Soda Sundays: Evan's Weekly Blogs

Soda Sunday Thirty Eight

Justttttanotherrsodaaasundaayyyyy (sung like that monday song).

So.... read read but prepare to sleep sleep because you're going to need your rest this week. First thing tomorrow AM we're giving away "starbucks girl" via tweetforatrack.com which means that most likely within the next 12-24 hrs you'll be listening to the mp3 and be able to take it anywhere(and send it anywhere) you want! If you love it THAT much you can buy it on iTunes when its available.

oh, right. so you'll be re-tweeting the SHIT out of the link though right? cause the more downloads, the faster my album gets out!(i'm actually quite serious)

Tuesday am we're keeping you fresh with the full HD video on YouTube. it'll be easily findable by going to www.starbucksgirl.com anytime, anywhere, on any browser so I hope you're ready to watch! (i guess what I really hope is that you enjoy it). We worked INSANELY hard on the video, Laura Mende and Emilio Martinez in particular as well as Matt Ruggeri and I couldn't be happier. The few friends I've shown it to think its our best video yet which makes me super stoked! Big thanks again to The Village Bakery and Cafe' (dot com) for letting us use their amazing location.

Lets get the video a million plays by valentines day, whadda ya say??? I'd bribe you but you already know I've got goodies for you anytime we hit thresholds like that so just rock it for me would ya?

We've got some cool things coming with a twibbon(wait for us to hit you with the art/contest etc....) and who knows WHAT'LL happen next week on uStream so I'm feeling pretty fucking excited.

I guess my mind is very very focused on Starbucks Girl right now(which is RARE for my usually psycho adhd self) but I just wanna make this shit explode! Lets take Swiftmas and trump it.

what else what else. had a ridiculously great conversation today that made me feel superb. bottom line is this, the night it darkest just before dawn, and what we've got coming this year is going to put em all down for good. (what the fuck is he talking about?) I'm not entirely sure myself, I'm just glad I'm about to take any and all signs of stagnation that have accumulated over the past 5 years and smash them so violently with a sledgehammer that the repercussions may be felt for perpetuity.

thats all I got. CAPS LOCKED

GET READY
Evan

Soda Sunday Thirty Seven

Soda Monday????

Yes yes I know I'm getting bad at this. maybe it should become Soda Monday. Or Soda Saturday. It's just gotten slippery and tricky for me to settle down after the uStream and actually gather my thoughts properly enough to tackle the blog on the level of greatness I feel you deserve.

I'd say that the Grammy's, Obama, the iPad and other news items seem to be making this week giant but the truth is that the one item really buzzing up my forums and our family is:

"Starbucks Girl"

some of you LOVE. some of you HATE. some of you REALLY REALLY hate. and btw, I'm cool with all of that! I just saw the first cut of the video and i'm fucking STOKED to release it(iTunes 2/9!!) We're going to need YOUR help big to make this shit take the crown from "Merry Swiftmas" and since I'm not ready to be remembered as a country artist the rest of my life I'm really counting on us to come through!

February isn't just short and sweet, doesn't have only Valentines day chocolates and lots of pink, but it will mark the beginning of the W2BLC 2.0 push. I'll admit, it was right around this time last year where we were gearing up to take "Boy Meets Girl" head first hard to radio and I was preparing for glorious triumph over the entire music business but the results were unfortunately a little less than my ambitions and after being successfully smacked down we've collected, planned, retreated and prepared to attack from another angle. This time, they'll never know what hit em. See, the one thing I'll give myself credit for is this, if I want it, I'm never giving up. NEVER. I don't give a FUCK about statistics, about how hard it is, about the chances, about if people think I'm crazy or not. I'm not stopping until my record is huge and we've finally gotten what we wanted! "Swiftmas" "Starbucks" "Pumpkin Pie"

sounds like a Martha Steward special or something but instead its my 1..2..3.. punches of "Hi, I'm Evan, nice to meet you" :-)

good news is this, we'll back it.

anyway, not sure whats up this week other than getting the SG vid uploaded and ready to spread like wildfire and then conspiring where we go next from that point. They'll be a behind the scenes as always, the remix contest 2/16 and more but I'm just stoked!!

Has been fun, I'm just glad that out of my down time came two new songs that we get to mess with,
Love,
-Evan

Soda Sunday Thirty Six

In a SPECIAL edition Soda Sundays Thirty Six I decide to get all VIDEO on you.
Enjoy it!!

well... CLICK ME DAMIT

Soda Sunday Thirty Five

Soda Sunday(Monday) Thirty Five

I dunno why 35 was my sports number as a kid but I always loved it. 35's no 27 or anything, but I have a profound appreciation for the number. Even Mike Mussina(who unfortunately left the orioles to become a yankee) wore it proud.

Whoa, some cray shit is going down on my scanner. Anyway, sorry I slacked on this week's soda sunday. truth is, I was kinda spent. this week was filled with planning the SG video, getting all the mixes for the record finalized as well as prepping to master the whole thing tuesday(cause we changed songs etc etc we gotta redo it!)

uStream was fun, glad you guys have been vocal about how to make it amazing for ya! Also, it's been fun playing covers and unknown songs of mine though I don't want to get into the doing covers thing on video. it seems like so many shitty artists cover songs on their Youtube and it never really does anything except further spread bad music! ha, sorry. in a dick mood.

About to hop on a call with Apple to discuss our wonderfully exciting "Starbucks Girl" Garage Band remix. It's insanely cool the shit you can do with the song in that app, I couldn't believe it myself hearing like tempo and key changes along with replacing the parts with other loops. have fun! we're working on a cool ass prize for ya so just hold your breath for a moment.

It's raining like crazy outside, feels like the world is ending but there's something amazingly calm about watching it from my house. I kinda wish the world was ending sometimes, not in a evil kind of way, I mean I love you all and don't want anything bad to happen...just saying it feels oddly calming to think of the day this whole shenanigans just turns off. Scientifically speaking, I'm under the belief our present universe is a rapidly expanding plane of existence created when of some form of energy on the most subatomic infinitesimally small level (whether it be atoms smashing or god or whatever you want), now the only issue is that if we're existing in that universe we have to understand that it should and probably will at some point cease to exist or in a instant(faster then you can image) will collapse back down to the state it was in before it was created.... at that point everything will end. so like, I guess what I'm saying is fuck the small stuff. lines suck, drama is drama, friends are tiring, love can hurt, but just remember you're lucky to still be here and call your parents and tell them you love them right now!

hmm.... I think I'm going to go buy some shit. I don't know why that calms me, its a terrible habit but I suppose it beats heroine.

Your weird mooded love,
Evan

Soda Sundays Thirty Four

Soda Sundays Thirty Four:
Yes yes I know its monday, and yes yes I know I tweeted that I might be late on this one but I wanna be able to keep it fresh. Like, if I force it the SS blog will lose its unparalleled level of ground breaking journalistic excellence. I mean, Sallinger & Taubenfeld have become synonymous with writing in its purest form.

Anyway. Finished "Starbucks Girl" shit is mixed and mastered! I couldn't stand waiting for my peeps to come up with the cash to pay JR so I decided to do it myself. I mean after all, I'm kinda a producer right? So why pay someone to do my job.....(The answer is objectivity btw, and I firmly believe that collaborations with talented people almost always result in better outcomes, but in this instance there is a urgency for me to wanna put my song out and I just don't care about who does it as long as its great). Anyway, as posted on twitter I made some artwork for the single last night and we're gonna shoot the video this week so look out! "Starbucks Girl" is officially coming(after ALL the talky)

"Pumpkin Pie" sounds ridiculous, Serban absolutely killed it and now that Bucks, Best Years, & Pumpkin Pie are finished we're finally able to put this baby on track for a release(soon/soon/2010) hehehehe...

What else..... I went to the beach this week. Don't worry, I didn't tan or swim or any of that wack bullshit, I simply read my book on a towel and ate pretzels(although it was on the sand so that counts) Not my cup of tea but I'm learning that things you don't enjoy can be very pleasant if the company is right. I mean, isn't that what relationships are after all? Making big compromises because you love someone, and then in return it sometimes turns out that you enjoy the things you did out of compromise. Who knows actually....

Youth In Revolt was awesome! Its like awkward silences stuck in concentrated form and sprinkled with the deep thoughts we all think in hormone driven romances. Arclight rocks so hard for letting u reserve seats, I don't think I can see movies anywhere else anymore. Its just I don't do lines. Can't. Never. If I become a billionaire I'm going to hire people to wait in line for me, or if I get really frustrated I'll just buy the place I'm waiting at and make everyone leave!

This doctors office is horrid, its like a satire of bad doctors offices in shitty areas with weird paint and tiles, awkward nurses and old chairs. I feel like I'm in some third world clinic or something(and that's definitely not true of my present situation). I think its just the fear of anonymity that kills me in waiting rooms and lines.

My phone broke which has been nice! Haven't been able to make or receive calls which has been fantastic! Sometimes its nice not talking to people for a few days!!!

Anyway! They just called my name. Gotta bounce, Love you all
Evan.

P.S- I'm counting on YOU to make "Starbucks Girl" pop! Get your mind workin on how.....

Soda Sunday Thirty Three

Soda Sunday's Thirty Three

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Even though it's 3 days past I'd still like to wish you a wonderfully happy new year! Obviously, by now you already know that this is our year. We WILL be taking over, and the best part is...that is happening very very soon.

Think about the domino's analogy I use often, or more graphic it's like a gun. In it we've got "Starbucks Girl" "Pumpkin Pie" "The Best Years Of Our Lives" "The Story Of Me And You" "Evan Way" & the rest of the album. It's like "Boy Meets Girl" was a little blow that got their shields slightly deteriorated, "Merry Swiftmas" finally penetrated but didn't kill and now that we've finally got a shot at the linchpin we're gonna not use a bullet but a fucking nuclear bomb over and over and over and over.

Sorry, not trying to sound deranged or over aggressive, its just I'm really really excited. I'm not often excited like this but it reminds me of exactly how it felt before Avril released her first record. The calm before the storm, the pieces slowly lining up, and now, its up to you guys. Ultimately all my hype ass bullshit, statements, plans, whatever mean nothing, you guys will either like my shit or just think its O K. I can't really control anything else other than to try to do my best to make sure I make everyone a believer!

Apple iPod Hi-Fi was a wonderful purchase as was my Dandy Banana, new end table, tic tacs, chain link wine holder, and a large bag of packaging peanuts. If you aren't aware I'm one motherfucker of a shipper. My shit goes out so locked and loaded. Flight simulator kinda sucks so I'm switching to X-Plane cause its all Mac based, its amazing how fucked PCs are.

"Violent Female with Mental Illness" just came on the police scanner, I can't help but think its someone I know. HA!

Quitting things is hard, if you decided to give up something this year just remember this. ALL addictions can be broken in 14 days. (I'm not sure if thats actually true, I mean Dr Phil says it takes 7 steps, other places say 5 phases, or whatever).... but just remember this, you can do it! I PROMISE you can. I PROMISE it's going to be worth it, i PROMISE you're going to be SO fucking stoked and if you just BARE with it for the short short little while now you'll be infinitely happy for a long time to come.

I can't chew gum, it kinda sucks.

Erno Rubik needs a comeback hit for sure.

Wikipedia wants my money, and I want my mattress fixed.

Baltimore Ravens victories still feel like losses. I wonder if the rose bowl flea market is open next week. Driving friends to the airport isn't that bad if you love them and understand that they'd do the same for you.

Soldering and heatshrinking is much harder than you think, take a moment to really appreciate the usb cables in your life, they're works of art.

Gladwell's newest book kicks ass and I'm off to Zankou.

I'm back, We're taking over, and they ain't NEVER gonna see us coming. be stoked BLCers, its our year.
I love you,
Evan

Soda Sunday Thirty Two

What a remarkable end to the wonderful holiday,
though I must admit I'm pretty disappointed that AIM has become obsolete for my peers.
what happened? I remember those magical days on AIM in high school, misread texts, stalking your crushes etc etc. I guess its all replaced by facebook and twitter so I'll back it. I just don't like the facebook chat, its weak. iChat kills, especially for videoing while traveling(which happens to be always) so I can't see some shitty webchat app taking over just yet.

Vaporware awards were also a big let down this year, perhaps its cause Duke Nukem really is dead and gone or maybe its just because there weren't very many exciting titles listed in there but either way i'm over it. I read a far more interesting article last night about the 10 most bizarre deaths and i think that'll be my new year end treat.

New Years plans? I dunno. I've never been a big fan, I don't hate on it, just don't get all geared up. To me, gimme like a Wagyu Filet & Lobster Tail and a good house party with close friends and I'm happy, don't need the giant rager at some wacky club with shitty parking and sloppy peeps. not sure what'll happen this year, I'll keep you posted.

Got a wonderful Ron English "Dandy Banana" screenprint (#1 of 100 actually) as well as his Abraham Obama sculpture(the black one!) what nice additions to the house. My black x-mas tree is coming down in a day or two along with the antenna's on my roof so as 09 closes lots of change.

I've been enjoying my solitude this week and its giving me time to rest up for what I can tell is going to be the most important year of my life. I guess it's like 2001 all over again where opportunity meets preparation. lets just hope the last decade will suffice as satisfactory ammo in the metaphorical pistol of being prepared. I don't wanna aim too high but I'm hoping to close the year with a grammy nomination, 3 top ten songs, a vma or two, & some more platinum records on my wall. I know I know, I could add more but I wanna keep it simple. Stay focused ya'allllllllllll

Here's what I can tell you for sure. In 2010 I'll be releasing "Welcome To The Blacklist Club", I'll be touring around the world and coming to play a show near YOU. You'll also finally get to see some amazing predictions come true and also learn what the fuck Etz are.

it's going to be fun! don't worry, the uStreams, Videos, and other shenanigans will be back in full force and won't STOP!

See you in 2010.
Evan

Soda Sunday Thirty One

Soda Sundays Thirty One.

It's like our little snowball just keeps getting bigger and bigger!
the "Merry Swiftmas" song has over 450k plays on YouTube, the official video which we launched earlier this week ALREADY has 40k views(even without a Taylor tweet), not to mention that we got love from CNN, AOL, Yahoo, E!, People, MTV, CMT, Bop, Popstar, & dozens of other newspapers from cities around the country. To top off the little cherry(or in this case I suppose metaphorically I should say the hat on our snowman) I found out "Merry Swiftmas" is the #59 country sound and #74 pop song in the US! Not a bad little joke song turned serious right?

Don't worry, if you're concerned that it'll goto my head relax. I think the small amount of attention this has gotten us has only made me even more self deprecating and aware that my job, this whole music business thing, etc.etc is just one big comedy! I'm just glad I find it funny because it could be really frustrating if not.

I'm on an airplane on my way back form Lansing MI where I played Snowstock last night. I slept 3 hours, left my house @ 4am, airport, flight, connection, flight, drive, dinner, interview, show, drive, hotel( 5 hrs sleep this time!) airport, flight, connection and flight(that's where we're currently). this week brings a number of final fun phone interviews, radio call ins, and whatever else we can drum up before my little x-mas jams shelf life officially expires for the year! Not a whole lot of x-mas songs getting played in january and on :-)

The show was awesome though, kids were singing all the words to Merry Swiftmas, Cheater Of The Year, and Boy Meets Girl which was fucking awesome because I only played those 3 songs(well, I was in and out of like 15 covers cause of my on stage adhd but it was fun!) Just watched "Tyson" on the plane which if you haven't seen I'd HIGHLY recommend. I always like Tyson for his antics but never realized that the guy is a fucking artist. He's his own worse enemy but he's a real live artist, the purest kind. On the flip side of movies on the fight out I watched "Talhotblonde" which I'd highly recommend you never see, and infact, don't even waste your time watching the trailer. Its the real life story murder/mystery that could be told in 10 minutes stretched over an hour and a half. Lemme help you. "Jessie" is actually "jessie's" mom. shocker(only you see it coming the whole way).

I'm listening to Hans Zimmer's "Roll Tide" quite possible the best instrumental 8 minutes of music around.

What else I got? hmm. x-mas parties, gift shopping(which for me is easy since I have almost no friends and those who I really love know I don't like gifts), and a week or solitude! Its my favorite time of the year. I usually spend dec 23-dec30th alone in my house reading by the fire, reflecting, writing journals, doing misc shit around the house and just centering myself for the year to come. I can't wait! this year feels oddly well smooth as it winds down (usually I'm cramming like 50 projects into the last week of the year) and I guess it feels good to see some hard work finally pay off. Its funny, I can see what 2010 has in store, I wont spoil it. but I'm very fucking excited.

Can't wait to hear your entries into the Swiftmas song contest! I missed the uStream due to weather on the east coast delaying our flight :-( but I made it up by giving away "Love/Hate" !! Dude, I love WBR, they kick ass, but god damn they'd kill me if they knew I'd given you guys 4 songs on the internet and told you to run wild with them! lucky for us major record labels have no way of figuring this kind of shit out because by the time they understand what we've done it'll be 6 months from now. :-) so have fun!!

"Rest Stop" by Matchbox 20 just came on my iTunes. great song. reminds me of my first traumatic heartbreak post high school when everything I knew and loved(all of it) went off to different places and phases and I stayed behind in Baltimore to pursue my dream. Also it marked the official end to that wonderful period of my life and everything it represented(enter "Best Years Of Our Lives")... It was the darkest most confusing lonely period of my life and I could barely make it minute to minute but I always knew it was all in the name of blind love and the pursuit of my art and hell, it feels really good to be where I am this minute. Don't worry, I don't think I've made it, I don't even consider myself successful yet, but I definitely now know I was and have always been on the right path and that is a really special thing. Anyway, for whatever its worth, if you can't see light at the end of the tunnel(whatever tunnel you may be in) I promise you if you don't give up that one day it'll all be clear and you'll be rewarded greatly for your diligence. You only lose if you quit, and that my friends is why next year like it or not, I'm taking over the fucking world.

I love you all,
Evan

Soda Sunday Thirty

Soda Sunday Thirty

Wow, Soda Sundays turns old today....
oh well, good things this week.

I mean, for starters "Merry Swiftmas" at present is over 250k views on YouTube. The official video premiers tomorrow on AOL but then head over to our YouTube to check out the "uncensored version" immediately after! I can't explain how stoked I am on the success of the song, and how excited I am for you to see the video.

I've been waking up early as shit again to do radio phoners which has been more entertaining than ever due to me being pretty sick all week. I'm finally getting over it but have a 6am interview, 2pm acoustic performance, studio until 8 and then a holiday party. If I survive tomorrow I'll be a happy man.

Ironically the greatest gift I could have gotten for x-mas was having a song I wrote and threw together so quicky get all "viral" before year end!

Anyway, whats up this week? We got back the mixed "Best Years Of Our Lives" and its fucking AMAZING!! I can't wait to hear "Pumpkin Pie" which should be tomorrow, stay tuned via my twitter etc to know how whats going. "Starbucks Girl" went off for approval and we're putting some final pieces in place before I go record it with a badass(thats all I'm saying). It's gonna be big, I promise that.

Rest of the week is gonna be fun, finishing up some songs so we can get to you immediately next year and then also heading to Michigan on saturday to play an acoustic show! Thats what I get for opening my mouth on the air, they called me on my bullshit and now i'm flying...

Bought a mega millions ticket, this baby is potentially worth 111 million. If i win I don't think you'll get your soda sunday next week(although I'll be back soon enough). haha. Truth is, friend asked me what I'd do if I won and I said "what I do now" Thats fucking beautiful. I really hope you can all make choices and work hard enough to get to that place in your life. Maybe I'm lucky, maybe its perspective, but i love my job, i love my
friends, the rest is cake.

Texting will be the death of all relationships. A wise lady once told me that(she was a therapist) and I really think she's right. There's just way too much left to interpretation and also too much time for overthinking once something is digested incorrectly. I'm more hopeful than ever but I'm more scared too. I suppose all that matters in love is trust. real love with pure trust would not contain anything other than enjoyment, it just takes a while to reach that place but I fucking hope you all do. fuck, I hope I do.

Anyway, off to send a friend off to conclude 09 sun style. Sushi Dan gettin in ME BELLY asap

Did I mention Merry Swiftmas is on iTunes. C'mon! GO GET THAT SHIT! Call EVERY radio station you know! BLCers, if we're taking over the world we gotta step it up for years end,

Love,
Evan

Soda Sunday Twenty Nine

Soda Sunday Twenty Nine

Not to brag or anything but I'm writing this blog from my very comfortable plush leather seat aboard the Gulfstream IV we're on right now. Avril took some time away from finishing her record to come raise a bunch of money for Mexico's yearly Telethon Concert and I was honored to be a part. It's always a blast to get back on stage with her, just reminds me of all of the fun times we've had over the years. Anyway its been a crazy day, woke up at 5:30 am after finishing my newest concoction in the wee hours of the morning. went to Van Nuys airport for a 7am departure and landed in Mexico City just in time for lunch. spent most of the day soundchecking, trying to nap and enjoying explaining to the mexican starbucks barista that a "Americano" is not a decaf coffee with water in it. Anyway, we rocked the shit out of the show and got back to the jet by midnight, we're currently somewhere over mexico eating stale chips and guac. I'll be back in my warm cozy bed by 5am making it a wonderful 24hrs of insanity.

Last night, after rehearsal Av played me her entire record and all I can say is that you're going to lose your fucking mind. It's safe to say that next year is her year and I can't wait until you guys get to hear the amazing stuff she's done. One thing is for sure, she's the best singer I've ever heard, I'm just insanely proud of how good it is.

I'm shooting a video on tuesday(more on that to come later). as well as finishing some cool new movie song and getting the mixes of PP and Best Years finalized! Also, "Starbucks Girl" got the thumbs up from everyone after my latest round of tweaks so now we go record the master and the rest will be cake. I couldn't be any more relieved to be finished that song, and ironically, I think the muse herself is probably relieved(but I can only speculate).

Speaking of tomorrow's uStream I can promise you one thing. you don't wanna miss it. Not only will I perform a VERY special song but you MAY just get a surprise.... only time can tell. be there, tomorrow, 2pm PST 5PM PST--> http://tinyurl.com/etustream

Are you all feeling festive yet? I got my x-mas tree all set up, new ornaments and all! This is also the first year that I haven't been completely annoyed by my neighbors psychotically obnoxious monstrosity of a x-mas tree that towers 30 feet into the air and is viewable from all angels(even the fucking 101 dude) and instead am enjoying the buildup to my fireplace, a book, and 48 hrs sans blackberry. I dunno if I'll be in pure solitude this year(which would be a deviation from the last 3 years of x-mas for me). I'll let ya know!...

Who will you kiss on new years? start thinking now, or more importantly start planning something important you can have as a resolution and not give up on too easily. Anyway....

I've been lining up dominos for 5 years now and monday, I will flick the first, only time will tell. See you tomorrow!
Love,
Evan

Syndicate content