Gateway Drug

Gateway Drug

I had an interesting conversation the other day about weed being a gateway drug and it made me dive a little deeper into the subject. Personally, I don't believe that any substance is a gateway drug, only someone trying to silence the screams of the pain they feel. There are certain factors and traumas that happen during the course of one's life and they may not even know that these traumas are even there.They may know they are there, but do not completely understand them. They still remain and affect your day to day life. Whether it be relationships, social life, family life, or even just trying to be yourself. The point I'm trying to make here is that neither weed or alcohol is causing you to get into hard drugs, it's your personal demons, all the pain you feel and can't control. So, when the weed and alcohol cease to numb the pain, you begin looking for something stronger to numb the depression, anxiety, pain, anger or a haunting past that you do not know how to let go of or deal with sober and properly. Most people that I know that smoke weed or drink alcohol don't wake up one day wanting to try heroine because the high isn't good enough anymore. The people that end up on narcotics don't know how to let go or deal with the feelings that come over them constantly. They are tired of dealing with depression, anxiety, anger or a resentment toward a past that they have no idea how to come to terms with. They don't trust people or a person enough to confide in them on what they are truly feeling. They fear being rejected, called a liar or just believe that no one will understand. So they continue to keep it bottled up, and over time it haunts them more and more.  They begin to start self medicate with alcohol, weed, pills, and it numbs it out, for awhile. But the mind and body tend to become immune to these things and build up a tolerance. As a result the pain they're hiding screams out even louder. This is the breaking point at which there are two paths you can choose; either get help or slide down the slippery slope of hard drugs. When they do slide down into this dark hole, the same thing happens. The body once again builds up immunity and tolerance towards the drugs and the voices still scream. They chase the dragon until their heart stops beating. In all reality and at the core of this problem is that people get tired of the pain they feel and will do anything to silence it. It is not the weed or alcohol leading them down this path, it is their own mind screaming out for help, with none to be found. Your mind or subconscious mind is ultimately designed to protect you. It will even protect you from yourself, in essence you are ultimately battling yourself. So when you hit that fork in the road and your demons are screaming louder than ever, which path will you take?

Eric Val

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Void To Fill

Void To Fill

If you're not content and happy being alone, no one else will fill that void for you. I see it all the time in life and on social media, both men and women. When I find the right man I will be happy, when I find the right woman, I'll be happy. Then, a few months later, the same complaints and problems begin to show and the pattern continues. Too many people tend to think that a significant other in their life, and the love it's suppose to generate will somehow magically fill this hole inside them and everything will be perfect. As far as I can seen, I don't think it works that way. The same goes for material things in this life we all struggle and strive for with every waking moment. No amount of money, cars, house, bigger house, cars or faster cars will ever fulfill your need for peace and fulfillment.
 I know it probably sounds cliche, but your happiness and peace of mind truly lie within you. What's within you is a much harder thing to face, and be truly honest with yourself while doing so. We all have a past, we are all damaged to a certain degree, and recognizing those parts inside us and dealing with them properly is a whole other battle. Most people just deny that there is anything wrong with them, it's always someone else's fault. This kind of mindset pattern either destructive or not, tend to continue. Repeating mistakes especially when it comes to relationships, will make your life miserable. The thing is, we tend to attract similiar personalities or what we think we deserve. If you keep dating the same type of person and the results are the same, then you might want to take notice to the characteristics your attracted to and settling for. If you keep settling for people who take advantage of you or worse. You might want to take a look inside and see your self worth and what causes you to keep finding these same characteristics. Know yourself, know your path, set your goals, know your worth, and surround yourself with the right people. Whether it be friends, family, wife, or co-workers, you have to have the right people around you. Chose people who respect you and are there for you. Do not chose people who back stab you and take advantage of you.


Eric Val

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

YouTube:
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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:
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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

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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
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Die An Original

Die An Original

I went to Nashville, Tennessee a couple of weeks ago and hungout for a few days with high expectations of the music scene there. In my mind I was expecting to see different styles of music and amazing musicians writing great original material, just being themselves and creating something new and original. It was my hope to go there not only to meet like minded original artists but to also be inspired . That didn’t happen.

Now bare in mind this is just what I saw and heard on music row and other various places I visited. If there are some places that have original artists and people being creative, writing great original songs, I apologize. Let me know where these places are and I will definitely go see them. But, from what I saw the rest of these words I have no apologies.

As it turns out it's just like every other bar or club I have went to in any other town or city. Nashville has just capitalized on it better than any other city I have seen.

I arrived at music row on a Saturday evening at five and walked up and down both sides of the street, and two other side streets until three in the morning. Every one of them I have seen, and I must have seen at least thirty or forty bands, were all playing covers. Not different covers either, they were all playing the same top forty country songs that we've all heard a million times. All the musicians and backing bands had similar tones for their guitars, basses, keys, and playing styles. No one was even trying to make it their own with their own style of musicianship. They were all chasing the same brass ring of whatever is being played on country radio at the moment.

Now don't get me wrong, I love what’s on country radio. I'm a fan of a lot of music, but for everyone to keep chasing what has already been done is sad to watch. I understand why they do this type of formula just like every other club or bar that you go to in any town or city. It is the safe route for both the band and bar to make money. The crowd already knows what to expect. The band knows what songs to play that the crowd will like, and the bar and the band both make money. This is a very smart marketing strategy, and a safe route for all.

But me being me, I'm tired of hearing it. I would rather go out and be myself. Writing about what I feel, and be who I am, instead of spending my time learning someone else's material, trying to emulate them, sound like them, and play songs that we've all heard a million times. It's not who I am. This is time that could be spent writing new songs, recording new songs, working on your guitar style and tone, and working on an all original live set with your band. There are so many more valuable things to spend your time on musically.

Don't get me wrong, it is good to learn other bands or artist’s songs for the sake of learning and becoming better at your craft. I would never put that down. But when you spend all your time learning it, rehearsing it ,and playing it live, it becomes to unoriginal and you’re wasting your time. This is just my point of view and it's your life so do what you want. I'm just stating it how I see it.

We only have so much time on this planet to do what we love. Let alone all the rest of life that gets in the way. I would say forge your own path, write what you feel and continue to get better. If you fail on your path, learn from it and get up and keep going. Or you can use the words I live by, Die An Original!


Eric Val
Website: http://ericvalmusic.com/#/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/EricValMusic/featured?view_as=subscriber
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Words and Drive

Words and Drive

There were many people through the course of my life that in one way or another told me that I would be nothing but a ditch digger in this life. I've been picked on and looked down on for being myself and being different. I was bullied from time to time, but I would always stand my ground win or lose. Looking back at all this, I'm glad it happened. It made me stronger and more determined to make something of myself. It somewhat gives you an "I'll show you" attitude and gives you the determination to go down your path fearlessly. For me, it caused me to look deep inside and figure out who I was, what I wanted to be and what made me happy. It also inspired me to be more strong willed and put the blinders on, shut off all the negativity around me, and stay focused on my goals. Actions speak louder than words, so I used their negativity to drive me and inspire me. In the famous words of Les Brown's teacher "Someone's opinion of you does not have to be your reality" a very wise statement. Everyone is going to have their own opinion of you. People are going to try and put you down because you are different, and possibly be jealous, thinking you'll be more successful then they will. Be yourself and stand up for yourself. Figure out who you are, what you want, and go down your path fearlessly. Use all the pain, suffering, happiness, wisdom and knowledge to inspire you and fuel your fire.

Eric Val
Website: http://ericvalmusic.com/#/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/EricValMusic/featured?view_as=subscriber
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Eric Val Bio

Eric Val Bio

“Diverse Music with a Hard Rock Edge,” or "Diverse Rock" sums up Eric Val’s music career. This hard rock solo artist comes from Williamsport, PA, that was influenced by bands like Sevendust, Shinedown, Marvin Gaye, Garth Brooks, Eric Clapton, Stone Sour and Seether. He has a classically trained voice that helps him propel his sound and style far above the rest. His writing style is as unique as his voice.

With the release of the debut album ‘3 Year Struggle’ August 31, 2012, the world got to see a small taste of what Eric is all about. With 13 original tracks, it is available exclusively at ericvalmusic.com, along with itunes.com, amazon.com, and cdbaby.com. The album demonstrates his diversity, honesty and passion for his music. The first two singles ‘High Above You’ and ‘Pull Me Under’ showcase his pop sensibility and the rest show the diversity.

The next recording was released in September 2013 debuting the rock/pop single ‘Beauty Queen’. The song exemplifies a mixture of heavy guitars, groove drumming and smooth vocals. Another single was released, ‘If You Only Knew’, in July of 2014, and comprises a mixture of acoustic guitars, electric solos and fast paced drums. Then in 2015, came Beautiful Lie a mixture of rock, country and classical music with a smooth melody and voice.

As for what is next? The sophomore album My Gift, My Curse is finished and set to be released on November 18, 2019. In short, it’s the most diverse rock album ever, featuring 14 different musicians playing over twenty different instruments on the album. Ranging from rock and metal influence to classical and country tones. The first single Tragedy will start it off and is released. A mixture of rock, country and classical music with haunting lyrics and melody. It is dedicated to the ones we've lost, the ones left behind, and the affect it has on us. Inspired by the people we've lost due to suicide and drug overdoses. All the proceeds from the song will be donated to the Recovery Awareness Connection, an organization dedicated to recovery of those with drug abuse and mental illness. Two other singles have been released as well groove metal melodic My Own Hell and jazz rock fusion The Past. Next will be the singles Slow Decline an R&B, Rock and classical piece and hard rock tribal Faded Memory. Get ready for a wild ride.

Eric Val
Website: http://ericvalmusic.com/#/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/EricValMusic/featured?view_as=subscriber
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eric.val/
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