Recreating Tiny
In my experience, two things happen as soon as I complete a creative project I'm proud of:
- I want to do it again
- I can't
I don't think I'm alone in this. How many bands have struggled to follow up on that breakout debut album? Why are movie sequels often so much worse than the original? It's a great feeling when everything comes together creatively, but it isn't something that can be manufactured.
A year ago, I made a tiny album of Christmas music. The inspiration came on a whim after a creative dry spell. I recorded it quickly and liked how it turned out (I still like it a year later, too). It was well received by the people who listened to it. So, of course, I immediately planned a follow-up. And then, I struggled with that idea for most of 2024. I tried a few ideas but couldn't get any traction with the project, and I didn't like the music I was making.
In the end, the creative spark for Tiny Hymns came in much the same way as the first one - with the idea to incorporate a unique instrument (this time an old Magnus chord organ) and a vision for the album cover. The rest followed pretty quickly. I spent three nights recording and mixing with my iPad and a collection of favorite instruments. When I was done, I had six minutes of music to share. If you’d like, you can stream it on YouTube or download a free copy from my website.
Tiny Hymns isn't Tiny Christmas because nothing could be. But I think it's a worthy successor - short, sweet, and a little rough around the edges. Sometimes, the only thing to do with creativity is give it time.
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