In an effort to celebrate the official launch of djphillips.com, challenge my songwriting/ recording abilities and to take my own swipe at a 30 Day Project I will now post a new song idea every day for the next 30 days. These are not necessarily finished products. They are not necessarily fantastic pop nuggets. But they will be new ideas (written at least within the last few weeks). They will be (pretty much) on time. And they will be original.

Along with each posted song, I'll include a little story of the writing and recording process. If you're the kind of person who doesn't like to know what's behind a song, feel free to skip all the content below the track.

I'm putting these out there-- warts and all-- so let me know what you think! The songs that get a good response will be the most likely to be included on a future release.

Just The Way I Am

Halfway done! Woo! I have to say, I've really enjoyed this project, but I'm also looking forward to being done with it for a while. I have some fun ideas for another project or two on the horizon, but there will definitely be a break between. I like to sleep.

"Just The Way I Am" is the idea I worked on yesterday, so I had a head start today. I've been messing around with this riff and chorus for a long time now. In fact, I had forgotten about it until I came upon another rehearsal recording from my Brother Big Bad days. I had never come up with a verse I was happy with (noticing a trend here?) so I figured now is the time!

It's not my cleanest work guitar-wise, but I think you get the idea. I had a really fun time putting together the MIDI drums based a little bit off of Marc's drum part and my own imagination. I'm pretty happy with the result.

I don't think I'll ever be a recording engineer or anything (nor do I really want to) but I feel like I have a much better handle on this kind of recording now. There's been some yelling at the computer, yes, but much less now than when I started. Now it's more incredulous like "Why did you do that?" or my favorite "Why would you do something like that?"-- as if the software has ill intent. Maybe it DOES. I am still pretty slow at the whole process but now it's because I want to tinker with the mix and add more things whereas before it was because I was completely over my head and had no idea what I was doing.

Lyrically, this song is just about accepting yourself for who you are. I was lucky enough to grow up in an accepting household with loving parents, but I'm twisted enough to sing and write from the perspective of someone who didn't and that's what I am going for here.

The jam in the middle is pretty heavy for a rock/pop/country song with a cajun beat but hey, that's just the way I am!

Just The Way I Am

Call me out to make your vision fit But I'm the kind of kid that doesn't want to shift It's just the way I am

Now shut your mouth as a parting gift Now that's the kind of gift that could mend this rift It's just the way I am

Canvas blank enough to vent your rage But there's already something written on this page Yeah, it's just the way I am

Shake your head, say it's gone to hell But I'm not here to make you feel good about your sense of self Yeah, I'm just the way I am

It's just the way I am It's just the way I am It's just the way I am It's just the way I am

Call it morbid curiosity But that's the kind of thing that I don't want to see It's just the way I am

You and I can both agree That you're the kind of person I don't want to be I'm just the way I am

It's just the way I am It's just the way I am It's just the way I am It's just the way I am