After updating my friend requests I decided to drop a note about what I'm up to. The most official version of what I am doing is being involved in the arts as an artist, but still largely flying under the radar. Mainly because of my lack of business work related to my art. I sort of stab at becoming more "professional" but am not all that motivated by what I see of the world of marketing and commerce. So what that really means is that I am kind of on hold with my band and the recording we had started. I need some more equipment and don't have the money for what I need so I'm kind of waiting for a solution to appear. I haven't felt much like writing either. In the meantime I have begun work with a drummer named Michael Vuckovac from Germany. He contacted me through good old myspace and I quite like his music, prog/metal but with good Genesis and King Crimson influences. Actually I've just sent him some work on one of his tracks. I'm hoping it is to his liking.
Besides that I play jazz with my brother and am happy to announce that he has been nominated for jazz artist of the year here in Omaha. I happily share a little of that spotlight being in his trio. I haven't been going out, which is partly how you get gigs but I am hoping to do more shows with him soon.
I had toured Europe earlier this year with Son Ambulance but the band has been on ice since we returned. It's possible I'll play with them again but the band has always existed at Joe's whim and whoever he feels like playing with at the time. That's totally cool with me.
I continue to occasionally collaborate with many different people. It looks like Cleemann (from Denmark) will be returning to the midwest next spring and I will again accompany him in concert. We will likely play a few different cities.
I should also mention that I am on the new Coyote Bones release "Niobrara". It just came out in October in a limited edition of 500 copies on purple vinyl. I love it!
In other news, I have also been working in independent film for the last two years and two have been released (well almost). I assembled and supervised the wardrobe for the film "April Showers" which is based on a true story about Columbine. It's available through online sources. The other film I worked as wardrobe assistant and supervisor on is called "Lovely Still". It has been shown at the Toronto film festival, in Brazil, Chicago and recently in Omaha. It will have a general theatrical release in the spring. I got to work with Academy Award winners Martin Landau and Ellen Burstyn as well as my friend the director and writer Nik Fackler. I've since worked as wardrobe assistant on another independent science fiction film ("The Scientist") yet to be released and acted as an extra in another film titled "Lucky". I have further film projects already pending as well. It sounds like a lot but I also work full time as a mental health specialist at a community based rehabilitation center. Life is interesting.

Been awhile since I posted any updates. Since finishing the European tour Son Ambulance has been pretty quiet so I am concentrating on my band right now. We have begun recording tracks for our debut album at my house. We went to a couple of different studios and we just can't afford it. Frankly, things are sounding just fine the way we are doing it. We (speaking on behalf of the band) very much want to release it on vinyl and as I write I should just say that it will be coming out in that format as well as the now conventional digital formats.
What inspires much of my writing is a longing that is always there, a knowing that cannot be fulfilled. A desire to create a space that feels right just for a few moments anyway. Do I wish for others to join me in this space? Absolutely. Otherwise I would just keep making music like I have all along, for myself. Will post something from the band here soon.

Besides music I have begun working in the film industry. You can now see two clips from the first film I worked on titled "Lovely, Still" on my main blog. The main actors are Academy Award winners Martin Landau and Ellen Burstyn. The film will be released at Christmas time. http://dereckhiggins.blogspot.com/

http://filminne.ning.com

View my page on Film Incentives for Nebraska

If you're not already familiar with the podcast Worlds of Wayne, now is the time. I am the featured guest on the latest installment, #85. Here's the link http://worldsofwayne.libsyn.com/

I've had a song called "For the Times" posted for a couple of months now that was a version done all by myself. The new version I've just uploaded features the Dereck Higgins Band. Pleae give us a listen.
Dereck Higgins - guitars, keyboards
Thomas Broniecki - guitar
Bill Eustice - bass
Gary Foster - drums
Also, I've started a blog at http://dereckhiggins.blogspot.com/

Last year I had the incredible opportuntiy to work on the production team of an independent feature film titled "April Showers". My job was wardobe supervisor and I helped create the look of the cast. This soon to be released film is based on true events related to the Columbine tragedy in 1999. Andrew Robinson, the director of the film is indeed a survivor of the event. From my initial reading of the script through to the completion of filming it was very clear that this whole project was and is about trying to heal, to connect and reconnect with others. I ask everyone who reads this to check out www.aprilshowersmovie.com/ and see the movie when it is released.

Here's a link to the Magnet article on Son Ambulance. http://www.magnetmagazine.com/2008/11/11/son-ambulance-grown-together/

The winter issue of the indie music magazine Magnet is out now. It features a nice article with picture about Son Ambulance. The accompanying photo was taken while we were in Chicago for a couple of shows. I recommend you pick up a copy of the magazine. Nick Cave is on the cover.

For the last year I have been collaborating long distance with a sound designer named Charles Goff III, based in Kansas City. The process was a bit involved and the resulting recordings are now available under the title "Elements of Stylus". It is available for free as an online release at http://www.archive.org/details/TheElementsOfStylus

The process was interesting and time consuming. Charles describes it well at the site mentioned above. Physical copies will be made available through myself and Charles soon. Please give it a listen. I am proud of the work we did.