle in the old movies. Unasuming is how I would describe him. He also change my life. Made me appreciate the attention to details, of sharing stories, talking things thru and trying to make sense of the world. </p>
<p>I want to tell you stories, I want to hear yours, I want to know about your passions, I want to challenge you, I also want to talk philosophy.</p>
<p>I want you to look forward to my postings and having our time together.</p>
Charluxx