Life, family, and music.
It wasn’t what I expected. What I expected was a recording studio you’d see in the movies or in Rolling Stone magazine. Huge rooms with vaulted ceilings and sliding glass doors. A sound engineer smoking cigarettes over a mixing console.
What It Was Like Starting Out (Recording My First Songs) Read More »
At least once a year I read a book by my favorite author Jon Hassler. I’m always trying to write songs like Jon Hassler wrote books. Seemingly ordinary, small-town characters living in northern Minnesota. But once you get to know them, they tug at your heart and stick with you.
A Book I Recommend Read More »
Jim was my coworker. He and I worked together at Taco Bell. I was in high school. He was probably in his early 40s, a single dad of three kids. Serving late night burritos was just one of many jobs he had.
How My Taco Bell Coworker Helped Me Deal with Stress Read More »
I don’t often post videos of me performing because I don’t really love seeing myself on camera. I’ve got issues, ok? I know. But for the sake of leaning into my fears, here’s a video of me performing “Beyond the Sun.” Love, Aaron LYRICS: BEYOND THE SUN CLAIRE GUERRESO/AARON ESPE I WONDER WHAT
[Video] “Beyond the Sun” Read More »
Imagine you work construction, framing houses. But what you really want to do is play guitar and sing songs for people. You’ve just recorded your first album and are releasing it in two months. Of course you know your fingers are important, so you’re as careful as you can be around dangerous tools like, um,
I’m sitting in the living room watching TV when my phone starts buzzing. It’s YouTube notifications, comments on a video I had posted more than a year ago. Almost all are from viewers in Sweden who have just watched a Swedish TV documentary featuring a homeless singer.
Homeless Singer Moves Me to Tears Read More »
I wanted to form a choir to sing on one of my songs, but I wasn’t sure how to do it. Then it occurred to me that I could just ask my fanbase if they wanted to sing. And guess what? They did! People from all over the world signed up and I sent them
Creating a Digital Choir: How My Fans and Their Phones Made It Happen Read More »
After I’ve taken Silas to school, after I’ve talked with Heidi about the day, while August is still sleeping and Lorentz is eating, I walk to my studio in the backyard. Come walk with me (and see if I spill the coffee)….
Want to Walk Out to My Studio with Me? Read More »
Inspiration seems to hit at the worst times. You’re sitting there minding your own business, but then you have a thought and a feeling, and a moment to react before continuing to, let’s say, brush your teeth. For the past several years I’ve made a habit of at least trying to grab inspiration by its
The Infancy of My Most Popular Song Read More »
I bet you didn’t know that I created my first album artwork in Microsoft PowerPoint, did you? I bring this up to say I didn’t know what I was doing. I also didn’t have any money in my Wells Fargo checking account to hire a graphic designer. I did, though, have one of those old
That Time I Used PowerPoint to Design My First Album Cover Read More »