When I leave reality and return to the mind (end the meditation), things still seem clearer and more centered than the pre-meditative world.

Many people struggle hard to get to this state, however it seems to come naturally for me, I think its because for a long time I have been practicing it when I write. I generally have to be 100% focused and in the moment to perform well, and also to write new material.

It’s interesting being an artist because your ego, always wants to take credit for all your work. I think though all truly great art is devoid of an author, and that song writing is a state of mediation, much like what I have be practicing, the music flows though you and there is little you can do to interfere with the melody when it comes to you. The clearer the state of mind, and the more present you are the less editing is required post.

The theme song to “Late at Night” “Rhythm of Life” came to me entirely in one sitting with complete lyrics. “Fail with me” came in two sittings. I find if I need more than a few sessions to write a song its best abandoned. The more “pure” a song is, the more people like the song. I learnt this the hard way, for a long time I thought that songwriting was an intellectual process.

I am now starting to believe that all life is best served in a similar way “in the moment” and the less you involve your “mind” in the process the better the result. My mind is begging to take credit for the vast improvements in my life recently, but I think that is has more to do with my mindlessness. We will see if I am full of shit or not in a short time, but recently I’ve tried to make my life flow much like a song does, and its working very well!

Shortly after dark, as the ship pitched and rolled through the waves, the lookout on the wing of the bridge reported, “Light! Bearing on the starboard bow.”

“Is it steady or moving astern?” the Captain called out.

The Lookout replied, “Steady, Captain!” which meant we were on a dangerous collision course with that ship.

The Captain then called to the signalman, “Signal that ship: We are on a collision course, advise you change course 20 degrees.”

Back came a signal, “Advisable for you to change course 20 degrees.”

The Captain said, “Send, I’m a Captain, change course 20 degrees.”

“I’m a seaman second class,” came back the reply. “You had better change course 20 degrees.”

By this time, the Captain was furious. He snapped out, “Send, I’m a battleship! Change course 20 degrees immediately!”

Back came the flashing light…

“I’m a lighthouse.”

We changed course!’

Before you get started I know you wanted a letter in handwriting, but I want to write a long letter so you have to put up with the typed version of events. I’m a terrible “writer” if you get my meaning so I hope you can forgive my digitalness.

— just got back from overseas I saw him list night. That was weird. He looked older. He had a wise look on his face. A new look about him. All that time in london must’ve changed him somehow. Made him a man. —- and him hooked up almost instantaniously. Funny bunch!

Allot of socializing lately there seems to be some sort of party in Brisbane every three days. You know what its like here. Everyone has these big back yards full of people. The smell of fresh cut grass, mixed with cigarette and pot smoke. I have a boys club now called tree house, where jamie, ray, marty matt, and I talk secret mens business and smoke joints.

The rule is that if you pass on anything said in tree house we get to punch you in the back of the head when your not looking. Main rule is no-girls.

Its been one of the coldest Brisbane winters ever. I know you will think it couldn’t be that bad compared the Hobart chill.  But with no indoor heating its been a nightmare. Hard to sleep with the cold air nipping your ears. I’ve been good to myself lately. I was recently reborn.

I had the flu bad. I was sick of being indoors and I had been given tickets to the breeders at the zoo. So I went out and drank with three friends to the tunes till we were all deep under lucidity.

After a few joints and still fluey I walked home at 4 in the morning the pavement felt like marshmallows under my feet.

I got home and took 3 night codral and two neurohen plus. The walls of my apartment are melting, My inner voice becomes audible though both ears. I can feel my heart beat in my eyes.

I fell on my bed and passed out, I saw jesus, he flew with me over the crop circles in england, explaining how to decode them.  Spirits dressed as aliens read from the book for revelations too me. A healing light shone from within my body.

Expecting to be sicker, and more hung over than I have ever been, I wake up the next day feeling reborn. I’d been baptized by something outside of me or inside of me. The flu had gone. I haven’t felt better.

Since I cheated death I’ve been on my best behavior. I’ve been thinking about what ill do when the records all finished. When I finish this record with matt, and tour it around australia and europe. I will come home. Ill sell everything I don’t need. Ill by a small car, and Ill put my music collection in storage.

I will buy a block of land out in the bush, hopefully near Rainforest. I will construct a tipi and live in it, only returning to the city to play shows, and record. Well Its a dream I have. Either that or the opposite move to New York city. I can’t decide. Maybe ill do both.

I’ve been a total professional musician lately doing loads of shows in Sydney and Melbourne and recording every day. I even got invited to be a part of the songwriters of Queensland weekend at applewood. Where we all team up and take turns to write songs together. A cd is made afterwards, I can’t believe Im on a list with other Queensland songwriters like casey chambers and shit. HAHA!

Two CDS one is the Daniel Johnson tapes, and another is my most recent home recordings. You’ll probably like them more than the studio record which I will send you in a few months knowing you.

Anyway Ill write you more but you got to write back first.

Love Edward G xxxxox

The band proclaim on their MySpace page “we’re better than you”, but vocalist Everett True explains that this is most likely being taken the wrong way.
“My apologies for that tag-line, I hope no one has taken offence at it: it was an in-joke that got out of hand,” he starts. “It was actually me telling Ed G [fellow band member Edward Guglielmino] ‘I’m better than you’ when we were arguing over who should be lead vocalist. As I’m rock royalty, I always refer to myself in the plural. He sings like a strangulated cross between Robert Smith and Peter Gabriel with a back ache. I don’t. I rest my case…”
Lyrically, the band often use their songs as a platform to take pot shots at Brisbane and the music scene in which they currently exist. Guglielmino gives us an insight into the writing process.
“Everett likes to pretend he writes the lyrics down but really after to green teas he starts ranting and raving and I just hit record and try to play along!” he says.
So what are these crazy cats planning to do next?
“Our debut album is planned as a Sarah Blasko tribute – her songs sung the way we know she really wanted them to be,” True quips. “Our second album will only feature musicians given an 8.3 rating, or higher, in Time Off. We are already taking applications for groupies of all sexes.”
Application submitted. Though, for the record, Time Off uses a five star rating system for our album reviews. But we’re flattered nonetheless.
WHO: The Thin Kids
WHERE & WHEN: The Troubadour Wednesday Feb 24
The Original Q & A

1. What was the fundamental reason for forming The Thin Kids?

Everett: “We were shocked and disgusted at Australia’s new status as the most obese nation in the world. We felt it was time someone took a stand against it. Us, in fact. Plus, we’re well aware that Arts QLD has been trying to promote Brisbane as the new cultural centre of Australia, and felt that there was no possible way this could happen without some of the city’s leading creative lights taking a more proactive, participatory role. We’re generous that way. Also, we miss the thrill of casual sex that rock stardom inevitably brings.”

Ed: “True and I have also been on a hardcore milkshake diet to try to loose weight. We exercise once a week before rehearsals. Everett has lost 5kg and I’ve put on 5kg. Everett didn’t explain that I was supposed to drink special diet milkshakes. I formed the band with Everett to help my music career since we’ve teamed up my music has appeared on a host of file sharing sites marked “LOLROTG – check out this Robert smith loosers music Everett True 4eva” posted by JohnstonCobain. ”

Maggie: “I decided that I didn’t have enough to do in my life.”

2. With a lengthy story about your formation that seems to stretch the truth, a tagline on your MySpace that says “we are better than you!” and some decidedly lo-fi recordings – are you actively looking to attract backlash?

Everett: “My apologies for that tag-line I hope no one has taken offence at it: it was an in-joke that got out of hand. It was actually me telling Ed G “I’m better than you” when we were arguing over who should be lead vocalist. (As I’m rock royalty, I always refer to myself in the plural.) He sings like a strangulated cross between Robert Smith and Peter Gabriel with a back ache. I don’t. I rest my case… as to the charge of lo-fi: was Elvis called lo-fi because he recorded on two tracks? The Beatles because they used four? We use state-of-the-art technology: it’s not our fault that the rest of the world hasn’t caught up with us.”

Ed: “I let Everett sing after he locked himself in the bathroom and said he wasn’t coming out until we let him sing. As for who is the better singer out of the two of us. You be the judge ”

Maggie: “I don’t know about the other guys but I’ve always wanted to be in a fist fight. I wouldn’t say we’re actively looking for backlash but, hey, if something comes along, I’m ready.”

3. How has the response been to the group so far?

Everett: “Varied and supportive, from ‘an in-joke that shouldn’t have been let out’, to ‘Mr True should stick to his writing’, to ‘fuck off, you Thin Kids cunt’ (spoken in person to Ed G in Starbucks). We are not dissuaded from our goal of enriching the masses’ doubtless grey and humdrum everyday existence. We are fully aware of the green-eyed devil called jealousy.”

Ed “The starbucks thing was interesting because behind the skater kid who heckled me was a Twitter follower of mine. The twittered to me that she saw the whole thing but I didn’t check my twitter till after I’d left. My manager Ben told me if I don’t quit the band soon he’s going to stop managing me. He said that Everett is damaging my career in a way that can not be revearsed. ”

Maggie: “We have a silent member in the band called Dougie. He’s contributed to the engineering of the recordings and he starred in our first film clip. His fanbase on facebook is at 70 members and climbing, so yeah, I’d say the response is going well so far.”

4. Where do you find you draw the majority of your musical and lyrical influence from?

Everett: “The streets and supermarkets and weather conditions and nightclubs and street press writers of Brisbane, a city rich in cultural inspiration and appreciation. Personally, I find the golden carrot of casual sex and the thrill of public humiliation motivators in themselves: ever since my star quit shining as a critic, I miss the routine scorn and approbation heaped upon me daily by talentless musicians.”

Ed “Everett likes to pretend he writes the lyrics down but really after to green teas he starts ranting ad raving and I just hit record and try to play along!”

Maggie: “Trial and Error”

5. What can we expect from your live show?

Everett: “Music to bring a tear to the eye of even the most hardened of Powderfinger fans.”

Ed: “I told Everett I’m not playing a single show till we sort out money. He’s trying to claim the songs as his own but I’ve written most of the melodies and lyrics. He’s gone and booked three shows behind my back. I’m not ruining my career for free. I’ve told him I’ll need $500 a show and a large rider. He either hangs the phone up or locks himself in the bathroom and cries about how famous he was and all the bands he’s played with in the past”

6. What are your plans for the rest of the year?

Everett: “Our debut album is planned as a Sarah Blasko tribute – her songs sung the way we know she really wanted them to be. Our second album will only feature musicians given a 8.3 rating, or higher, in Time Off. We are already taking applications for groupies of all sexes.”

Ed: “I’m being evicted I haven’t made rent the last few weeks and the people in the apartment below have been complaining about the noise when we make when we work out,  argue and rehearse. Also Everett hangs outside the complex after each rehearsal begging for change for the bus home to the gap. So I plan on living in a box and regretting the nail in the coffin of my career.”

Maggie: “Who said you were all invited?”