Listener

“The word 'listen' contains the same letters as the word 'silent'.” ― Alfred Brendel

The 3rd photo entry for my weekly Self Portrait Journal. A 52 week glimpse into the attributes of James Olmos.

Week Three - Listener

I've always considered myself a good listener. I've never been one to talk a lot so listening came natural. I can drive for hours, with the radio turned off, and just be with my thoughts. I can lay down, my back to the earth, close my eyes or stare into the sky and just "listen".

I've always been this way.

When I write the lyrics to my songs, or when I write poetry, I sometimes just listen to the melody or rhythm in my head, then write a few words . . . pause and listen . . . then write a few more words.

Silence is the breakthrough to listening.

Breath On Me

Please listen to my newest song addition for my "Take One Project".  These recordings are works-in-progress (incomplete, raw, organic) for my next full album.  I'll choose 12 songs from this "Take One Project" and properly record them for my upcoming album.

Get Physical CD's & MP3's from my last album!

New Artwork Collaboration

I'm collaborating with Google Plus Artists and featuring their photos and artwork as the thumbnail picture for my songs.  Each song in the "Take One Project" will feature different artwork from photographers and artists across the globe!

The seventh artist is Willi Bambach.  Bambach is a “sui generis” artist who works with many mediums.  He says, "Inside the shapes we catch a glimpse of hints of intangible worlds, reachable only by abandoning all the usual patterns of thinking."  Please click here to view Bambach's portfolio.

I also collaborated musically with a brilliant guitarist +Mike Majesty.  Mike and his band is also responsible for all additional instruments played on this track, aside from my vocals and acoustic guitar.

For collaborative details please click Willi Bambach's photo

Willi Bambach's work is the thumbnail art for

'Breath On Me'

This song is about the "walls" we build around ourselves to shelter our pains.

She moves me on the water
She takes me cross the sea
Like the thunder in the heavens
She brings me to my knees


She hides me in the shadow
She bleeds in me her pain
With the tears that fall from her eyes
I bathe in her new rain

Chorus 1
Breathe on me your fire
Breathe on me your light
And these walls that kiss the heavens
Will keep us safe tonight

Chorus 2
In this tomb of isolation
No tears to wash me clean
Cause the higher this wall rises
The less I feel the pain

She calms me with a whisper
She moves me with her eyes
Like the midnight sweat from a broken dream
She comes from deep inside

She traps me in the mountains
She keeps me far from love
This journey that was meant for me
Was stolen from above

Bridge
And I will honor your love
Cause our walls are the same
Our eyes they search for sunlight
As we look out past the pain - the pain

Words & Music by +James Olmos & +Mike Majesty
Artwork by +Willi Bambach  bit.ly/UexPdp

Previous Artists: +Astrid MJ. Houchin +Michael Bastia +Sherrie von Sternberg +Billy Wilson +Paulissa Kipp +Suzen JueL

Want More Music!

60+ songs are available for listening on my website!  More artists and photographers are welcome to support this project!  All current songs and future songs require artwork.

You can always contact me via my website www.jamesolmos.com or Google Plus and view the collection of collaborative works here.

Live like you were dying?

Live like you were dying  . . . I never liked that saying.  It just seems so morbid.  Live for today is another term we often hear that is suppose to encourage us to value life.

We like to create reasons to endure this life instead of understanding that life is simply, breath. To live like you're dying is to live anxiously and desperately.  Our journey towards death begins at conception and concludes after our last breath.  In contrast to eternity which began before breath and does not expire.

Yet life does not begin with our own breath, it begins with the breath of our mother and father . . . some say it begins with God.  We inhale before we exhale.  We take in life before we give life.

Why ponder on reasons to exist?  Why search for the purpose of our breath?  Why seek the creator when we've already been found?

Live.

I draw songs from breath.  I don't search for the song; the song finds me.  The song existed before me and I only need to have ears to hear it.  My muse is everything outside my skin and everything inside my spirit, soul and body.

Why do I stand where I stand and breath?  To live.

From Seattle March 2012

Shatter Me

Please listen to my newest song addition for my "Take One Project".  These recordings are works-in-progress (incomplete, raw, organic) for my next full album.  I'll choose 12 songs from this "Take One Project" and properly record them for my upcoming album.

Physical CD's are NOW available from my website!

Did You Know . . .

I'm collaborating with Google Plus Artists and featuring their photos and artwork as the thumbnail picture for my songs.  Each song in the "Take One Project" will feature different artwork from photographers and artists across the globe!

The sixth artist is Suzen Juel.  Suzen is a musician and artist who works with many mediums.  All her works speak deeply and passionately.  Please click here to view Suzen's portfolio.

For collaborative details please click Suzen Juel's photo

Suzen Juel's work is the thumbnail art for

'SHATTER ME'

https://soundcloud.com/jamesolmos/shatter-me

Color me
Paint me bright upon your skin so fair
I realize

I feel again
In the motion of your song I fall
Through your pain

Chorus
And I've been waiting for my soul to cry
Bitter kisses on my heart
You've come closer than my yesterday
Won't you free my pain
Won't you free my pain

Stay with me
Hold me like you feel at home
With my soul

Cry with me
Scream your pain into my body
And shatter me

Words & Music by James Olmos
Painting by Suzen Juel

Previous Artists: +Astrid MJ. Houchin +Michael Bastia +Sherrie von Sternberg +Billy Wilson +Paulissa Kipp

Want More Music!

50 songs are available for listening on my website!  More artists and photographers are welcome to support this project!  All current songs and future songs require artwork.

You can always contact me via my website www.jamesolmos.com or Google Plus and view the collection of collaborative works here.

Carry Me Tonight

Please listen to my newest song addition for my "Take One Project".  These recordings are works-in-progress (incomplete, raw, organic) for my next full album.  I'll choose 12 songs from this "Take One Project" and properly record them for my upcoming album.

Physical CD's are NOW available from my website!

Did You Know . . .

I'm collaborating with Google Plus Artists and featuring their photos and artwork as the thumbnail picture for my songs.  Each song in the "Take One Project" will feature different artwork from photographers and artists across the globe!

The fifth artist is +Paulissa Kipp.  Paulissa is a Curious Lens Goddess, author and artist documenting the beautiful, curious and often overlooked.  Please click here to view Paula's portfolio.

For collaborative details please click Paulissa Kipp's photo

Paulissa Kipp's work is titled "Path, Color the Way" and is the thumbnail art for

'Carry Me Tonight'

She was my muse - Left me dazed and confused
Like the day that we first met

She held my song - She always sang along
But the tune was just too strong

Distant as the sun - Yet she burned in my bones
Within my dreams she made a home

She never looked in to my eyes - If she did, she’d know why
I was crazy on this love

Chorus
Carry me tonight - Be the air - Be the light
Carry me tonight - Sing of love - Sing of life
-Carry me tonight - Stop the world - Dry your eyes-

Engraved in my soul - This muse left me whole
A troubadour’s delight

With time on her side - She chose to abide
To the moral law of life - blinded

She longs from afar - Waiting for her bard
As she baths in every verse

Naked as this song - She lingers like a poem
I feel her in my bones

Bridge
Bone of my bone - Flesh of my flesh
The story’s seldom told

Soul touches soul - Spirit touches life
This muse will arise

Words & Music by James Olmos

Photography by Paulissa Kipp


Previous Artists: +Astrid MJ. Houchin +Michael Bastia +Sherrie von Sternberg +Billy Wilson

Want More Music!

50 songs are available for listening on my website!  More artists and photographers are welcome to support this project!  All current songs and future songs require artwork.

You can always contact me via my website www.jamesolmos.com or Google Plus and view the collection of collaborative works here.