New Lyrics – This is What Love Feels Like

Josh Damigo — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 02:29:45 +0000

I thought I knew what “love” meant
Until I met an angel
And she flew me across the sky

I thought I knew what love was
Until she fell asleep in my arms
And I kissed her for the first time

I’ll admit that I was scared
Cause I’d never seen the view from here
I’m over the rainbow
And touching the stars

When the skies are cloudy, with a chance of rain
Just a smile from her, and the sun’s out again
This is what it feels like

When the planets crash, and the stars collide
I hear her gentle voice in my mind
This is what it feels like

When the world is lost, I know that I’ll be fine
Yeah this is what love feels like

My life is so full of surprises
And every day as the sun rises
I see her laying by my side

And as we both keep getting older
I hope she’ll always let me hold her
Cause she is the best part of my life

I’ll admit that I get scared
Cause I never thought that I’d be here
I’m over the rainbow
Touching the stars

(Chorus)

I guess that I never knew
That I’d meet a girl like you
Now I’m over the rainbow
And touching the stars

Growing Your Fan Base

Josh Damigo — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 02:34:10 +0000

I got an e-mail from an LA artist who was told that I would be able to give advice on how to grow a local following. (He must have never come to an LA show… cause… well… I don’t have one there… )

I’m convinced that growing a following comes from a few things, but before we start, let me define a few of the terms.

1. Family – They are either in your corner, or think you’re an idiot. Move on to the next sentence.

2. Friends – These guys are great to have at your shows when you first start out, but eventually, they will get bored of you, or you will piss them all off. (Or maybe that’s just what I usually do… my bad…) They will probably ask for your merch for free, and try to get into shows for free, so don’t count on them.

3. Fans – These are peeps who will buy all your albums, sing all your songs, record your sets, tell their friends about you, and basically love your music. They are the ones who will allow you to have a career doing what you love. You need to find THEM.

So how do you grow your fanbase? How do you get more of these? There’s literally a million different options. There are websites that promise you that they will help you get fans, and that’s great and all, but I bet you a hundred bucks, that most of these websites are scams. After all, if they really knew how to get that many fans, wouldn’t they just use this great website they made, to make their band the biggest band and have U2 open for them? (duh?) Be very careful of these type of sites. They are usually bitter, old musicians who just need to pay their children’s tuition and have lost their moral compasses and are okay with taking money and giving empty promises. They prey on the hopes and dreams of new artists. The other half that run sites like this are just crazy.

There are some websites however, that give YOU the tools to get fans, but it’s on YOU to utilize them. Reverbnation, Topspin, and Purevolume are all great examples of sites that can give you these tools. (And they all cost different amounts.) Obviously be in as many places as possible like myspace, facebook, etc… Just because a site isn’t popular right now doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be on there. It might blow up, and then you’ll be one of the hipsters who missed the opportunity.

But if you just throw money at your career, you may turn out like Paris Hilton, or some other type of artist who has a hit for a day, and then it’s gone. Chances are you’re not Paris Hilton, cause I don’t think if you were you’d be reading my blog. You also need to be careful what you post on these sights. Let’s say you make it big, but have to perform “Friday” by Rebecca Black at every show… ha. sucks to be you, bro.

So here are a few of the things, off the top of my head, that you must have to grow a solid fan base:

1. Quality music: Is it aesthetically pleasing? Does it compare to John Mayer, Jason Mraz, etc… Or is it vastly inferior? If it’s not the best recording, is it a GREAT song? Good music will always bring fans. People can’t get enough of it. I love it when people say, “I hate so and so’s music”. That’s fine and definitely an opinion, but there’s a reason that they are successful and you’re playing in a venue that you paid to play in, and the sound man isn’t even watching. So write good music, and record it the best you can. And keep writing, cause one song will only take you so far.

2. Live Gigs: Are you playing live gigs? If so, are you being on appropriate shows where you mix well with the other artists? After the gig, has everyone walked out with something of yours? A flier, a CD, a memory? If you’re just focusing on spreading your music on the internet/social media, you’ll get a bunch of trolls who don’t go out to live shows. (probably…) Think of it this way- the way that you get fans is the way that you’ll keep them. If you post funny videos, they’ll only like you for your funny videos, so you’ll have to keep posting them. You need to play as much as possible when you first start, and then start to play less and less frequently to condense your draw.

3. Merch/Follow Ups: Are you selling merch at every show? Are people signing your email list? If you aren’t, do you have a rich family member/wife paying your bills? (And are they single??? Cause my rent is due tomorrow… and uh… yeah….) If people aren’t signing your e-mail list, figure out why not. Is it because you are only bringing friends? Are you not talking about signing up? Are you not passing the clipboard around? I used to tell Kitty, my old assistant, that the e-mail list was more important than selling the CD’s because it meant I could have repeat customers. (Repeat Customer = Fan)

4. Be Engaging: Are you consistently engaging your audience? (both at your shows and via social media) Are you thinking about your shows? Or are you just telling them about your shows on twitter and facebook, and then being boring as hell, or not tuning your guitar, or playing any good music at the show? This is a great way to be known as annoying, and lose fans and friends, and wakeup in a van down by the river one day, wondering where your life went.

5. Be Interesting: Are you being interesting? Or just making noise? If you’re not being interesting, why would anyone want to pay attention to you. Do something crazy. Seriously.

I think these are all the places I started with. In the end, you just need to have fun. Enjoy the journey, and make good music. Without good music, no one will care about your band. (And by good music, I’m talking about the types of songs that make you feel things. It can have your own feel, be original, but people can tell if you’re trying to be John Mayer. Don’t try to be someone else. Be yourself. You can have the same feel, but bring it original… seriously.)

Cool. Now that I’ve done all that. Please sign up for my mailing list and come to a show. It’s a fair trade…

http://www.reverbnation.com/joshdamigo

Album Update: Just got the demos! Recording Vocals this week!

Josh Damigo — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 23:18:20 +0000

Hey guys,

It’s been a while since I’ve updated ya on where we’re at with the record, so I figured you’d like to know… (Since so many of you have been wondering when the album will be out!!!)

So here’s the basics- If I haven’t done your award yet, it’s coming- I haven’t forgotten about it. (I PROMISE!)

The album is not done, we still have to do vocals (This week), strings (in a few weeks), and mastering/song selection, then artwork and printing of the cd’s.

Like I promised when you pledged, you will receive the albums WEEKS before they are released on itunes, cdbaby, amazon, etc… However, it may be a few more months before you receive them. (In order to have a good release, there is a lot of press I will need to contact, reviews to be posted, and even free downloads and stuff that will be given away. But I will not forget to get your albums to you! I promise!

Here are pictures taken from the recording sessions and one with myself and Jeff Berkley at a show, playing one of the songs that will be included on the album. (P.S. you should come to a show and find out what that song is…)

Thanks so much, and I can’t wait to release this bad boy!!!
-j

(Also… I love you…)

My First Song in 2012!

Josh Damigo — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 22:16:49 +0000

How am I not Spose’d to Fall?
©2012
Written by Josh Damigo

You think the Beach Boys are way overrated
And that’s my favorite band
When you talk the whole room turns to listen
And I guess that I’m you’re biggest fan

You’ve got an ex-boyfriend who calls twelve times a night
And I can barely speak
You like to listen to Sufjan Stevens
And I don’t even know what he sings

And our moral compasses point in two different directions
But I’d still follow your lead
You like to gossip about other singers
And I just smile when you speak

How am I not spose’d to fall
How am I not spose’d to fall
How am I not spose’d to fall
In love with you

You hate doctors way more than spiders
And I’m a hypochondriac
You flirt with waiters and tall guys with dreadlocks
And I try not to react

You’ve just been burned by a six year relation
And just moved back to town
You smile with your eyes and light up the room
And I just keep thinking to myself

(Chorus)

You think the beach boys are way overrated

Brand New Music Video for “Pocket Change”!!!

Josh Damigo — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 01:16:50 +0000

And here’s the new video for Pocket Change! It’s about time, huh?

Hope you guys like it! Huge thanks to “A Trolley Show” and “Rowlberto Productions”!!!

Merry Christmas!

Josh Damigo — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 19:01:20 +0000

How did Mom and Dad get away with not having to wear bright red???

I can remember sitting next to the Christmas tree at Grandma’s house in San Jose, and plotting with my little brother, Nathan. We were rockin red sweaters and standing in the family room with Tiffany and Natalie Damigo and a few hand picked guests. The girls were weird, (I still think most girls are even 22 years later) but their dad seemed nice. My birth father and mother had been divorced a few years earlier, and living in Maine seemed like a distan dream. So on December 16th, 198something, my mom was married to Michael Damigo and a few months later, he’d adopt me and my brother and I’d have to learn how to correctly write “Damigo” on my homework.

I don’t remember what Nate and I were conspiring to do, but it’s one of my first memories of him. It’s funny that this is where I remember his life starting cause in pretty sure it started a precedent that would regularly reoccur throughout our lives.

A few years would pass, and Tiffany and Natalie, who are still weird, would regularly leave our home to visit their mom in Wisconsin and between December 15th and 18th, my family would celebrate Christmas. I was pretty stoked to get my presents a week and a half before all the other kids I knew, but it always left the real Christmas as an awkward cousin of what I thought the real Christmas was. I’m not sure why today’s date of December 16th stuck in my head, but it will continually be my “true” Christmas. Maybe I wait till the 25th to go home, finish shopping, read from the book of Luke and then read the “Night Before Christmas” story, and attend 40 Christmas services at Liberty Baptist Church, but I’m going to be doing all of that in my head today. (You may think I’m exaggerating about Liberty, but trust me, I’m not… And the worst part, you feel like an atheist when Pastor asks why you missed one of the sermons…)

So a very sincere, Merry Christmas to you guys! And remember, the gravitational pull of the sun and relative distance from our geographic location is the reason for seasons. (Get it??? No??? Okay, never mind….)

-j

I’m So Into This Girl (Lyrics to a Song I Wrote Today)

Josh Damigo — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 02:39:17 +0000

So it’s been a few days since I last posted. I wrote this song today and thought it was cute. The goal was to write a “sweet” song that didn’t have any lines rhyming with the one directly after it. (Soft Rhymes are Okay.) Hope you like it!

-j

I’m So Into This Girl
©2011
Written by Josh Damigo
Key of D

She gets angry when I call her pretty
Tackles me to the ground
Tickle fights me till I take it back
But I’m so Into this girl

When she laughs, the whole room turns around
And she can’t figure out why
All I can do is just sit in amazement
Cause I’m so into this girl

And the way that the she walks
I’d break my neck to see every move she makes
And the way that she smiles
She has my heart, but she doesn’t know that yet

I can’t help it if she makes me happy
She’d give me a black eye
If I told her that I think she’s perfect
yeah, I’m so into this girl

(Instrumental Break)

She gets feisty when I call her out
About the cute things that she does
Makes me swear I won’t fall in love
But I’m So Into this girl

The way that she moves
She’s the closest to heaven that I will ever be
The way that she talks
She’s got my whole world dangling by a string

On a scale from numbers one to ten
She’s a twenty-four
I think that she’s the definition of amazing
Yeah, I’m so into this girl

A Christmas Gift For You! (December Newsletter)

Josh Damigo — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 23:38:09 +0000

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy Birthday! (If I forgot to tell you earlier this year… my bad…)

I have a few awesome shows coming this month, and wanted to give you guys a special present!

TONIGHT: I’m playing at Lestats with my good buddies from RyanHood. It’ll be a great show, and you won’t want to miss it! See you at 9:00.

TOMORROW: EMBRACING THE HOLIDAYS at Irenic! This is a really cool event. This show is going to be a ton of fun and it’s with 2 of San Diego’s Best Singer/Songwriters. (SABA and COLIN CLYNE) It’s 15 bucks at the door, or you can buy tickets online for 5 dollars off by going to http://casbah.frontgatetickets.com/choose.php?lid=61326. (This is a BRAND NEW VENUE… and they asked me to play… isn’t that nice??? “CONSIDER YOUR VENUE CHRISTENED”!!!)

I’m opening for SHAWN COLVIN at the Belly Up in a few weeks! Come sing, “Sunny Came Home” with me!

Lastly, my 5th Annual BDAY PARTY at Lestat’s is December 30th! You guys won’t want to miss this one! It’s gonna be super intimate and I have a few special guests showing up… ALSO, it’s usually 10 bucks, but this time, it’s only gonna be $5! (I know… how do we do that????)

All of the shows will be great, so pick one and invite a friend!

And now… your present! Here is a Christmas Song for you! Enjoy “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” from my macbook pro! Please spread it like wildfire! Just give out the link and anyone can download it until December 26th! (Might I have a Christmas Album in the works next year??? maaaaaaaybeeeeeee….)

https://rcpt.yousendit.com/1302167344/79e7b32e03cb7bce640ade6dc0904a08

Thank you guys so much for all the support, and I hope to see you all soon!

P.S. Don’t forget to order my album for your friends! Maybe it’s a great way to get all your buckeroos to listen to better music??? Order it by going to http://www.cdbaby.com/damigojosh2

Merry Christmas!

Josh Damigo

“Change”

Josh Damigo — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 00:20:48 +0000

New song I wrote called “Change”. It’s a little different than my normal stuff, kind of reflective and where I’m at in life today. I don’t really feel comfortable singing it, but here are the lyrics. Love you guys. Hope to see you Thursday at Lestats or Friday at Irenic. (Or both!!!)

Change
(C) 2011
Written by Josh Damigo

There’s this moment
between awake and sleep
Where the world starts spinning
And I can stop and think

All of my friends
Went and got new friends
I’ve had a tough year
So I guess I can’t really blame them

And as my tired eyes finally start to see
It’s all my fault, Yes the common cause is me

I hate change

I wish’d I’d never met her
I wish I’d never gone to LA

But I’ve grown so much
And I’m a better man today

I want to tell a friend
I want to tell her everything
But she doesn’t care
She’s done listening

And as my bloodshot eyes finally start to see
It’s all my fault, the blame is all on me

I hate change

Half of me is a stingy jerk
The other half cares
Mixed with an assortment of
loneliness and fears

Part of me is an empty tomb
The other part loves
The rest of me is just confused
and comes off nonchalant.

Some of me is just a kid
Forced to grow up fast
The other bit is an adult
who cannot be impressed

Opinionated and overrated
but Looked up to by a few
I wish that I had all the answers
But I still pretend I do

Bravado hides insecurities
when all I have is want
Failures are the only things
I take notice of

All my best friends don’t even call
Me their best friend
I guess that’s just the way it ends
Sometimes

I hate change

Smile.

Josh Damigo — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 01:30:04 +0000

Smile, Josh. Smile.

I’m a hundred and fifty miles outside of Vegas, and about 30 minutes ago, I was almost in tears. A combination of traffic, bills, stress, and lack of sleep are probably the co-conspirators in this calamity. It’s funny how depressing feelings can sneak up on you. (Well… Not really “funny” but you know what I mean…)

Mom called to talk about my car. I’m about a year away from paying it off, but money is one of those things that drifts in and out of my life like a tidepool. While I can kinda tell when it’s coming, I’m never really sure. I always stress out when she and I talk about finances. It’s probably cause I don’t want her to have to worry about me, and at 27, she shouldn’t have to inform me about bills. :-/

So the traffic was terrible, but I was excited to face it, because tonight, I’m playing the first of a half dozen house shows that were purchased through my kickstarter. Tonight’s show is for Joanne who actually drove this same drive to SD for my show last week at Lestat’s. (She may have been in town for something else, but I’m gonna argue that I was the highlight of her trip… ) Somewhere in the traffic, I just felt like crying. It happens. I’m not being emo, just being real… That’s when this song came on.

“Smile, though your heart is aching, Smile, even though it’s breaking, when there are clouds in the sky, you’ll get by. If you smile through your pain and sorrow, smile and maybe tomorrow, You’ll see the son come shining through, for you…” – From Charlie Chaplin’s song “Smile”.

There’s something about this song that just kinda makes me tear up every time I hear it. I posted a version of this song on my facebook, being sung by Steven Tyler of Aerosmith that my roommate, Jeff, showed me last week. (I hope this link works —-> http://m.youtube.com/watch?desktop_uri=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DZ-jXxHIWlTM&v=Z-jXxHIWlTM&gl=US ) It doesn’t matter who sings it, it gets me hard. Charlie Chaplin was a genius. I’d love to write a single line as good as he did.

Suddenly, my tears popped out and all I could do was be happy. I guess sometimes you just need to let it out. I feel so much better and I’m so excited for what the night has in store.

I guess that’s all I have for now. A phrase popped into my head that said, “I hope your day is as beautiful as you are.” Maybe inspiration for a song? We’ll see.

-j