Joy Ike

  Like I said, I’ve been meeting some really interesting people through the front window of my apartment. Today, as I worked on a new song on my ukulele, an older man, probably around 65 took a detour on his way to Synagogue.  I think this because he looked Jewish, and because there is a [...]

Today I discovered that opening my window and playing  towards the street is a great way to make new friends! I made one today. His name is Jackson :)  It was kind of funny.  So I live on a well-trafficked road. Usually when I play, people don’t figure out where the music is coming from [...]

“Most people live life on a path we set for them Too afraid to explore any other But once in a while people like you come along Who knock down all the obstacles we put in your way People who realize free will is gift you’ll never know how to use Until you fight for [...]

I once listened to a broadcast on This American Life, where they featured a 15-minute list of all the things this one man was afraid of – fear of the dark, fear that someone would steal his lunch at school, fear that he would sleep and never wake up…and 14 minutes and 95 seconds of [...]

Mrs. J is in her late 40s or early 50′s. She’s a lady who is very warm and welcoming and I am meeting her for the first time. I’m playing a show with her daughter and she’s come along with her for moral support. But I can tell she is worried for her. As she [...]

I’ve been living like I’m waiting for my life to begin Holding your hand as you skim the surface scared to jump in You can take your time You can take your time You can take your time But I’ve been giving you a lot of mine since we first started Losing confidence every minute [...]

“Nothing ever happens if you stay in your room Nothing every happens if you leave the party too soon Nothing every happens if you’re not in the game Nothing every happens if you always play it safe Make a little space and get out of your own…way!”   -Rachel Platten (a song for the fearless) [...]

I am thinking that maybe it takes a little more selflessness to make art than it takes to make music. I’ve been corresponding with an artist whose painting I saw at a recent art festival here in Pittsburgh. The painting is so beautiful and breathtaking to me. It is simply called “Healing” and it reminds [...]

I went to see a movie with a friend today and saw this preview for The Beaver. I think the casting for this picture was cleverly thought out…knowing that Mel Gibson has fallen on some hard times and was placed into a role that mirrors a fallen man working to recover, rebuild his reputation, and [...]

Sweet ‘N Low The name of my sugar And the definition of what we know Sweet like a kiss on the cheek Like sitting in rain on a spring day Sweet like boardwalks, long talks, and smooth rocks Low like sitting in dark closets Like a table for one Like closing open doors, sitting on [...]