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Sunshine and Celery Stalks - LIVE Acoustic Cover by MandoPony (10,000 Sub Special)
It's only been about six months since I've joined YouTube and the brony music scene. I'm just winging it at this point -- doing whatever I think is fun, or whatever I think people will like. So far I've been really lucky. Most of you guys really seem to enjoy what I do, and I can't help but feel so blessed to have found such an amazing community. Truly this show is more than just another cartoon; it's a safe haven for like-minds and kindred spirits. We come together to share art, music, writing, stories, friendships, lives, and more. It's astounding.
One of the very first examples of the art I found produced by these amazing bronies was a song called "Sunshine and Celery Stalks" by PinkiePieSwear. I instantly fell in love with its catchy beat and chill vibe. Underneath the brilliantly mixed lyrics and beautifully composed melody, I heard something that really spoke to me. I don't know why, but I still get chills when I hear that song -- it represents so much to me. I listened to it over and over again when I first joined the brony community and as I browsed the fan art. As I explored this new world, it was my soundtrack, and I've never forgotten that.
The song takes me back to a very important time in my life -- a very hard time, but a very good time -- a turning point. As I struggled with my family to survive after losing almost everything and having to move back into my grandmother's house, living off of unemployment for almost 2 years, I found a lack of motivation to keep going. I had a tiny netbook, my mandolin, 2 guitars, some clothes, and a Nintendo DS when we moved. Everything else had to be kept in storage back where we used to live in New Hampshire.
I didn't think anything good could ever happen again. After my father's second heart attack the year previously, I just felt like my family couldn't catch a break. So many bad things happened all at once. Losing our jobs, losing our house (we were renting), having to move (for the 20th time or so in my life), and having to start over with nothing. It felt like happiness was impossible to grasp.
Then, last September, my life literally changed. I found My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. It gave me something to enjoy and delve into. It took my mind off of the really bad problems and stress going on in my life at the time. It just plain made me happy. I was inspired to write some music and give the characters themes, because I just loved them so much.
I had previously installed an old version of Cubase on that netbook, and although it JUST barely ran the software, it worked. I made a chiptune version of the theme song, and started writing some game-inspired themes for the main characters. A friend introduced me to EqD and said I should send them in. So, I made a YouTube channel, quickly called it "MandoPony" (a mashup of Mandolin and Pony, and also an homage to an old online alias of mine "MandoAndy"), and that was that. After exporting the MP3s, I put them into Windows Movie Maker, made some quick vids, uploaded 'em (took a few hours because our connection was so slow), and then sent them to EqD.
Luckily, Seth decided to post them. I started getting some followers. I made more and more. Seth posted more. I'll always be grateful for that.
I got a local job gigging at a restaurant in the town where we were temporarily living, and saved up my money. Also, my old video, a cover of the song "In My Life", was discovered by a New York ad agency, and I was paid some good money to travel back up there and record it for them. Using the money I had saved, I got this laptop and some mediocre recording equipment. I started making more music and uploading it, and I got more followers... and I met AcousticBrony, as well as RobBob -- a total of 3 guys who are now almost more than brothers to me.
The rest is recent history.
I started getting noticed... started doing collabs... was interviewed by EverFreeRadio, and subsequently hired not long after ... got amazing opportunities to interview other musicians and cast/staff of MLP... got connected with Michelle Creber and her amazing family, and started getting some "professional" work as a studio musician. Now my career is pretty much laid out in front of me.
It's all thanks to those colorful ponies who picked me up at my lowest moment, and inspired me to make music again for the first time in over a year.
It's amazing where hope comes from. Most of the time, it's from the most unlikely of places. Sometimes it's from friends, sometimes it's from family, sometimes it's from a stranger who makes amazing characters whom fill you with happiness when you hear of their stories.
I'm not sure what I'm trying to say... except that I'm thankful. So thankful for this show. For its crew. For the bronies. For you. For Equestria.
