There’s a huge movement towards giving out free content online - especially music (Trent Reznor and Radiohead are two that come to mind). And why not, you can get your stuff in the hands of thousands of people with just a link.

I’ve been thinking alot about it, and have decided that since I probably sold all the copies of this album I was going to sell already through friends, word of mouth and fans (I’m an independent artist) - I should take advantage of technology to really get my music out there to reach the ears of some new people.

Now, Trent and Radiohead are huge, well established artists. I am not. However, I do think this could potentially work out well for me in terms of spreading my music and connecting me with new people.

Anyway, let the free experiment begin…

Click here to download Lifeforce. (rendered into 128kbps mp3’s)

If you dig it and want to get a copy of the physical album with high-resolution music and cover art, CDs are available here.

I’ve started a new site at http://thefuturebuzz.com which I plan to update daily and have strong direction with.
I started off the blog by moving some old posts from here that I thought worked with the new format better than they did here.
This site, from here on out, will function purely as music news on where my personal artist career is going and editorial pieces, the interviews unfortunately will have to be put on hold for now. I’m always working on new music, however right now I’m excited to have a slightly more focused blog in place.

Anyway I invite you all to visit the site and subscribe to the feed - you won’t be dissapointed.

Best,

Adam

There’s a shake-up in Miami’s electronic music scene – at least in the intimate venues. A sound which historically has only been pushed by a few distinct artists in the area and not many promoters is now available to be experienced nearly every weekend. Of course, I’m talking about techno, a genre of electronic music known predominantly in Detroit and Berlin, which slowly is taking over Miami’s locals and simultaneously experiencing a world-wide resurgence.

And while there have been artists in Miami playing techno for years, there’s been one artist who has emerged as the “techno-evangelist” promoter for the area. No, I’m not talking about Ramon this time – I’m talking about Anatoli Russki, also known to many of you as Red Commi Bastard.

Originally from Russia, Russki moved to the states at the age of 17, where he began his journey to South Florida. Starting in New York, then moving to Tennessee, then to Atlanta – he eventually ended up in Miami just a few years ago where he immediately began to make an impression on the local artists, the venue owners and the music fans. It was only a short time before he started to shake things up.

“Electro in Miami was just becoming too repetitive,” said Russki. “I knew there were artists down here pushing a unique sound, and I wanted to start doing something different – something that would really catch people’s attention.”

With that thought, the “Dirty Gruv” parties were born. I asked Russki to define what the parties were, and his response was pretty simple: to promote good vibes, parties and artists. It’s clear when you go to one of his events that this is what intimate venue nights are all about. A good following of friendly people getting together to enjoy unique music and have a fantastic time with attitudes, egos and drama checked at the door.

The nights remind me a lot of the intimate Gainesville and Orlando nights from 2001 – 2004 in the post heyday of Simons, where you had the truly passionate and music loving artists still doing their thing, and the people who were there for all the right reasons were still enjoying themselves.

Russki has put on events at a variety of venues, from local South Beach staples like Blue and Laundry Bar, to underground warehouse parties – but the same positive vibe is ever-present. It’s clear he’s got a passion for what he does, both while DJ’ing and promoting.

As a promoter, Russki offers chances to almost every artist to be a part of his events – from new guys to the area (but not new to the scene) like DJ Way, to Miami staples like Stryke. “I really feel like everyone needs their break,” says Russki. “I try to help them out and give those artists with a passion a chance to succeed. Many times, the crowd enjoys them even more than a big headliner – the up-and-comers are always putting their heart behind it.”

It’s guys like Russki who drive electronic music for the big players worldwide. By pushing intimate nights and giving local artists (not necessarily just the ones who already have a following) a chance, he keeps the scene alive by inspiring DJs to write and explore new music, and give them the drive to spread it to new ears. Sometimes in a city like Miami, it’s easy to become discouraged; however promoters like Russki are a breath of fresh air and an inspiration. The big clubs play a role as well, but it is through people like Russki that the passion is spread in a genuine way both to fans and artists.

I asked Stryke for his thoughts on Russki who added, “Igor’s passion is serving our community well. He strives to deliver a quality night, which is first and foremost, fun! He has a really great talent for finding undiscovered talent here at home, mixing it with the established guys and gals, and then topping it with out of town guests, some known, some not. He’s a rare breed, and I’m so happy to have him in this city.“

As an artist, Russki plays an eclectic mix of techno and minimal with an underground feel, always playing to the energy of the crowd and with a style all his own. “I spend hours searching for new tracks, and carefully select only those which are really well done,” said Russki. “I’m influenced by songs going from the roots of electronic music all the way to the newest, breakthrough sound.”

Russki’s musical tastes run the gambit from Plastikman and Orbital to the Rolling Stones, Juno Reactor and even Elvis. He’s also inspired heavily by locals such as Noise Artistry, Michael Christopher and Stryke.

To get in on Russki’s parties, visit http://myspace.com/redcommibastard.

Exciting news — I’ll be playing the lounge at the upcoming Laurent Garnier show in Miami Beach at Shine at the Shelborn Beach Resort.

Click here to see the flier.

You can click here to purchase advance tickets. Hope to see you all there!

Link to original article 

Not many can claim to have their entire lives devoted to electronic music. Seth Nichols is one of the few. DJ, promoter, record store owner, producer, Seth dabbles in a bit of everything, and executes it all with perfection. You may have purchased vinyl from him at his old shop – Evolving Records (or his new shop, Love Vinyl Records). You may have seen him at one of his resident nights at Therapy Nightclub in Indianapolis. You may even have been handed one of his mixes at WMC.

Whatever your connection to Seth, it’s clear he has a true passion for what he does. And it’s infectious. Being a fan (and friend) of Seth for several years, I finally convinced him to sit down with me for an interview so you can get to know him a bit more intimately:

Adam Singer: You play the role of DJ, music store owner, club management/promoter and music producer. What’s your secret to success in so many different niches? Which is your favorite?

Seth Nichols: I would say more than anything, the music keeps me on track. With the continual flow of music through my hands I’m able to stay well informed with what’s going on in the music – which is the basis of all my niches. My days are filled with record store business and promoting events. While my nights consist of producing, DJing, and attending events. It’s a busy schedule, but consisting of things I hold dearly.

Of all I would say my favorite is DJing. It is such an amazing thing whether with friends or a club crowd, and always a blast.

Many of us remember your previous store (Evolving Records) fondly. Will you give us an introduction us to the new concept?

With the new webstore (Love Vinyl Records) I will still continue the concept of Evolving Records. However the new store will include a wider range of vinyl record items, from Shellac 78s to Classic Rock ballads and more, including a great selection of EDM. The new web store is mainly just a more encompassing idea than the previous store.

Do you find selling vinyl in a digital marketplace to be a challenge? How has demand changed over the years?

I would say it has created a challenge for record stores, no doubt. Many record stores have closed their doors here in America, and to a smaller degree abroad. However, this doesn’t mean that vinyl is dead, or dying. The vinyl record market has changed, and has gotten smaller in some areas, yet bigger in others. Commercial sales of vinyl records are actually reported to be up 10% already this year in America, while CD sales are declining. This comes after a reported 7% increase in commercial sales of vinyl records last year. Of course this is not a major statistic, but I do think it is a trend.

Many people still appreciate artifacts of music and this will keep the vinyl record selling. There isn’t a better medium for music collectors than the vinyl record. It’s a sizeable entity able to display substantial artwork and other interesting related information. As well, the sound quality of the vinyl record, even with all the technology of today, cannot be surpassed nor duplicated by any digital form.

As a DJ that still primarily plays vinyl records, I find it to be making a statement of sorts. I truly enjoy playing vinyl records more than CDs or serrato and the likes. It’s what we started with and shall continue with. The look, the feel, and the sound of vinyl will always win out for me.
All in all, the demand has changed in that less DJs (that often times find the music to be expendable) are buying records, but more collectors are (still) buying records.

In addition to your website, you embrace such tools as Ebay to connect music lovers, fans and DJs with their favorite vinyl. Tell us a bit about your experiences with that, as well as other unique tools you’ve found helpful.

Yes I’ve been using eBay as a selling tool for about 7 years selling mainly vinyl records. Records used to go for a lot more money on eBay than they do now, mainly because all the buyers have found their treasures over the past 5 or so years so the demands have decreased. As well, I think a lot of buyers have been burned on eBay and are no longer using it as a place to purchase records. Currently I mainly use eBay to liquidate records that have not been selling very well for me, or that I may have multiple copies of.
Many of the vinyl record sellers for electronic music have begun using www.discogs.com to sell their records as opposed to eBay or the eBay stores. All of the stock on my website is also located on discogs marketplace, which has worked out very well for me.

Let’s shift gears a bit to Seth the artist. I’ve been a fan of your mixes for years, and have loved that you’ve stayed true to your sound. Tell us a bit of what kind of stuff you’re into these days, and what’s been inspiring you lately.

I have to say my sound is continually developing, yet always remaining somewhat grounded in the progressive and tech styles. I’m currently very inspired by many Germany based artists doing the minimal techno sound with a progressive twist. My gravitation towards the minimal sounds really began with the Border Community label from James Holden. The fusion of very organic sounds on a subtle level with big basslines and swelling melodies and great atmospherics.

I would say that my style is dark at times but it always finds its way to the light somewhere, somehow. The diversity is always present as well as I like many different vibes and styles of music. I like finding a way to make them work together in harmony to create something very original and exciting.

There’s quite a buzz about your nights in Indianapolis at Therapy. Give us some background as to what you’ve been doing there, what kind of artists you’ve been bringing in, and what’s next.

Over the past year we’ve been trying to build Therapy Nightclub & Lounge up with headliners and quality local acts that deserve exposure. We’ve brought Ferry Corsten, Joel Mull, Frankie Vega, Billy Dalessandro, Habersham, Aphrodite, and many others. In the current works we have Phynn (on Tiesto’s Black Hole label), and Stacy Kidd (great Chicago house DJ). Playing as a resident there over the past year has been a great experience and has helped me develop further as a DJ in skill, style, and how I play to different audiences.

What’s been your favorite night at Therapy so far?

I’d have to say my favorite night musically was Habersham, an amazing artist and DJ. Favorite night as a party would have to be Ferry Corsten, he packed the place.

With so many aspects to your life and contributions to our scene, what do you see as the future for Seth?

I’m really making a push at production right now. I have an abundance of ideas that I need to work on and make something of. Hopefully you will see big things from Seth Nichols in the future with production and DJing firmly planted in my vision.

For more Seth, visit www.myspace.com/sethnichols, or check out his vinyl shop at www.lovevinylrecords.com.

This is a bit different stuff than you’ll see on the album (which will be released this summer)
Artist : Adam Singer

Track : What the future holds

Mixes: Original , Numinous Force mix & Southrn Soul mix

Label : Monad Music (MDR013)

Release date : OUT NOW

Next up from us here @ Monad music is a track entitled ‘What the future holds’ from Adam Singer. Number 13 in our catalogue sees us depart from our normal boundaries to a more minimal, tech house package.

Bringing together tightly bound rhythms and a combination of soft, melodic and jazzy elements Adam creates an ear pleasing groove.

‘What the future holds’ gets a double serving of remixes from Numinous force and Southern Soul each putting their own stamp on things.

Avail here:
http://beatport.com/adam+singer

or here:
http://www.djdownload.com/artist/Adam+Singer/251174

Here’s what some are saying:
The numinous force mix has had plays from deepsky (perfecto) giving it 8/10, and Serge Devant (Tiesto’s third favourite dj in the world) gave it 9/10.

“sounds really good. The production on it is spot on… you’ve really nailed that.. “
- Chymera
http://www.myspace.com/chymeramusic

“Very sweet! The Southern Soul mix is really nice and deep, sounds as if there’s elements of Orbital’s “Style” creeping in from time to time, and the Numinous Force mix is great, sounds almost like Akufen with less samples and more synth action.”
- lmd64
http://www.myspace.com/lmd64

“Your mix is great and tight as fuck! Top marks for production. The Souther Soul mix is a killer those pads are beautiful they make me feel the summer is here =)”
-Corrugated Tunnel (edwin james)
http://www.myspace.com/corrugatedtunnel

“sick, and rude! needs a warning sign- creates a great teasing energy for that late night floor. definite tweaker. i really like the sound design, and the energy flow is spot on.”
- Chadwick Strange
http://www.myspace.com/chadwickstrange

“I love your remix on Monad, elegant and powerful”
-Joy Kitikonti
www.myspace.com/kitikonti

Link to original article.

Steve Porter has been serving up five-star electronic music for years. He’s gained the respect (and found his tracks in the record crates) of essentially every house DJ, from Sasha and Digweed to aspiring bedroom artists, and is a staple in shaping the direction of house music. With over 70 original releases and plenty of remixes under his own name and his aliases (Agent 001, HDF & Bons), Steve Porter is one of the most prolific artists in electronic music today.You also have to love the play on words for his current series of house mixes he playfully calls “Porterhouse.” I don’t want to give too much away, but when you listen to the discs, you’ll hear he literally ‘takes you there’…you’ll see. I sat down with Steve for a few words to get a little more insight into his background and give you the full story on this influential artist.

Adam Singer: You’re younger than your peers - at least in terms of the average age of widely recognized electronic musicians. What is the one thing that has contributed to your success more than anything else?

Steven Porter: Respecting your peers, working hard, and staying humble. Those 3 traits opened up more doors for me than anything else.

WMC is coming up - a time for both recognized and upcoming artists to shake things up in the electronic music scene and set the pace for a New Year. What tricks, tracks or artists do you have up your sleeve for your WMC gigs and into the future?

I’ve got a cluster of new original productions I’m excited to try out this WMC and a lot of new stuff from my Boston crew as well. I’ve got a few new bootlegs to have fun with at this conference as well. One would be a bootleg of Ton Loc’s “Funky Comadina” that I did. But I wouldn’t want to spoil all of the surprises; those are best saved for the gigs.

Any plans for after the conference?

I do love the momentum I get from the conference and taking that into my gigs afterwards. I’m in Europe, Australia, and Asia directly after.

Will you give us the story of what inspired you to devote your life to music?

The epiphany happened for me during my senior year in high school, right around the time when kids were trying to figure out what they wanted to do with their lives. I didn’t have much of a professional vision at the time but did have a great head start on my experimentations with music production and DJing. It just hit me that year; I loved music and knew I had some sort of gift for it.

Did you have a backup plan?

It’s hard to ignore your gut instinct, so I just went full speed ahead with DJing and production and never turned back. It was a brave move at the time but music is very much one of those dive in head first things. It’s also the greatest form of communication if you ask me.

I’ve been listening to your music/mixes for years and enjoyed the new Porterhouse discs thoroughly. With that said, I also really enjoyed your melodic productions like your remixes of Amber - Anyway. Has the ship on that sound sailed, or is there a chance we could hear more big melodic tunes in the future from you?

I’d love to come back to my melodic roots at some point down the road. I think I’m just in a phase right now that is slightly more funk oriented. Music for me is an ongoing experiment and I’m always dragging older ideas into new ones. I’m sure I’ll re-incarnate my sound more than a few times before my final chapter is written. The good news is that I’ve got some new material in the works and coming out later this year that is very much up the melodic vein.

What up-and-coming artists are really doing it for you right now?

Emjae, Chris Micali, Island 9, Roger Lee, Aaryn Blain… these guys are really killing it right now and all of them had a big hand in Porterhouse 2.

The digital revolution has added a huge influx of new artists, labels and releases to electronic music. What are your thoughts as to how digital content is changing our culture. Is it for better or worse?

For better. You have to embrace technology because there isn’t really a choice. The digital revolution has evened the playing field; it’s given virtually anybody the chance to participate in music. It’s a beautiful thing, much like if you gave every person on the planet a basketball or soccer ball… then everybody can give it a try. It’s a more competitive world in dance music now but I believe that’s only going to help it grow exponentially.

Where is your sound progressing next? Are there plans for another artist disc like Homegrown? (Which is fantastic btw - I still jam to this).

Thanks! I’m glad you still dig the old grooves! I’ll probably do one more installment of the Porterhouse series before I hit the studio for another artist album. I haven’t fully thought out what the direction would be but I did have a blast making Homegrown. I like albums that have a consistent flow and tracks that all work together. I think some of the best albums of all time have a continuity about them.

Thanks for taking the time to sit down and talk with me - can you leave a piece of advice for the next generation of DJs/producers?

Follow your roots. They’ll be your best guide towards your true identity.

STEVE PORTER launches his PORTERHOUSE Vol.2 (2xCD LP) at WMC 2007. He will hold the 3rd annual hugely successful “Porterhouse” WMC party on Thursday, March 22nd at The Fifth, South Beach (www.thefifth.com). The line-up this year will see Steve joined by the cream of new homegrown talent in Eli Wilkie, Emjae, and Bons.

For more Steve Porter, visit: www.djsteveporter.com or add him on MySpace at: www.myspace.com/steveporter1

Link to original article.

Don’t know Micah Lukasewich? You will. He’s one of the most exciting up-and-coming DJs/Producers in electronic music, appearing on such labels as Fade, Silver planet, Method and more. His new originals are on Aurium and Baroque, with remixes released on labels like Lost Language and Global Underground.

I sat down with Micah to gain some insight into this up-and-comer’s thoughts, perspective, and future plans for the electronic scene. It’s clear that he’s got the motivation and talent to truly take his art to the next level – and for those of us who love genuine artists following their own path, this is great news. Micah is someone to keep your eyes (and ears) on for the future.

Adam Singer: You’ve been making and playing music for quite some time, and have been around long enough to see the electronic music scene go through many changes, trends and fads. What do you think of the current electro/minimal approach we can’t seem to get away from? Where do you think EDM is headed next?

Micah Lukasewich: Releasing music since 2003 is not a long time, but I have been a fan and have been writing electronic dance music since first hearing it (and liking it) back in ‘97. I think there is good in every genre, and just like in every musical vein, there are good artists and bad ones. I think the reason that many people are getting sick of some sounds is due to the massive amount of new producers and net record labels who are pumping out insane amounts of bland, un-original and just plain bad music.

I remember back when I was just starting out, a record label was a dream, something to be strived for, it really felt unattainable and once I landed my first record I was in shock that I had made that step. Now, with the advent of the internet, the record label for dance music has become somewhat of a joke as it seems every “average Joe dance music fan” owns one. There are no standards left, as any person with a computer and an internet connection can download the software to write music and there will be a net label waiting to put their song up on Beatport, the problem is(and this is a guess), 98% of these people are not musicians.

Bottom line, the market is over saturated and it makes it really hard for one genre to stay fresh when so much stagnant air is being pumped into the room, it’s only natural when this happens that things will change. I think the fans of dance music need to learn to accept this fact, adapting and evolving with their artists , as in my eyes, it is our job to take what’s in and make it better.

Where is EDM going? Hopefully somewhere without an internet connection as file sharing has really made it pointless for someone to even attempt a living off of straight producing. I’m hoping more people will take Trentemoller’s unsung advice and go the live band route, it would give the music more credibility in the world scene and would really make shows more exciting (plus weed out a lot of garbage producers).

Message-boards and electronic music are without a doubt synonymous – at least for the die-hard fans. What are the positives/negatives you find about them as an artist?

I love them, and hate them in equal amounts. I love them for the obvious information and free promotion, but I’m a very emotional guy and I take any criticism good or bad quite seriously. No where else but on the internet is there an outlet for any asshole to state his mind unchecked, I’m not against free speech, but you cannot zap a complete idiot who is just trying to stir things up for no apparent reason.

Definitely staying true to your art, you’ve continually pushed your sound in a direction that is emotionally moving and fulfilling, following your own style. Why do you think it is many artists are so quick to jump on board the “what’s hot now” bandwagon? What has inspired you to keep pushing a unique sound?

First off, it is very difficult for one to just simply have their own sound, the natural progression is emulation, I don’t see it as “band wagon jumping” but more of a spring board to success and notoriety. Most artists are free to express themselves after they’ve “done the rounds” so to speak

Second, I thank you for the “own style/unique sound”compliment, it’s been a very hard road staying on course with the music I write as I’ve never wholly kept to one genre, but recently I’ve had to move with the trends to stay afloat just like every one else, though they may be more subtle, I feel my adaptations have been necessary. For the most part, I’ve wanted these changes, and seeing that I have always tried to stand out, I’ve been able to inject my own spin into what is going on…I don’t know if I’ll ever fully fit in or have a place of my own, but as long as I am creating from my heart, I’m content (though a return on my investment would be a much appreciated outcome from all of this).

What artists/genres are inspiring you most in the studio right now?

No specific genre does any more for me than another, I’m really just into new ideas and concepts within the electronic music realm. Some of the guys that have been around for a long time are really exciting to me again. Nick Warren, Jody Wisternoff Slacker etc., they all move really well with the times and all have their own sounds. For new guys, Roel H is to me the modern equivalent of Mozart, that kid scares me with his immense musical knowledge and production skills. Austin Azua is fantastic and can write some crazy dark techno one minute, then jump the most beautiful serene ambient I’ve heard the next.

All people I have involved with my record label in one way or another are really keep me motivated: Joel Armstrong, Jaytech, Gerwin Koudijs, Dustin H, Peter McCowan, Sonic Union,Umut Gokcen, Dumb Dan, Baltic Sound. aswell as my good friends Shiloh, Beaumont Stanford, Funk Harmony Park, and Kosmas Epsilon and many others.

You have many upcoming releases – any you are especially excited about?

I’ve managed to get Shem (Slacker) Macaulay to agree to release remixes of his hugely influential tune “Psychout” on my record label- Ruhnsong, I’ve done one mix myself, I am still deciding on if I will do another or have some one do the second remix, maybe Shiloh.

I’ve also just signed a new tune for my own label by one of Peter McCowan’s project names “Alucode”, the song is called “What level”. The original tune is a dark breaks song with incredible production and a hilarious robotic vocal; it will be coming out with a super funky remix by dumb dan and one by myself.

You’ve got an absolute knack at production – have you ever considered an artist album?

Yes!, I am currently in the works of writing my first album for which I am very excited, I’ve enlisted some amazing talent to appear in my songs including the amazing vocal talents of miss Kathrine Heath of “Bent-As you fall” fame, among many others. The album will challenge any preconceptions of what a “Micah” album might sound like…. I’ve really been pushing my boundaries and opening up my mind for this, it’s going to be something pretty special to me and my fans

I’ve heard your mixes/CDs, and find them all very compelling, but unfortunately I haven’t had a chance to hear you gig live. Can you give some insight into what people can expect hearing you live? Any unique tools/techniques you’re using at the moment?

Well, I actually only started mixing with vinyl/CD’s back in 2003, so my knowledge of the equipment is limited, but that does not mean I cannot mix, on the contrary I’ve had many people baffled at how far I’ve come in 3 years. If the crowd is right, I get really into it, jumping, singing, even playing air piano and guitar…. I have a lot of fun which really makes an impact on people who are there to dance, I’ve received quite a few emails from people who say I’ve put on some of their favorite shows ever… that(for me being so new to the mixing) just feeds my addiction to performance…I love DJing

Any of my mixes you’ve heard were all done live on CD decks, I can see the amazing applications of software like Abelton, but find the CD turntable to be my weapon of choice.

What’s the best advice you can offer those DJs and producers who are new to the game?

DJ’s: Keep practicing and playing the music you love, the more honest you are with your sounds, the more people can feel it when you play.

Producers: Stop producing and take some music lessons, if you find them to hard or too boring, chances are your music will not have a very original feel to it and this will be a mediocre career decision

Your future goals as an artist?

I’m really pumped as Janice(my fiancée) and I are moving into a new place where I will be building a real music studio, from there I plan to form a band to tour with me performing my album live, if that works, then I may just keep at that. I am really hoping 2007 recognizes me a little more so I can focus on the music 100%, I would love to DJ more in other countries and eventually do compilations for the big labels etc, I think given the chance to show what I can do on a larger scale, I could make a pretty deep impact

Tell us what’s new and on the horizon for the future…

I recently signed on as a DJ with “Global Underground World Tours”. This is a new venture for GU for which I am very excited to be a part of. For tour info and bookings please contact: tours@globalunderground.co.uk for a one off gig, please email bookings@ruhnsong.com.
For more Micah, visit www.ruhnsong.com/micah, or www.myspace.com/micahlukasewich.

Am giving away two of my old productions free to you…320kbps mp3’s

Feel free to play, mix or burn — but please credit me on your tracklist if you choose to use either on a mix.

These were signed to a label which is now defunct, so I offer them to you here since they aren’t available through the distributor any longer, and it’s better to share old work then let it gather dust:

Freeform

Level 9

You live in the most exciting time of humanity. Millions of ideas, philosophies, stories and inspirations are within easy reach. You can easily tap into vast libraries of information unfathomed by previous generations at the touch of a button. Millions of books by thinkers which span the spectrum of skills, trades thoughts and dreams are all effortlessly delivered to your front door for you to consume.

But how, exactly, is this applicable to your life? There answer is obvious – broadening your range of mental vision, increasing both your minds RAM and ROM (sorry for the computer analogy), learning exciting new trades, skills, ways of thinking and interpreting life, and taking your thought process to an entirely new, exciting and ultra-efficient level. Yes, I’m addicted to reading. I’ve already gone through three books this year (Social Intelligence: The New Science of Human Relationships by Daniel Goleman, Mastering Audio: The Art and the Science by Bob Katzby and Generation Me by Jean M. Twenge) and the month isn’t even over yet. Ever since leaving organized schooling, my thirst for knowledge has grown 10-fold. The more I read, the more I realize I know nothing.

Some of us simply are better off pursuing personal knowledge in an unstructured format. Or maybe it’s because I’m free to consume knowledge purely by people whose words actually resonate with me. That is one of the most important keys to forwarding yourself, your understanding of the world and happiness overall – aligning yourself and consuming knowledge from those who you acquiesce with.

Society has its problems and difficulties, people have their problems and difficulties. There are a myriad of reasons this is. I don’t need to spell them out for you, or even speak on solutions (no one is really listening anyway). Let’s not ignore them though; it is an absolutely worthwhile task to focus on making the world better to live in for all of us (hypocritical I am not – I am spending my day tomorrow volunteering). But for right now, this moment – the first step to making a better world is improving yourself (this isn’t narcissistic…you exist in this world, and by improving yourself and your interactions with others, you serve to improve the world).

Your mind is only happiest and at peace when you are functioning at your highest potential. To reach your stride, it’s necessary to truly give yourself adequate fuel to accomplish what you want to in your fleeting moments present on earth (and yes, they are fleeting – a human lifespan is a blink of an eye when placed next to the timeline of reality). By fuel I mean knowledge, and by expanding your understanding of your reality.

As creatures in a socially-connected world, we all seek understanding and acceptance of our peers. But more than that, we want the praise of our peers. Many go beyond this – they want the spotlight, and they want it perpetually. This is selfish, and like many mental states will ultimately lead to disappointment and frustration. It’s an impossibility anyway, with so many thousands vying for the rest of society’s attention; people who are full of fluff and simply desire adoration for no real accomplishment are slowly being lost in the fray.

Art should be a personal expression, nothing more, nothing less. Those making it and trying to shove it down people’s throats via cheesy and loud marketing messages aren’t artists in the true sense of the world. They’re missing the point entirely. You shouldn’t support them, unless of course you exist on that same, shallow plane of existence. I know you’re better than that.

Every thought, action and word – every single moment we experience touches our conscious and unconscious minds to influence us in subtle ways. Some of us are conscious of this. Some of us are not. Regardless of how aware you are of how things in your life affect you, you have more control then you realize. Our minds act like a giant filter – but even the best filter will eventually allow poisons to leak through. If you alter your life to not cross paths with those poisons altogether, you will relieve yourself of more stress than you realize. Make change in yourself, your actions, your life for the better, and make it happen now – because this moment is all there is.