For long, it has been my dream and promise to myself to write music and bring it to the ears of as many people as possible - so long as I never compromised the integrity of my art. Being true to myself and my music always meant the most honest songs for those who would lend an ear. I have been lucky to have done this for many years now and I am aware that not everyone gets a shot at their dream. In fact, many are shot down before they even take flight. My music has taken me down roads I couldn’t have dreamt up just a few short years ago. I have met the most important people in my life because I decided one day that I was going to put these swirling thoughts in my head onto paper and into chords, and then I was going to sing them. The facts are something I can’t deny, though. My last record came out just over 4 years ago. I have maturated and seasoned myself, racked my brain day in and out, late night after late night - trying to write the best, most honest songs that I could possibly write. It is time these songs made it past my bedroom walls. I must face the reality that this album - between hiring my engineer and my producer, renting out a studio in Brooklyn, New York, creating artwork, hiring the best players at my disposal to play on it, mixing and mastering and finally releasing - will cost me an upwards of $7,000+, as an independent artist. There are ways to do this “cheaper” - or one would say “more economical”. But the truth is, I don’t want to cut corners, undershoot, underfund, and thus undermine not what could be but what WILL be an enormous, massive important step in my career as a songwriter. It has come to my knowing that I am a bit under that budget, as I can fund a large portion of it - but not everything - at least not on my own, not right now. I am pairing up with Kickstarter to raise $2,500 in 33 days to cover the backend costs of my forthcoming record, “In The Middle Of Everything”. These songs, this album, my music, my fans and this life mean only everything to be. I wouldn’t have identify without them. So I am asking in my most hopeful heart for you to be a friend, lend an ear and a hand, and help a boy chase his dream. I love you all with everything I’ve got.
xo CB
A friend once told me that if you want drastic change in your life, you need to make drastic moves. Funny how applicable a simple statement came to be over time.
If you know my music even slightly at all, you’re well aware that I’ve been working towards completing my forthcoming record for quite some time now. A wonderful perk about being an artist is my lack of confines. My freedom to create anything that sparks my inspiration, right out of thin air, is entirely at my disposal. Being 150% in charge also requires me to make some executive decisions that I feel are vital to my progression as an artist. So, without dragging this out much further, I feel the only way to address this properly is to be straightforward and come right out with it.
After nearly 22 years of being a resident of the state of New York, I’ve decided to pack up (part of) my life and move the roots of Corey Balsamo music 350 miles south to the state of Virginia. Relocating myself has been an idea that I’ve toyed with for almost two years now. And while I know I’ll miss New York immensely, I am VERY excited to begin this new chapter in my life. I’ve kept this decision under wraps for a while now for a number of reasons that would be too much to delve into right here.
But to be fair to all of you, I feel this deserves more of an explanation than just “I’m leaving New York”. I’m giving this time to myself as an artist to reflect, ingest a change of scenery and, most importantly, finish my next release. I’m at a point where I feel very fertile as a songwriter and I want to seize that opportunity. I also feel that this is the right time in my life to make this move.
In the path to my own self-discovery, I’ve tried to fall in love with other places, other cities. I lived out of a suitcase at the Holiday Inn - LAX Airport for two weeks just to see what SoCal and the West Coast had to offer me. I eventually trekked down to San Diego and explored what kind of lifestyle I might have down there. I thought about my time spent in New Orleans when I was young and how I might mesh my own flavor with elements of traditional jazz, R&B and zydeco music that permeate the streets of southern Louisiana. My wanderlust brought me to Nashville, TN, a place so vibrant and bursting at the seams with life and culture, I thought I’d never have to leave. I know it seems sort of backwards to be fleeing a place that artists come from all over to make their stake in this competitive and fast-paced city, where success is proportionally determined, in part, by drive, a will to succeed and a LOT of resilience stored in your back pocket.
So, why a small town in Northern Virginia? Well, Virginia is just a place I’ve always felt comfortable and very “at home” in. When touring, I always look forward to the Virginia shows. It’ll be a good place to root myself, recharge my batteries, refocus on the tasks at hand and finish this long overdue release in the most organic way possible in a setting that is conducive to my artistry.
With all the above said, I would like to extend an invite to all of you, willing and able, to come see me off on a New York farewell show next week. I will be playing with musical friends Jesse Ruben and Teddy Geiger at the Vibe Lounge in Rockville Centre, NY next Saturday, August 4th. My goal is of none other than to see the many smiling faces that have supported me thus far in my musical career, singing along and bearing a collectiveness and togetherness that we’ve shared through the music I’ve played over the last several years. I can’t promise many (or possibly any) shows in the period between now and when this record drops. So, it seems only appropriate that we give a final hurrah to closing this chapter in my life in the place where I’ve called home for so long, with the crowd I love best.
I realize this is in short notice to some of you. I understand there will be some who might not be able to make it. New York fans, find solace in knowing that this move is only temporary until I can finish what I have started and I look forward to living in New York again when the time comes to release my record.
Until then, take care of yourselves and one another.
- Corey
If a cat is told its entirely life that it is a dog, than sure enough the cat will assume its a dog.
I was always told to do well in school, get good grades, don’t trust others but be polite to all, don’t lie, don’t cheat, dont steal. I was told that if I got good grades, I could go to…
You say I’m beautiful. You say you love my eyes. You flatter me over and over again. But you won’t learn anything about me.
So, you won’t love me.
You like to stare and compartmentalize while I gaze and romanticize. So lost on the surface, you couldn’t dig beneath.
The world is full of fortunate fools, genetically bound, in all the “right” ways. Honey, I implore you to seek deeper. Start that dig.
There’s not a thing I could do. I’ll watch you jump ship to the next pair of beautiful eyes. And while my path will veer off down some road, your spiral will persist. With each new flattery, you will find yourself lying in his bed, on the surface, staring into those momentary beautiful eyes.
So, you won’t love me.
What does forever really mean? You can’t put a date on it. It isn’t tangible. To some, things that aren’t tangible or realistic, hold little importance. But you hear the word forever and think: that’s a long time. This is what forever was to me less than a year ago; just an intangible description of my life on earth and afterwards. Forever consisted of multiple question marks, a few fears, a plethora of predictable milestones, and an empty seat where this person that would mean a whole lot to me would reside. Forever is more than an important word or reality to me, now; forever is the gift of time I’ve been granted to spend with you. I have x number of years to ask you every question on my heart; to know you like the back of my hand and to have you know me. I have only so many days to spend on adventures with you; fun, difficult, and even average every day adventures. I have only so many hours to admire the blue of your eyes and the way your eyes crinkle when you smile. I’ll take every moment I’m given to press my lips against yours, expressing my adoration, affection, and attraction for you. I’ll watch you grow and my heart will be warmed, seeing how each step we take together is part of forever. The day we are wed won’t be forever, just the technical beginning. The truth is, we’ve already embarked on forever, and it’s not a destination. It’s a journey. My partner, my role model, my love, thank you for sharing in forever with me. I can’t think of anyone more perfect for the ride.
– Desirée Coleman