Opinions Of Others

Opinions Of Others

Throughout your path in life there will be many opinions given to you on what you're doing, how you're doing it and why you're doing it. The truth is it's good to listen to what other people have to say about your journey, and you may just learn something and avoid a few pitfalls and a few headaches. On the other hand, if you are going down a path that no one has ever been down before, and trying something that no one has ever attempted. It may be better to take those opinions with a grain of salt and a shot of penicillin and continue on boldly with your focus and goal in mind. Even then it may be wise to listen to what they have to say and take some of the wisdom and lessons they have to offer and disregard the rest. The truth is people are fearful of what is different, what they don't understand and definitely fearful of the unknown. It's just how most human beings are wired but it does not have to stop you from pursing what you love and are passionate about. Human beings in general are fearful of new information that goes against what they know or have been taught, whether it be religious, science, or just common knowledge. It takes time for new knowledge or facts to be accepted as truth to the general population. Nothing that is new and exciting, bold and different, or goes against the grain will be accepted overnight, it's just a simple fact of human nature. It takes time. Most people are generally close minded and unwilling to change or stand out from the crowd. They fear taking the risk of being considered an outcast. Generally everyone just wants to fit in, whether it be with someone, somewhere, or some group, and feel loved and welcomed. Anything that threatens  being rejected or cast out, people tend to shy away from. Hence, I myself tip my hat to the bold, the originals, and the trail blazers. People who do what they love, what they think is right, what they know is right, or whatever passion moves them down their path. They go boldly into uncharted territories, knowing it may never amount to anything, and may receive a lot of resistance along the way, but do it anyway. They have fear, they have doubt, but rise above it and go forth knowing this. Life is entirely too short to follow the pack!

Eric Val

Website:
http://ericvalmusic.com/#/

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/user/EricValMusic/featured?view_as=subscriber

Soundcloud:
https://soundcloud.com/eric-val

Society 6 (Merch):
https://society6.com/ericvalmusic

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/eric.val/

Twitter:
https://twitter.com/EricValmusic

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/ericval27/

Live On The Couch- Episode 1

Myself performing the single Beautiful Lie, Live On The Couch. One take, one song, just me and a acoustic guitar. Take it or leave it. Thank you all for all the support you have been giving me, greatly appreciated.

Website:
http://ericvalmusic.com/#/

CD Baby:
https://store.cdbaby.com/Artist/EricVal

Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/5N3Snc5e1sxX5tjJKwhR4P

Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Eric+Val&i=digital-music&search-type=ss&ref=ntt_srch_drd_B0097IKRPY

iTunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/eric-val/560306331?ign-gact=3&ls=1

Live On The Couch- Episode 3

Myself performing the single The Past, Live On The Couch. One take, one song, just me and a acoustic guitar. Take it or leave it. Thank you all for all the support you have been giving me, greatly appreciated.

Website:
http://ericvalmusic.com/#/

CD Baby:
https://store.cdbaby.com/Artist/EricVal

Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/5N3Snc5e1sxX5tjJKwhR4P

Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Eric+Val&i=digital-music&search-type=ss&ref=ntt_srch_drd_B0097IKRPY

iTunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/eric-val/560306331?ign-gact=3&ls=1

Live On The Couch-Episode 2

Myself performing the title track off the new album My Gift My Curse, Live On The Couch. One take, one song, just me and a acoustic guitar. Take it or leave it. Thank you all for all the support you have been giving me, greatly appreciated.

Website:
http://ericvalmusic.com/#/

CD Baby:
https://store.cdbaby.com/Artist/EricVal

Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/5N3Snc5e1sxX5tjJKwhR4P

Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Eric+Val&i=digital-music&search-type=ss&ref=ntt_srch_drd_B0097IKRPY

iTunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/eric-val/560306331?ign-gact=3&ls=1

Slow Decline (Lyric Video) by Eric Val

Single off my new album My Gift My Curse called Slow Decline. Out now for streaming and downloading everywhere.

Website:
http://ericvalmusic.com/#/

Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/5N3Snc5e1sxX5tjJKwhR4P

iTunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/eric-val/560306331

Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Eric+Val&i=digital-music&search-type=ss&ref=ntt_srch_drd_B0097IKRPY

My Gift My Curse

My Gift My Curse

It has taken two years, fourteen different musicians, and countless hours of writing and recording, to make my sophomore album My Gift My Curse.

Without further adieu, it will be released on Monday, November 18, 2019 on Spotify, Amazon, Pandora and everywhere else for digital download and streaming. If you would like a CD, go to CDBaby.com or come see me.

You may be asking yourself "Why did it take so long? or “Why did you have so many musicians?" We'll for those of you who don't know my music, I'll have to explain a few things.
First of all, the musicians that are on this album I very much love and respect and have wanted to work with for a long time. They range from heavy metal artists, country artists, blues, jazz, rock and even some Celtic, which I love all of it. This is why I had to create my own own genre of music because nothing that anyone uses in music marketing would fit my style. So I coined my genre of music Diverse Rock. I'll always be at my core a rock artist but I truly do love all types of music depending on what I am feeling at that point in time.

When I write lyrics, songs, guitar parts, melodies, and so on, I never limit myself. I write what I am feeling lyrically and write the music that I am feeling at that time. When I record the song I let it become what it is meant to be or at least what I am hearing that it should be. I hold nothing back and never limit myself. Many musicians put themselves inside a box and chase the same brass ring, that they never truly become someone original. I am not one of those musicians. There are songs that I have written that require, or at least I think it does, a trumpet, fiddle, bagpipes, so on and so forth.
Myself or Richard Rupert, my mentor and so many other things (see below for all his credits) start making phone calls to musicians who play these instruments, and who we think would fit the bill. I was amazed, most not knowing who I was, showed up and did an amazing job. They bring what I do to life and help make it diverse.

That being said, on My Gift My Curse, you'll hear banjos, fiddles, harmonicas, synthesizers, bagpipes, tin whistles, congas, bongos and piano. The only thing you won't hear is rapping and an accordion.

I'm far from finished making music, so I'll make sure I put that on my "music to do list" and I'll get it out to all of you later. So for lack of a better explanation, this is why I call what I do Diverse Rock. There is too much variety of styles and diversity going into each song that I just couldn't call it Rock, it was too passive. So, Diverse Rock is what you're going to get from me!

This album truly stands to attest that statement with thirteen all original tracks, each different and diverse from the next. If none of this makes any sense to you, grab some whiskey, weed or both , and sit down and take a listen on 11/18/19. You just might experience something new and like it, or send me a hate email that I probably won't read.

In closing, I would like to say thank you and much love and appreciation to all the people who made this record possible. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. I couldn't have done this without you.

First and foremost, Richard Rupert-Sound engineer, guitar, lead guitar, trumpet, fiddle, bass, piano, keys, co-producer and owner of Green Valley Recording. Above all, my friend and mentor.

Jesse Roedts-Drums-Hand percussion and co-producer on Faded Memory

Joseph Hauserman-Drums , keys, congas, bongos, hand percussion, and co-producer on Slow Decline

Chris Bartley- Bass, backing vocals, and co-producer

Josh Chalk-Guitar on Trust No One

Mark Tomeo-Slide guitar/steel guitar

Chris LaRose- Harmonica and banjo

Alan Batz-Drums on Stranger Inside and Reflection

Joe Flair-Bass on Stranger Inside, backing vocals on Reflection and The Past

Jason Hagen- Lead guitar on Stranger Inside

Tony Harlan-Lead guitar on Stronger

Arno Vosk-Bagpipes on Reflection

Chalie Holmes-Upright bass on Slow Decline

Peter Pandolfo-Drums

Eric Val-Vocals, Guitar, Co-Producer


Website:
http://ericvalmusic.com/#/

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/user/EricValMusic/featured?view_as=subscriber

Soundcloud:
https://soundcloud.com/eric-val

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/eric.val/

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/ericval27/

Twitter:
https://twitter.com/EricValmusic

Time

Time

There is one thing in this life that we can neither get back, buy or sell, and once it's gone, it's gone forever and that is time. 

An old friend gave me the best piece of advice that I have ever gotten and that is never waste a moment of the day. Use it all to accomplish something. Never have truer words been spoken. Time goes quickly, especially the older you get.

 If you would like a great theory of this read Einsteins theory of relativity, it would shed a lot of light unto this subject. I myself am just as guilty as anyone else in wasting time, the only difference may be that I feel guilty afterwords for doing so. I am always trying to be productive and use every minute of the day to my advantage. But we all get tired, we all need a moment of relaxation and decompression. It's human nature and the jobs and tasks we have to do to survive tend to wear us down and force us to the couch far longer then we should be there. That's OK sometimes, we need that break to let the body and mind come back to center through whatever space we need. Whether it be meditation, watching TV, having a drink or just laying down and taking a nap, it's a necessary escape.

 Too many of us though, let it become a big part of our lives and it overcomes us. We tend to forget that we only have so much time on this earth to experience all that life has to offer, or in other words balance.

 Balance in this life is a hard thing to find and maintain, but not impossible. It is just a constant theory of checks and balances of what you love and what you want from this life and to not waste time when you find it. There is another aspect of time and balance that I and others are guilty of and that is trying to force something to work rather then letting it happen. There is a time and place for everything and many times we try to force it in this right here, right now world. I believe that sometimes you need to let things happen rather then force them. It may seem contradictory to not wasting time but balance could be put in this as well. 

There is another aspect of not wasting time and balance of life and that is enjoying your time on this earth. Finding love and passion in who you are and what you do. I am just as guilty of this as well. Becoming so driven that you don't take the time to enjoy life, appreciate all you've worked for. and all the people who love and care about you. It's an easy thing to do. Especially in a fast paced society, and a driven mind, enjoyment and reflection tend to be forgotten.

In conclusion, there are three things to keep in mind: enjoying life, not wasting time, and finding the balance in all things. In other words, finding balance in enjoying life and not wasting time, whichever your conundrum. 

Eric Val

Website:

http://ericvalmusic.com/#/

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/user/EricValMusic/featured?view_as=subscriber

Soundcloud:

https://soundcloud.com/eric-val

Society 6:

https://society6.com/ericvalmusic

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/eric.val/

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/ericval27/

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/EricValmusic

The Fading Light

The Fading Light

Eyes close slowly, the light fades away
At peace but for the rest, all remains the same
A passion put forth for all to see
Gone like a whisper among the trees
Mind frail, hands bloodied to the bone
All to build another mans throne
No time to savor a moment of happiness
Wonder aimlessly through the tarnished miles of distress
All that is earned, worked for, bled for, gets left behind
To the vultures of greed, all just waiting in line
A regret of not taking a moment in time
To appreciate the bliss of peace of mind
In the blink of an eye it's all over
A lost battle to a meaningless endeavor
No time taken to enjoy a laugh
Driven by desires thought not to have
To strive, to build, to conquer, all meaningless in the end
Lost along the way, all those fences left to mend
For days are numbered, time is fleeting
All mistakes seem to keep repeating
Love, money, fame, whatever your desired lust
In the end, all ashes and dust
The pain and strife all seem endless
Ending it all with actions so reckless



Eric Val
http://ericvalmusic.com/#/
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/user/EricValMusic/featured?view_as=subscriber
Soundcloud
https://soundcloud.com/eric-val
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/eric.val/
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/ericval27/
Twitter
https://twitter.com/EricValmusic