Its been about thirty years since I embarked on this journey of being a professional musician and recording artist. It was a huge step but yet a natural progression for me. Growing up in an environment where artistic expression was scene as a hobby and not something to be pursued as a career, kept me at odds with my parents. At the age of 20 I was studying for an associate degree in english literature and became entangled with the works of Milton, Eugene O’Neil, Wordsworth and many others. I became almost romantically enthralled with the craft of using descriptive language in either prose or poetic verse to tell a story while painting images in the mind of one’s readers.
It was after my first year of community College that I decided undoubtedly to pursue music as a career for the rest of my life. Captivatingly interesting lyrics set to melody and rhythm can have an almost hypnotic affect if used wisely. Almost thirty years later I found myself living on a luxury cruise ship, working as the resident piano entertainer, sailing the majestic Danube river across central Europe.
I actually never imagined this would become my dream gig. Come on, lets face it. After several US and world tours and a chart topping album or two, a couple marriages, four kids and quite a few romantic escapades, who wouldve thunk it right?
Sitting playing piano to a revolving audience each week as I try to hammer out a bunch of covers with artistic integrity and individuality is hard when you work a cruise ship.
I guess its because of a few unavoidable nuisance. For instance there are so many systems and procedures everyone has to follow. Ship hotel staff and crew bending over backwards to keep everything running smoothly like clockwork while corporate executives randomly show up to train or evaluate everything. Not to mention there are always a few rich pricks mingled in with super friendly folk most of whom really enjoy the classic music I perform. But just the routine of it all can become quite mundane and almost dreary if you let it.
So the trick to it is maintaining genuine artistry by avoiding boredom between Glenmorangie shots, or spending the day shopping for your favorite habanos. Having a keen sense of gourmet coffee will oftentimes provide the right stimulae . Thats if you can pull yourself away from your bed early enough to chill top side and pensively peer into the souls of quaint riverside hamlets and wave at locals as you gently sail by. I’ve learned over the years how important it is seek out my own solitude and embrace my place of serenity in every situation.
Most of this book was written on those warm summer days as I allowed my imagination to drift across vineyard peaks to castle ruins standing sturdily in defiance of progress. Just to breathe in the various scents that pervade the river, and to engage the movement of flocks of birds or to watch two otters playfully doing their morning water exercises became to me some of the most inspired moments of my life. It was totally breathtaking to say the least and I became acutely aware that I was being lavished by God with this life altering opportunity to be creative and write. My time on the river truly awakened the wordsworthian philosopher in me reinforced by a backdrop of mind bending photos taken by my good friend Peter Stin that became to me more akin to paintings than photography.
Peter’s interesting use of the lens, the light or sometimes the lack thereof brought strange and unique characteristics out of simple plant life, water, rocks and scenery. Even though some of his photos were taken before I took my sailing gig, in a way it was like his eye and my poetry developed a kind of symbiosis even though we were never physically together in the same location on the Danube while creating this body of work.
Peter to me embodies that slovak resilient eye that sees minute details in nature as works of art to be observed in awe. He has found a way as a photographer to capture these digitally with unique artistic expression. So grab a cup of coffee or your favorite beverage, relax maybe with a loved one or alone and check out this labor of love…The Danube Emotives. Na zdravie!
Mark Sandiford