Peach on a beach is Larry Peach

 

They say you are never too old to try new things. 

During the fall of 2022, I will be launching Peach on a beach - a new music project that began during the pandemic. 

I invite you to join me on a musical journey, where for starters, I will be exploring a world of 80s and 90s nostalgia.

Now in my early 50s, the stability of my career and the soul-searching journey of the pandemic created the ideal opportunity to purchase a synthesizer/drum machine and DAW and get serious about making electronic music. 

Inspired and influenced by 80s new wave and hip hop, 90s dance and downtempo, I have created 15 original demos since dabbling with making original music over the last year.

In May 2022, I recorded my debut single "Beeping and Bleeping", mastered in a local studio by industry professional Paul Morris of The Music Box. 

"Beeping and Bleeping" is a hip hop track about my experience as a young teen partaking in the first generation of kids who enjoyed playing stand-alone video games in arcades. 

The lyrics recall the iconic early 1980s video games, and the nostalgic vibe of the song naturally lends itself in making a captivating video. 

The single and video will be released in late September. Below is a little teaser:

Visit my new Facebook page for some behind-the-scenes images from the video shoot. 

So, follow along as Larry Peach, aka the tourism manager for the Municipality of Clare also becomes Peach on a beach.

Peach on a beach (Larry Peach) is a late-blooming, emerging singer-songwriter and synth player creating nostalgic music. 

Last minute pivot: favourite 100 music videos

I was inspired to inventory my favourite 100 music videos for two main reasons: 

1) the epic nostalgia experienced while currently binging on The Goldbergs (Thanks to Patrick Carr for the heads-up), and 2) Lee Turner's and Richard Cross' top 10 music videos shared on Facebook this past fall.   

Growing up in the suburbs of Nova Scotia, I was a hopeless music video junkie. Starting in junior high during the early 80s, we watched Switchback with Stan the Man and that cool ASN program on Saturday nights, Atlantic Canada's Choice. On high school weekdays before supper we turned on CBC's Video Hits with Samantha Taylor, and on weekends, Good Rockin' Tonight hosted by Terry David Mulligan and eventually Stu Jeffries. For the night owl, the U.S.-based Friday Night Videos kept us entertained. 

The best part was also the worst: having to wait then hope your favourite song made the cut. Yet all those countless hours binging on video shows as a teen has prepared me for this moment. Now I am ready for a deep dive into the vast reservoir of memorable videos, many forever etched in my psyche.

This exercise will not only feature the usual suspects that you can easily find on a Rolling Stone webpage; I plan to sprinkle in a few cult faves, forgotten classics and hidden gems, too! 

The selection process will be happening over the next couple of weeks, as I watch, mull and organize over 200+ videos into a top 100 format. 

The assembly is a consolidation of many methods:

• Memory recall
• Online and magazine lists
• You Tube rabbit holes
• Previous lists including my own charts from the 80s
• My CD + MP3 collections
• Researching new bands 

Once satisfied with my rankings, I will aim to post one daily, starting with #100. Each post will feature a YouTube link, along with some commentary explaining why it deserves to make the cut. 

Although the 80s may have been the halcyon days of music videos, let's not forget about the passion and the polish from some of those shot during the 90s and 00s. Even a few more recent videos will also make the cut. 

Hope you enjoy the ride!