Faux Luvas,
What kind of fool releases a Christmas song at the tail end of Spring?!
This guy.
However, am I really “releasing” the song in the capitalist sense of the word?
No, I am merely setting it free today.
To properly release a song, you need to spend a bunch of money getting the word out; you must grease the wheels of the industry.1
I listened to this great interview with the founder of Stiff Records last week on the Michael Shelley Show on WFMU.
He said his formula for releasing music on Stiff Records was to ballpark figure what they thought a record could bring in cash-wise, and then dedicate 13% of that figure to marketing and promo.
My current formula for marketing and promo is to send this newsletter out for free each week when I add a new song to the album2 and then not give any money to Mark Zuckerberg if I can help it.
So here we are.
Today’s addition to the “Mixed Up Files” record is called “It Sucks to be Broke at Christmas.”
Listen to it here:
I woke up the morning before Christmas Eve this past year and recorded this as a voice memo on my phone.3
I’d been talking to my guy Chef Cody at work about this song idea percolating in my head. He agreed that it was a solid title slash sentiment for a Christmas song.
I only had the title really, but I hit the record button that morning and this is what came out.
One minute and thirty-two seconds of X-mas anxiety.
And it does suck to be broke at any time of year.
I just learned that I owe the IRS 4,000 bucks and my landlord is raising our rent to $4,600 a month.
Pro tip: don’t move to San Diego right now.4
In that spirit, I will leave this image with you.
I’ve also got some guitars for sale if anyone is interested.
I remain your humble servant,
Faux Jean
Here are the lyrics:
I've got the Christmas spirit
I've got the Yuletide cheer
It's not like I'm a Scrooge, babe
It's not like I'm the Grinch, my dear
But it sucks to be broke at Christmas
I mean it sucks at any time of year
But I'm really feeling it right now
'Cause it sucks to be broke at Christmas
It sucks to be broke at Christmas
You only get to be “new” once!
"From the Mixed Up Files of Mr. Matthew T. Schindler” is an evolving record series that I am releasing on Bandcamp exclusively for the time being. These are generally lo-fi songs that tickle something for me.
I added some compression and reverb yada yada yada on May 30, 2023.
Also, make sure your employer is taking enough taxes out of your check each month.