April 4… a very important calendar date. I share birthdates with my brother-in-law Rob, his daughter (my niece) Vanessa and my good mate (and best man at our wedding) Michael O’Sullivan.
Other big news: We have chosen where to live…made a commitment! And I handed in my Masters thesis yesterday! It’s all come together.
August, 2012 update for onmusic.com the website of Australian musician Luke O’Neill.
Hello all,
Here is an artwork by Picton artist Ruby Little-Clarke. Definitely makes me miss those Picton hills!
Lately I’ve been enjoying working on film soundtrack composition and sound design as part of my teaching at the Centre for Digital Media and Design at Wollongong Tafe. The facilities, staff and the students there are great. Sadly the newly introduced budgetary cut backs by TAFE NSW means the CDMD section will only have our invaluable technical officer Colin Coakes 1.5 days a week rather than full-time. A real blow to the sections ability to function at full steam. In the recording studio I’ve had some fun with ‘Two trains through Treetops’, a soundscape scored for four electric guitars and 4 bowed cymbals. It is my sonic take on the the ugly and amazing sounds two coal trains make as they intersect each other near my home in Stanwell Park. With the help of my friend Ricky Zalewski an mp3 will be up soon…actually try this (it starts very gradually, so be patient): Two Trains 64kb (Wind-GTR and Wave-Bowed Cymbals)
Just back from a 10 day travel through the South Island of N.Z. Did some research into the music scene and there seems to be potential for touring next year to festivals in Cardona, Dunedin and Queenstown.
Here in Oz, we have a Mutual Acquaintances gig on this Saturday (the 21st) in Wollongong at the Illawarra Folk Club (www.illawarrafolkclub.org.au)
In the ‘New Music’ area I’ve recently visited Kraig Grady, a Wollongong based Californian composer, to discuss ideas on a piece I’ve started work on that will need
a ‘Just Intonation’ approach. Kraig and his partner Terumi Narushima are composers who create much of their work with this tuning system. For more on Kraig’s music go to www.anaphoria.com
Just performed some of the “Nest” CD tracks in Bowral. Flautist Emma Knott and I played the duo version
of ‘Kites’ and we were joined by Michael Spencer doing the vocal line on ‘Nightbird’.
Life is thankfully setting down. Clearing and clawing my way through a murky swamp of foreign influences and ‘trabajo’.
Still on the move but resolution has to be near…doesn’t it! To stick to the decisions we make can be hard! If you’re born to do something you must do it. Been completing my violin and guitar piece “On the Gib” for Jacqui Miller…it’s all in the editing…I could keep refining this for ages but deadlines have prevented this indulgence. 
Straight into May… life by the sea isn’t all smooth sailing, won’t go much further than to say I’m learning alot. A great deal of challenge in many areas of my life. Remind myself to breathe; lots of good food and good sleep. Here is a drawing of an i
ris by my daughter of the same name.
Still alot going on…but April will bring a break! Just back from gigs in Melbourne (the Forum) and Sydney (the Enmore).
Very busy doing charts for my students and learning a Bartok flute and guitar duet. And there is still Masters work and ‘multimedia audio concepts’ to cover. Why have I done this to myself?
My wife Robbie is opening her SAGE photographic exhibition at the moment so routine has evaporated. The exhibit has been well received though and it’s great to see all the work come to fruition. The rain has made Picton lovely and green again.
So much happening. Too many commitments and not enough time. I’ve needed to backburn my material for a few weeks till things settle down. By April I will start getting things ready to re-record the Nest CD songs. March events include some touring gigs, finishing off ‘the mutual acquaintances’ CD project, and sound design research. 
I’ll be happy if I stay afloat!
Yes, I completed a 10 track demo by december 17! I’ll post a sample or two very soon! The music features the flautist Emma Knott. 
Also just finished an 8 track Cd with The Mutual Acquaintances. Noe Efira did a wonderful job behind the desk. Tomorrow I’ve got a soundtrack to work on with my nieces Alethea and Ciara for junior Tropfest.
As usual the year races by. Reminded myself to get 6 new pieces recorded and uploaded by December 20.
Love a deadline. Life’s little distractions are the things to avoid. Planning to do rough demos by the end of this month.
Workshopping some of the tunes with Emma Knott who is a great classical flautist.
Photo here is of Guerilla Bay, near Moruya, by Robbie.
