"Close your eyes and forget about the notes," I whispered.

have you ever had that thing happen where your head gets in the way? you're trying so hard to get it just right, just perfect that you end up stressed and with an anything-but-perfect outcome? 

this happens all the time in music. 

i remember recording my first full-length album years ago. it cost me all my savings at the time, but i had a dream to be a real songwriter and get my songs out into the world and so there we were... me, a sound engineer, and the two instruments i would never track myself - a drummer and a cellist. 

the drummer, a personal friend from London, was crushing it. every song, every beat, every fill - crushing it. 

the cellist, who was first chair at the city symphony, was perfect.... too perfect for rock n roll. so about three hours into the session i went over to her and took the headphones off of her head and I whispered, "close your eyes and forget about the notes." she stared at me... "what?" she asked. i said, "you're too perfect for this song, it needs more passion, emotion, recklessness. just close your eyes and play whatever comes out in the moment." 

she looked confused but agreed, took a deep breath, and nodded to start the track over. 

the recording light blazed red and she was on. 

the first few bars were a slow build, nothing special, but she knew what was coming... the bridge - a chaotic jam where she had the solo. and as the bridge arrived i saw our cellist close her eyes, furl her brow, and tighten her grip on the bow before she lost it. she went absolutely nuts. arms stabbing, veins popping, hair flying. then out of the bridge as perfect and calm as ever.

the track ended and she looked up at me with a smile. she later told me that those 16 bars were the most fun of her musical career. and that take was the one we kept on the record. one and done.

okay, fine, you can listen to the track here. 

that's what i love about music - the real, the raw, the expression of who we are in a way that moves others in incredible ways. and, to disagree the snobs out there, it doesn't have to be complicated. there is beauty in its simplicity. 

so try it today - grab one of your guitars, close your eyes, and play whatever comes out. don't worry about a wrong note, a wrong chord, just play and let it out. 

and let me know how it goes : ) 

-J.B.

PS - we have had a ton of interest in our First 100 waitlist for the new and improved Closet Rockstars Club but we're closing it down soon. when you join the waitlist you'll get first dibs on the First 100 founding member spots that will include a large discount for as long as you're in the club, coaching sessions, our 90-Day Guitar Sprint course, our app and more. Just email me "100" and we'll get you on the waitlist before it closes 🤘🏻