Joel Van Dijk Project + Grand Scheme Update!
10 DecWow! It’s has been a long time since I have been able to blog. Partially due to the lack of a laptop computer on the road (this situation is soon to change!). Typing on my ipod touch is getting better but can be a chore. Plus, gotta have a laptop to make beats on the road! So much inspiration to make music when observation is practically the only useful tool on the road!
So where do we start!?
The Joel Van Dijk album release party on September 18th was a great success with a nice turnout and wonderful Performances from the likes of Ultralove and a sweet Eclectic set for Douglas Charles Showalter and Crew! I learned alot in the process of creating the album and now the learning curve has turned to the realm of live performance and future production (the next album/albums are in the works!). I did my second full band set on Dec. 6th at Harvelle’s as well as many small solo performances at times accompanied by Douglas. Practice, Practice, Practice! The first half of my guitar playing career I considered practice. Now I don’t think about guitar playing, I just do it. This is where I would like to get with singing and performing.
(Here is a sneak peak at a new joint, FYI the band MURDERs this track!! Soon to come!)
The album progress has been here and there, with some successes and a strong realization that this process of artistry and refining my craft is going to potentially be a long arduous journey (hopefully not, can you help with this?). But I have also realized that the single on the album is most likely “Shine Bright” which has became one of my favorite songs to play live as well, which is good to know!
The JVD project will continue from this point for as long as I breath (me thinks), the desire to release material is stronger than ever and with the use of sites like bandcamp.com (Joel’s Bandcamp) having a storefront to release any and all material at the click of a button is rather revolutionary! The most current project in process is the Truthseeker Remix EP which currently will feature the production of Natasha Kmeto, Douglas Showalter and Peter Dyer, and hoping to get the homie Afta1 on the project and potentially others. This project is due out in February and may be featured as bonus material if you purchase the full album!
That said more to come, I have been writing up a storm and I am constantly inspired by limitations!
Now, The GRAND *#^&%@ SCHEME is seriously getting it in! We have been traveling all over this continent, Europe and will be going to many more in the coming year (Japan, Vegas, Australia, New Zealand to name a few!). Though there are few Grand Scheme/Aloe collaborations released to the public, know that there are many unreleased projects that were created far prior to “Good Things.” But for now you can download for free our version of “The Dark End of The Street” here at Stone’s Throw’s website. Btw, big up and many thanks to Carhartt clothing for their sponsorship of our European tour and releasing this tune on their “Dark End of The Street” mixtape featuring Dam Funk, Mayer Hawthorne and many others.
The Grand Scheme also has a facebook page now! LIKE US!! 
We also recently visited the legendary KCRW and did a live broadcast which you can download Here
One of my favorite promotional ventures on our Europe Tour was on the show “Taratata” which you can check out our version of “California Dreamin”
And here is our next European Tour Dates! Hope to see you out!
And for a couple more video’s from The Grand Scheme collection:
