Writing – Page 2 – George Blamey-Steeden

HYPNOTISING THE SNAKE

white cliff ‘View From Above’

Strange things happen. Take yesterday. I’m invited to join the parents for breakfast at a café overlooking the sea. I get these invites once, sometimes twice a week. Sat outside, the sun shining for once, you can see France clearly on days like this. I’m eating my poached eggs on toast. We’re chatting about stuff. Everything is good. Then it goes pear shaped. The old man says, ‘I don’t need this.” I say, ‘Don’t need what?’ He says, ‘It’s that God squad nuisance I met in the car park the other day. He’s just turned up here. He must have more front than Buckingham Palace.’

I look round and there the bloke is. Dressed smart. He’s invading the space of ladies trying to enjoy their coffee, going table to table putting his face right smack in their faces as he chants, ‘God loves me’ on a loop. The ladies all stay shtum for some reason. The old man is coming to the boil. Shaking his head. The nuisance spots him; comes over, chanting all the time and gets as close as he dares to dad who’d read him his fortune last time they met. The old man starts to stand up, but the nuisance then spots my mother who’s now got her head buried in a newspaper and smoking a cigarette. He decides to go face to face with her and miming her smoking, taking make believe puffs through two fingers holding an invisible fag, but now chanting, ‘God doesn’t smoke’. The old man goes, ‘Right I’ve seen enough. You, my friend have offended these lovely ladies, offended me and now my missus’. He’s about to give the bloke both barrels but my mum is already on his case. He’s back giving it the ‘God loves me’ chant even though she’s now got her face in his, doing what she does best. Defeating the bully. When she’d finished with him and given him her version of ‘go away’ he ran off back to his brand new BMW parked around the corner. He wasn’t chanting anymore either. Mum gets a few cheers and a round of applause.

Personally, I think people should believe in whatever they want to believe in. Just keep it to themselves and give up on the idea of trying to convert others. That way we’re not at war with each other. At least I’ve got a possible lyric out of it.

WRONG DIRECTION

Your dreams turn into nightmares

Your nightmares into dreams

Your mindset fixed on messaging

Your demon’s latest schemes

Face to face you try to charm

And hypnotize the snake

With words thrown like a dagger

That’s your big mistake

Maybe you’ve got a death wish

Maybe you swallowed a bitter pill

Out there offending the innocent

Are you doing it for the thrill?

In a song I wrote back when

A song that fits the way that you must feel

I said, ‘You’re like a scarecrow on the gallows’

And believe me that’s, ‘No big deal’

Time for a song, ‘Hooked’ from my Rainbows End album. It’s in praise of nuisances wherever we may find them. I hope you enjoy;

THE FORGOTTEN DAUGHTER OF ZEUS

forgotten daught of zeus cover 08012019

I would have liked to take a photograph of the sign in the shop window that read, ‘OUR BIKINIS ARE EXCITING. THEY ARE SIMPLY THE TOPS’ but couldn’t as I was told about it rather than saw it for myself.

Anyhow, my new album, ‘THE FORGOTTEN DAUGHTER OF ZEUS’ is, as of today, out there on Bandcamp. Here’s what it’s all about;

‘In composing Zoolon’s 4th album of new mixed-genre instrumentals the objective was to create a compilation of music that reflected a wide assortment of atmospheric sensations, emotions and moods.

Save for the title track, ‘The Forgotten Daughter of Zeus’, all others were composed using the song title as the prompt. In terms of that title track, the ‘forgotten daughter of Zeus’ in question was Persephone, Queen of The Underworld. As to the other tracks, Scandinavian and old time film noir background styles play their part on some, freeform on others, even metal makes an appearance.

Within what is just shy of 45 minutes, pretty much all states of mind are represented. If you’re looking for music to think, write, meditate or relax by, this is the album for you. Enjoy.’

It’s available per the picture Bandcamp link below to buy at £5 – or the equivalent in other currencies worldwide, as are my previous lyrical song based albums, ‘Dream Rescuer’, ‘Rainbows End’ & ‘The Pigeons Are Switzerland’. The complete set of albums, my discography is also available at £12 the set. It/they can be streamed direct from Bandcamp, although for top notch sound quality the download purchase is best. Either way I hope you like it.

NO PLACE FOR SHADOWS TO DANCE

DOVER CASTLE (2) ‘View from a cliff edge’ by Zoolon

The road leading up the castle is winding and steep. High granite stone walls either side. Some ancient overhanging trees blocking the daylight. No place for shadows to dance.

Most people drive up to the castle. The tourists off the cruise liners from places I’ve never been can afford the entrance fee. A lot of locals can’t. The American’s are enthusiastic tourists. They soak up history and eat cream teas. Most other visitors mainly take selfies and never wonder why.

On my way up I saw last night’s dead badger on the tarmac. Blood and guts. Road kill for the two magpies in love to feed off and live for another day.

In the castle grounds there is a flock of sheep that aren’t like any other sheep I’ve ever seen. Weight issues or maybe just an overload of wool? Unique? Probably not. They look bored most times. Camera shy as well. They don’t hang around in flocks. I like that idea.

On a good day, Calais is clearly visible from up here. On days when the clouds hang low or the sea mist grows high, you can’t even see the tip of your nose. The tip of my nose doesn’t interest me that much.

Most people forget to look up. iPhones have that effect. If they did look up they’d have seen that the sky was like a half drawn curtain. A hungry sun verses angry grey clouds. A stand-off. A nil-nil draw. No time added-on.

If people did make a habit of looking up they’d see at the very top of the castle, an old keep. A woman in a flowing red dress hangs out there. She doesn’t say a lot. She doesn’t do a lot. Just walks about, fretting and a bit frantic. A damsel in distress? I reckon so. An angry looking bloke dressed as a cavalier just stands there watching her like he’s issued her an ultimatum she’s not good with. They’re both ghosts. No one knows their names. I don’t think they got along then or now. I’ll maybe ask the magpies for their take on what’s going on up there. They’ll know.

Here’s an electronic instrumental I composed a while back. Today it’s for the ghost woman. It’s called ‘A Life’ and it’s from my Dream Rescuer album. I’m guessing the lady in red didn’t get much of a life;

For the last couple of weeks I’ve been reporting on my progress up the ReverbNation charts. I can now add to that. This morning I found out that Zoolon is No. 1 in the UK chart and, amazingly No. 18 in the Global chart – there are 4 million musicians on ReverbNation globally. I’m guessing staying No. 1 will be harder than getting there. As ever, my thanks to all the support I’ve had from you lovely people on WordPress. Thanks again. You’re great ~ Zoolon aka George

Checking it out it looks like this is one of the recent numbers that’s helped me along. It’s called ‘Tick Tock’;

The song is from ‘The Pigeons Are Switzerland’ EP which is available to purchase via the link below;

THE POWER OF HELLO

daisy (2) ‘One of a Kind’ by Zoolon

I was out early again. Poached eggs on toast to kick off a new day. Per usual there she was. This time dressed in all-in-one camouflage combats and a Che Guevara black beret with a red star on the front. Tucked in-between her shoulder-top and her neck she had a full on Mickey Mouse cuddly toy. She spoke to him all the time like he was alive. Her gentle sounding voice is louder than you’d think, so listening in is easy. It’s like she’s answering Mickey’s questions, only that can’t be.

I’d say she’s maybe twenty +/- a year. Has a perma smile. Everyone likes her. She looks like she should be on the front cover of a posh fashion magazine. Vogue is posh? I don’t really know these things.

Last time I saw her, it was a warmer day than yesterday. A crazy, off the wall long snow-white dress and one of those pointy cone hats princess’s in the Middle Ages had. I checked it out on Wiki. They’re called Hennin hats. This time it was a regular teddy bear tucked between shoulder-top and her neck who was asking the questions she was answering. I don’t think she wears the same clothes twice.

I got told that most days she starts out at the library. Makes a point of going inside to say hello to all the staff. She knows them all by name. They know her by name. Never borrows a book. Once they’ve all said hello back, she’s off down the high street. The charity shops and the cafes are the places she visits most. Says hello to the shop assistants and café staff. She knows them all by name as well. Once she gets a ‘hello’ back she moves on. On her travels, if she bumps into a dog she knows she lets whatever cuddly toy she has with her ask the dog a few questions. I’m not sure if she knows the names of the dogs. Probably she does.

Whatever place she stops at to say hello, she can’t move on until she gets a ‘hello’ back. OCD I guess. I also got told that all the library staff, the shop assistants and the café staff keep an eye out for her. Make sure she’s safe. There’re scumbags out there who might take liberties.

I know her name because I got told it. She doesn’t know mine. It’s good that so many decent people are looking out for her. She’s different from the rest of us. ‘Special’ in a good way. A happy way.

I didn’t compose this song for her, so I’ll dedicate it instead. My opening line, ‘How’s it feel living without demons?’ felt right for her.

By the way, I’d like to thank you all for visiting Zoolon on ReverbNation. It’s a decent platform to showcase music. I noticed today that I’ve cracked the top 20 and am at number 17 out of many thousands of artists in the ReverbNation UK chart. A lot of that is down to you kind bloggers. Thanks again for the support ~ George.

All my albums are available at Bandcamp including my discography via the link below;

STEFAN & GARDENS IN THE AIR

DSC01684 (2) (Stefan the Heron)

It was good that the camera had decent zoom otherwise Stefan the Belgian Heron – who I thought was just an OK, plastic garden ornament until he flew away in style – would have missed the cut for this post. I did try to get to chat with Stefan from a distance but it wasn’t happening and I never carry a megaphone, so I moved on.

Later the same day I got told by an English speaking Walloon – handy, given that the only word I know in Walloon is ‘zeezult’ i.e. sea salt – that in the Belgian city of Mons 60% of the population live in one bedroom flats and no matter what floor level they live on, even in the tallest block of flats, they all have their own garden. Flats with gardens. That’s a major construction triumph; the stuff of Sci-Fi even. Seriously, I couldn’t get my head around that. So surreal – gardens in the air. Odd. The thing is, surely only the garden for the top flat would get any sun – and rain, hail and snow, plus getting to have the occasional BBQ for that matter. All the other gardens on the levels down to ground level would just be lumps of shadowy concrete. I’m guessing artificial grass sells well in Mons.

Anyway, here’s a couple more photos I took in Belgium.

(The Day the Sky Fell into the Pond)

DSC01673 (2) (The Great Wall of Belgium – not to be confused with the one in China)

Now for a quick mention of my new book, ‘The Words & Thoughts of a Dyslexic Musician’. I’ve got this neat page at Amazon.com – I never knew it existed and only discovered it mucking around online. It even brings up my blog and a few pics. It’s called Zoolon’s Amazon Central page. Neat.

ZOOLON’S AMAZON CENTRAL PAGE

zoolons book sized

The book is available in paperback and Kindle versions through Amazon just about anywhere. Just type in Zoolon and you’ll find me. Here’s the UK link;

THE WORDS & THOUGHTS OF A DYSLEXIC MUSICIAN

Also, I’ve had a major update of Zoolon’s Home page. It’s not 100% complete yet, I still have some stuff to do, but it’s getting there.

Lastly, a song ‘All Winter Long’ from my ‘Rainbows End’ album. I hope you enjoy;

‘THE WORDS & THOUGHTS OF A DYSLEXIC MUSICIAN’

zoolon cover draft 4 (Cover art by Rachel Carrera)

I was going to give this book the title, ‘Things That Happen to Me When I Glaze Over’ or ‘Pieces of Me’. Both of those were more or less accurate but, in the end, I decided upon ‘The Words & Thoughts of a Dyslexic Musician’ because that is what it is; that’s what I am.

Not a novel nor a book of poetry, it’s a collection of stories about the odd things that seem to happen to me on any average day, and things I’ve thought of or noticed when I’m not asleep. Also, I wanted a home for some of my favourite lyrics for songs I’ve written – some from my back catalogue plus others in raw form waiting in the wings for a melody – as well as a place for a few of the photographs I’ve been taking since I got the camera bug.

The main reason I went for ‘The Words & Thoughts of a Dyslexic Musician’ is because that’s the simple truth. Maybe I should have added ‘Colour-blind’ to the title because that’s a truth as well. The problem was it made the title too long.

Anyway, here it is. My book. Dyslexia might be a nuisance I could do without, but ‘words’ come for free, and besides they don’t just belong to those who haven’t got trouble reading them, so basically nothing is impossible – well maybe me spelling without a spell-check, buttering toast, understanding road signs written in Walloon or spending a whole day in the body of say, a wildebeest just to get a feel for what it’s like being one. Those thing are impossible.

zoolon back cover

Rachel who did all the cover art and a whole lot more can be found – not that I’m saying she’s wandered off and got lost, or she’s in hiding or even kidnapped or anything like that – at Rachel Carrera

Here’s Zoolon’s links to Amazon UK for both the Kindle and Paperback versions of my book;

The Words & Thoughts of a Dyslexic Musician by Zoolon

Also, the paperback and Kindle versions are available by typing in ZOOLON in Amazon worldwide.

Thanks for reading, Zoolon aka George and I’ll sign off with a piece of music I composed called, ‘Prohibition’. I hope you enjoy;