The Studio, New CD, NMM, and Back In Chatt

Hey Everybody,

Sorry that it has been a few weeks since I last blogged. I've been in the studio making use of the time I've had in Maine. I've been recording at Studio 19 in Portland which I am willing to go out on a limb and say that it was the nicest studio experience I've ever had. I've been blessed to be able to work with Dan Merrill who is a fantastic producer and engineer and I'm more excited about this project than any other I have done before. Dan has a great understanding of what I want to accomplish with my music and was the perfect fit to produce my album. I've been able to work with amazing musicians including my friend and bass player from New Mercy Morning, Scott Anderson, Nate Morrison on drums, Darren Whitney on sax, Dan Merrill who did some guitar work and background vocals, and of course you all know John Ferreira who plays live with me on percussion.

The EP comes out on June 2nd and will include the songs, "Representin', "Color", and "There Is A Love." Later on in the Fall, I'll be releasing a full album which will include everything as well as a few brand new songs I'm still yet to perform live. This album is different than what I've done before. It is a great blend of rock, pop, and R&B.

I've had a few people ask if I will still be making any of the old New Mercy Morning material available. For those of you NMM fans who are still out there, yes, I will still be selling both New Mercy Morning albums at the shows. As a matter of fact the price is dropping from $12 a piece to $8! There will also be a package deal where you can buy both New Mercy Morning CD's and the new Scott Logan EP for $20! Great deal, huh?

Finally I will be departing Maine after this 5 week stay to return to Tennessee next week. I am so excited to head back to Chattanooga. There are some great shows lined up in June throughout TN and in between the concerts I'll be heading back to some great churches there to lead worship. I hope to see you "volunteer staters" when I return in June. I'm glad I've got a new CD for you all!

Those who followed my blog and YouTube channel before know how excited I am to roll into Chattanooga, hit up Chattz for some Chai tea, see the rolling hills surrounding the area, walk on the Tennessee River, see Nashville again, and give you more great quality Waking Ken videos on YouTube! Speaking of videos, for those of you in the northeast I will be posting some more videos of Chattanooga and my adventures on the road in June so make sure to stay tuned to my YouTube channel in the next few weeks. This will be an exciting trip as I will be bringing my dear friend and former New Mercy Morning bandmate, Jason Clark. Having J and I together on the road will make for some great stuff, I'm sure!

I'll be bloggin' on the road starting next week. Pray for me. I'll see you in Tennessee!

In Christ,
SL

A New Tour Already

I haven't been back in Maine for more than 5 days and I'm excited to see another mid-south tour come together!

I got back in Maine on Sunday after playing show & tell for a week with my wife taking her all around Chattanooga and Nashville. She loved it too and we are both excited about moving to Tennessee later this year. For those of you who came out to the shows in TN you may remember me talking about how I was looking forward to having her join me later on the tour. I can assure you that it was a wonderful embrace!

While I'm in Maine, I'm looking forward to playing some local shows in the area. Technically they will only be local shows for a little while longer, so I hope that those of you in the northeast will be able to make it out to the shows this summer in Maine and New Hampshire. Pretty soon my performances in the northeast are going to be few and far between. It kind of feels like the end of an era, but with the lack of places to play up here this era has been fading for a while. Everything has a season, a beginning, and an end.

I'll be leaving to hit the road again on June 4th. I'll be kicking off tour #2 in Athens, TN at a coffee house called Java On The Square on Saturday, June 6th. I have been told that my belief that Chattz in Chattanooga having the best chai on the planet is going to be shaken as this place makes something called a "Tiger Chai." The gauntlet has been laid and the challenge is on the table. Let the chai games begin. For those who are interested, I'll be performing a full set that night and show time is at 6:30pm.

I'll see some of you at the show Friday night at The Vineyard!

God Bless,
SL

Final Thoughts On The Road

It's raining today. I look outside my window here in Chattanooga and see the dark clouds over head, the water drops running off of the roof and down onto the window. I can hear the soft peaceful sound of the rain all around me. For me it is also a rainy day metaphorically. This is my last day in Tennessee for a while and I'm sad to leave. On the other hand, just as the sun is supposed to come out later today, so will it rise again for me. I can't wait to come back.

All of my life I have always wanted to leave the north. It isn't anything to do with the people there. I have some great friends back in Maine and I have some very fond memories as well. I just have always had my heart in the south. Many people in the northeast do not understand this. Many have never left the borders of their state let alone their city and have never seen the beauty that lies in other parts of the world. Some will even put you down for suggesting that there is a world outside of the bubble. Maine is a very odd place like that. It really is just that sometimes... a bubble.

As a musician, a songwriter, and a performer I have always wanted to take my craft and use it full time. The problem is that the northeast, specifically Maine, has never been music central. If a person feels wholeheartedly that God is calling them to be a fisherman, than they need to leave the desert and move towards a body of water. It is the same for me. As a contemporary Christian music artist, if I'm seeking a full time career in the music business, I need to be where the action is. It is certainly here in Tennessee.

I've learned so much while being on the road. I have certainly been able to add to my experiential knowledge of the business. I have been able to meet a lot of great people, and I have been able to already make Tennessee my home. I have also experienced my greatest spurt of spiritual growth. I think that tends to happen when you really let God take control and fully rely on Him for every need. Many claim to do this, but I will tell you that when you walk away from stable week to week employment to follow a calling with no idea where your next income will come from and all you can do is trust God that He is going to provide because He is the one who told you to step out, that is where you see your faith in the "unseen" strengthen, and the more that you see God come through in big ways, the easier it gets.

When I wrote my first blog on tour about the rolling hills and the emotions and memories I was feeling at the time, I talked about how my dream was coming true and that I knew I was home. I can tell you that those feelings are only stronger now. I've been living my dream and I've been able to make Tennessee a home for myself. At this moment I feel so blessed that I have been able to experience this life, and I will tell you that it is all because God called and I followed.

I see all around me people who have so much potential and are very gifted with talents that God has given to them. They have passions. They have dreams. They have callings. The problem is they also have fear. They are afraid to leave what they know. Many will hide under the umbrella of "waiting on the Lord." Waiting on God is a great thing, but when He called the Israelites into the promise land, He didn't make them magically appear there like they were getting beamed on Star Trek. They had to walk forward in faith and leave behind all that they knew and journey through the desert for 40 years. During that time, they had to continually walk in faith that God was going to provide for them, They never would have seen the promise land unless they had walked there on their own two feet. Too many of the Christians I know, lose out on their God given dreams by choosing to stay in Egypt. They have excuse after excuse why they can not leave and I believe that great things can come by just stepping out and walking. If it isn't the direction that God is calling you to head in, He will surely close the door.

This particular tour will always hold a special place in my memory bank as it was my first. It was also the bridge builder I needed to move down here later this year. I love the people of the south. From Joe the drummer waiting tables at the Rain Forest Cafe in Nashville, to Eric and Chase making the greatest Chai tea in the world at Chattz in Chattanooga. From Ed and Tiff at the local bank cracking jokes and making banking fun, to the older woman at a Rite Aid Pharmacy who welcomed me here on my first night. From Pastor Brian in Sweetwater to Pastor Roger and Harry in Crossville. From Jonny Lang to Phil Keaggy. From the home of no cell reception, Murphy, North Carolina, to the fun folks in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and to everyone else who has supported me on the road, I say thank you. You were all contributors in the dream coming true.

I can't wait to come back to Tennessee in June. The tour in June is going to be great and I can't wait to see some more new places. Hope you guys can make it to the shows!

God given dreams come true if we are willing to follow Him.

God Bless,
SL