Calvero Speaks

Today's episode is all about mental health! For anyone who is struggling, or maybe doesn't know what's wrong, I hope this helps. I'm breaking down what my mental health issues looked like, why I avoided getting help for so long, what the process was like to start going to therapy, and how it ultimately changed my life for the better! Being an artist and trying to build a career in today's capitalist hellscape comes with so much baggage as it is, that anything you can do to mitigate your brain acting against you can be a big help to get through the day :) Join me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/calverosings  Buy a t-shirt: https://calvero.creator-spring.com  Sign up for my newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gTKUn1  Take a songwriting lesson with me: https://songwritingwithgabe.wordpress.com/  Follow me on these things:  https://www.instagram.com/calvero_sings/  https://spoti.fi/2G59bvL  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2Hrnt7scZjAIfAOcjmsnSw  https://www.tiktok.com/@calvero_sings  https://twitter.com/calvero_sings  https://www.facebook.com/calverosings/  http://calverosings.com  Say hi: iamcalvero [at] gmail.com  Pay what you want on Bandcamp: https://calverosings.bandcamp.com/  Paypal donation: https://paypal.me/calverosings

We are BACK, baby! The plan is to turn this into a bi-weekly thing. In today's episode we're talking about how fear-based compulsion can hold you back, releasing/putting things out when it feels like no one's watching, dealing with industry rejection and accepting a more independent path, learning how to define success for yourself outside of the industry, and many more things! Join me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/calverosings Buy a t-shirt: https://calvero.creator-spring.com Sign up for my newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gTKUn1 Take a songwriting lesson with me: https://songwritingwithgabe.wordpress.com/ Follow me on these things: https://www.instagram.com/calvero_sings/ https://spoti.fi/2G59bvL https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2Hrnt7scZjAIfAOcjmsnSw https://www.tiktok.com/@calvero_sings https://twitter.com/calvero_sings https://www.facebook.com/calverosings/ http://calverosings.com Say hi: iamcalvero [at] gmail.com Pay what you want on Bandcamp: https://calverosings.bandcamp.com/ Paypal donation: https://paypal.me/calverosings

Today we're going back to the first half of 2017, where my OCD, depression & anxiety was starting to manifest in strange ways. A testament to what our brains can convince ourselves of when our mental health is not under control. Talking about finding hope when things feeling hopeless, a reminder that your worst moments aren't permanent, finding growth through "failure," the source of our fear as artists & creatives, turning 30, and lots more! Join me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/calverosings Buy a t-shirt: https://calvero.creator-spring.com How I Made Didn't I Try, Honey: https://youtu.be/kmzJfkWsrag Sign up for my newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gTKUn1 Take a songwriting lesson with me: https://songwritingwithgabe.wordpress.com/ Follow me on these things: https://www.instagram.com/calvero_sings/ https://spoti.fi/2G59bvL https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2Hrnt7scZjAIfAOcjmsnSw https://www.tiktok.com/@calvero_sings https://twitter.com/calvero_sings https://www.facebook.com/calverosings/ http://calverosings.com Say hi: iamcalvero [at] gmail.com Pay what you want on Bandcamp: https://calverosings.bandcamp.com/ Paypal donation: https://paypal.me/calverosings

In today's episode, we're continuing the narrative, talking a lot about compulsions. The compulsion to put too much value in numbers & social media results when it comes to finding value in your art. The compulsion to feel like you have to listen to everything or know everything or consume the perfect art in order to be a good artist yourself. Exploring the question...do you need to know a lot about music in the past & present to make good music, or could that even be a hindrance on your creativity? Plus, unpacking my own struggles with OCD, anxiety & depression. Join me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/calverosings Buy a t-shirt: https://calvero.creator-spring.com Sign up for my newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gTKUn1 Take a songwriting lesson with me: https://songwritingwithgabe.wordpress.com/ Follow me on these things: https://www.instagram.com/calvero_sings/ https://spoti.fi/2G59bvL https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2Hrnt7scZjAIfAOcjmsnSw https://www.tiktok.com/@calvero_sings https://twitter.com/calvero_sings https://www.facebook.com/calverosings/ http://calverosings.com Say hi: iamcalvero [at] gmail.com Pay what you want on Bandcamp: https://calverosings.bandcamp.com/ Paypal donation: https://paypal.me/calverosings

Today we're continuing the narrative that we left off on "Leaving Chicago, pt. 2." Talking about healing, struggling with self acceptance, slowly getting back on my house, crossing over and beginning the process of learning how to record & produce on my own, making more songs in pursuit of the Calvero Sound how my first co-writes with Terror Jr on Atlantic Records came to be... plus, doing things for the process, not the outcome. Working towards being the person you want to be. Creating without fear... it's good to be back!! :) Join me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/calverosings Sign up for my newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gTKUn1 Take a songwriting lesson with me: https://songwritingwithgabe.wordpress.com/ Pay what you want on Bandcamp: https://calverosings.bandcamp.com/ Paypal donation: https://paypal.me/calverosings Follow me on these things: https://www.instagram.com/calvero_sings/ https://spoti.fi/2G59bvL https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2Hrnt7scZjAIfAOcjmsnSw https://www.tiktok.com/@calvero_sings https://twitter.com/calvero_sings https://www.facebook.com/calverosings/ http://calverosings.com Say hi: iamcalvero [at] gmail.com

Today we're talking about RIDING THE WAVE. Dealing with slumps/downturns and learning to keep where you're at in perspective. The importance of focusing on your own process rather than number-centric goals. Musical obsessions & the lyricism of Tom Waits. Creating a physical space & world building for your creative work. The importance of cultivating and slow cooking. Taking incremental steps towards tackling your fears and hangups and anxieties, and the confidence that comes from confronting them. And MORE!! Join me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/calverosings Sign up for my newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gTKUn1 Take a songwriting lesson with me: https://songwritingwithgabe.wordpress.com/ Pay what you want on Bandcamp: https://calverosings.bandcamp.com/ Paypal donation: https://paypal.me/calverosings Follow me on these things: https://www.instagram.com/calvero_sings/ https://spoti.fi/2G59bvL https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2Hrnt7scZjAIfAOcjmsnSw https://www.tiktok.com/@calvero_sings https://twitter.com/calvero_sings https://www.facebook.com/calverosings/ http://calverosings.com Geraldine Quinn's 10 Funniest Things On The Internet: https://amp.theguardian.com/culture/2022/may/19/geraldine-quinn-the-10-funniest-things-i-have-ever-seen-on-the-internet This Is Your Afterlife: The Unknown Is Our Only Hope https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-unknown-is-our-only-hope/id1526740014?i=1000556290839 Say hi: iamcalvero [at] gmail.com

Today we're talking about accepting your own path, the choices that you've made yourself, while also accepting the life unlived…the paths you didn't take, the choices you didn't make. We're also talking about dealing with negativity, especially when other people seem to echo your own self destructive inner monologue. Getting through depressive episodes. Finishing things and letting them go. And more! Join me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/calverosings Sign up for my newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gTKUn1 Take a songwriting lesson with me: https://songwritingwithgabe.wordpress.com/ Pay what you want on Bandcamp: https://calverosings.bandcamp.com/ Follow me on these things: https://www.instagram.com/calvero_sings/ https://spoti.fi/2G59bvL https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2Hrnt7scZjAIfAOcjmsnSw https://www.tiktok.com/@calvero_sings https://twitter.com/calvero_sings https://www.facebook.com/calverosings/ http://calverosings.com Say hi: iamcalvero [at] gmail.com Islands in the Stream by David Dayen: https://prospect.org/power/islands-in-the-stream-spotify-youtube-music-monopoly/

In today's episode, I am finally getting back to the narrative of the pod and breaking down the mental & physical health issues I was struggling with that led me to leaving Chicago. This one may be a difficult listen but I decided to be as open as possible to show what can happen when you continue leaving mental health issues unaddressed...when you keep prioritize your work and your career as number one. Also talking about the film Whiplash and our cultural pathology to suffer for your art, and to put yourself through hell in order to Be Great. Join me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/calverosings Sign up for my newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gTKUn1 Take a songwriting lesson with me: https://songwritingwithgabe.wordpress.com/ Pay what you want on Bandcamp: https://calverosings.bandcamp.com/ How I Made I Hate When I Think About You: https://youtu.be/ThK_jbMV-zY Follow me on these things: https://www.instagram.com/calvero_sings/ https://spoti.fi/2G59bvL https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2Hrnt7scZjAIfAOcjmsnSw https://www.tiktok.com/@calvero_sings https://twitter.com/calvero_sings https://www.facebook.com/calverosings/ http://calverosings.com Say hi: iamcalvero [at] gmail.com

Hey hey, back at it! Today, among other things, we're talking about the discomfort that comes from asking for things, finding confidence in your path, finding value & self worth beyond clout & numbers, getting over depressive episodes, navigating the ups & downs of a creative career, the dangers of focusing too much on numbers & metrics .... as artists & creatives, we get a lot of pressure under capitalism to always be on, to constantly be growing. But I'm here to remind you...you don't always have to be on :) Join me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/calverosings Sign up for my newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gTKUn1 Take a songwriting lesson with me: https://songwritingwithgabe.wordpress.com/ Follow me on these things: https://www.instagram.com/calvero_sings/ https://spoti.fi/2G59bvL https://www.tiktok.com/@calvero_sings https://twitter.com/calvero_sings https://www.facebook.com/calverosings/ http://calverosings.com Say hi: iamcalvero [at] gmail.com

Alright, we're back!! Forgive the clickbaity title. Today we're talking about abandoning the concept of "following your dreams," something that's often tied to a capitalist fever dream of anxiously chasing the next level of success. This is all about accepting yourself, accepting your path, being present as an artist and as a person in the now, enjoying the process and thriving right now, instead of holding out for something to happen to you, that movie moment where you "make it." See it as a pep talk. Plus, lots of rambles and updates. It's good to be back :) Join me on Patreon to support my work and get weekly bonus content like songs, vlogs & blogs, playlists, behind the scenes snippets & more: https://www.patreon.com/calverosings Sign up for my newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gTKUn1 Take a songwriting lesson with me: https://songwritingwithgabe.wordpress.com/ Stream my new(ish) single Black Rain: https://smarturl.it/calveroblackrain Watch the trailer for Retired Men's Nude Beach Volley Ball League: https://youtu.be/zQYn6KH3vVk Follow me on these things: https://www.instagram.com/calvero_sings/ https://spoti.fi/2G59bvL https://www.tiktok.com/@calvero_sings https://twitter.com/calvero_sings https://www.facebook.com/calverosings/ http://calverosings.com Say hi: iamcalvero [at] gmail.com

In today's episode, among other rambles, we're talkin' about my journey into mixing my own music, accepting your own workflow without getting bogged down, the balance of creative and manual work that goes into making a piece of art, getting outside your comfort zone without SPIRALING, Tik Tok, why we can get so dependent on media, dealing with trolls, the art of letting go and much more! Join me on Patreon to support my work and get weekly bonus content like songs, vlogs & blogs, playlists, behind the scenes snippets & more: https://www.patreon.com/calverosings Sign up for my newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gTKUn1 Take a songwriting lesson with me: https://songwritingwithgabe.wordpress.com/ Follow me on these things: https://www.instagram.com/calvero_sings/ https://spoti.fi/2G59bvL https://www.tiktok.com/@calvero_sings https://twitter.com/calvero_sings https://www.facebook.com/calverosings/ http://calverosings.com Say hi: iamcalvero [at] gmail.com

In today's episode, I begin telling the story of when I had to leave Chicago, starting with when I got publicly shamed on stage by a semi-famous comedian for singing an admittedly sub-par version of "Total Eclipse of the Heart." This two parter is hopefully a cautionary tale about what can happen when serious mental health issues are left ignored and unaddressed. Also talking about the dark side of Hustle Culture and its strange positivity about "failure", the importance of checking in with yourself & your feelings, how we tend to valorize people just because they are successful or rich, the parallels between comedy and music and much more! Join me on Patreon to support my work and get weekly bonus content like songs, vlogs & blogs, playlists, behind the scenes snippets & more: https://www.patreon.com/calverosings Sign up for my newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gTKUn1 Take a songwriting lesson with me: https://songwritingwithgabe.wordpress.com/ Sign up for Dave Maher's Hella Immaculate newsletter: https://thisisdavemaher.substack.com/welcome And read his article that I was talking about here: https://thisisdavemaher.substack.com/p/the-lived-experience-of-failure Follow me on these things: https://www.instagram.com/calvero_sings/ https://spoti.fi/2G59bvL https://twitter.com/calvero_sings https://www.facebook.com/calverosings/ http://calverosings.com Say hi: iamcalvero [at] gmail.com

Today's episode is about making my song When I Was Ur Love....also, among other things: why I think Nothing Compares 2 U is the greatest pop song of all time, how to be a better artist by listening for the details, why The Beatles' production was so revolutionary, the pressure of constantly using social media to cultivate our "personal brands", and most importantly remembering my friends Max Perenchio and Ryan Brady. Support me on patreon & get exclusive content and songwriting demos, including the original demo for When I Was Ur Love: https://www.patreon.com/calverosings Finding Your Inner-Max: https://mailchi.mp/7e255cbe0189/finding-your-inner-max Sign up for the Calvero Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gTKUn1 Grab "The First Singles" compilation on Bandcamp: https://calverosings.bandcamp.com/album/the-first-singles Drop me a line at iamcalvero [at] gmail.com if you'd like to talk about doing remote songwriting lessons or just say hi! Follow me on these things: https://www.instagram.com/calvero_sings/ https://spoti.fi/2G59bvL https://twitter.com/calvero_sings https://www.facebook.com/calverosings/ https://www.patreon.com/calverosings http://calverosings.com

Today's episode is all about the songwriting & production behind Vanishing Streets! Plus general thoughts/rambles about songwriting, production and recording, finding your voice, and finding creative epiphanies through collaboration. Support me on patreon & get exclusive content and songwriting demos: https://www.patreon.com/calverosings Sign up for the Calvero Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gTKUn1 Grab "The First Singles" compilation on Bandcamp: https://calverosings.bandcamp.com/album/the-first-singles Drop me a line at iamcalvero [at] gmail.com if you'd like to talk about doing remote songwriting lessons or just say hi! Follow me on these things: https://www.instagram.com/calvero_sings/ https://spoti.fi/2G59bvL https://twitter.com/calvero_sings https://www.facebook.com/calverosings/ https://www.patreon.com/calverosings http://calverosings.com

In The Muppet Movie, Kermit the Frog is on a quest to make it in show business...driven by the simple dream to make millions of people happy. Today I'm looking deeper into the questions: why do we make things? Why do we put things out into the world, and why can it be so hard to let things go? Looking into the tension between a drive to create a legacy, to make a mark, and the pure joy and happiness that comes from the creative process. Also talkin' 30 Under 30 lists, Jim Henson, Jim Carrey in Jim & Andy, Michael Jordan, Michael Jackson's insecurities about Prince, The 40 Year Old Version, and more! Support me on patreon & get exclusive content and songwriting demos: https://www.patreon.com/calverosings Stream & share my new song WAIT: https://smarturl.it/calverowait Sign up for the Calvero Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gTKUn1 Grab "The First Singles" compilation on Bandcamp: https://calverosings.bandcamp.com/album/the-first-singles Drop me a line at iamcalvero [at] gmail.com! Follow me on these things: https://www.instagram.com/calvero_sings/ https://spoti.fi/2G59bvL https://twitter.com/calvero_sings https://www.facebook.com/calverosings/ https://www.patreon.com/calverosings http://calverosings.com

Today (among other things) we're talkin' about self acceptance & defining success for yourself on your own terms, why we overextend ourselves, American Idol and our country's narrative of winners & losers, aging in music, a documentary about the guy who wrote Boondock Saints and debunking the myth of “overnight success".... Support me on patreon & get exclusive content and songwriting demos: https://www.patreon.com/calverosings Sign up for the Calvero Newsletter! http://eepurl.com/gTKUn1 Grab "The First Singles" compilation on Bandcamp: https://calverosings.bandcamp.com/album/the-first-singles Follow me on these things! https://www.instagram.com/calvero_sings/ https://spoti.fi/2G59bvL https://twitter.com/calvero_sings https://www.facebook.com/calverosings/ https://www.patreon.com/calverosings http://calverosings.com

Finishing off the Calvero Origins series! Among other things: finding your voice by eating shit publicly and often, giving yourself space to evolve and move from the dreams you had for yourself as a kid, springsteen, meat loaf, freddie mercury, letting go of a musical hero (Mark Kozelek) and exploring misogyny in music, writing VANISHING STREETS! Support me on patreon & get exclusive content and songwriting demos: https://www.patreon.com/calverosings "The First Singles" compilation on Bandcamp: https://calverosings.bandcamp.com/album/the-first-singles Newsletter sign-up: http://eepurl.com/gTKUn1 Follow me on these things: https://www.instagram.com/calvero_sings/ https://spoti.fi/2G59bvL https://twitter.com/calvero_sings https://www.facebook.com/calverosings/ https://www.patreon.com/calverosings http://calverosings.com

Taking a pause from the Calvero Origins series to talk about what to do, and how to move forward, when you feel like you've been left behind. At many times in my life, I've bought into the idea that there is an expiration for when you're able to "prove yourself" in your career (in my case music) and making your best work as an artist. But, having an expiration date implies that you only get a certain number of tries! The fear of a closing door leaves no room for fun, or joy, or patience , which I personally think are all so important to have present for creative expression. I have done a lot of personal work on moving past this fear and being okay with taking my time to figure things out..... on shifting my focus to sustainability and forward motion rather than holding out for a quick, big win. So I talk all about that here! ** Support me on patreon & get exclusive content and songwriting demos: https://www.patreon.com/calverosings Sign up for my monthly(ish) newsletter!: http://eepurl.com/gTKUn1 Follow me on these things: https://www.instagram.com/calvero_sings/ https://spoti.fi/2G59bvL https://twitter.com/calvero_sings https://www.facebook.com/calverosings/ https://www.patreon.com/calverosings http://calverosings.com

Continuing the Calvero Origins series, we backtrack a few years before the previous episode. I was taking a break from nonstop touring and was beginning to make some serious changes as a person. I was also starting to explore what else I could be in the music world outside of a "dude in a band." This is the story of how I went down the road of learning the crafts of studio work and being a co-writer for other artists. I learned a new way to sing & completely fell in love w/ pop music. It was a wonderful, formative time & I'll be forever grateful for the people who helped steer me in that direction, and for the people that knew me back in a more troubled time who were patient & tough and understanding and stuck w/ me. Support me on patreon & get exclusive content and songwriting demos: https://www.patreon.com/calverosings Sign up for the monthly(ish) Calvero Newsletter!: http://eepurl.com/gTKUn1 Follow me on these things: https://www.instagram.com/calvero_sings/ https://spoti.fi/2G59bvL https://twitter.com/calvero_sings https://www.facebook.com/calverosings/ https://www.patreon.com/calverosings http://calverosings.com

For this first episode, I tell the story of how I got the name Calvero. More importantly, it's the story of a time in my life when I truly questioned whether or not it might be the end of the road for me and my music career, and why I decided to keep going. Support me on patreon & get exclusive content and songwriting demos: https://www.patreon.com/calverosings Follow me on these things: https://www.instagram.com/calvero_sings/ https://spoti.fi/2G59bvL https://twitter.com/calvero_sings https://www.facebook.com/calverosings/ https://www.patreon.com/calverosings http://calverosings.com