Dane Cobain's Blog, page 25

Interview Yourself #2: Genres and Stuff

Hi, folks! Today, I’m continuing with a new, unique series of posts. In the coming weeks, I’m going to be interviewing myself using pre-written questions from other blog sites, starting with these from Lawrence Wray.

It’s going to be a lot of fun, and a great way for me to reveal a little bit more about myself, my writing and my habits. Are you ready? Good – let’s get started.

 

 

What draws you to the genres you use?

I’m a little different to most because I don’t stick to individual genres. I write what I like to read, and I read everything. In fact, I usually write without even thinking about the genre and then worry about classifying it when it comes to marketing.

 

Which actor/actress would you like to see playing the lead character from your most recent book?

I guess that would be Darran Jersey from Come On Up to the House. At seventeen, he’s pretty young, so it’d have to be a young actor. I guess I’d go for someone like Joe Dempsie, who can play a young character without making it unbelievable.

 

How much research do you do?

It depends on the book – that said, pretty much everything is research. I picked up a lot of stuff for my crime novel from watching cop shows and documentaries on Netflix. But for Meat, an upcoming project, I’m carrying out a LOT of research. I’ll be interviewing subject matter specialists, reading as many relevant books as I can get my hands on and the like.

 

Have you written any other novels in collaboration with other writers?

No novels, but I’m currently editing an anthology project called Subject Verb Object. It brings together 21 different authors from both sides of the Atlantic to write pieces based on prompts from the other authors.

 

Why did you do decide to collaborate and did that affect your sales?

It’s too early to know whether it’ll affect sales, but I suspect it will. But indie authors don’t tend to sell many books anyway, so 3-5 extra sales per month would make a noticeable difference. But that’s not why I decided to collaborate – I just wanted to provide a platform to help my author friends get their work in front of more readers. And also, I wanted to read something that they wrote specifically for a project that I was spearheading – selfish much?

 

 

When did you decide to become a writer?

I guess I started to take it seriously when I was fifteen or so. It’s hard to tell because I’ve been writing in some form or another for as long as I can remember.

 

Why do you write?

I’m compelled to. I feel uncomfortable when I’m not able to. I guess it’s my OCD nature kicking in.

 

What made you decide to sit down and actually start something?

It’s too long ago to remember. Sorry!

 

Do you write full-time or part-time?

At the moment, I have a full-time job during the week and then I write like a fiend on the evenings and at the weekend. Over time, I’m hoping to slowly move towards writing full-time, supplementing my income with a mixture of book sales and freelance work.

 

Do you have a special time to write or how is your day structured?

I write as often as possible, so typically from 6:30 AM – 1 AM during the week and maybe 11 AM – 2 AM over the weekend, assuming I’m not out and about. I write using a very specific routine called ‘The Schedule‘, which I recently blogged about.

 

 

So there we have it – that’s the first installment of Interview Yourself over and done with! Thanks, as always, for reading, and be sure to keep your browser pointed to DaneCobain.com. You can also sign up to my mailing list, follow me on Facebook and Twitter or check out my books for further info. I’ll see you soon!

Interview Yourself #1: The Early Days

Hi, folks! Today, I’m doing something a little different and starting out on a new, unique series of posts. In the coming weeks, I’m going to be interviewing myself using pre-written questions from other blog sites, starting with these from Lawrence Wray.

It’s going to be a lot of fun, and a great way for me to reveal a little bit more about myself, my writing and my habits. Are you ready? Good – let’s get started.

 

 

What were you like at school?

I was in the top set for my classes during primary school and secondary school. In primary school, I was given extra maths lessons and was the only person in several years to score a level 6 in my SATS exams, which presumably means something. I used to finish all of my work before everyone else, then get bored and frustrated. I used to get punished for distracting other people because I had no work left and hated to sit there doing nothing.

 

Were you good at English?

Funnily enough, not really. Maths was always my stronger point as a kid, although I loved to read. I got a C in English during my GCSEs, but I also got an A in English Literature. Go figure!

 

What are your ambitions for your writing career?

If I could make a living from it, I’d be happy. I think it’s unrealistic to set your sights on becoming the next Stephen King or J. K. Rowling, although that would be nice! But I tend to set a goal, meet it, and then set another. The current goal is to work full-time as a writer, supplementing my income with a mixture of book sales and freelance work.

 

Which writers inspire you?

They all do! Seriously, I get such a buzz just from seeing the creativity and dedication to the craft that’s on offer, whether we’re talking about bestselling authors or the indie folks I know. It’s hard not to feel like you’re a part of a community.

 

 

So, what have you written?

This is a difficult one to answer because I write so much, and a lot of my earlier works are unpublished – and unlikely to ever see the light of day. But on the market at the moment, I have the following:

No Rest for the Wicked (supernatural thriller)
Eyes Like Lighthouses When the Boats Come Home (poetry)
Former.ly (literary fiction)
Social Paranoia (non-fiction)
Come On Up to the House (horror)

 

Where can we buy or see them?

They’re available from most online outlets and some local shops will be able to order them in. I usually point people to Amazon, because that’s what I use as a hub for them, and you can also check them out on Goodreads. And if you’re after a signed copy, drop me a message and I’ll see what I can do!

 

Give us an insight into your main character. What does he/she do that is so special?

Which one? Most of them don’t do anything that’s particularly ‘special’ – I like to write about normal people, people who do their best and are fallible and who find themselves struggling to cope with unusual situations.

 

What are you working on at the minute?

I’ve got quite a few projects on the go at the moment, including a series of detective novels, an anthology of new writing and a book called ‘Meat‘ which is in the planning stage and all very hush hush.

 

What’s it about?

The first detective novel, Driven, introduces private detective James Leipfold and his whizzkid assistant Maile O’Hara as they investigate the death of a young woman who was killed in a hit and run. The second book, Netflix & Kill, follows on from the first book and sees the duo investigating a serial killer on the streets of London. And Subject Verb Object brings 21 different writers together to write pieces based on prompts that other authors provided.

 

What genre are your books?

I don’t write in a single genre, so this one’s hard to answer. I write books that I’d want to read, and I like to read a bit of everything. The only real point of consistency across them is that they’re all ‘quirky‘ and ‘alternative‘.

 

 

So there we have it – that’s the first installment of Interview Yourself over and done with! Thanks, as always, for reading, and be sure to keep your browser pointed to DaneCobain.com. You can also sign up to my mailing list, follow me on Facebook and Twitter or check out my books for further info. I’ll see you soon!

Meet S. L. Stacker, Author and Cover Designer Extraordinaire

Hi folks! I’ve got something a little bit different today. I thought it might be nice for you to get to know my publishing team, and so today, we’ll  be having a quick chat with S. L. Stacker, my cover designer.

S. L. Stacker – or Steph, if you’re me and you’re on first name terms with her – is also an author in her own right. As well as designing my covers, she also designs her own, and I’m pretty sure she sells more books than I do. You’re in for a treat. Let’s get started.

 

S. L. Stacker

 

Hi, Stephanie! Please introduce yourself and tell us a bit about where you’re from.

Hello! I’m Stephanie Stacker, and I write books and design covers as S. L. Stacker. I’ve been writing professionally for a little over three years, and I’ve been designing covers for a year. I currently reside in Florida in the United States, with my husband, children, and dogs.

 

You work with me on my covers! Please tell us a little bit about the process, and why you like to do it.

I’ve always loved dabbling in artistic things, whether it was drawing, crocheting, painting, or writing. I became interested in designing covers because it’s easier for me to create what I want rather than trying to convey an idea to another designer.

When I work with a client on a cover, I like to get a good idea of what the book is about, what the author likes and what they see as being their ideal cover. I’ll do various concepts, asking for the author’s input along the way. The process can take a while because of all the going back and forth and trying to get the author’s design how they see it. However, despite the lengthy process, I ensure the client is happy with the concept. If they’re happy, I’m happy.

 

What’s been your favourite cover to work on so far, and why?

In regards to covers I’ve worked on for Dane, my favourite is one he hasn’t released yet. It’s a book called Oceanus (I hope I can name the book.).

(NOTE: Yes you can. But it might be a while until it sees the light of day.)

In reference to my own covers or other clients, my favourite cover has been The Sisters of Summit Bay, a young adult suspense. I hope to release it later in 2017.

 

 

Can you tell us about some of the other authors that you’ve designed covers for?

I’ve worked with a few authors, but I’ve designed covers for:

Christa Lynn – Running from Destiny and Accepting Destiny (erotic romance)
Taylor Dawn – The Chances Are series, The Magnolia series, Resorting to Romance and Perfect Harmony (contemporary romance and new adult)
Elaine Marie – Because I Can , Living (not yet released) and Because I Won’t (not yet released) (romantic suspense)
Mireille Chester – Displaced (fantasy paranormal)
Dane Cobain – Social Paranoia , Come On Up to the House, Oceanus and Subject Verb Object

 

As well as being a badass cover designer, you’re also a writer! Please tell us a bit about your work.

Aww! Thank you for thinking of me as a badass designer!

I’ve been writing professionally since 2013. Since I published my first romantic suspense, Macyn’s Letter, I’ve gone on to write two more in the Macyn McIntyre series – Macyn’s Awakening and Macyn’s Decision. After the series was complete, I contributed a dark horror short story to an anthology which is no longer in publication (the story is included as bonus material in Macyn’s Decision). I have also written a young adult suspense, Summer Soiree, and that book came to be because of an anthology I compiled. My latest release is a contemporary romance, Rain Down.

I currently have several manuscripts in the works, and I hope to write and publish at least three in 2017.

 

Do you think that a good cover helps to sell a book?

Yes. I think an eye-catching cover is what gets the reader’s attention, but I think a well-written blurb is what actually sells a book. As a reader, if the cover doesn’t pop, I don’t take time to read the synopsis.

 

S. L. Stacker

 

Do you think the rise of ebooks has affected how important covers are for writers?

Yes! The market is flooded with books. Unfortunately, a lot of covers tend to look alike. When I’m searching for a new book, I usually select the one whose cover stands out from the rest.

 

What’s your favourite book cover of all time? And does the book itself live up to it?

I can’t say I have one favourite book cover. Although, my favorite covers come from a series of books by Robert Jordan – The Wheel of Time series. The covers are phenomenal, but the books themselves surpass the covers. Great series!

 

Are you available for commission as a cover designer? If so, how can people get hold of you?

I am available for commission, but with my own writing, I only take on a few clients per year. My website is currently under construction, but in the future, you can visit www.slstacker.com for more information. In the meantime, you can email me at stephaniestacker@gmail.com for information, pricing, and portfolio samples.

 

S. L. Stacker

 

Big thanks to S. L. Stacker for taking the time to answer a few questions. Please do check out some of her work – both as a designer and as a writer, and keep your eyes peeled for Subject Verb Object, which is due out in the spring of 2017 and will feature a bit of her work as both!

In the meantime, be sure to follow S. L. Stacker on Facebook and Twitter and to check out some of her books, and be sure to follow myself on Facebook and Twitter as well. Also, books. Click here to buy some of my books. I’ll see you soon!

Dane Cobain – Lights (Guitar Tab)

CAPO ON THIRD

VERSE (PALM MUTED): Am, C C7, G G7, Em E

She was famous for leaving the lights on, and even though I don’t know her, I never had a reason to complain. And now I’m sitting alone in the garden, with barely a hard-on to distinguish me from the rain.

INTERLUDE (STRUMMED): Am, C C7, Dm, E

Yeah, alright, ’cause it’s cold outside tonight. And I don’t have a light, I don’t have a light to lead me.

Yeah, it’s fine. I’m just serving the rest of my time. ’cause I don’t have a light, I don’t have a light to lead me on and on.

INSTRUMENTAL VERSE (PALM MUTED): Am, C C7, G G7, Em E

VERSE (PALM MUTED): Am, C C7, G G7, Em E

I’m a stuck-up amateur poet, and boy don’t I know it, but I’m never going to change. Strangers tell me it might never happen, I’m seeing a pattern that I’m never going to re-arrange.

CHORUS (STRUMMED): Am G, D7 E

Won’t somebody light my cigarette, ’cause I’m pissed off and I’m not drunk yet? And I’m too tired to sign my name, so tell me how you feel and I’ll feel the same. And I’m not one to do what I’m told, but I’m feeling kinda lazy and I’m growing old, so tell me how you feel and I’ll feel the same, I could be breaking all the rules and still lose the game.

INTERLUDE (STRUMMED): Am, C C7, Dm, E

Yeah, alright, ’cause it’s cold outside tonight. And I don’t have a light, I don’t have a light to lead me on and on.

VERSE (PALM MUTED): Am, C C7, G G7, Em E

She gave me keys, she gave me her number, deleted her Tumblr ’cause she said she didn’t need it anymore. When I found out she was destined for stardom, I was back in the garden and the rain began to pour.

CHORUS (STRUMMED): Am G, D7 E

Won’t somebody bring me another beer, I’m only smoking cigarettes to impress my peers. And I’m never too tired to feel this pain, so tell me how you feel and I’ll feel the same. And I’m not one to say what I’ve seen, but the years are long and they’ve treated me mean, so tell me how you feel and I’ll feel the same, I even cut my hair and changed my name.

BRIDGE (STRUMMED): Am D7 G7 E7

Oooooh.

CHORUS (STRUMMED): Am G, D7 E

I’m telling all the people I’ve met that I’ll do my best but I might forget, promise your pinky, I’ll give my brain, so tell me how you feel and I’ll feel the same. And I’m not one to tell you the truth, I’ve got the looks and you’ve got the youth. So tell me how you feel and I’ll feel the same, there’s more to life than fortune and fame. Won’t somebody give me the money I need to satisfy my lust and greed?

won’t somebody try to call my name and tell me how they feel so I can feel the same? I might be one to grumble and moan, I’m far too lonely to live alone, so tell me how you feel and I’ll feel the same, as I stand outside and become one with the rain?

Support me on Patreon! (And get free books and stuff)

Hi, folks! Just a quickie, today – I wanted to let you know that I’m now on Patreon, and you can pledge to support me in my writing career in exchange for cool goodies, such as signed books, merchandise and the chance to have your name listed in the back of a future release.

Patreon is effectively a crowd-funding service for content creators. By heading over to my page, you can pledge to support me by contributing an amount of your choice every time I release a new book. You can start at just $1 per book, but if you pledge a little more then you’ll have access to some unique opportunities including:

$5 or more per book: Get your name in the credits of future releases
$10 or more per book: As above, plus receive regular packages of freebies such as pens, bookmarks etc.
$15 or more per book: As above, plus a signed copy of new books as and when they’re released

 

 

By supporting me on Patreon, you’ll be helping me to take the next step in my career by offering valuable financial support as and when new books are released. You’ll also give me and Pam (my editor) a good reason to keep pushing books out as quickly as possible! Click here to get involved and to support me on Patreon for future releases.

If that’s not enough, you can also sign up to my mailing list for future updates or you can click here to follow me on Facebook and Twitter. I’ll see you soon!

Get Together and Dance (Guitar Tab)

INTRO:

E|—————————————————————-

G|——–0————-0—————————————–

B|————————————-6-6/7/6——————–

D|—–9————-5—————7———7——————

A|—7————-5—————7——————————

E|-0———–0-3————3-5———————————

VERSE: E G A

CHORUS: D E G E

OUTRO: E G

INTRO

VERSE ONE:

I am certified insane.

They gave me meds, they changed my name.

But when I go to sleep when it’s light outside,

I kind of dream that it’ll be alright,

so let’s get together dance.

Yeah, let’s get together and dance.

INTERLUDE

VERSE TWO:

I’m way too young to feel this old,

I am a lighter shade of gold.

So when I go to sleep with my music one,

they’re just some sad old men playing sad old songs,

so let’s get together and dance.

Yeah, let’s get together and dance.

CHORUS:

I’m chasing after the storm

’cause I need a little weather to weather out this cold.

I’m swapping stories with an author I’ve never met

’cause I need a little lovin’ and I want to get together and dance.

OUTRO:

Get together and dance.

Get together and dance.

Get together and dance.

Get together and dance.

Kinda Lazy (Guitar Tab)

CAPO ON SECOND

MINI-RIFF

E|-0—

B|-0—

G|-4–

D|-0—

A|-0—

E|-0—

VERSE: Am C G Am, Am C G

INTERLUDE: Am

BRIDGE: C Em Am

CHORUS: Em Bm A#m Am

STRUCTURE/LYRICS

INTRO VERSE

VERSE ONE:

1993, I was bored in a world of hypocrisy,

but any day now, I shall be released.

When she spoke to me, I wept like the branches of a willow tree

’cause I know something she don’t know.

INTERLUDE

VERSE TWO:

But I spoke too soon, I was four and I was foreign in a stranger’s room,

I’m not quite as old as I used to be.

Nowadays when I play my songs, when I’m drunk on the stage the words come out all wrong,

and I know I’ll never be Morrissey.

BRIDGE

CHORUS:

And I’m not quite a stranger, but stranger things have happened

and I swear they’ll happen again.

And I know I’m kinda lazy, but babe you know it’s crazier

to be your own best friend.

INSTRUMENTAL CHORUS

The Storm (Guitar Tab)

Dane Cobain – The Storm

I lie under a raincloud, I’ve never been here before.

If I could change the weather, I’d weather out the storm.

The people walking outside bow their heads to the wind.

While in these seventeen years, I’ve walked through everything.

I’m tired of feeling this helpless, like a newborn baby on a doorstep.

The storm goes on and on and on and on.

Every day I get upset and write a poem on the letters that I’ve kept,

but the dark night sky rains on and on.

I need a simple, sad chord to express my pain.

While the temperature inside rises, I cool off in the rain.

They say that no two snowflakes share the same design,

but your soul is softly melting, and it’s the same as mine.

How I’ve let myself down, in each and every way.

Every evening at sundown, I think back through the day.

There’s friendships better made elsewhere and trust in the wrong place.

And maybe one day life will be fair, and I’ll blow the storm away.

INTERLUDE

How I’ve let myself down, in each and every way.

Every evening at sundown, I think back through the day.

There’s friendships better made elsewhere and trust in the wrong place.

And maybe one day life will be fair, and I’ll blow the storm away.

OUTRO

I’ll blow the storm away.

The Big List of Tunes: Songs I Play, February 2017

Hi, folks! I’ve got something a little bit different today – partly because I think you’ll be interested, and partly for posterity. You probably guessed it from the title.

That’s right – this lousy excuse for a blog post is basically a big list of all of the different songs that I sing when I’m playing guitar. It includes both covers and originals, it’s sorted alphabetically, and there are loads of songs to get through. So without further ado, let’s get started!

 

A:

A-Ha: Take On Me

Alan Jackson: Chattahoochee

Alexi Murdoch: All of my Days

Alexi Murdoch: Breathe

Alexi Murdoch: Orange Sky

Alice in Chains: Down in a Hole

Alice in Chains: Nutshell

Alice in Chains: Rooster

Aloe Blacc: You Make Me Smile

Andy Shauf: Martha Sways

Angus and Julia Stone: Draw Your Sword

Aretha Franklin: Respect

 

B:

Badly Drawn Boy: A Minor Incident

Badly Drawn Boy: Something to Talk About

Ben Caplan: Birds with Broken Wings

Ben Caplan: Under Control

Bill Haley and the Comets: Rock Around the Clock

Bill Withers: Ain’t No Sunshine

Billie Holiday: Gloomy Sunday

Black Sabbath: Black Sabbath

Blink 182: All the Small Things

Blink 182: Always

Blink 182: I Miss You

Blink 182: Story of a Lonely Guy

Blondie: Atomic

Blur: Parklife

Blur: Tender

Bob Dylan: A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall

Bob Dylan: Ballad of a Thin Man

Bob Dylan: Blowin’ in the Wind

Bob Dylan: Don’t Think Twice, it’s All Right

Bob Dylan: I Shall Be Released

Bob Dylan: It Ain’t Me, Babe

Bob Dylan: Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door

Bob Dylan: Like a Rolling Stone

Bob Dylan: Mr. Bojangles

Bob Dylan: Tangled Up in Blue

Bob Dylan: The Times They Are A-Changin’

Bob Marley: No Woman, No Cry

Bob Marley: Redemption Song

Bob Marley: Three Little Birds

Bobby Darin: Dream Lover

Bowling for Soup: Emily

Bowling for Soup: Out the Window

Bowling for Soup: Running from Your Dad

Bowling for Soup: Suckerpunch

Bowling for Soup: The Bitch Song

Bowling for Soup: Valentino

Bowling for Soup: Where to Begin

Bowling for Soup: You and Me

Boyzone: No Matter What

Boyzone: When You Say Nothing at All

Brand New: The Boy Who Blocked His Own Shot

Bright Eyes: A Spindle, a Darkness, a Fever and a Necklace

Bright Eyes: Amy in the White Coat

Bright Eyes: An Attempt to Tip the Scales

Bright Eyes: Another Travellin’ Song

Bright Eyes: Arienette

Bright Eyes: At the Bottom of Everything

Bright Eyes: Bowl of Oranges

Bright Eyes: Clairaudients (Kill Or Be Killed)

Bright Eyes: Don’t Know When But a Day is Gonna Come

Bright Eyes: Entry Way Song

Bright Eyes: First Day of my Life

Bright Eyes: Four Winds

Bright Eyes: Hit the Switch

Bright Eyes: I Must Belong Somewhere

Bright Eyes: I Won’t Ever Be Happy Again

Bright Eyes: If the Brakeman Turns My Way

Bright Eyes: If Winter Ends

Bright Eyes: I’ll Be Your Friend

Bright Eyes: It’s Cool, We Can Still Be Friends

Bright Eyes: I’ve Been Eating for You

Bright Eyes: June on the West Coast

Bright Eyes: Landlocked Blues

Bright Eyes: Laura Laurent

Bright Eyes: Lime Tree

Bright Eyes: Lua

Bright Eyes: Method Acting

Bright Eyes: Motion Sickness

Bright Eyes: Napoleon’s Hat

Bright Eyes: Oh, You Are the Roots That Sleep Beneath My Feet and Hold the Earth in Place

Bright Eyes: Padraic My Prince

Bright Eyes: Seashell Tale

Bright Eyes: Soon You’ll Be Leaving Your Man

Bright Eyes: Spent On Rainy Days

Bright Eyes: The Big Picture

Bright Eyes: The Calendar Hung Itself

Bright Eyes: Tourist Trap

Bright Eyes: Train Underwater

Bright Eyes: Well Whiskey

Bright Eyes: You? Will. You? Will. You? Will. You? Will.

Britney Spears: Hit Me Baby One More Time

Brother: New Year’s Day

Bryan Adams: When You’re Gone

Buddy Holly: Heartbeat

Buddy Holly: It Doesn’t Matter Any More

Buddy Holly: Oh Boy

Buddy Holly: Peggy Sue

Buddy Holly: That’ll be the Day

 

C:

Cage the Elephant: No Rest for the Wicked

Chris Cornell: Billie Jean

Chris Cornell: Nothing Compares 2 U

Cliff Richard: Move it

Coldplay: The Scientist

Conor Oberst: I Don’t Want to Die (In a Hospital)

Cornershop: Brimful of Asha

Counting Crows: Mr. Jones

Courtney Barnette: Avant Gardener

Creedence Clearwater Revival: Bad Moon Rising

Creedence Clearwater Revival: Midnight Special

 

D:

Damien Jurado: Sheets

Damien Jurado: Working Titles

Damien Rice: Delicate

Damien Rice: Eskimo

Dane Cobain: A Little Piece of my Soul

Dane Cobain: A Love Like This

Dane Cobain: Alcohol Blues

Dane Cobain: All the Love

Dane Cobain: Annie

Dane Cobain: Beautiful Stranger

Dane Cobain: Bitter

Dane Cobain: Catch Me Out and Defeat Me

Dane Cobain: Comfort Me

Dane Cobain: Coming Back Around

Dane Cobain: Dreams (Don’t Get Me Started)

Dane Cobain: Forever Alone

Dane Cobain: Get Together and Dance

Dane Cobain: Got No Time for Jesus

Dane Cobain: Hey You (We’re Alive)

Dane Cobain: If I Die Before You

Dane Cobain: I’ll Never Want to Sink Again

Dane Cobain: In a State

Dane Cobain: In to the Jungle

Dane Cobain: It Doesn’t Matter Much

Dane Cobain: It Won’t Be Long

Dane Cobain: Kinda Lazy

Dane Cobain: Lean Down On Me

Dane Cobain: Let Go

Dane Cobain: Lifted

Dane Cobain: Lights

Dane Cobain: Like Bleeding

Dane Cobain: Love Through a Lens

Dane Cobain: Lowdown Blues

Dane Cobain: Mary Jane

Dane Cobain: Motorway

Dane Cobain: Never Go Back

Dane Cobain: No Electricity

Dane Cobain: Not Enough

Dane Cobain: Not the Same

Dane Cobain: On My Way

Dane Cobain: Philosophy

Dane Cobain: Sevens

Dane Cobain: Sheela Puts Her Jeans On

Dane Cobain: Shine

Dane Cobain: Sober

Dane Cobain: Stand Right By Your Guns

Dane Cobain: The Lover I Despise

Dane Cobain: The Storm

Dane Cobain: Waterfall

Dane Cobain: Who Will Lead the Sailors to the Shore?

Dane Cobain: Yes She Does

Dane Cobain: Your Life

Daniel Johnston: True Live Will Find You in the End

Dave Ford: Out in the World Tonight

Dave Ford: Thank Me in the End

Dave Ford: The Same Sun Shines On Everyone

David Bowie: Space Oddity

David Bowie: Ziggy Stardust

Dawn Penn: You Don’t Love Me

Deep Blue Something: Breakfast at Tiffany’s

Del Shannon: Runaway

Desmond Dekker: Israelite

Dion and the Belmonts: I Was Born to Cry

Dion and the Belmonts: Runaround Sue

Dion and the Belmonts: Teenager in Love

Dion and the Belmonts: The Wanderer

Dire Straits: Money for Nothing

Dolly Parton: I Will Always Love You

Donna Summer: Hot Stuff

Duran Duran: Hungry Like the Wolf

Duran Duran: Rio

 

E:

Eddie Cochran: Summertime Blues

Eddie Cochran: Three Steps to Heaven

Elliot Smith: The Biggest Lie

Elton John: Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me

Elton John: Your Song

Elvis Presley: All Shook Up

Elvis Presley: Blue Suede Shoes

Elvis Presley: It’s Now Or Never

Elvis Presley: Love Me Tender

Eminem: Stan

Erasure: A Little Respect

 

F:

Faith No More: Easy

Five: Keep On Movin’

Foo Fighters: Everlong

Foo Fighters: Times Like These

Fountains of Wayne: Stacey’s Mom

Frank Sinatra: New York, New York

Frank Sinatra: Somethin’ Stupid

Frank Sinatra: That’s Life

Frank Turner: Try This at Home

 

G:

Game of Thrones: Game of Thrones Theme

Garbage: Bleed Like Me

Garbage: Girls Talk

Gary Jules: Mad World

Gene Vincent and the Blue Caps: Be Bop a Lula

George Harrison: All Things Must Pass

George Michael: Careless Whisper

George Michael: Faith

Gillian Welch: April the 14th (Part One)

Gillian Welch: Make Me a Pallet On Your Floor

Gillian Welch: Red Clay Halo

Gillian Welch: Time the Revelator

Goo Goo Dolls: Iris

Gorillaz: Up On Melancholy Hill

Green Day: Basketcase

Green Day: Give Me Novocaine

Green Day: Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)

Green Day: Macy’s Day Parade

Green Day: Nice Guy’s Finish Last

Green Day: She

Green Day: Wake Me Up When September Ends

Green Day: Warning

Green Day: Welcome to Paradise

Green Day: When I Come Around

Guns ‘n’ Roses: Patience

 

H:

Hank Williams: I’m So Lonseome I Could Cry

Hank Williams: Stoned and Alone

Harry Nilsson: Everybody’s Talkin’

Harry Nilsson: Without You

Harvey Danger: Flagpole Sitta

Hole: Doll Parts

Hole: Northern Star

Hugh Laurie: Mystery

 

I:

I Am Kloot: Proof

INXS: Never Tear Us Apart

 

J:

Jack Savoretti: Not Worthy

James Brown: I Feel Good

Jandek: Down in a Mirror

Jeff Buckley: Hallelujah

Jeff Buckley: Lilac Wine

Jeffrey Lewis: Sad, Screaming Old Man

Jet: Cigarettes and Cola

Jimi Hendrix: Foxy Lady

Jimi Hendrix: Hey Joe

Joan Jett: I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll

John Lennon: God

John Lennon: Imagine

John Lennon: Instant Karma

John Lennon: Isolation

John Lennon: Jealous Guy

John Lennon: Mother

John Lennon: Nobody Loves You (When You’re Down and Out)

John Lennon: Working Class Hero

John Newman: Love Me Again

Johnny Burnette: You’re Sixteen

Johnny Cash: A Boy Named Sue

Johnny Cash: Cocaine Blues

Johnny Cash: Folsom Prison Blues

Johnny Cash: Get Rhythm

Johnny Cash: Hurt

Johnny Cash: I Got Stripes

Johnny Cash: Jackson

Johnny Cash: Personal Jesus

Johnny Cash: Ring of Fire

Johnny Kidd and the Pirates: Shakin’ All Over

Johnny Tillotson: Poetry in Motion

Jose Gonzales: Heartbeats

Joy Division: Love Will Tear Us Apart

 

K:

KC and the Sunshine Band: Give it Up

Keaton Henson: If I’m to Die

Kylie Minogue: Especially for You

 

L:

Lady Gaga: Bad Romance

Leadbelly: Goodnight Irene

Leadbelly: Rock Island Line

Leonard Cohen: Bird on a Wire

Leonard Cohen: Chelsea Hotel

Leonard Cohen: So Long, Marianne

Leonard Cohen: Teachers

Lionel Richie: Hello

Lou Reed: Perfect Day

 

M:

M. Ward: Lullaby and Exile

M. Ward: Chinese Translation

Malcolm Middleton: Ballad of Fuck All

Malcolm Middleton: Blue Plastic Bags

Malcolm Middleton: Break My Heart

Malcolm Middleton: Follow Robin Down

Malcolm Middleton: Fuck it, I Love You

Malcolm Middleton: Speed on the M9

Malcolm Middleton: We’re All Going to Die

Max Jury: Love That Grows Old

McFly: It’s All About You

Mike Bygrave: Gypsy Lover

Mike Bygrave: Middle Class Girl

Monsters of Folk: Baby Boomer

Monsters of Folk: Good Way

Monsters of Folk: Map of the World

Monsters of Folk: The Right Place

Morrissey: Every Day is Like Sunday

Morrissey: First of the Gang to Die

Morrissey: Irish Blood, English Heart

Mumford and Sons: Little Lion Man

Mumford and Sons: The Cave

Muse: Starlight

 

N:

Nancy Sinatra: Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)

Natalie Imbruglia: Torn

Neil Diamond: Pretty Amazing Grace

Neil Diamond: Song Sung Blue

Neil Diamond: Sweet Caroline

Neil Young: After the Gold Rush

Neil Young: Four Strong Winds

Neil Young: Harvest Moon

Neil Young: Rockin’ in the Free World

Neutral Milk Hotel: Communist Daughter

Neutral Milk Hotel: Engine

Neutral Milk Hotel: Holland 1945

Neutral Milk Hotel: I Love How You Love Me

Neutral Milk Hotel: In the Aeroplane Over the Sea

Neutral Milk Hotel: Oh Comely

Neutral Milk Hotel: The King of Carrot Flowers (Part One)

Newton Faulkner: Teardrop

Nirvana: Jesus Doesn’t Want Me for a Sunbeam

Nirvana: Lithium

Nirvana: Oh Me

Nirvana: Polly

Nirvana: Rape Me

Nirvana: Sappy

Nirvana: Serve the Servants

Nirvana: Something in the Way

Nirvana: The Money Will Roll Right in

Nirvana: Where Did You Sleep Last Night?

Nirvana: You Know You’re Right

Noah and the Whale: Life Goes On

Nobuo Uematsu: Aeris’ Theme

Nobuo Uematsu: Ukulele de Chocobo

NOFX: Drugs are Good

 

O:

Oasis: (As Long As They’ve Got) Cigarettes in Hell

Oasis: Champagne Supernova

Oasis: Cigarettes and Alcohol

Oasis: Don’t Look Back in Anger

Oasis: Half the World Away

Oasis: Live Forever

Oasis: Morning Glory

Oasis: Rock ‘n’ Roll Star

Oasis: Some Might Say

Oasis: The Importance of Being Idle

Oasis: Wonderwall

OPM: Heaven is a Half-Pipe

 

P:

Paolo Nutini: New Shoes

Paolo Nutini: Pencil Full of Lead

Pat Boone: Speedy Gonzales

Pink Floyd: Wish You Were Here

Presidents of the USA: Kitty

Puddle of Mudd: She Hates Me

 

Q:

Queen: Crazy Little Thing Called Love

Queen: Fat-Bottomed Girls

Queen: I Want to Break Free

 

R:

Radiohead: Creep

Rage Against the Machine: Killing in the Name

Randy Newman: You’ve Got a Friend in Me

Red Hot Chili Peppers: Can’t Stop

Red Hot Chili Peppers: I Could Have Lied

REM: Everybody Hurts

REM: Losing My Religion

Rick Astley: Never Gonna Give You Up

Rihanna: Only Girl in the World

Rilo Kiley: A Better Son/Daughter

Rilo Kiley: Breakin’ Up

Rilo Kiley: Go Ahead

Rilo Kiley: Papillon

Rilo Kiley: Portions for Foxes

Rilo Kiley: Ripchord

Rilo Kiley: Science V.S. Romance

Rilo Kiley: With Arms Outstretched

Ringo Starr: It Don’t Come Easy

Rob Lynch: Youth

Robbie Williams: Angels

Robbie Williams: Let Me Entertain You

Robbie Williams: She’s the One

Roger Miller: Dang Me

Roger Miller: Whistle Stop

Roy Orbison: Pretty Woman

Ryan Adams: Damn, Sam, I Love a Woman That Rains

Ryan Adams: English Girls Approximately

Ryan Adams: Gimme Something Good

Ryan Adams: My Wrecking Ball

 

S:

Shania Twain: You’re Still the One

Simon Joyner: Blue

Simon Joyner: Burn Rubber

Simon Joyner: Fearful Man

Simon Joyner: Folk Song for Sara

Simon Joyner: Joy Division

Simon Joyner: Love is Worth Suffering for

Simon Joyner: Medicine Blues

Simon Joyner: Nocturne

Soft Cell: Tainted Love

Son, Ambulance: Katie Come True

Sonny and Cher: I Got You Babe

Spencer Davis Group: Gimme Some Lovin’

Steve Harley: (Come Up and See Me) Make Me Smile

Stevie Wonder: Superstition

Stone Sour: Bother

Sum 41: Makes No Difference

Sum 41: Pieces

Sunforest: I Want to Marry a Lighthouse Keeper

System of a Down: Aerials

System of a Down: Toxicity

 

T:

Take That: Back for Good

Taylor Swift: Love Story

Tenacious D: Tribute

The Animals: The House of the Rising Sun

The Avett Brothers: Colorshow

The Avett Brothers: I and Love and You

The Avett Brothers: I Would Be Sad

The Avett Brothers: Love Like the Movies

The Backstreet Boys: I Want it That Way

The Beatles: A Little Help from My Friends

The Beatles: Across the Universe

The Beatles: Act Naturally

The Beatles: All My Loving

The Beatles: All You Need is Love

The Beatles: Baby it’s You

The Beatles: Back in the USSR

The Beatles: Blackbird

The Beatles: Chains

The Beatles: Dear Prudence

The Beatles: Do You Want to Know a Secret?

The Beatles: Hide Your Love Away

The Beatles: I Saw Her Standing There

The Beatles: I’ve Just Seen a Face

The Beatles: Let it Be

The Beatles: Maxwell’s Silver Hammer

The Beatles: Money (That’s What I Want)

The Beatles: Norwegian Wood

The Beatles: Octopus’ Garden

The Beatles: Tomorrow Never Knows

The Beatles: Twist and Shout

The Beatles: Yellow Submarine

The Beautiful South: Don’t Marry Her

The Beautiful South: Rotterdam

The Brian Jonestown Massacre: A New Low in Getting High

The Brian Jonestown Massacre: Anemone

The Brian Jonestown Massacre: Cabin Fever

The Brian Jonestown Massacre: David Bowie (I Love You Since I Was Six)

The Brian Jonestown Massacre: Devil May Care (Mom and Dad Don’t)

The Brian Jonestown Massacre: Got My Eye On You

The Brian Jonestown Massacre: Jennifer

The Brian Jonestown Massacre: Not if You Were the Last Dandy On Earth

The Brian Jonestown Massacre: Oh Lord

The Brian Jonestown Massacre: Reign On

The Brian Jonestown Massacre: Servo

The Brian Jonestown Massacre: The Ballad of Jim Jones

The Brian Jonestown Massacre: Wasting Away

The Brian Jonestown Massacre: Wisdom

The Buzzcocks: Boredom

The Buzzcocks: Ever Fallen In Love?

The Buzzcocks: What Do I Get?

The Cardigans: My Favourite Game

The Clash: London Calling

The Clash: Should I Stay Or Should I Go?

The Clash: The Guns of Brixton

The Coral: Dreaming of You

The Cranberries: Zombie

The Cure: Friday I’m in Love

The Dandy Warhols: Bohemian Like You

The Dandy Warhols: Boys Better

The Dandy Warhols: Not If You Were the Last Dandy On Earth

The Dandy Warhols: The Last High

The Distillers: Gypsy Rose Lee

The Doors: Light My Fire

The Doors: People Are Strange

The Doors: Roadhouse Blues

The Drifters: Under the Boardwalk

The Dubliners: Irish Rover

The Dubliners: Seven Drunken Nights

The Dubliners: Whiskey in the Jar

The Dubliners: Wild Rover

The Eels: Mr. E’s Beautiful Blues

The Eels: My Beloved Monster

The Eels: Novocaine for the Soul

The Everly Brothers: All I Have to Do is Dream

The Flaming Lips: Do You Realise?

The Four Seasons: Reach Out

The Grateful Dead: Friend of the Devil

The Hives: Main Offender

The Human League: Don’t You Want Me?

The Inkspots: I Don’t Want to Set the World On Fire

The Jam: A Town Called Malice

The Jam: Down in the Tube Station at Midnight

The Killers: Mr. Brightside

The Kinks: Sunny Afternoon

The Kooks: She Moves in Her Own Way

The Lemonheads: It’s a Shame About Ray

The Lemonheads: My Drug Buddy

The Lemonheads: Style

The Libertines: Can’t Stand Me Now

The Libertines: Don’t Look Back into the Sun

The Lighthouse Family: High

The Monkees: I’m a Believer

The Mountain Goats: Against Pollution

The Mountain Goats: Alibi

The Mountain Goats: Colour in Your Cheeks

The Mountain Goats: Cotton

The Mountain Goats: Dance Music

The Mountain Goats: Game Shows Touch Our Lives

The Mountain Goats: Going to Georgia

The Mountain Goats: International Small Arms Traffic Blues

The Mountain Goats: Jenny

The Mountain Goats: Love, Love, Love

The Mountain Goats: No Children

The Mountain Goats: Palmcorder Yajna

The Mountain Goats: Sax Rohmer #1

The Mountain Goats: See America Right

The Mountain Goats: The Best Ever Death Metal Band in Denton

The Mountain Goats: Up the Wolves

The Offspring: Walla Walla

The Pixies: Where is My Mind?

The Prodigy: Breathe

The Ramones: Beat on the Brat

The Ramones: Pet Semetary

The Ramones: The KKK Took My Baby Away

The Renegades: Thirteen Women

The Saw Doctors: I Useta Love Her

The Searchers: Needles and Pins

The Smiths: This Charming Man

The Spice Girls: Wannabe

The Stone Roses: Fool’s Gold

The Stone Roses: Going Down

The Stranglers: Golden Brown

The Strokes: Last Night

The Temptations: My Girl

The Troggs: Wild Thing

The Undertones: Teenage Kicks

The Verve: The Drugs Don’t Work

The Vines: Highly Evolved

The Vines: Outtathaway

The Vines: Ride

The Vines: Spaceship

The White Stripes: Fell in Love with a Girl

The Wooden Wolf: Your Drinking Shoulder

Tilly and the Wall: Coughing Colours

Tilly and the Wall: Dust Me Off

Tilly and the Wall: Fell Down the Stairs

Tilly and the Wall: Let it Rain

Tilly and the Wall: Love Song

Tilly and the Wall: Nights of the Living Dead

Tilly and the Wall: The Ice Storm, the Big Gust and You

Tom Jones: Sex Bomb

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Free Fallin’

Tom Waits: Annie’s Back in Town

Tom Waits: Blue Valentines

Tom Waits: Bronx Lullaby/Smugglers’ Waltz

Tom Waits: Chocolate Jesus

Tom Waits: Cold Water

Tom Waits: Come On Up to the House

Tom Waits: Dead and Lovely

Tom Waits: Georgia Lee

Tom Waits: Heart Attack and Vine

Tom Waits: House Where Nobody Lives

Tom Waits: I Don’t Wanna Grow Up

Tom Waits: I Hope That I Don’t Fall in Love with You

Tom Waits: Jersey Girl

Tom Waits: Picture in a Frame

Tom Waits: Pony

Toploader: Dancing in the Moonlight

Travis: Why Does it Always Rain On Me?

 

U:

UB40: Kingston Town

Ugly Kid Joe: I Hate Everything About You

 

V:

Voxhaul Broadcast: You Are the Wilderness

 

W:

Wet Wet Wet: Love is All Around

Wham: I’m Your Man

WWF: The Rock Theme

 

As always, be sure to check out my YouTube channel or to pay me a visit on Soundcloud if you want to hear more of my music. You can also check out my first two albums – Nocturne and Sketches – for free on Spotify, or you can click here to check them out on iTunes.

Of course, if that’s not enough then you can always follow me on Facebook and Twitter for further updates. And remember – music is just a hobby, and it isn’t my main thing. If you like my music, you’ll love my books. So click here to check those out! I’ll see you soon.

Introducing The Schedule™!

Hi, folks! Today, I wanted to take a few minutes to tell you about something that’s very dear to me. It might make me obsessive compulsive and it might make me a genius – either way, it definitely makes me more efficient.

That’s right, I want to talk about The Schedule™.

The Schedule™ is my name for my unique way of working. I usually work while watching Netflix, and I break my time into five minute chunks. Every five minutes, I switch activities, cycling through three categories:

Computer: Checking Facebook, formatting web pages, editing articles and novels, answering emails, etc.

Tidying: Cleaning the house, tidying stuff up, typing up handwritten work and cooking food.

Writing: All forms of writing, from blog posts to novels, as well as anything carried out on my phone, such as Instagram updates.

I work in batches of 45 minutes, so that each category is given 3 x 5 minutes for a total of fifteen minutes apiece. At the end of each ‘loop‘, I nip out for a cigarette and then begin again.

Now, it might make me sound crazy, but it’s a system that works for me. It also allows me to work 14-16 hour days without losing my mind – because I stagger the time spent on each activity, it’s rare for me to get bored or tired of doing it.

I’ve been following The Schedule™ since I was sixteen or seventeen years old, constantly tweaking and improving it along the way to make my time as efficient as possible. It also helps me to hit deadlines and to prioritise things, no matter which category they fall under.

So there you have it – that’s The Schedule™! I’ve talked about it on other sites before, but I realised I’d never written about it on DaneCobain.com and so I thought it would be interesting to share it with you all.

If you want to see the results of the schedule – in terms of what it’s helped me to accomplish – then be sure to check out some of my books on Amazon or to pay me a visit on Goodreads. You can also follow me on Facebook and Twitter for further updates. I’ll see you soon!