Archive for Blog

First Free Song of the Year: “Beautiful You Are”

February 24, 2012 Dustin Jake No comments

Well, I promised I’d be giving out a song a month this year: and (about a month late) I’m delivering on that promise. Don’t worry, you won’t be “Gypped out of January”… (Although that is a pretty cool sounding slogan.) This just means there will be one special month where you get not one, but TWO songs. I know, I’m ridiculously selfless and I need to stop being so generous. I guess all this lack-of-job-y-ness has given me a whole new perspective on life that has nothing to do with the fact that I want billions of people to listen to my music even if I have to spoon feed it to them one free song at a time…………………. What was I talking about again?

Oh right. New song. Well, it’s called “Beautiful You Are” and i think you’ll like it. “Of course he does. *rolls eyes*”  Seriously, though, at least a half a percent of you will like this song. “Is he being serious?”

Well, why don’t you download it at this link and find out? #BOOM

http://www.dustinjake.com/download-beautiful-you-are-free/

By the way, guess who did the artwork for “Beautiful You Are”?? Hint: It starts with a D and rhymes with “Rad”. #BAM

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A Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah Christmas (With Free Music on the Side)

December 2, 2011 Dustin Jake No comments

About this time every year, my obsessive need to go to Disneyland reaches its peak, and my once plain desktop background becomes a little more girly – but a lot more magical.  Growing up, I basically obsessed over two things: Christmas and Disneyland.  We usually visited the latter during the summer months, which meant that the entire month of June leading up to vacation consisted of an excited little boy bouncing around the house singing Disney tunes, watching old D-land home videos on loop, and making why-we-can’t-wait-to-go-to-Disneyland Talk-Boy recordings with my sister.

We only actually visited the park during Christmas-time once, when I was about five.. and that’s probably a good thing.  My young mind could barely handle the excitement of a pending visit to the Happiest Place on Earth, let alone one during The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.  Like I said, I’m just as crazy about Christmas.  Holiday tunes, hot chocolate, sleigh bells – you name it – I love it all.  What can I say, I’m a child at heart.  Don’t be fooled by this curly-haired, unshaven, EXTREMELY manly exterior, I’m still a Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah singing, hot-cocoa-sipping kid, who lights up like a firefly at the sight of a Christmas tree.  #boom

Anyways… the whole reason I actually started writing this blog was tell you about something exciting coming up… but then I started watching the CMA Christmas Special and my mind sort of.. wandered.  BUT….To say this in the most round-about-way possible…

WE’RE GIVING AWAY FREE CHRISTMAS SONGS THIS MONTH!  Starting with this song and continuing for the next three Saturdays, we’ll be giving away (for FREE – yeah you heard that right) a collection of songs – available through the website. (http://www.dustinjake.com/free-silent-night-download) Consider this our way of saying thank you for all your support and my way of spreading some of that Christmas/Disney spirit that I’ve had building up for the past month.  I really hope you enjoy them.  Merry Christmas!

Dustin

p.s. If you were wondering what that “girly, magical” desktop background of mine looks like…

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A Plantation of Coffee Blogs

November 16, 2011 Dustin Jake No comments

I swear… I’ve never been a huge coffee fan.  Ask anybody.  Growing up, I absolutely hated it, and only recently ascended to what I would call a “seasonal customer”.  You know, the ones who only come around during the holidays looking for a little bit of Christmas cheer mixed with a lot of peppermint flavored, syrupy substances that vaguely resemble liquid.  The point is I’m not your typical coffee junky.

So it’s ironic that, for the second straight blog, (out of the two that I’ve written so far… wow I really need to blog more) I’m once again talking about coffee.  Well, like I said, I am in “The Starbucks Phase”, but I’ll be hanging out somewhere even cooler this weekend. This Saturday, November 19, I’ll be doing an acoustic show from 7-10 PM at Coffee Plantation in Scottsdale, AZ.  I’ll be playing all of the songs from the EP, some of my favorite covers, and lots of brand new originals that you’ve never heard before.  It’s gonna be a blast.

No offense to Starbucks (you’ll be fine, you big baby), but there’s something about an authentic, local coffee shop that makes me feel right at home.  And I mean, come on, LOOK at their menu.  Mm, I’ll drink to that.  (No, really… I’ll take two or three of those flavored coffees, please).  I think Luther Heggs said it best in this movie (one of my all time favorites).  You gotta love good food, especially when it’s coupled with live music and great atmosphere.  So, in my best cheesy-infomercial voice: Come on down to Coffee Plantation in Scottsdale this Saturday! You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll eat till you die! …. Wow that wasn’t good at all.  I’ll try to be more charming at the show. ;)

Hope to see you there!

 

http://www.coffee-plantation.com/index.html

7366 E. Shea Boulevard, Scottsdale, 85260

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The Starbucks Phase…

September 10, 2011 Dustin Jake No comments

It occurred to me today that I’ve officially entered a new phase of my life.  Just three months ago, I was procrastinating my way through the last bits of my undergrad degree, cursing the day financial statements were ever invented. And if you’ve seen my last video “The Unemployed Pop Star“, you know what I’ve been up to since then ;) But today, officially, I’ve entered an entirely new chapter… I’m calling it “The Starbucks Phase.”  Right now I’m sitting in Barnes and Nobles/Starbucks, sipping a marble mocha macchiato, and blogging.  That’s right, ‘guy-who-wrote-this-article’ (http://www.holytaco.com/9-most-annoying-people-starbucks/) I’ve become “one of those” people.  Inevitably, this phase is going to include the following things:

1. Dehydration – I know, it’s a shocking revelation, but coffee isn’t actually a replacement for water. Someone please tell my sister that.

2. A Faster Heart Rate – Hands always shake when you type … right? iwnd;de

3. Screaming kids – I actually just saw a little girl drinking a latte. A latte. Parents, please see item #1 above. If there’s a positive correlation between caffeine intake and screaming volume, these kids are proving it.

4. Lots of Blogs and Lots of Shows - As inhibitive #1-3 seem to be on actually getting things done, I find myself actually getting things done. I know, I don’t get it either, but I’m not complaining.  We’re going to be booking a lot of shows throughout the next few months and you’ll be sure to hear about them right here.  And of course, there will be many more caffeine inspired blogs (once the jitters wear off), behind the scenes videos, and embarrassing looks into my home life.  After all, I’m still unemployed. ;)

I’ve wanted to reach this phase for four years… and I’m finally there – with an EP and a website to share with you-all.  It just started raining outside, and “Moon River” is playing on my Pandora station.  Yeah, it’s gonna be an awesome year.

Saddle up Starbucks – you’re about to make a little more money.

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