Music isn’t just about sound, man. It’s about the whole experience? How does it make you feel? What does it make you see? And, most importantly, how does it sound?

I used to paint a lot when I was younger. Really pumping still life was my bag, like Vinny Van Gogh crossed with Paul Van Dyk. I lost a lot of my stuff after the divorce (I used Corn Flakes for a lot of my pieces. My ex poured milk on them in a fit of rage). Still, I’ve found a few that I hope you enjoy.

Bob Dylan Fish
This answers the age-old question of whether Bob Dylan would still be as good if he was a fish.

jus’ thinkin’

This is some concept art I put together for my first album (pending release, pending writing, pending album deal. Nearly there!). As you can see I’ve tried to establish the idea of the world and a person in it. My music primarily deals with these two issues: people and the world.

I try to hint at this in my song ‘People and the World’…

People and the World (Words by M Barker, Music by dunno)
People and the World
People and the World
People and the World
Yeeeeaaaah.
x15

I figured that if I covered people and the world in my lyrics, I’d essentially be writing a song about everything, and it would automatically be better than even American Pies by Don McLean. But then I started thinking spacially, and I had to write a follow-up, but ‘Aliens and Animals and Space etc’ just wasn’t as catchy, man.

Looking back at it though, it’s a little bit cryptic. I should’ve taken a leaf out of Eiffel 65′s book and just sung about a Picasso period (I loved their ‘Massacre in Korea’ B-Side).

I’ve been spending a lot of time thinking about people who are worse off than me. Namely, everyone who hasn’t been touched by the power of music, and everyone who has been touched by the power of the music of Bono.

It’s not that I don’t respect Bono as a man – I do. I’d have just done his music differently. For example, his song ‘One’ I’d have done like this:

Juan (Words by M Barker)
Is he getting better?
And is he still from Spain?
You’ll have to make it easier, mainly,
The rain falls on the plain.

Chorus:
Juan Lopez
Juan Lopez
And it’s Juan’s dream in the night.
He said:
“Ay senorita, est tu mama tambien.
Ay senorita, est tu mama tabien.”
But I can’t keep holding Juan.

Just a little snippet from an earlier 90s idea I wrote on the back of a bus ticket…

That’s not all I’d change about Bono’s lyrics though. In the song ‘Elevation’ I’d change the chorus from ‘Ooooh’ to ‘Upppppp’ because that’s consistent, and it’s one thing that he’s lacked over the years.

I took a week away from the hustle and bustle of the online internet in order to get back to nature. My mate bought me a gallon of organic cider and I ate some raw meat, then sat down and attempted to really nail what I was feeling. Rather than a classic, I just felt ill and vomited all over the kitchen sink. Hardly ideal, but I think I read somewhere that this is a how Brian Eno got started so can’t complain too much. Mopped up both in the kitchen and playing slots online too!

This weekend I’ve got the kids for the first time in a while. Struggling for things to do. Might teach Eric 7 how to play the guitar. Sally has a good singing voice, so perhaps we could be the first father-daughter-son band since… well, ever!

I’m sure their mother will find fault in this plan somewhere.