I was sitting in my room with my Fender Telecaster in my hands and a tube amp warming up next to me. No plan, no goal. Just playing guitar for fun, because I enjoy it. And then it hit me how different my evenings used to look. Planning, optimizing, tracking, working until late in the evening.
That’s when I realised what this blog should actually be about.
For a long time I kept pivoting between subjects and niches. Personal development, business, creativity, mental health. Every time I tried to pick one thing, I couldn’t stick with it for long. So I stopped trying to pick one thing. This blog and my YouTube channel are about me, as a whole person. And at the centre of that is music, especially the guitar, because that’s the instrument I play and love.
What’s changing
Business and personal development won’t be the main topic anymore. They’ll still be running in the background, because they’re part of who I am (like in my last post about using a business school tool on my personal brand), but they’re not the focus.
Guitar and music are the home base. It’s what I know best, what I have the most experience with, and what shows up in my life every single day. But around it, I want to talk about everything else I’m into. Video games, creative projects, and whatever grabs my attention next.
A good example is my mother. She’s an artist and she loves to paint, so she creates content about her art and the process behind it. For me it’s the same, but about my life as a creative person, with guitar at the core. I want to show you the process of making songs and take you with me on my guitar journey, and on everything else along the way.
The things that stay are my honesty and the creative way I look at things.
And this is the last time I’m announcing a change of direction. I’m not choosing a topic anymore. If I get into something new, you’ll just see it show up here.
To everyone who followed my old direction: thank you. Stick around if you like.
Life is more than hustling
So here is the thing. At first, the only thing I wanted was to make money online. I wanted to start a business, a YouTube channel, and create digital products and services. But something was missing. It didn’t feel like me.
I watched a ton of YouTube videos from business gurus about how to make money and which steps I needed to take. But I was always improving, always optimizing, and it didn’t feel like living.
Then I realised that not everything has to be a project with a goal or a metric. Music is the project that comes from the heart. It’s something I’d still make videos about, even if nobody was watching.
So I picked up the things that are just fun again, not only the things that make me “better”. First up was guitar. But also video games, like Zelda, Pokémon and Forza Horizon 6. Playing these games brings me back to the old days, when I didn’t feel guilty about playing for a couple of hours. It also gives my creativity and imagination a boost.
Where I’m at: my current guitar rig
My main guitar
My main guitar is a Fender American Professional II Telecaster (left-handed). It’s the one I pick up every time I sit down to play.
Two tube amps
Besides that, I have two tube amps: a Fender Blues Deluxe Reissue and a Vox AC15C1. The Vox sounds very chimey and still sounds good at low volumes in the evening. The Fender has a beautiful clean sound and is a great base for effect pedals.
I also have a guitar microphone for recording my playing through the two tube amps, which sounds even better.
Line 6 Helix and my band
I also have a Line 6 Helix, which gives me endless sounds to experiment with. The Helix is great for recording, experimenting and silent practice.
I also play in a band with the Line 6 Helix. We play rock and pop songs from bands like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Led Zeppelin and Queen, and we’re also busy producing our own songs.
My homemade wooden pedalboard
I built my own wooden pedalboard together with my dad. I can use it on my desk and on the floor. It holds a good range of effects, like a BOSS analog delay, reverb, an amp sim and overdrive pedals.
Playing left-handed
I’m left-handed, so the choice of left-handed guitars is limited. But playing lefty feels the most natural to me.
The dream: saving for a Gibson ES-335
Right now I also have a PRS SE Custom 24. However, I don’t play it enough. I always reach for my Telecaster.
That’s why I’m saving for my dream guitar, which would be a great addition: a Gibson ES-335. That way, I’d have the great twangy sound of the Telecaster and the warm, mellow sound of the ES-335.
It’s very expensive, though, and I’m probably gonna wait at least five to six months before buying one. Left-handed versions are very rare, which makes it even more meaningful to own one. It just looks great and will probably feel great too. Guitars like these make me want to pick them up all the time, and that’s the main goal in the end. I’ll take you with me on this journey: the search, and maybe the unboxing.
What’s coming next
Here’s a short mix of ideas I’ll be sharing here and on my channel:
- Blues Deluxe vs. AC15: two tube amps compared
- Life as a left-handed guitarist
- Picking up Zelda and Pokémon again after years of optimizing
- Writing a song from first idea to finished recording
I’ll post when it feels right, about whatever I’m into, without the strict optimizing.
Back to that evening
So that’s where I’m at. Guitar in my hands, amp warming up, no plan. This feels like the most honest thing I’ve made in a while.
I’d love to hear from you. What do you play? What’s on your pedalboard? Or what would you like to see me make next? Let me know in the comments, and come hang out on my YouTube channel too.
