Hello and welcome to Vol. 26 of The Underground Binder-Clip Society.
I’ve got this nasty habit of not unpacking for weeks after arriving back in town. I already have two “clothes chairs,” so the floor becomes a third. I also have a hard time unpacking my brain whenever I blow back into town. I can get really disoriented when I lose my routines. Last week, I wrote about letting go. This week, I am writing about picking up.
Both letting go and picking back up are necessary for survival. This week, I pulled it together. I got the clothes off the chair (and the floor.) I did a few loads of laundry. I did the dishes. I vacuumed. Washed my sheets. Had some recording sessions. I visited with friends. Sat outside. Read. Listened to music. Made some phone calls. And started getting some summer shows more solidified.
Now, Sawyer Norman is in town and in the kitchen cooking us eggs. Thank God. His soul blesses mine. We are trying to record four songs this weekend—at least get them started. I told him I’d rather record a handful of songs for him to take home and keep working on than make one super-polished thing. He obliged. I am hopeful to see what additions get made with the folks in Greenville, SC, and wherever else collaboration comes from. We are trying new methods.
I am trying to get my band together for these summer shows. Find a way to fit all our junk in a Subaru Forester. I am making money and spending it. Buying tools and pizza slices mostly. Trying to save some. I am enjoying my days. I have little time to be worrying. I get to just do. This is the season that I am in. I am tilling my garden. Tidying up. Trying to bring order to the galaxy.
Here is an incorrect and unsaintly paraphrase of St. Augustine:
Pray like God will answer.
Work like he wont.
Here is the actual thing:
Pray as though everything depended on God.
Work as though everything depended on you.
…
Godspeed, and take care of yourself.
Yours Truly,
Jake Smith
Here are this week’s “Quick Clips”:
* My New Song Deep End Came out last Tuesday!
* In the spirit of tidying up, here is a Pedro The Lion song called “Clean Up.”
* I saw Andy Squyresplay live last week at the Rabbit Room Manor, right outside of Nashville. I got to meet him and buy a CD. He is a nice fellow, quite funny, and full of great songs of hope and lament.
* While at the Rabbit Room Manor, I also picked up a copy of Every Moment Holy: Vol. 3 which has been so rich and life-giving to me this past week.
This newsletter is free, but you can buy me a coffee by becoming a paid subscriber. You’ll gain early access to unreleased music, videos, and extra posts. Or buy merch!
Shoot me an email if you want to work on music, remote or in-person, here in Nashville, TN.
You can also email or call just to say what's up.
<3
