Christina Malley

A lot of prep and a whirlwind trip back to the Motherland....

Lectures to create, a dissertation to research and write, additional research for artist development and a Substack/podcast slowly trundling away, in addition to all the usual life stuff. Something had to give and it was the content creation for Instagram. It will be coming back but in a more streamlined way so that I'm not chasing my tail and creating the same thing over and over again for a variety of platforms. More on that soonish.

In the meantime, the Artist Audit workbook is still available for free on my website: Autumn is an ideal time for it.

Thinking about square sausage, tatty scones and dark choccy Tunnocks…

Festival season is done for another year making way for touring season (which is all year round but whatever). I love working with artists in this aspect of their development & craft. Gruelling, knackering & energising, artists can learn so much about themselves and their art. The best but is meeting up after and seeing what’s come of it all.

What yours are you looking forward to this year?

Just me looking ahead to a couple of days away in the sunshine...

There may be content shared, but there may not be. Let's wait and see shall we.

The summer months can be a weird time for artists and creatives. Unless we have festivals booked or project work lined up, it can feel like a bit of a creative wasteland. With that in mind, please see this post.

"The precise role of the artist, then, is to illuminate that darkness, blaze roads through that vast forest, so that we will not, in all our doing, lose sight of its purpose, which is, after all, to make the world a more human dwelling place."

James Baldwin will always be the tonic needed when lounging/floundering in the creative soup.

Mildly interrupted service: still building and creating but at a more leisurely pace..

I approached the summer holidays worried that there wouldn't be enough to do in the enormous near 7 weeks that the kids are off school. I've now realised that l've booked days out, trips and catch-ups back to back for pretty much the entirety of the summer hols. Nice one Christina.

As a result, something needs to give which will likely be SM posting. I will still be bringing solid doses of helpful truths to support your creativity and music, but it will likelv be a little slower in pace and relaxed in production quality.

I am now excited for September which is when I next have free time…

I love Alain De Botton. Honest to god. Swear down. 100%. Do you know what I mean? Swipe for cheese-specific life/creativity advice.

From "Reasons to Be Hopeful", this little excerpt reminds us that it's the little things that stand between us and giving up. If you think philosophy isn't for you and freaks you out (very understandable), De Botton's writing is a wonderful way in.

(At time of writing, I have 6 different cheeses in my fridge, 2 of which are French, soft and stinky. Bliss).

"I always thought I was intellectual about what I do, but I've come to the realisation that I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing half the time." David Bowie, 1984.

If r Day can comfortably state this in the year of my birth, then you can throw together a release plan for your tune on Soundcloud and see what happens.

Morning morning! Not every occasion you sit down to/with an instrument needs to be productive, career-focused or even good. Childlike enjoyment with no string attached will just do just fine esp after such a stormy weekend. I found my piano grade books so I’m gonna dust off Grade 6 Schumann with no fcks given and see how I go…

Happy to report that, in this case, seeing your heroes was as nourishing as you'd wish it to be.

Useful and insightful tweets for this Monday morning.

The sun is back so I'm going the park. Again.

Got the opportunity to see Bruce Springsteen last night which was gratefully received. I'm not a particularly committed fan (beyond admiring his backside on my dad's copy of Born in the USA) but Christ, what a full-on gig that was. 7-10.20pm of non-stop music, energy & performance. The fact that the Boss clearly loves what he does runs off him in waves which you can't help but be swept up by. Honourable mention for Silvio aka Steve Van Zandt resplendent in purple paisley.