I’m very excited to announce that I will be contributing a track to Compassion Action’s CD compilation entitled “Life Support”. The funds raised from this CD will support Compassion Action’s work in suicide prevention. To make it even more exciting, the CD will also feature a song by Sarah McLachlan!!

For more information, please check out http://www.compassionaction.ca/news.html

But we all know that lots of people these days get their music online, so for you folks the time is really drawing near!

Now…the recording and mixing is, for most intents and purposes, done. We’ll call that “Folk the System” version 1.0. But there is one song (Thank You China) that I’m toying with the idea of adding something a little extra on, but I’m not sure. So, there may be a version 1.1 or there may not…

So what I’m going to do is release the downloadable version 1.0 in my upcoming Pre-Launch Funding drive. If there is a version 1.1, everyone who orders version 1.0 will automatically get the update when it’s done. Easy peasy.

So, I’m proud to announce that I will be launching the online version of Folk the System on May 25th!!

At that time, you will also be able to pre-order physical copies of the CD, as well as original paintings, drawings, handmade t-shirts, guitar-string jewelery and other merchandise to help me fund the physical CD replication!

Keep an eye out here at mikeaube.com and the following social media for details:
http://www.twitter.com/mikeaube
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mike-Aube

Though my partner and I have already had some inspiring successes with this, we still find ourselves in a financial hole that sometimes seems hopeless. It is tempting to get lost in despair when you try and try to make ends meet but your situation looks worse than ever.

But despite this, I try to feel everyday like I am already a great success in whatever I do. I know in my heart that by being aligned with the natural abundance of the universe that I will be successful, that all my needs will be filled and more. But I also know this doesn’t happen automatically. I have to put myself in a position where I can give exceptional service and be compensated fairly in return.

In my business training, I’ve learned that you need multiple sources of income for your business to survive. Unless you’re exceptionally lucky, you can’t put all your eggs in one basket. So, in addition to singing and songwriting, I just want to remind you of some other services I offer – guitar lessons and Reiki. You can find more information about them in the links at the top of the page. Don’t be shy – give me a shout if you’d like more information about them (I even have a great introductory special on Reiki, so get in on it while it’s on special).

By keeping my attitude focused and putting myself out there, I can make a big difference in the world and shape my life to suit my needs (and you can too!!)

This week’s open mic at Just Us! (April 11) will be extra special as the theme will be “Chick Songs”. I will be attempting to play my entire set with songs written by, or traditionally performed by women. This will include songs by Sheryl Crow, Joni Mitchell, Gillian Welch and more! Come by and check it out from 7-9!

Today marks the 24th consecutive day that I have been wearing a tie as I was looking for work. (As you’ll notice, I slacked on posting pics of this adventure, but rest assured I didn’t miss a single day of wearing one, even on lazy Sundays when I lounged around in my housecoat and tie, much to the chagrin/amusement of my gal).

Well, I can now say that the campaign was a success as I was offered a job a few days ago (YAY!). But I’m going to keep wearing those ties everyday until I sign the contract in a week’s time. But now that my first training shifts are scheduled, I’ll spill the beans a little and let you know that I’ll be working at the Nova Scotia Liquor Commission. A fine day job for a songwriter, fer sure…

I’ve also begun some updates and edits to my website, so feel free to browse around and check out what’s new and what’s coming!

This is a song I wrote a few years ago, and was even a candidate for my 2009 album “ClusterFolk”. But I rarely ever play it because 1) it’s a downer and 2) I often thought it was not “my song to sing”. It’s a song about a female character who has lived a hard life and “did what she had to do”, and so I thought it might be more authentic if it were sung by a woman.

My recording engineer once sent it to a friend of his in Hawaii to give us some feedback on the recording quality and he basically said, “It sounds great, but I’m not big on songs about dead hookers in the snow.” And so that kinda confirmed my fears that it was not a marketable song for today’s landscape.

But it has always nagged at me because I consider it to be one of my best pieces of songwriting, at least from a “craftsmanship” standpoint. And so I’m putting it out there and hoping to get some more feedback on it…

What do you think? (let me know in the comments below!)

PS I am wearing my tie in this video, under the sweater.

I rarely ever call myself a “musician”. But I do call myself an “artist”. Why?

I don’t call myself a musician 1) because I’m not particularly focused on becoming proficient on musical instruments and 2) that it’s limiting – I do more than performing music. Granted, it’s part of my job as an “artist” to gain a certain level of proficiency on guitar, vocals and whatever other instrument I might play to put forth my songs. But because it’s not my sole focus, I am not by my definition a musician.

I am an artist because I create. I write songs to communicate, to soothe, to stir up shit, to make people laugh and hopefully to inspire.

It’s been said that every artist is, in part, a con artist. We get paid to do what any 6-year old can do, so sometimes we have to get creative about “marketing”, as much as we all hate that word. The fun comes when your “con” is indecipherable from your art. This thing I’m doing with the ties is an example. Some might see it as a scheme, a gimmick, a way to draw attention to myself. But it’s part of the art. It’s part of the con. It’s my life, good, bad and ugly.

I’ve been aware of the potential of using affirmations like these to bring about positive change in one’s life, but it hasn’t been until recently that I started to put them into consistent daily practice. This along with visualization and truly feeling grateful for the blessings in my life have really changed me for the better. I’m less stressed, more confident and more productive than ever before. “This could be the start of something big” – yeah, that’s a Bart Simpson quote…

Got outside for the pics too

Had a great gig at the Trellis Café in Hubbards on Friday night. Not much happening on the job-hunting front, but still feeling positive that Wednesday’s interview was a winner.

Now, simple pictures of a guy in a tie can get a little stale, so we’re having a little fun this weekend. A gig pic from the Trellis, some Mickey Gillis, Sunday in my bathrobe and tie, a “head shot” and a kitteh photobomb. Enjoy!