some random thoughts for a monday afternoon:

i love writing and performing many different styles of music.

the recordings i’ve released in the past may not match the music i release today; and the music i release today may not be in the same style as the music i release in the future. not everyone understands or likes this fact, but i can’t help but be true to myself and make music that i truly enjoy.

i understand that not everyone will join me for the whole duration of my musical journey. with every new piece of work that i release, i know some fans will drift away, and other fans will join in. some will be angry and disapproving of my musical choices, while others will be excited and supportive.

the obvious fact that i must accept is that not everyone is going to like everything i create. it’s not always easy to accept this fact, but i know that it is undeniably true.

my musical style may always be changing, but i can make one solid promise that will never change: no matter what happens, i will always strive to put my best possible work forward. no shortcuts, no cutting corners. everything i release will be an authentic representation of my musical self.

and that is where i eventually find peace in accepting the fact that not everyone will like what i create. certain people may say that they don’t like the style of music i present at any given time, but no one will ever be able to say that my work isn’t of high quality. i know i’m good at what i do, and whether people like my work or not won’t add or take away from that.

my musical journey must (and will) continue whether people join me or not. but of course, i’d rather you join me. it’s more fun that way.

Come party with us this Sunday night as EPIC FU continues its Living Room Series with a Live performance by Paul Dateh & Ken Belcher. They’ll be performing songs from their brand new EP, The Good Life, as well as giving away signed copies to a lucky few! I’ll be hosting and taking questions from the live virtual audience – so make sure to drop by. Anything can (and will) happen!

Date: Sunday, November 8th, 2009
Time: 7pm PST
Place: YOUR living room! Meet us virtually at live.epicfu.com

RSVP on Facebook!

Originally, Paul Dateh was only supposed to be a violinist. Beginning his violin studies at the age of four, it seemed that Dateh’s future in the classical industry was set in stone. But, on his first day at The University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music, Dateh suddenly dropped his major in Violin Performance and enrolled in the Jazz Studies program instead. The move shocked his colleagues as it was hard to understand why anyone would walk away from fourteen years of classical training to begin learning an entirely new musical discipline. But, Dateh knew that he wanted to be more than just a classical musician; his goal was to become a musician, in every possible way.

Since first appearing on the music scene two years ago, singer and violinist Paul Dateh has gone on to garner millions of views on the web as well as national exposure on television and in print. Now, Dateh has teamed up with guitarist Ken Belcher to create “The Good Life” – a concept record that offers a fresh and original take on acoustic urban folk music.

“The Good Life” is a seven-song EP that follows the life of a man living out his adulthood. Classic, well-known stories of finding happiness in each moment and the search for love are presented in new ways with Dateh’s pure voice and lush string harmonies filling in the lines while Belcher punctuates each sentence with the soulful strumming of guitar.

Being fully trained in both Classical and Jazz styles, Paul Dateh & Ken Belcher’s influences are extremely diverse. Some of their influences include Bela Fleck, Stephane Grappelli, Alan & Marilyn Bergman, Stevie Wonder, and The Clientele.

In preparation for the release of “The Good Life”, Dateh and Belcher have been touring throughout the United States performing to sold-out crowds while also continuing to build a solid following online. The duo will also be making their first five-week tour in Japan starting in November.