One Last Salute...

The idea of having a blog is becoming rather tedious I must say. The idea of putting words most people don't care about or even read on a page is becoming more and more unappealing. I used to blog a few times a week but over the last year it's become more of a hassle than a pleasure. I will usually think of something to write but then stop half way through and decide it wasn't worth it. Don't get me wrong the use of a blog to help get things of your chest is sometimes a godsend but more often than not someone somewhere will scoff and say something along the lines of "don't use the Internet as a diary" as if they have never written something out of negative emotion on their facebook page in the heat of the moment before. So judgemental hypocrites and sheer lack of motivation seem to be a big factor in not really bothering to keep this alive anymore. Sure there are plenty of things I would love to say. Things to get off my chest, to bitch, to moan, to brag etc. But it's all becoming a bit self serving, much like this post now.

To anyone who reads this in an effort to get to know what goes on underneath the facade of a happy-go-lucky 21 year old, just add me on the old facebook.

However before I sign off, for maybe the last time, I will share with you my 2010. A year that has pissed me off, slapped me in the face and was perhaps the most significant year of the last decade for me. I will make it as short and painless as possible so here goes:

2010 saw me break up with my long term girlfriend. Was I upset? yes. Was I angry? yes. Am I still bitter? A little bit. Are we still "friends"? No. Was it me or her that did the "breaking up"? Her. Do I hate her for it? I did, now I simply just don't care. Gossip over.

But if one thing did come out of the situation it was the fact I picked up my guitar and played it for hours at a time. THAT is probably the most significant thing to happen to me in 2010. I picked up a guitar, taught myself some chords, learned how to sing and play at the same time. recorded an album after only playing for 6 months (What a hero I am) and 8 months down the line I am getting better everyday. Result!

I had an "up and down" summer which saw me spend a lot of time with my very good friend Severiano, or Xavi as I call him, who has taught me a lot about life and friendship. He is a friend I can always count on. He is possibly the most loyal and greatest friend I have ever had and if you are reading this my friend, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping me through a tough summer.

Recently things have been going very well. In short, I've met someone. A girl. exciting stuff. I was going through the whole "Am I really ready to start dating again?" phase and it just kind of happened. I met someone who I just got along with straight away. Someone who shares my love for music and drama. Someone who makes me smile even when I feel like crap. And someone who has given me motivation, something which has been lacking in the last few months. And there's the house of 61. I live in an incredible house with some amazing people. Some of my best friends are all under one roof and for the first time in a long time, I am happy. So there's that.

In all this I realise how idiotic it was to write all the stuff at the start about no one caring about what I had to say and about bitching online, when that is essentially what I've just done. Oh well, one last moan never hurt.

So yeah. I will leave on a positive note however. In the words of the almighty Mumford & Sons

"If you want to feel alive then learn to love your ground"

Love.Peace.Respect.Unity

So Say We All

-- Tom RDD

Love, Peace & Unity

I have had one of the most inspirational days of my live. My good friend Alex came to visit us in Worcester. Now Alex is one of the most genuine, talented and humble people I know. His music is based around the ideals of peace, love and nature. The beautiful message coupled with fantastic guitar work sends shivers down my spine and today I was lucky enough to play guitar with him and have what us musicians like to call a "jamming session". I watched and listened in awe as he showed me some of his music. After listening to some of his music I told him I was embarrassed to play in front of him but being the nice guy he is he insisted I play. So I did. We went on to jam for a couple of hours until he had to go back to Cardiff.

Listening to his music and talking to him about it for hours really inspired me to go out and write some new songs. So I did. Me and my friend Steve went down to a secluded spot by the river that runs through Worcester and sat there for a bout an hour and a half watching the world go by and started writing lyrics. We wrote a song about the beauty in the world and how the hustle and bustle of the 9 - 5 makes people blind to the beauty we saw in front of us. It's still working progress but I feel happy about the direction it's heading in.

If you would like to check out my boy Alex's music visit:

http://www.myspace.com/alexsedgmondduo

it's well worth a listen.

peace.love.respect.unity

-- Tom RDD

Can you give it?

Possibly my favourite Maccabees song. Sick tune live at Reading 2010 (I was there!). Enjoy!

What The Crow Brings...

Is there anything more soothing than watching the rain and listening to the very phenomenal Low Anthem? I don't know if there is. Nature and beauty. Pretty lush, don't you agree?

This Is Growing Up...

Writing new material is a fun process. I really love it. Since the summer I've managed to write 4 solid songs that I hope to record at my student house in Worcester (DIY FTW!). I've also been told today that my good friend Tom is going to a marketing project using Tom RDD... RESULT! By the end we should have some amazing promo work and a music video. Exciting times!

In other news my life is going in a very positive direction... and that's all I have to say about that.

peace.love.respect.unity

So say we all

-- Tom RDD

I've Hidden My Feelings Under Rocks...

As I have decided to start posting again I think it's only right that I give you a little musical pleasure. My friend Alex, who has help expand my knowledge of music (especially folk music) immensely, told me to check this guy out. So I did and I loved this track. So enjoy the music of Jeff Lang.

This City Needs A Hero... (the beginning)

Right I have decided now is the time for a blog post. It hasn't been all that long I know and I am sure no one has missed me rambling about life but even so It's time for an update. I never really did a summer 2010 update as it were. Well what is there to say? It was a pretty emotional summer to be honest. I saw some old friends, made some new ones, had friends from university come to visit, I recorded my solo album, I battled demons and worked 39 hours a week to get some money in my pocket. So the usual few months off before Uni starts again really. I wish I could tell you that my summer was filled with adventure and excitement, and at times it was, but the majority was spent either wallowing in self pity, playing my guitar or at work.

But like all good(ish) things it came to an end and now I am back at University with a spring in my step, for this is the first time I have embarked on the University experience without worrying about certain things. Over the summer I really have become a very apathetic person. When I dealt with apathy in the past it was a depressing matter as I was unable to feel emotional connections with those I loved, now the apathy I feel is a complete disregard for pretty much everything that isn't important to me. I know this is nothing to happy about but it kind of feels good not having to worry about things for a change. I have no pressure on my shoulders to be someone I don't want to be and to do something I don't want to do, which is something I guess was thrust upon me by my situation over the last few years. So a sense of freedom is definitely putting wind in my sales. However this attitude is not so great for my degree and health so therefore I imagine I will have to do some rearranging before long but I shall deal with that when the time comes.

Anything else to report? Well, I am currently working on songs to go towards a new recording (current working title of which is "This City Needs A Hero"). I've written some new material over the last month that I really think tops anything else I've written. The majority of the music on "the city limits..." is pretty much a diary of my life between January - July 2010. The new material is still filled with stories about love, loss and all that other deep and meaningful stuff but I think it is a vast improvement on the material I started writing at the beginning of the my self-taught guitar adventure. I would also like to point out that I have only been playing guitar for about 8 months and to be where I am now, without blowing my own trumpet, is quite good really.

But anyway enough ramblings, if you would like to hear some Tom RDD music feel free to check the myspace over at:

www.myspace.com/tomrdd

OR come see a live show (which have started to happen!)



peace.love.respect.unity


"Live fast. Die old"

-- Tom RDD