HIGHLY RECOMMENDED W/ COLE MITCHEK OF SMALLSONGS
* Providing the A's to the 5 HIGHLY RECOMMENDED Q's today is Cole Mitchek of smallsongs — a video series with stripped down performances on the streets of different cities, featuring a whole tonne of indie artists you’ve heard and never heard before.
#1 - WHAT IS THE ONE ALBUM (OR EP OR SONG) THAT YOU THINK SHOULD BE THE VERY NEXT MUSICAL THING THAT EVERYONE PRESSES PLAY ON THE NEXT TIME THEY FIND THEMSELVES THINKING “WHAT SHOULD I LISTEN TO NOW”?
This upcoming Wednesday 5/18 the New Orleans legend Julie Odell has a brand new single coming out called "Caterpillar." I can't wait to hear it. I know that a whole lot of people have been waiting a while for news like this from her. So get ready for it.
I had the honor of shooting a small song with her a little over a year ago on a canoe in New Orleans. The video is here and the "Caterpillar" pre-save link is here!
#2 - WHAT IS THE ONE MOVIE OR TV SHOW THAT YOU THINK SHOULD BE NEXT IN EVERYBODY’S NETFLIX QUEUE (OK, DOESN’T HAVE TO BE NETFLIX, WE’RE ALL INTERNET ADULTS HERE AND KNOW HOW TO FIND ANYTHING ONLINE, ONE WAY OR ANOTHER)?
Go back and watch "City Lights" by Charlie Chaplin.
As a movie lover and movie maker, most of my cinematic inspiration comes from Charlie Chaplin. I've got a tattoo of him on my forearm. His movies are obviously funny, but he'll make you cry too. It's all there. Don't be afraid of old movies. They're not boring. They're super entertaining.
#3. I (AND BY “I” I MEAN “THE PERSON THAT IS READING THIS”) AM GOING TO THE LOCAL BOOK STORE (OK, MAYBE THE LOCAL LIBRARY FIRST) TO FIND THE VERY NEXT BOOK THAT I WILL BE PUTTING SOME EXTREMELY VALUABLE ‘ME-TIME' ASIDE FOR. WHICH BOOK WOULD YOU GET, IF YOU WERE ME (AND, I SUPPOSE, YOU HADN’T ALREADY READ WHAT YOU’RE ABOUT TO SUGGEST)?
I want to read more books. The one author whose writing style always keeps me turning the page is Charles Bukowski. His sentences are short and succinct and also profound. He gets to the point, cutting through anything unnecessary. He's intentional.
Right now I'm reading "Factotum" and the first book of his that I read was "Ham on Rye." They're both great.
#4 - WHAT IS THE ONE WEBSITE (OR JUST ANY OLD INTERNET THING: APP, GIF, SERVICE, WHATEVER) THAT YOU WOULD GET REALLY DOWN IN THE DUMPS ABOUT IF IT WERE TO SUDDENLY GO AWAY?
As the dad of a toddler named Elliott, Disney+ is a life saver. You've got all the Disney and Pixar movies and all the classic 2D animated Disney Cartoons of old and more. Elliott's currently obsessed with "Encanto" and the song "We Don't Talk About Bruno."
The television and other screens aren't so bad. There's some nice lessons and inspirations that come from these types of movies and shows. Disney+ is a plus if you've got a kid, in my opinion.
#5 - AND FINALLY… PLEASE GIVE ONE COMPLETELY UNAIDED RECOMMENDATION THAT YOU THINK EVERYONE SHOULD START DOING / USING / WATCHING / EATING / THINKING / QUITTING / ETC-ING TO MAKE THEIR LIVES A LITTLE BIT MORE BETTER AND/OR BEARABLE.
Hmmm... That's a good open question. My unaided recommendation to you out there reading this is to keep creating. Keep doing your art. Share it with the world. Even if you're not making a living from it. Most of us aren't. Stay inspired. It's important.
Go do that thing that you've been wanting to do for so long and make it happen, even though it's scary. It's worth it.
OK folks, there you have it. Things that Cole Mitchek of smallsongs thinks you should consider incorporating into your day/life. Before you log off and go do that thing, make sure to follow smallsongs on the Instagram / Twitter and then go do a deep dive through all the great videos that smallsongs has already posted…
