July 23, 2018
The Value of Going Camping.
I am not really an avid outdoors person, but I do value Nature in its many forms: the human contoured backyard gardens that my wife and I have created for our own daily enjoyment, the common spaces further afield such as Provincial Parks where we can all have access to places and geography that are not in our own backyards, and the great spaces set aside by Federal governments for the enjoyment and good of us all on grander scales preserved by visionaries who also appreciated what Nature can bring to the health and enjoyment of all of us.
Although we have daily access to the space we have in our own backyard, and it is a space of calm and beauty for our spirits and minds, there is something worthwhile in the process of planning and managing a camping excursion. Each summer we have planned and enjoyed several excursions to our Provincial Parks in Ontario. Our first forays were to pretty civilized campgrounds with a lot of amenities. It was a good start for us as we learned what we needed to manage a few days away from the comforts of home. We became a little bolder last year and went to a site that was a little more off the beaten path of mainstream campers. We even tried a trek into the wilderness, to see what it might be like to venture even farther into Nature. This year, we returned to a Park with more amenities ;)
July 23, 2018
The Value of Going Camping.
I am not really an avid outdoors person, but I do value Nature in its many forms: the human contoured backyard gardens that my wife and I have created for our own daily enjoyment, the common spaces further afield such as Provincial Parks where we can all have access to places and geography that are not in our own backyards, and the great spaces set aside by Federal governments for the enjoyment and good of us all on grander scales preserved by visionaries who also appreciated what Nature can bring to the health and enjoyment of all of us.
Although we have daily access to the space we have in our own backyard, and it is a space of calm and beauty for our spirits and minds, there is something worthwhile in the process of planning and managing a camping excursion. Each summer we have planned and enjoyed several excursions to our Provincial Parks in Ontario. Our first forays were to pretty civilized campgrounds with a lot of amenities. It was a good start for us as we learned what we needed to manage a few days away from the comforts of home. We became a little bolder last year and went to a site that was a little more off the beaten path of mainstream campers. We even tried a trek into the wilderness, to see what it might be like to venture even farther into Nature. This year, we returned to a Park with more amenities ;)
July 23, 2018
The Value of Going Camping.
I am not really an avid outdoors person, but I do value Nature in its many forms: the human contoured backyard gardens that my wife and I have created for our own daily enjoyment, the common spaces further afield such as Provincial Parks where we can all have access to places and geography that are not in our own backyards, and the great spaces set aside by Federal governments for the enjoyment and good of us all on grander scales preserved by visionaries who also appreciated what Nature can bring to the health and enjoyment of all of us.
Although we have daily access to the space we have in our own backyard, and it is a space of calm and beauty for our spirits and minds, there is something worthwhile in the process of planning and managing a camping excursion. Each summer we have planned and enjoyed several excursions to our Provincial Parks in Ontario. Our first forays were to pretty civilized campgrounds with a lot of amenities. It was a good start for us as we learned what we needed to manage a few days away from the comforts of home. We became a little bolder last year and went to a site that was a little more off the beaten path of mainstream campers. We even tried a trek into the wilderness, to see what it might be like to venture even farther into Nature. This year, we returned to a Park with more amenities ;)
"New Thinking
For A New Year" Audio Messages
A Few Thoughts On Collaborations
by Darren Gibbons
I’ve always had a love of music. From listening to my parents records when I was a young boy growing up in the late 70’s early 80’s...to being moved, enchanted and amazed by the soundtracks in films. Music from western films, film noir detective films, Adventure, science fiction, comedies and Horror films. I loved them all. And it’s something I love to try to recreate as a hobbyist musician.
I can’t really say I have a favourite style of music as I Will listen to and try to embrace most styles. Although, modern songs, musicians and bands lately have not had an impact on me as ones from the past did.
I think it was when I had my first electronic keyboard for Christmas when I was 10 years old, that I began to try to write my own little songs. The keyboard had a built in drum pad and various instrument sounds and I would have hours of fun with it. I’m pretty sure I was making a right racket..but in my mind it sounded fantastic. :-)
That progressed to a better keyboard and my first guitar. I taught myself basic chords and learnt over the years more and more..while upgrading to better instruments and equipment. Again, I preferred to make up my own little tunes and songs than learn “covers” of songs.
I bought a 4 track tape multi track recorder in the late 1990’s and it was amazing to be able to record properly for the first time. I then progressed to a digital 8 track recorder..before finally buying a PC which enabled me to get into computer recording using a DAW. Today I use a MAC PC and my DAW is Logic Pro X. I’ve enjoyed learning more about music production and it’s an ongoing learning process.
Over the last 5 years or so I had been more interested in instrumental songs and I had bought various music software libraries, many of which are orchestral or sound design in nature, as I love that sound style. But it was when I joined the “MP3 unsigned “website, 2 years ago, that I started to get back my interest of writing my own normal songs again. A lot of that was down to the amazing collaborations I have done with some of the artists on the site. And listening to the many varied styles of music on there..which got my interest in listening to new music again. The music on this site is more original than most commercial music today.
There’s no doubt if it wasn’t for the great people I have met and friends I have made on “MP3 unsigned “ I wouldn’t have done these collaborations. People like, Terry Wigmore, Keith Allen, Ray Brookes, David Joel Carter and others have all been kind enough to work with me and it has given me a lot of confidence in my songwriting and musical ideas. Terry Wigmore was the first artist to help me out. I was reluctant to ask for help, as I didn’t think other artists would be willing to help me ( going by previous experiences) but I couldn’t have been more wrong.
MP3 unsigned is a fantastic music website, it’s community on there are so friendly and helpful and if you make the time to contribute to the site by listening, leaving comments, giving advice and voting for others songs, then you’ll get the most from it and you’ll make some good friends and have opportunities for some exciting and fun collaborations. That’s what it’s all about. Sharing music and helping each other.
And that’s what I intend to continue doing. :) Thanks!
Darren Gibbons - Northamptonshire, UK. August 2018
* click here for Darren on mp3unsigned.com
