Monte Skelton- Album Release, and the Week Ahead

For me, this year has been full of growth in every single way.  Growth in understanding the world outside of my normal everyday perspective has been a major part of that.  My schedule has been full of teaching lessons, performing in new places, and sharing all the love and smiles in the world with old and new friends and family.  I’ve also been working on a very bold, very fresh new album, which I have entitled ‘<My World>’, to be released September 1, 2018.

This album is 11 tracks, and I would say, an upgrade from my 2017 project .  This time around, I decided to truly embrace the things that make me who I am.  You’ll notice a very unique blend of analog and digital instruments in these tracks, a quirky blend of soulful and nerdy, which pretty much paints a picture of my personality.  <My World> tells a story- A very optimistic beginning quickly gives way to reality and how lonely that can sometimes feel.  However, quickly you learn how to make the best out of reality- that’s where you find true wisdom, true happiness, and true love, all in its many forms.  You will hear this shift in tonality and intensity throughout the album.   This album also features vocal tracks.  ‘Nothing Left,’ beautifully sung by Maigyn Jackson, begins a story of heartbreak and loneliness, followed by a period of ‘Recovery,’ with vocals by Justin Purdy.  ‘Recovery’ is about having those walls up that we all have, but then realizing those walls may not be as thick as we thought, with the right person.  There is one song in particular that I felt I really wanted to sing on my own.  Continuing from the songs from ‘<Inside My Mind>’, I wrote a song named ‘Chapter 3- What is True Love?’  This song features Eric Duke playing percussion along with some djembe, talking drum, and hand drum work of my own.  This song probably took me the longest to make, with over 81 tracks of percussion, ukulele, guitar, flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, bass, and vocals.  I have NEVER sang on a song before… so this is going to truly be a step outside of my comfort zone.  Of course, a major part of my happiness recently has been my kitten PJ, so you know he has a track dedicated to him on the album!  So, yes- it’s called ‘PJ’s Song,’ and you’ll hear me playing it at my performances now!!!!

This album has tracks featuring me playing saxophone, EWI, and bass.  Altogether, I believe I have played a total of 21 different instruments to create the full project.  It is truly a special album for me, and it is my hopes that it has a positive impact on whoever decides to listen to it.

I want to send a special thank you to all those who have supported me to this point. I hope that you can make it to one or both of the special events this week, and I hope you can catch the interviews! Here’s a brief rundown of what’s to come:

The Week Ahead- 8/27-9/1

Monday- Local Lifestyles with Ange Humphrey on WEHT, 10am

Tuesday- 91.5 FM WUEV, 5pm

Wednesday- Facebook/YouTube Live, Time TBD

Friday- Best Day Ever with Gretchin Irons on WEVV, 8:40am

Friday- Album Pre-Release Event- CK Newsome Center, Evansville, IN

6:30pm- Doors Open

7:00pm- Interview/Livestream on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram

Live open question and answer after the interview

Saturday, September 1st- Front Porch Festival, 611 SE 1st St. Evansville, IN

5:00- Festivities Begin

Thank You Everyone!

Thank you all so much for your continued support of all of my projects throughout the years.  Because of your love, I have sold well over 200 CD’s locally!  I truly would not have the joyful, blessed life that I have now if it weren’t for the love and support of my family, extended family, and friends.  And of course, I cannot leave out what God has done for me, which is everything.  I am thankful to my family for teaching about all the loving things that my God, Jehovah, does for not just me, but all of us.  I’ll never forget that.  And though situations change over time, God’s love for us never changes, as ours shouldn’t either.  Rest assured, I will always be the joyful, positive person that I am and nothing will stand in the way of that.

That being said, I am taking most of December off from performing because I have been dealing with some anxiety and depression issues.  After burning the candle at both ends for a while with the album, gigs, teaching, and business building while also trying to keep up with my own health and personal life, it’s time to take a little breather.  So far, I’ve really enjoyed being able to get back into a good routine again.  2018 will be full of public performances and awesome experiences, and I’m very much looking forward to it!  For those of you who are my Facebook/Instagram/Snapchat friends, I’m going be posting a lot more so you can keep up with what’s going on in the life of Monte, and I’ll keep the site updated with upcoming events, projects, and educational resources (coming soon!)

To those who are my friends and family forever, thank you, and love you so much.  And to the Devil and his cohorts:  Let us never forget that what doesn’t kill us, only makes us stronger.  You all have made me a better, happier, stronger, and more realistic person.

KEEP MOVING FORWARD.  WHEN IN DOUBT, IMPROVISE. AND MUCH LOVE TO ALL OF YOU.

Sneak Peek Friday- Sunshine My Way

Last one before the Album Release Next Friday!!!!

Sunshine My Way is a great song for all.  It reminds me that no matter what is going on as we all try to make through each day, to think of all the things that give us strength and joy.  There’s already plenty of things around us that can bring us down, make us forget about how much the people around us mean to us, and may even cause us to reflect negativity towards another.  But especially in hard times, remember the sunshine.  Remember how the Sunshine refreshes us each day, gives us that nice warm feeling, feeds the beautiful flowers and plants around us, and most importantly, gives us life.  Whenever I’m feeling down, bring that Sunshine My Way!  🙂

 

Sneak Peek Friday- Next Chapter

The Video Game Soundtrack to my life.  🙂

Next Chapter was written to be the 2nd track in succession to a song that actually didn’t make it to the final list of songs (maybe next album…?).  This song delves into a lot of different genres that I really like, including Trap, Electronica, World, Jazz, Dubstep, and much more.  As I’ve gotten a little more proficient on guitar and keys, I incorporated a little more solid chord changes in this piece.  Next Chapter also represents a new freedom I have learned very recently.  I don’t have to just ‘fit the bill’ per say, I can make songs the way I hear them in my mind and not have to be restrained to having a ‘jazz’ or ‘smooth’ sound.  I can make these songs exactly the way I want, and not hold back.  I guess another good name for this song would have been ‘Stepping Stones.’  I have 3 favorite parts to this song- first of all, the bass line- I just can’t get enough of it, haha!  Second, the drop.  Because of my love for Dubstep (yeah I went through that phase, and I’m still not totally over it lol), I’ve always wanted to make a successful drop in a song.  I haven’t had much success with it.  But I really like this one, possibly because I didn’t feel the pressure of having to make some kind of epic ‘WUB-WUB’ bass line to launch into after the build-up.  Third, the final push at the very end.  It’s loud, it’s in your face, and it’s awesome when everything finally just goes all out.  It’s like that final level of a video game you’ve been trying to beat for what seems like forever.  So I guess, think of this song as also the ‘video game’ backing track to my life, haha.  Keep moving, and keep leveling up!  🙂

By the way, tickets are NOW ON SALE for my Album Release Party at Mojo’s Boneyard on September 1st!  For more details on how to get your own tickets before they’re all gone, contact Mojo’s Boneyard online, or call them at (812) 475-8593.  Thank you all so much for the love and support you have shown!  🙂

Sneak Peek Friday – Vanilla Bean

Vanilla Bean is sweet, it’s smooth, and it brings me joy. It can also represent anything (or anyone) that makes you feel the same way. What (or who) is your Vanilla Bean? 😉

Releasing this song is a jump for me in many different ways.  First of all, I’m singing.  Yeah, something I’d pretty much said would never happen on an album, haha.  This song is also more of a venture outside of the ‘smooth’ sound that a lot of my songs have into a more ‘hip-hop’ sound mixed with horns.  And I’m warning you now, this song will get stuck in your head for days, haha!  This song has a lot of meaning for me, and I hope that you can find your own within its beats and memorable melody.

From the upcoming album, Inside My Mind, in stores and on Cdbaby September 1st, 2017.

 

Sneak Peek Friday- Chapter 1

Chapter 1

This is the only track that was written before I decided to work on this album as a whole. Chapter 1 was originally written for an EP that I had put together a couple years ago.  Graciously played for months on the local jazz radio station 91.5 FM WUEV, the project as a whole only sold a few physical copies and never left the ground.  But, I really like the song, so I decided to ‘re-release’ this track to the public on Inside My Mind.  I believe the idea for this originally started as something I made to see what I could do as far as layering EWI parts, and turned into a tune that symbolizes a new way for me to show expression on a digital instrument.  Since it was originally recorded, I’ve found new techniques to getting a more ‘human’ sound on the EWI, which you’ll hear on some of the other tracks, but this is pretty much where it started. Recently this tune has been taken to and freshened up for the whole Team Skelton band- get ready for that release!  I hope you enjoy this beginning into a new venture.

Alert: New Album Coming 9/1, And Sneak Peek!!!

So yeah, the word is out!  I’m releasing my all original solo album, ‘Inside my Mind,’  at the beginning of September!  To give you just a little taste, here’s one song from the album named ‘Sunny and Share.’  Yeah I know, “Really, Monte?  Sunny and Share??”  Yes, those are the names of my plants, and I really like my plants, lol.  Enjoy the video!!!!