brandon*

I love to make music, it is the utmost way for me to express my nature, and to exercise my imagination. And by continuing in my efforts, I hope to gain yet another ability. You see, my purpose in making music stems from my desire to captivate hearts, and to connect with the soul of humanity. Every track I make is crafted with the hopes of bringing about positive, amorous feelings in others. I want to capture the dreams of young children, make women feel beautiful, sexy and desired, for men to feel confident in expressing their hearts, and to bring about love making in couples - all through musical creativity. In doing do, I hope to possess something stronger than the power of money, negativity, terror or death - the ability to command the love of mankind.

Everyone loves the sight of a cake, but few mention the ingredients involved, and fewer want to take the time to learn how to bake it. Just like love. Everyone desires it in its entirety, but not many are knowledgeable of the ingredients (benevolence, faithfulness, mercy, graciousness, patience, thankfulness) which are hardly mentioned. You can be sure this is a reason some are quick to quote the phrase “I love you.” But without understanding the ingredients, your love doesn’t have much to stand on, therefore you make it easy to leave. You want to learn the art of love? Learn what the ingredients consist of.

My latest tune “Dream Girl.” An attempt at making music that captures the imagination through dreamy and celestial sounds. I am using my musical abilities as a way to connect to the human heart; to soothe the musically malnourished soul.
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• Music produced by brandon*
♬ - ilovebrandon.net
✉ - eyelovebrandon@gmail.com
© 2013
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I’ve recently committed my mornings to taking small journeys through the neighborhood. I find that these morning walks tend to keep me in a positive frame of mind. This particular outing began promptly at 10am. I was well rested, and with no prior obligations from friends, family or work, I set aside time for myself and decided to venture through my community. So I hefted my backpack over my shoulders and thus began my journey down the sidewalk trail. Setting my iPod mid volume to the sounds of David Benoit’s Orchestral Stories, I pretended to be an explorer of the world, in search of whatever treasures I could find. I found no trinkets or jewels, but such clarity was given to me. This peace of mind allowed me to detach from any and all worry and allowed my imagination’s eye to wander in the beauty of the world around me. Blue skies, a gentle breeze, the warmth of the sun: things we often take for granted. And for a mind that is ever racing, I could ask for no more than what was given to me. Interesting how something as simple and ordinary as taking a walk through the neighborhood, leaves an extraordinary impression upon ones life. But I tend to find solace in life’s simplicities. As I made for the return journey home, I found no need to be worried or anxious. “Live for today” I told myself.  “Enjoy the present moment.” I admit that I tend to give thought to things which are beyond my control. But as life continues, I’ve become more one with myself. I am less anxious for tomorrow and more at ease with today. Because in doing so, I’ve learned grace. I learn to cherish life in its entirety. For each day the sun rises, I am given another chance to live with more meaning, to see with unclouded eyes and act through wisdom and love.

Be careful when uttering the words “I love you.” These words have been thrown around far too casually. So casually in fact that I often feel as though we’ve watered down the beauty of its meaning. Even more, these words have often been misused and misrepresented; at times to mask their true intentions, be it sexual or otherwise. And many of us who utter these words, do not honor them. Love is a constant state of being, surrounded by virtues of trust, faithfulness, graciousness and benevolence. Be warned. For the time will come when you will have to uphold these words through action. To love and to be loved is also to be tested by that love. Of this you can be sure of; perhaps to see if you truly meant what you said at all. Don’t tell me you love me, but make it easy to leave me. Don’t say “I love you” and not mean it. We must always be mindful of what we say. For words have meaning, whether or not we mean them.

In the course of manifesting our dreams, it is my personal belief that we as a people focus entirely too much time and energy on the “how”, “why” and “when.” As well, we give ourselves constantly over to the frenzy of comparing ourselves to others; allowing what society deems worthy to insight fear within us, instead of embracing our uniqueness and individuality. If we would only have the confidence in ourselves, regardless of the many voices and whispers trying to negate our path, and simply believe & use the resources readily available to achieve our objective, perhaps we would be happier with our lot. Perhaps we would stay more focused on our goals. And maybe we would lead less stressful lives. Stay forever encouraged. Things will work out. You’ll see ☺

Communication is a fundamental aspect of any working relationship. And a healthy sex life requires good communication. I can’t tell you the amount of barbershop talk I’ve overheard; men my age and older having “she only sleeps with me every other Thursday” conversations. Quick to discuss how a woman should treat them sexually, but rarely hearing my male peers speak on what they’re willing to give to their partners. I’ve always found it hilariously interesting why there are some people that require what they don’t themselves give. I’m baffled by the amount of young men I know who require a woman to perform certain sexual acts, but are disgusted by having to reciprocate those same acts. Or some young women who use sex as a tool to control their partners. The act of intimacy, regardless of physical interaction takes vulnerability, openness, giving and communication. Characteristics we often want to receive, but not cultivate ourselves. This may sound foolish to some, but I believe the best way to gain what you want is to give. Below is what has proven true for me.

1. Be what you’re asking for. This to me is just plain common sense. One of the first things I ever learned in school was to “treat others the way that I wanted to be treated.” As well, I learned a biblical proverb of “give and it shall be given unto you.” The same I believe can be applied to relationships and even physical intimacy. If you desire someone smart, learn to have an intellectual conversation. If you desire beauty, keep yourself looking well. I find it silly that I know individuals who want to date an athletic type, but want to play couch potato. Or even some who want someone to be sexually open, yet they themselves aren’t willing to be vulnerable or adapt to change. Always make sure to fit the criteria you demand.

2. If you treat your sex life as a chore, it will become just that. It is my personal belief that how you and your partner treat one another is a good indicator of the level of physical intimacy the two of you will share. As well, I’m not convinced that one can be a selfish lover and think they’re going to have a great sex life. Do you communicate well with one another? Do you have genuine care and concern for each other, or is your relationship based strictly on physical attraction? Just speaking for myself, I want the young woman I’m making love to, to feel beautiful and desired. I want to be enamored with her; a task that all too often us young men have become increasingly lazy with. If I’m going to give you the honor of having my body, why not let it be an amazing experience! A chance to truly explore the wonder and profoundness of your partner.     

3. The greater the connection, the greater the level of intimacy. Our sexual experiences often are only as great as the relationship (connection) we share with those individuals. There is a reason many studies show that elders have the best relationships and sex lives. Like a couple whose been married for 25 + years. They’ve been given ample time to learn aspects of each others personality. How to love, value and cherish one another, all of which translates to the bedroom. Couples that are just as much friends as they are lovers. And I don’t blame people who want to be in committed relationships before they engage in sexual behavior. Part of the reason many desire a relationship title before sexual intimacy occurs is that it gives one a sense of security; meaning it assumes trust. And people usually feel free to be themselves once trust is established between parties.    

Speaking personally, I’ve never really had issues in intimacy because I’m usually communicative and honest about what I’m seeking as well as what I’m giving. I’m open minded, willing to be vulnerable and willing to give, despite what I’m given. And just speaking from experience, I’ve learned that a wonderful thing about a woman is that everything given to her, most likely multiplies back to you. So if we (men) can take the time to be attentive, adaptable, open, vulnerable and above all genuine, then perhaps we wouldn’t have barbershop discussions about how our wives or girlfriends only sleep with us every now and then, but I digress. Here’s hoping that your love life is sustained through actions of love, trust and faithfulness. Cheers!

My focus has recently shifted, and thus centered in improving the quality of my life. Not to strive for perfection, but to attempt to lead a well-balanced lifestyle. As I’ve stated in a previous post, “The older I get, the simpler I desire to live.” I am choosing to not assume a static identity, refusing to live a life of the status quo, relieving unwarranted stress, and living with maximized effect. In a sense, I’ve become more minimalistic, and this is made prevalent through my daily activities. I have always been somewhat over-analytical, for my mind is ever racing. This can prove to be quite good in my creative works, for it helps me to brainstorm ideas and imaginative concepts down to the most minute details, all stemming from my subconscious. However, in terms of daily endeavors, it can at times be overwhelmingly stressful. So I’ve devised a few personal guidelines to live by. Things that will keep me in context. Perhaps you could administer these to your daily routine.

1. Whatever my work, it must somehow benefit me. Now in no way am I saying to be lazy, but what does your employment bring you? How does it add to your life? I’ve witnessed people working like slaves to attain a very small amount of funds. People who live to work, making just enough to get by. This is ridiculous to me. True, money is needed in this world. But the idea that money is everything, and that you can get nowhere without it, is something I fundamentally disagree with. I do not believe for a second that what we produce in life must make money, but I do believe that what we produce should benefit people.

2. Take time to smell the roses. Many of us erroneously associate selfishness with self-centeredness. It’s o.k. to be selfish. To not pick up the phone every time it rings.  To say “no” every once in awhile. To want to get away from everyone and simply be. I’ve always noticed that when I take a few moments for myself, I receive such clarity. I am even able to widen the gaze of my perspective, in turn, appreciating things a great deal more. I have learned to not run myself ragged trying to meets the needs and requests of others; things that will most likely heighten your stress level, which can just as easily be transformed into anger. Exercising the gift of service is a wonderful thing, but what does it profit someone to do so out of obligation, weariness or resentment? Always take time for yourself.      

3. There is no sense in worrying about what we cannot control. As simple as this sounds, it may be difficult to implement. And if you’re someone who feeds off of the approval of others, this can be even more troublesome. My life used to be centered around people, because I truly love people! And I use my musical gift to converse with the world. That being said, I would overtly stress over my interactions with others. So I chose another path. To live in a way that benefited me, regardless of outside criticisms. I can no more make someone see me in a positive light, than they themselves choose to. Because, regardless of what ever I produce in this life, someone somewhere is going to critique it. Freedom is letting go, and wisdom is knowing what to let go of. And it is my firm belief that we should focus our energies on production, not reaction, expectations or feedback. For to be critiqued is to know that you have produced something, which is bearing fruit. But many of us become so immersed in what others have to say about the fruit we bear; how it looks and how it tastes, that we don’t congratulate ourselves on producing it, shifting our focus to a potentially negative viewpoint.

To quote Cracked columnist David Wong, “Misery is comfortable. Happiness takes effort.” So I strive to live within the light. To aim at becoming the balance of my emotions, and live my life to the standard that I hold for others. Happy hunting. ❤

Click Here to download my free album Reverie: A Tribute to Nujabes

Nujabes - “Reflection Eternal” (brandon* remix)

I have always loved the music of Jun Seba, a.k.a. Nujabes. His mellow beats combined with soothing, almost soft spoken melodies and samples always seemed to put me in a nostalgic mind state, as if his music were representative of a utopian dream. And in honor of his life, I wanted to reinterpret this with a few auxiliary sounds of my own. My rendition of the acclaimed “Reflection Eternal” adds a piano solo, strings and new drum sounds, all the while keeping it reminiscent of the original. I will be uploading a 10 track remix album of famous Nujabes works to both my SoundCloud and BandCamp pages on February 1st. Until then, hope you enjoy this rendition.

There are times when I’m asleep and wake up only to find that I’m dreaming. In my most recent account, my dreams found me flying, soaring against the wind to a high point in the sky; until all around me were clouds, immeasurable in number. Pacing around the bouncy stratosphere, my ears settled on harmonious sounds coming from my left. There I found a middle-aged man wearing a straw hat and  tattered attire, playing beautiful, celestial melodies on his guitar. As I watched him play, I looked up and only a few hundred feet above me saw whales, fish and all manner of aquatic animals swimming in the clouds above me, passing through a gargantuan 360° rainbow, disappearing inside. I asked the man where they were going, to which he replied “they’re dreams which are to be transported within the minds of children.” The thought of asking the man “why children?” came to mind, but I neglected to mouth the words. Suddenly, the clouds collapsed beneath me and with no longer with my ability to fly, I fell through them until landing softly on a sandy cove. The colors of the sands were of a clear crystal, and it’s consistency soft as pillow feathers. Upon walking north, I again found the mysterious man still playing his guitar, in a fashion more beautifully eloquent and melodious as he did only moments before. Behind him stood a large wave, endlessly fixed in one position, like a waterfall. As soon as I moved forward to place my fingers against the waters, the man spoke: “beyond those waters lies a place reserved for those who dare not escape their dreams. They will instead be transformed into dreams themselves. Choose wisely.”  I lowered my hand, smiled and uttered “What a beautiful dream this is.” The man then replied “Is it?” Is there an indelible line that divides dreams from reality? How do you know that the very life you live is real, and when you go to sleep at night, that you’re dreaming? Maybe you’re a figure in another person’s dream. Or perhaps we are both sharing the same dream. Who’s to say what’s real and what’s not?” I pondered for a moment and thought to say something, but again words eluded me. Just as I began to walk opposite of my current location, the man stopped playing his guitar, took off his hat, and pointed towards the sky. “Storm’s coming” he said, with a surprising smirk on his face. Mimicking his motions I looked above and saw the sky in an array of colors, seeming to be in a perpetual state of both dawn and twilight. From under the clouds were stars falling like rain drops endlessly over the horizon. But as the star shower approached, the sandy cove, mysterious man and the giant water wave disappeared. The earth beneath me now fainted, and I was swallowed up along with it, until darkness took me through a blackened void. This darkness soon led me to a bright light, its warmth welcoming. I had now passed through nothingness into what appeared as immaculate white space. It was as if the world were a blank canvas and I had only to make my mark upon it. In that space appeared a beautifully decorated door, directly in front of me. I approached and upon turning the knob, I awoke. My bed, my room, my senses all returned to me. And with but one question in my mind, I thought: what if my life and everything in it were simply a dream, and when sleep, I awaken to reality?

“Moonstrings”

“Moonstrings” began as simply a personal writing about a young man who falls in love at first sight. My feelings about the writing soon led me to compose this piece of music. I began to craft the music around a string sample originally taken from Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, and eventually added my own string arrangement to complement his. I hope you all enjoy this romantic-fantasy tune. And if you so desire, the writing that inspired this song is directly below this post. ↓↓↓  

We watched the clouds dissolve into a lavender sky, until the starlight seemed to dance upon the moon rise. She kissed my cheek and moved away for a moment; the shadows of her raven hair waving in the wind. Then, she began to sway amidst the shimmering trees as her raiment glimmered a shining blue. She moved in a way that expressed more than words ever could;  and I, lied still between moments of dreaming and waking, watching her dance to the rhythm of the moonlight. My heart cried out to her in voiceless longing, as the words themselves never found their way to my lips. I narrowly moved forward and reached for her, and she placed my hands lightly on her waist. This time our lips met, and she kissed me as if to imprint her signature. In that moment I was but one bound to her; beyond all capable hope, did I love her. For I had seen many lovely things, either with my eyes or in my dreams, but none being so beautiful as she. We embraced once more, and in my heart I called her “Star Child,” for there would never be a love that shined as brightly as did that moonlit night. In all the world there was no other creature so enchanting, so precious, so peerless. No jewel, song, angel or star comparable to even the wonder of her eyes, which were the color of a twilight summer. I had found what I didn’t search for, but in my finding would cherish forever. I had fallen in love with a nameless beauty, with an enchantress that spoke words as if they were songs written in my heart. And as the sky lay blanketed over the world, I could only imagine placing my heart in her hands. I would be hers if she’d would but be mine. I would endure the toil and labor of this mortal coil and walk the rest of my life with her, sorrowless. 

Being the age of 27 now, I am seeing an influx of people I know that are getting engaged, married, having children and living the family life. And to tell you the truth, I am exasperated from being questioned daily by my friends that I am single and happily unmarried, however unbelievable that may seem. I’m not one to consider a relationship out of convenience; I couldn’t care less about what kind of job you have, how long we’ve known each other, whether we share the same race or religion; all the trivialities of beginning a courtship. I am also not interested in being someone’s convenience, her option, her plan B or anything of the sort. If I’m going to marry, it will be with a young woman whose been waiting her whole life to meet me. A woman whose outer beauty is mirrored by the attributes of her character. Someone who sees my abilities as just extensions of my own character. A woman who doesn’t look at her value as being increased by the number of men who are looking in her direction, or giving her compliments; who can help me in realizing my fullest potential as a child of the Creator. Being with such a woman, and furthermore, maintaining a relationship with her does not come without cost; i.e. sacrifice. The act of placing a woman before myself is not simply a choice, but a life style. A life style of sacrifice. Many of us view being in relationships as a source of happiness, but happiness isn’t dependent upon a relationship of any kind. It’s conditional and dependent upon you. So when most of us decide to be in a relationship, we forgo our personal responsibility and define ourselves by our titles, rather than the qualities that those titles entail. So our relationships become just another source of validation rather than an enhancement of our complete selves. As I’ve said in a previous post, being single allots me perspective; it allows me to live in love versus looking for it. I lack nothing by being single and unmarried. I use my singleness to the advantage of perfecting myself through authenticity and self realization. So in the meantime, I’ll focus my efforts toward solidifying the bonds I’ve made with family and friends, while trying to realize certain personal goals. That should suit me for now.

Artists | Musicians: Mainstream music and it’s popularity is a matter of public opinion, more so about profit and loss than creative and original artistry. Say what you will, but when the day is done, what constitutes as “good music” isn’t about style, technique, genre, trendy culture or financial privilege. It’s about you and the feelings associated with your listeners. If you allow it, music can be a creative science; a musical manifestation of our dreams. Audio art in its entirety. The affects can be quite potent. Such so that when it’s felt, supernatural experiences can occur. This is what I plan on doing, as well as how I plan to make people feel when it’s heard. To make music that is the link between Earth and Heaven; to bridge the bond between God and man. www.ilovebrandon.net

Love is a difficult thing to explain. It is very peculiar; both natural and often times inexplicable. But perhaps the importance of love isn’t so much in understanding it, as much as expressing it. Maybe the characteristics of love should be both known and felt. And if these expressions are meaningful in the course of maintaining love, than I would have the lady of my heart feel as though she never felt like more of a woman than beside me; had never wanted to give a man a baby until meeting me, and never felt closer to God than when making love to me. Just a thought. ♥

「The Seraphim’s Cry | Juno’s Jazz」

Lately, I’ve been leaning toward making more thought-provoking music. Sounds that are dreamy, spiritual and celestial in nature. So I saw a photo of my good friend @Iveyp and was inspired to make this. The first song, entitled The Seraphim’s Cry is about a recent angelic encounter I had in my dreams. And lastly Juno’s Jazz, in which I play jazzy piano chords as a gentle rainstorm falls from the skies. I’m planning to one day fashion an entire album on this concept, tentatively titled Dreamless. 

Forgive me for my three weeks absence. I’ve been taking a few weeks to clear my head, and re-strengthen my heart so-to-speak. To me, the fall symbolizes a time of reflection and self examination. A time to perfect oneself. What I’ve come to realize is that the older I get, the simpler I desire to live. So I’ve come up with a new direction - a change in the routine if you will. And this is what I’ve decided. I am challenging myself to purge all negative words from my vocabulary. Words have tremendous power in ones life. It is my understanding that by changing what we say, we transform our way of thinking. As well, thoughts and words turn into actions, so we must be mindful of what we think as well as what we say. Also, I am eliminating any belief that causes me to see myself as fundamentally worse or fundamentally better than anyone else. We are all children living under the same sky, breathing the same air and bleeding the same blood. But we tend to focus much of our time and energies on petty social matters, which can be used as divisive tools. The more we differentiate ourselves, seeing ourselves as separate, the more disunity we are likely to create and the more discriminatory we become. There is an African philosophy, Ubuntu: I am because we are. It was the Archbishop Desmond Tutu who wrote on this concept, “We think of ourselves far too frequently as just individuals, separated from one another, whereas you are connected and what you do affects the whole world.”  This is not to suggest that we shouldn’t be in the pursuit of enriching our own lives, but in doing so we should also think of the affect on our surrounding communities; lest we forget the human race. Lastly, I am challenging myself daily to humble myself. Every day I awaken is another chance to be inspirational. To chase my dreams, to be a better man than I was the previous day, and to understand that my life is bigger than just me. As I’ve said before ” even with my eyes closed, there is a whole world living beyond my aspirations and desires. So I can’t live as though my dreams are all that matter.” My daily focus is to live my life with the knowledge that everything is illuminated. To let wisdom guide me to the understanding that we are all connected. That even in under the fading sun we can choose to shine bright in the dark places.   

How we treat God is reflective in how we treat others. My favorite part of the bible is when a man calls out to Jesus and says “Lord if you wanted to, you could heal me.” Christ responds simply by saying “I want to” and heals this afflicted man. What amazes me about this story is not in Christ’s healing, but rather His desire to help this man. Our motivations for doing things are just as important as doing them. I know I say this all the time, but there is something very special about the quality in caring for others. It’s intimate and genuine. To love one another is our highest commandment and yet it is often our most neglected one. You don’t have to legitimate someone’s life in order to love that person; to be a brother or sister to that person. All you have to do is make yourself available for those in need. And when we recognize that each of us has a mission, an indispensable contribution to make to our society, then we begin to embrace life in a completely different way. You say that God is a provider, but have you ever been hungry? You say God is merciful, but have you ever experienced suffering for no plausible reason? Our civilization is judged on how we treat “the least among us.” If we are created in the image of God, then we must get in the business of being like Him. So many of us want a blessing. Caring for the needs of others is the beginning of becoming a blessing. And in my opinion, that’s the better choice.

“If you’ve ever wondered where your dreams come from when you go to sleep at night, just look around. This is where they are made.”

My dreams have always taken me to extravagant places. I’m not sure if this is derived from a wave of misplaced childhood emotions, or a genuine desire for more than the mundane lifestyle. For one thing, it has greatly enhanced my creative process. I am able to generate entire worlds of limitless shapes and hues completely from within my imagination. As well, there are times in which I feel isolated by the nature of my own dreams, never knowing for sure if I will be able to understand the meaning behind them. I believe that dreaming has a profound effect on ones subconscious and how they view the world. For in dreams we push beyond the physical limits into the realm of the impossible. I believe this to be essential towards understanding our minds. One would think the nature of dreams would be something taught in schools. But it seems these days we aren’t taught to expand our minds or to journey into our deepest being. Dreaming I believe is a link toward understanding our inner selves and prove vital to our creativity, because your creativity will only be as great as your ability to imagine. Imagine yourself riding a giant robot towards the outskirts of a futuristic city. Next, visualize yourself sky surfing through the clouds. Finally, see yourself swimming alongside a beautiful mermaid. Your imagination is and entryway to your very soul. Hone it. Craft it. Shape the world of your mind into what you wish to see, for nothing is as beautiful as what you can imagine. I remember when I was a child, I often dreamt of flying amongst the angels, soaring high above the clouds and into the depths of the starry skies. Alas, I always awoke from this dream wingless and dissatisfied. Who knows, maybe my life and everything in it is a dream an angel is having. Wouldn’t that be something…