Song #2 in the JML Song-a-Month Release Project is here! It’s called Sidestreet Motel – listen to it at my website JMLmusic.com.
Here’s some background on how it was written… I was travelling on the highway through Duncan BC, on Vancouver Island on 
the West Coast of Canada, when I saw a funky old sign for a motel with an arrow saying “Best Rates – Sleep Off the Highway,” and I thought “Hmm, a motel that’s not on the highway, how unusual.” Motels are almost always on the main drag, right? And I thought: “a sidestreet motel… hey, that’s a song!” and Sidestreet Motel was ready to be born.
Now, songwriting isn’t that easy… I can’t wave a wand and poof! there’s a song. I usually have no problem coming up with a first verse or a chorus, as Steve Earle says “The first verse is easy. The rest is work,” and I’ve come to know what he means. Hearing that from a great songwriter like Steve Earle reassures me when I’m struggling to fashion words people can dance to and melodies that rhyme.
In this case, I actually ended up with several more verses than I needed – you should see my scratch notes and scratched-out notes all over the pages. Yep, I write long-hand. I find it too easy to self-edit when I write on a computer, and I feel compelled to correct every typo as I go, which totally kills the creative flow. You will soon be able to see and buy some of this background and ancillary stuff that’s involved in my music-making journey. Stay tuned for further emails with goodies and such!
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Get your own copy of Sidestreet Motel
Buy the Song-a-Month songs individually as they come out, either from the JML store, or from Bandcamp, Apple Music, all those places,
or…
Pre-buy all 10 songs & get a FREE bonus! You’ll receive them as they come out. Buy that deal here.
Buy directly from the JML website & name your own price, from $1 to $100! Buy here.
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As promised, because you’re a Primo JML fan and part of the JML Insiders! Club, you’re not only getting first crack at hearing the new songs: you also get first crack at buying and adding them to your playlist; and you get access to cool bonus stuff like alternate versions, isolated tracks, pre-orders, exclusive JML Insiders! discounts on JML merchandise, FREE admission to JML shows for the duration of the SaM Project, and more!
Stay tuned for the next song in the Fantastic JML 2022 Song a Month Project, coming out in April. It’s something a little different…
Thank you for being my fan!
John