The new chrismortimer.com site contains music, pictures, lyrics, downloads, and a songwriting tutorial.

Hi again to everyone and welcome to the new look www.chrismortimer.com website.

Over the last few months, I have been listening to vast amounts of Ryan Adams. Both "Heartbreaker" and "Ashes and Fire" would have to go down as great influences and favourites of mine. I have surfed YouTube repeatedly for his performances and clips, and to me, he is a great artist. There is an incredibly expressive vocal timbal quality that he possesses, as well as lyrics that are insightful and make you feel a sense of removal from the daily drill. Musically, he is simple, and my other great love is cooking. Especially Italian, and the concept of simplicity really means the world to me.

My main craft has always been songwriting.

If music requires complexes diction to make it sound good, it was never good in the first place. Like a movie I viewed recently on a great composer, I have learnt over the years that there must never be too many notes.

Try saying this to a Jazz musician.

I constantly strive for a song that was better than the last one I wrote, so you are constantly frustrated, and your own work becomes quickly outdated.

What keeps returning is what a former agent of mine said repeatedly to me. It was that strength from popular songs comes from melody. But this is an ongoing challenge, and getting the right blend of melody and lyricism takes time.

Lyrics must take the listener away, like Ryan Adams does.

I have for the last week, track bashed "Call Me On Your Way Back Home", which is a sweet and sensitive ballad, like many of his songs are. The melody is strong, the sentiment is clear as a bell, but in the last minute, releases this most beautiful and sorrowful harmonica solo which literally makes you weep.

My songs are all over the place, and some are what Billy Joel would call "bullshit", but others are intensely personal statements that I believe in. Many are about love, some about love made up, and many about subjects that have entered my mind, and left soon after.

Gig land for me these days still     exists.

During the week, I heard a great sample of the new Rufus Wainright CD, and ordered it immediately. Not quite as simple, but great sounds, he has great fans, and I cannot wait to sink into his world for a few weeks.

I have also had a listen to the new Bruce Springsteen album "Wrecking Ball", but do prefer his older stuff, with my favorite so far being the album "Devils and Dust". My other great idol Prince tours Australia shortly, but I may not get to see him due to work commitments. He is the inspiration behind my motto and statement: "to innovate is to truly create". He is a wonderful musician, and I love his music.

CD’s can now be purchased through Paypal.

My gigs recently have been with Hot Banana and FABBA, but I am hoping to promote originals more in the coming months and continue developing new material.

I recently caught up with Gillian Eastoe and Terry Murray, and they are such beautiful people. They made me realize that truly talented people are both humble and sincere. They are passionate and have other great interests other than music. Terry played to my students, and was inspirational and exceptionally entertaining. A big part of being a musician is to admire the talents of other people, because this affects and influences your own development.

It is great to be back online, and I     hope that you enjoy the site.

Enjoy the site, support original song composers if you can, write and share ideas, and get as much feedback that is honest whenever possible.

Love and best wishes, CM.

Love and best wishes,

Chris Mortimer.

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