The Talent is Timeless Austin, Texas meet-up
*Blog contribution by Sidney Stephens & Ian Pederson
SIDNEY STEPHENS
First and foremost, it is a wonderful, great, and fantastic thing to be part of a music community. I’ve been writing and playing for over thirty years but just recently started joining groups and socializing with other artists.
My personal story is turbulent with years of alcoholism and depression and a ten year hiatus of quitting music altogether. It was music that unequivocally helped me recover. I finally started branching out and projecting acceptance to new opportunities. I’m now overcoming my shyness and introverted personality and experiencing an entirely new world.
I still don’t understand the great mystery of why some introverts choose to completely expose their vulnerability and deepest personal thoughts on an open stage, but we do.
Austin was the town I chose to develop in the mid nineties. After a few years, I left for Nashville. I loved Nashville. I learned and made some great friends. I moved back to Austin in 2005 to be near my wife’s supportive family. There’s a saying,“You can put kittens in the oven but that don’t make em’ biscuits”. (In this context, it means a Texan will always feel the need to go back to Texas). Raising a family and providing obviously took priority, but the absence of my creativity gave rise to other issues I never could have predicted.
I would assume many members of Talent is Timeless have similar stories or just have an empty nest without all the particular drama. Many are returning to and rediscovering their love of making music after building their lives outside of music. Whatever the case, it is a great opportunity to share and grow as a songwriter and musician.
Saskia Griffths-Moore is behind the fabulous medium for the predominantly middle aged inspired musician. A much needed community for over the hill, self proclaimed rock stars such as myself. It’s also a wonderful venue for normal people who write songs too, if there is such a thing.
I set out early from my home northwest of Austin to battle the construction zones and gridlock traffic in which I am highly accustomed. If you don’t know, Austin is currently experiencing growing pains due to its massive and sudden spike in popularity. The day was full of sunshine and a much needed reasonable 85-90 degree heat. Puffy white clouds floated through the blue Texas sky as if Fall had prematurely arrived. The intense Summer had just temporarily dropped its flaming propane torch from the heavens. I was excited and slightly nervous, and happy to respond to the Talent is Timeless invitation on Facebook.
Of course my left sided art brain was confused by the Google map as I stood at the railroad tracks, navigating magnetic north and scanning the condos for signs that matched the description in the email. I eventually had to admit my defeat and ignorance and call the number that was conveniently provided. Darden Smith promptly returned my call and politely asked, “Do you have the directions?” I did, but was somehow suddenly illiterate and distracted by the inaccurate, mischievous little red dot on my phone. Eventually, with his help, I wandered around to a different street and found the correct door. It’s always nice to instill my first impression as a complete idiot who can’t decipher simple directions.
Darden Smith is an accomplished Austin based artist, author, and songwriter that was kind enough to agree to let us invade his private studio. And what a fantastic studio it was. Perfectly comfortable for tedious business while simultaneously beholding to the warmth of small gatherings and creativity. The walls tastefully decorated with fine crafted artwork by an assortment of artists and a welcoming piano resting on a customized soundboard stage built by Darden. Nothing says you’re in a better place than a piano made of wood and steel strings. A worn Gibson guitar next to the computer desk and a Howlin’ Wolf vinyl record on the turntable, ready to breathe raw life into the airwaves at the drop of a needle.
The hosts were gracious and kind. Soon the ragtag crowd of songwriters all arrived and gathered in a circle in the small room. Well, the overexaggerated large crowd was actually just two well mannered songwriters from the surrounding Austin area and myself (being professionally underdressed, as usual, sporting a t-shirt that read, ‘Never underestimate an old man with a drum kit’).
Jeannine Higgins, Ian Pedersen, and I were comfortably seated with guitars tuned and ready. Saskia started it off, paving the way for the settling of nerves and breaking the high ceiling atmosphere with melody and tone, bringing Darden’s beautifully worn Gibson to life. I especially enjoyed her song, ‘Soon’.
As previously decided, Darden was busy working on his computer behind us while the group traded observations, philosophies, songs, and stories. Occasionally, he joined the irresistible conversation of fellow ponderers, haphazardly neglecting his business duties.
Artists. What can you do?
We took turns with a free and easy conversation about ourselves stating where we were from and how we discovered the group. I believe we all shared the commonality of entering the contest through Facebook. We all enjoyed listening to Saskia’s covid lockdown origin story and the current, exciting development of Talent is Timeless.
Photo: Saskia Griffths-Moore, Jeannine Higgins, Ian Pedersen
Jeannine played next with her heartfelt song about visiting her father, but not really visiting her father, drawing heavy emotions and contemplative lyrics. Ian followed with a song about his mom in her final days of life and dementia. He was happy he could play it for her before she passed. I sang one about my personal Nashville songwriter experience that led to an interesting discussion about the origins of inspiration and different elements of the music business. Darden spun around from his obviously excruciatingly boring computer screen, filled with numbers and squiggly lines, and told us about an experience with a professional songwriter friend in Nashville. He said he was informed that they aren’t looking for songs necessarily, but ideas. A songwriter is a craftsman that can build a song only from an idea.
Somehow the conversation turned to expectations and such. I explained, half joking, that I am continually pessimistic, to which Saskia pointed out that pessimism is often just realism. But optimism gets more accomplished since it relies on the openness of delusion and allows opportunities to be discovered and obtained. I said, ‘yeah right. I’ll believe it when I see it’ (No, I didn’t really say that). I think we could all see the former gifted therapist come out in Saskia. I believe it was collectively appreciated. I personally do love a real and meaningful conversation.
Overall, it was a wonderful two hour meet and greet and performance opportunity. I’m grateful to be included and wish the best for everyone. I hope to see Talent is Timeless grow and continue to offer future opportunities for each and every one of us and many, many more.
Songwriter websites
Darden Smith
Jeannine Higgins
https://www.jeanninehiggins.com
Ian Pedersen
https://www.ianpedersenmusic.com
Sidney Stephens
And of course, Saskia Griffths-Moore
IAN PEDERSON
“On Tuesday, September 17th, I had the pleasure of attending the Austin Meetup organized by Saskia at the beautiful Darden Smith Artist Studio in Austin, Texas. Thank you, Darden, for sharing your inspiring space with us. It was a truly welcoming and creative environment that fostered openness and friendship.
Saskia kicked off the event by sharing her inspiring story of Tenant Is Timeless. We then took turns introducing ourselves and sharing our music. Saskia’s performance of “Soon” was particularly memorable. If you haven’t heard it yet, I highly recommend checking it out. It’s a beautiful and emotional song about love. Jeannine Higgins also delivered a stunning performance of “Be Home For The Fall,” which was filled with heartfelt emotion. I was even delighted to hear Saskia adding harmonies to Jeannine’s song near the end. Sidney Stephens wowed us with his song, “Started out forever young, but damned if I got old,” which resonated deeply with me. I also shared a personal song I wrote for my mom, “Catch me when I fall.” I’ve never experienced such a talented and inspiring song circle before.
It was a fantastic day, well worth the 2-hour drive. I made new friends, met Saskia in person, and had the opportunity to meet Darden Smith, whose music I greatly admire.
Thank you again to Saskia for organizing this event, to all the members who attended, and to Darden Smith for sharing his amazing studio with us. It was a truly memorable day.”
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