Music and Movies?

Being an introvert by nature, one of the biggest anxiety triggers is being in a social situation, having to break character and push ahead to interact with people you don't know. Where do you begin? Do you ramble on about the weather, which most people have a strange reason to default to? The weather is that universal a theme we all share, but it's the small talk safe haven. I hate it. Or do you dig into the obvious and discuss the reason you're in that very space with the other person? Since entering the working world many years ago now, I found two themes I could almost effortlessly find someway to tap into the world of another person I needed to engage with. Those two themes if the situation permits?

Music and movies.

Popular culture - or pop culture, every decade there's a history of it. Living through my fourth one of cognitive recall has allowed me to expand on the ability to chat to someone older, or younger than me about music and movies. History itself allows study, be it visual or audibly to learn about passages in pop culture I was not around to experience. And the beauty of pop culture is the average person you chat with will either have a style of music they love (or band/artist), or a movie/genre of movie they love. I find the conversation reveals a lot about someone and I've cemented many a strong bond with people through the open conversation breaker via music or movies. 

Hence the name for the blog - Music, Movies, and Monologues.

When time presents I'll share my thoughts, opinions, and observations with regards to a space in colossal galaxy of music and movies that means something to me. It won't align with everyone, but maybe someone who stumbles upon the site will read something I write - maybe even years down the track - and enjoy it, find themselves in deep reflection or consideration to the topic regarding what I've written to draw on their own experiences.

Music - I am a musician and have been playing drums since the early 2000s with a anchor of interest in the world of rock music. Naturally more than two-decades playing and exposure to a palette of music my interests extend to sub-genres of rock/metal, as well as jazz (classic/smooth), ambient music, blues rock, and everyone has some room for pop music (no matter what they say). Some of my earliest memories in life are traced back through a song I heard, giving me recall to where I was, what was happening, what I was observing, the physical sensations of the light or dark around me. I'd probably say I prefer listening to music than performing it. My preference resulting in more enjoyment performing to original music as opposed to imitating existing works of art.

Movies - when I hit the age of 10 I became immersed and lost in a galaxy far, far away when I saw Star Wars at the cinema in 1996. I only had to wait 2 weeks before I could see the saga continue in The Empire Strikes Back, and then a further fortnight to conclude it with Return of the Jedi. The escapism was incredible to me, and my creative world opened up. I then discovered through many, many visits to the local video (VHS) store; the Indiana Jones trilogy, E.T, Jaws, Back To The Future, and then the rabbit hole of other genres. When in doubt I'd always grab something to do with Mr. Bean. Shortly after it expanded into action, sci-fi (think X-Files), comedy (shortage of that nowadays), and finding the feeling of love - leading me to romantic/dramatic films. I appreciate the world of film-making mostly owed to Star Wars, and even the small-scale stop start animated world of Aardman - namely Nick Park's Wallace & Gromit. So while critical of a lot of modern films, I still understand there's significant effort involved.

Outside of these two focal points of the blog, I love martial arts where I hold a black belt in a particular style of Karate, gardening, my family, and I do love a good pizza at the end the week. Maybe I'll write about it if ever anyone cares to know in this miniscule bit of real estate I have in the world wide web.