sammyj-studios

[sammyj-studios]

This guy again? Yeah I can't get enough of this adorable goofy goober, Buddy Keys.

[sammyj-studios]

Since I uploaded my music to Youtube, I've had a few consistent comments on my song "Leading Me" that I'd like to address:

"It's not overt enough that it's about God. It could easily be interpreted as a song about a human lover"

I've been contemplating for a while on how to respond to it, because all I know is that when I wrote this song, God was the one who gave me the words. I'm not going to lie that this sentiment bothers me quite a lot.

I sought the Lord's guidance with every step of writing this song. In the very beginning when I asked for what it would be about, He replied with no uncertainty that it would have to do with the 23rd Psalm, in particular about being led through the Valley of the Shadow. I don't know any generic love song that would mention that, and if you know the 23rd Psalm it's hard to believe the lyrics aren't overtly Christian.

When I was praying and listening for the lyrics, I had a vision that I was in total darkness until I could feel and then see the hands of Jesus leading me through. Immediately that day, the words poured onto the page.

I can't speak for anyone else or prove myself, but I have no reason not to believe that every part of this song is exactly what God wanted to be written down and played. No more and no less.

And this is how I intend to create all of my songs: with the direct inspiration and guidance of the Lord, and not just writing stuff that "Sounds Christian".

[sammyj-studios]

"I Ain't Gonna Write A Love Song" - Lyric Video by Worship REWIND

[sammyj-studios]

"Leading Me" - Lyric Video by Worship REWIND

[sammyj-studios]

Excited to Announce:

My new Band: Worship REWIND!

For years, I've been unimpressed by modern CCM and utterly disgusted by today's secular alternatives.

Christian radio up until the early 2000s was full of music that was comparable in enjoyability and a viable alternative to the secular side at the time. Between Newsboys, Petra, Rich Mullins, DC Talk, and more, it was a diverse selection of genres and had something for everyone. Lyrics were creative and weren't afraid to be raw, clever, or even funny!

Now, modern CCM is so homogenized that it is itself a genre. It all sounds the same. Bethel and Hillsong started a trend of "Soaking Worship" that everyone else decided they wanted to copy and conform to. This has gone on for so long, that today's popular artists don't dare to deviate from it. Same words, same chords, same instruments, same mood, same formats...

Now when you listen to Christian radio, you feel guilted into approaching it with this sort of reverence and expectation to participate in this "soaking worship". What happened to Christian music that was FUN to listen to? Today, nobody would DARE to even imagine it! And if you're not a fan of the cookie-cutter style of instrumentation, you're totally out of luck.

Now if you want "fun", you have to turn to secular music, where you get catchy tunes and instrumentation that the kids LOVE... under lyrics about vulgar sex acts and full of profanity. On the radio, you'll hear so many censored words that it's about 50% silence and you can't even understand the song anymore. It's like everyone is in a competition to fit as many of the worst words they can think of into a sentence as possible. Shock value is now the key to success.

Three years ago after discovering my favorite band Whiteheart, I was so grieved that I felt compelled to make a difference. I started writing with the intent to write NEW songs in the OLD styles. God called me to move to Nashville, where I've met so many amazing people who have been helping me make it a reality.

My first two songs, "Leading Me", and "I Ain't Gonna Write A Love Song" are officially done and published today! They're expected to go live on streaming platforms in the next few days!

In the meantime, subscribe to the new Youtube channel where the lyric videos will go live Sunday, March 30th!

I will be continuing to write more songs as I build up my first album: "Praise Like it's 1999"!

[sammyj-studios]

Buddy Keys

TikTok | YouTube

[sammyj-studios]

The second installment of "Taking the Journey..." is published now!

"Change your Mind" is an interactive journal guiding you on a 7-day journey through Philippians 4, turning our minds away from the anxious things of the world, and into the things of God.

The "Taking the Journey..." series is not your typical journal, it allows you to "Color your Soul". Express yourself and meditate with Coloring Pages, visualizing our hero, Philip as we follow him on his journey. Featuring artwork by me!

Order on Amazon

[sammyj-studios]

the only "selling point" you're getting with snubbing AI is that your someone who wastes time. instead of getting with the times and using the tools available to get work done faster your forceing people to pay hourly rates for something that could be generated in 5 minutes. nobody is going to hire someone who wastes time. anyone who still chooses to make art by hand and charge people for it at this point is scamming people

You may be right when it comes to corporations and boomer-owned businesses who only care about cutting costs. You're absolutely right, as I've been told this exact thing before by a few people I've tried to do long-term work for.

But what these people (and YOU) need to realize is that to everyone else, they look BAD.

You're in the minority, buddy.

The novelty of AI has run out. Real people, even those who aren't artists, are starting to get really sick of it. And what puts them off is specifically that they know it was generated in seconds for free.

AI images have become synonymous with scams, bootlegs, and laziness. Because how wonderful is it to not have to pay anyone and get a fake photo of something you don't actually have?

Conversely, if someone wants to pay good money with the expectation that it's going to be made from scratch by a human and not by typing words into a prompt, they're getting exactly what they paid for because they decided it was worth it. That's not what a scam is.

Normally I wouldn't post an ask like this because this person is clearly so stupid and I prefer not to give this type of person the satisfaction of attention. But because I've experienced such sentiments out in the real world, this needs to reach an audience.

Anyone who wants AI art can please themselves and go get it for free. You don't have to pay anyone, not even "professional prompters". Then you can post it out there and reach absolutely nobody, because everyone else is sick of their feeds being overrun with slop.

The rest of us are going to appreciate honesty and integrity.

[sammyj-studios]

I've been drawing humans a lot more often out of necessity for work, and I have to say, drawing all those G3 ponies has done wonders for my ability to draw curly-ish hair.

[sammyj-studios]

Me when the Vaporwave blogs I follow are interacting with my posts

[sammyj-studios]

[sammyj-studios]

"Making these vaporwave pictures is so relaxing. It doesn't take much effort to arrange shapes compared to when I'm actually drawing..."

*Wastes 50 minutes nudging stuff around and getting frustrated because it doesn't quite give ~the vibe~*

[sammyj-studios]

SammyJ Studios 2024

[sammyj-studios]

I'm Officially a Published Illustrator!

Mark W. Merrill and I have been working tirelessly to create this Interactive Journal! "Battle Ready" is an interactive devotional guiding you on a 7-day journey through Ephesians 6: The Armor of God.

And this is no ordinary journal, Battle Ready allows you to "Color your Soul". Express yourself and meditate with Coloring Pages, visualizing our hero, Philip as we follow him on his journey. All drawn by Yours Truly!

Order on Amazon

[sammyj-studios]

Playing Grams Bear in Furcadia, in the new Care Bears dream we're building! furc://kingdomofcaring

[sammyj-studios]

Wave TWO is now LIVE! My latest artworks are now available on Shirts, Prints, and more on TeePublic!

[sammyj-studios]

90s Church Lyric Slides Vibes