Seismic Shift for Continental Drift to Music

Making the transition to new content focusing on songwriting and original songs

Continental Drift was an experiment on the new Substack platform as the pandemic shut us all down. It started as a way to bypass the gatekeepers of traditional publishing. It provided a creative outlet with personal control over content.

The platform is even more dynamic now. But my writing became stagnant as my focus wandered. My last post was on September 2020.

Why the major shift?

Continental Drift centered on my environmental work and cultural experiences in America, Africa and Asia. Though it was a rich vein to tap into for personal stories, I felt disconnected from the audience. I never really knew if they had enough value for readers. Plus, the wide range of topics made it harder to discover the real gems.

Lessons from the lockdown

In the last two years since Covid-19 transformed all our lives, there have been many new opportunities and lessons learned.

First, I dove into music theory as many YouTubers gave excellent free courses. I've played acoustic guitar since the 1970s, but music theory was like learning how to code computer languages today. It seemed impossible. It wasn't. It opened up the floodgates to songwriting. Music theory transformed my music from a chord player to a songwriter.

Second, the Substack world exploded. This new platform gave rise to independent content creation. It became a pathway to connect to an audience. It depends on readership revenue, not advertising. It's a gamechanger. Plus, I learned the added value of reaching a core audience with tailored content.

The new name and format

Thus, the new newsletter, Scobiphonic, was born. It concentrates on essays that connect songwriting to a lifetime of listening, with a way to distribute original songs. I feel this is a more authentic approach as a writer and content provider.

As for the name, Scobi is an old nickname and phonic pertains to acoustic sound.

Songwriting is an extension of being a writer. It follows similar techniques. It taps into the well of heartfelt ideas and messages. For me, lyrics are a natural transition. But the lack of knowledge about song structure and chord progressions held me back.

The new format includes publishing essays on musical influences, individual song lyrics and the process of songwriting as an amateur player. I will share insights on my methods and publish original songs to satisfy my creative appetite.

As a teaser, here are some content topics that are expected to be part of the playlist:

• When Jeff Bezos Dies (original song)

• Songwriter Showcase Series (e.g. Jackson Browne)

• Texas Guitars in a Garage Beauty Salon (the beginning)

• Songs That Stick Series (e.g. Sam Stone, John Prine)

• Circle of Fifths Treasure Map (gateway to song creativity)

A personal note of thanks

I own a debt of gratitude to you as a Continental Drift subscriber. You made the magic happen, even though I lost my wizardry. It gave me the confidence to change. I will always be appreciative for your role as a reader.

To be honest, there is a very personal reason to start this new direction. Most of the original songs represent my thoughts on issues and parts of my life. It serves as a repository to share with friends and family, especially as a legacy project for my son.

Scobiphonic launches soon. I intend to publish essays every two weeks, with an original song output each month. If you want to test ride this new path, then stay subscribed. If you opt out, then thanks for being a part of the journey.