Laying The Foundation: My First Week Of New Action!

What a whirlwind it’s been! This week, from July 7th to today, July 11th, marked the official kick-off of a massive, exciting journey.

If you’ve been following along, you know I’m embarking on a comprehensive project to bring multiple musical and creative ventures to the forefront of my public life, and this week was all about getting the vital foundational pieces in place. It’s fun to see things move from ideas on paper to tangible progress, and here’s what I’ve managed to achieve in just five short days.

Building My Online Home: AntonMarshall.co.za Takes Shape

First up was tackling the website infrastructure; laying the very bricks of my digital home. I’ve spent some time setting up the crucial utility pages, ensuring there’s a welcoming space for you to learn more about my journey and easily get in touch. Beyond that, I configured the essential Blog section, which is where you’ll find more regular updates like this one, and structured the placeholder “Music/Projects” pages. The backbone of AntonMarshall.co.za is officially standing!

Diving into Audio: Podcast Foundations are Poured

Alongside the website, cleaning up and revisiting the core direction of the XRS Podcast has been a key focus. While you won’t hear a new episode just yet, this week was dedicated to preparation. i have left the last three content here, those being interviews and chat snippets with Jann Klose, Miss Velvet & Esjay Jones, and archival Suzanne Vega bits.

Understanding the environment is just as crucial, so I performed a few experiemnts with video and audio captures– little things that can make a huge difference later on. This groundwork is vital for creating a podcast that’s not just informative but also a pleasure to listen to.

The First Word: My Initial Blog Post Draft

Perhaps one of the most satisfying achievements this week was actually putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard!) for this very first piece of content. After outlining the broader content plan, I jumped straight into drafting what you’re reading now. This isn’t the “big content plan announcement” just yet, but more of a foundational “Welcome to AntonMarshall.co.za” piece, setting the tone for what’s to come. It feels fantastic to have moved beyond just planning and into the actual creation phase. It’s a small step, but a very significant one, marking the beginning of consistent communication right here on the website. This initial creative burst is all about enjoying music as a hobby, savoring the process as much as the outcome.

It will start small-ish… these are setup days. But with a bit of luck, this little project will start to take shape, and something valuable will emerge for me and hopefully for you.

Beyond the Setup: A Broader Creative Canvas

While the focus this week has been on infrastructure, it’s important to share the larger vision behind this online presence. My blog and podcasts aren’t just about documenting my specific projects; they’re about exploring the very essence of staying creative in a world that constantly demands our attention. For me, this journey is deeply personal, especially as someone keen on maintaining creativity after 50 – demonstrating that age is no barrier to pursuing artistic passions.

The objective is to create a vibrant space for dialogue around what truly fuels the motivation for staying creative. Through shared experiences, practical tips, and deep dives into the creative process, I aim to build a community that supports and inspires fellow amateur musicians and creatives of all stripes. This platform will be a testament to the idea that the joy of creation is a lifelong pursuit, regardless of your professional path.

Looking Ahead: Balancing Music and Life

This week has been incredibly productive, laying essential groundwork for both the website and the podcast. It’s been a blend of technical setup, research, and that first exciting step into content creation. The energy is high, and I’m already looking forward to next week’s focus, which will involve diving deeper into content workflows and starting some preliminary research for The DeadBeats’ gig booking. It’s a continuous learning curve, especially when trying to balance music and life effectively.

In the meantime, might I tempt you to sign up for a newsletter that I’ve revived from some years ago? If you miss stuff here, that will be a good way to receive summaries of what’s happening from time to time.

What are you most excited to see or hear about first as these projects continue to unfold? Let me know in the comments below!