Time flies!

We started the Van Philosophy blog to satisfy our own curiosities about the world and to hopefully let a few people in to what's it like to be a modern musician touring on the road and now under quarantine restrictions. Since we've started we've had 50 articles. Here's a look back on some of our favorite entries from the last year.

#1 Long Trips, Broken Gear, FCC violations, Canceled Shows & Dan Akroyd's Vodka 

Neither of us are superstitious but the next Friday the 13th with a full moon in 2049 we might take the night off. 

We hit the road on Friday the 13th around 10 am from Atlanta to make our scheduled 6 pm load in Louisville, KY after finding out the venue had been double booked. Luckily this venue had another location across town so we still had a show (the show in Indianapolis the following night had been canceled weeks prior). We figured we had plenty of time... READ FULL ARTICLE

#10 Dealing With Death, Dealing With Life & Writing About It.

Kyle's Grandfather passed away last week so we've taken a little time off. The tour resumes this Friday and you can check out dates here: www.roshambeauxmusic.com/tour-dates. Here's Kyle's unedited thoughts: 

"No one deals with death the same way so it's hard to figure out the right way to do it. There's thousands of philosophies on what happens when we die but the only thing I know for sure is that you leave and people miss you. It's hard losing someone but I feel like I've lost a part of myself. I feel like I should know myself better and where I came from and now I can't. My grandfather was a great man.  A man who broke laws because he knew they were immoral. It's because of people like him I can drink from whatever water fountain I want and stay overnight in the next county over.  I'm a little... READ FULL ARTICLE

 

#13 Our Collection of Gibson Guitars & One of The Best Places to Buy Vinyl in Georgia!

We're total Gibson guitar nerds. They're the only guitars we record with and when he caught us eyeing the book he said we could have it. We laid down a few guitar tracks last week so it was cool to get to learn a little history on the guitars we have in the studio. A lot of you have been asking us what guitars we use when we record so here they are. 1958 Gibson 225 T... READ FULL ARTICLE

#21 Snowstorms, When Fans Choose Venues & 8 Things We Learned From The Bhagavad Gita.

This last week to stay awake we've been streaming readings from The Bhagavad Gita, an ancient but strangely practical guide to life according to Hindu theology. Neither of us are very religious and we hadn't been familiar with it. We were very surprised at how hard it hit us. Frankly, there were things we needed to hear, especially as musicians. We're excited to continue studying it. We are by no means, whatsoever, even suggesting that we are experts on any subject written in this book but here are a 8 things that we took from it so far... READ FULL ARTICLE

#39 8 Reasons Why Scientists Say You Should Start "Earthing"

We've all been cooped up for awhile now and while we know it certainly can have negative effects on the brain it can on the body as well. When you stay inside too much you start to feel "off." We always knew this in the back of our minds but over the past few months, being encouraged (and in some cases mandated) to stay at home, it's been way too easy to stay indoors. We figured the reason we feel like crap if we stay inside for too long was due to a lack of Vitamin D. While that may be the case, we found a collection of studies that suggest something else entirely. 

We have a Facebook group called RoshamFAM that's an open forum for ideas, art & projects (since we're always pushing ours). One of our fam shared these studies with us on from The Journal of Environmental and Public Health. Shout out to Cheryl. READ FULL ARTICLE

 

#43 Self Sufficiency: How To Make Soap & Laundry Detergent

Through the continued affects of pandemic life, we've found it really important to find ways to cut cost of living but still maintain a sense of normalcy. As musicians, we knew when we quit our "normal jobs," 10 years ago, we more than likely would have to find ways to make a lower income work for our lives and ensure our survival while we pursued our passion. Back then, we were able to make that decision and prepare our minds for that inevitability but we know a lot of people have been thrown into it with little or no choice because of Covid-19. Through these current trials we're reminded of what it's like to be a "starving artist" again. We imagine a lot of people outside of the entertainment industry do too... READ FULL ARTICLE

Van Philosophy Vlogcast Episode 19

Tonight we'll be chatting about some more about our favorite blog articles from this last year. Make sure you subscribe to our YouTube Channel and tune in at tonight @ 8:00pm/est (Wednesday 9/30/20) and tell us about one of the articles you enjoyed and your ideas for new ones! We started the live vlogcast of our Van Philosophy Vlog to recreate those late night miles, driving to next city after a show while out on tour, trying to keep each other awake. We're excited that, in a way, we're able to take you along with us. Get in the Van!

 

Special Thanks To Our Patrons on Patreon! 

As independent artists you can imagine it's not the most lucrative job in the world. So, if you enjoy what we do and it has value to you please consider donating just $1 per month to us on Patreon. It really helps. There's multiple tiers and our $5 per month subscribers get a special request cover music video made just for them every month. There's even a tier to get your own private living room performance every month! Thanks to every one that's already participating: 

Nancy B, Spencer R, Renee T, Steve B & Rachel E 

and to our one time donors this month: Jeff C, Nancy B, David M & Grass Cutters 

You are helping us continue to create music even though we're not able to be on the road this year due to Covid 19 and also helping us find new ways to reach more people online in ways we never would have thought of. Thanks for supporting us and showing you enjoy what we do. It means the world!

Join Patreon

Make A One Time (or reoccurring) Donation

This month, donations over $20 will receive a copy of our latest single "Maybe I Don't Have To," a copy of our latest EP "808s N Chill," and two high quality Roshambeaux face masks.

Shop Our Store

Check out or music and apparel stores! There's always new items coming out!

We've always been intrigued by video games, not just playing them but their history and how they affect society. We were a part of the first generation that grew up with them. It's crazy to see how they've become so integrated into society in such a short time. Even people that say, "I don't play video games," bide they're free time playing "Candy Crush," or take online quizzes to find out what kind of tree they are. It seems like they're everywhere now so we'd like to take a look at how they started, social problems, benefits and why we're so obsessed with them.

The First Video Games

Most people if they had to guess, would say the first video games came around in the 1970's with primitive electronic home and arcade systems like the Atari. While that was when they started becoming popular their origins actually go farther back.

The Cathode-Ray Tube Amusement Device.

The earliest video game device we could find was invented by Cornell physicist Thomas T Goldsmith Jr in 1947 called the cathode-ray tube amusement device.This device used an oscilloscope, a device that can graphically represent changes in voltage. The game itself used these "o-scopes" as they were called hooked up to analogue dials that would regulate and change voltage values. The o-scope would make an arc on the screen that would change positions based on where the dials were turned by the user.

This technology was previously used in early radar displays and was turned into a game by bored physicists where the beam now represented an imaginary artillery shell aimed at overplayed plastic targets. At the end of the beam's trajectory, the beam would defocus and blur looking like an explosion. Thus creating the first "3rd Person Shooter."

This repurposing and modification of military equipment led to other games like "Bertie The Brain," "OXO," a version of tic-tac-toe and "Tennis For Two," over the next several years by physicists that were supposed to be working on ways of furthering military intelligence and for the first time in human history someone, somewhere yelled, "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TWO DOING PLAYING VIDEO GAMES? YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE WORKING!!!"

From then on, we've been struggling to balance our moments of productivity and moments of recreation with electronic devices. However, this technology involving principles of analyzing voltage regulation lead to lots of other inventions including what today musicians call MIDI (musical instrument digital interface), a staple and almost a necessity in creating modern high quality recordings. So... we use it for work too...Mom.

Home Entertainment

It would be a few years until the rest of us would be able to enjoy this technology. In 1967, Ralph Baer and a team of developers working for Sanders Associates Inc invented a multiplayer video game system that could be hooked up to a home television screen called "The Brown Box." Baer licensed his invention to Magnavox who rebranded and sold the device as "The Odyssey" in 1972. The company made 28 games but the video game craze didn't quite catch on for a few years leading to console's decline and discontinuation. However, a few years later in 1975 it gave rise to the extremely successful home console and arcade company Atari, who essentially took their games and added slight variations. Magnavox sued Atari for copyright infringement and won over 100 million dollars. Since Atari was such a success both companies saw it fit to allow Atari to become an official Odyssey licensee over the next 20 years.

A New Art Form.

For itss already almost 30 year history, hardware and software were inherently linked. The games were the consoles and the consoles were the games. In 1979, Activision was the first company to arise as a software developer for games while not making any arcade or home entertainment systems of their own. This was the birth of an artistic revolution where today concept artists, script writers, voice actors, story directors and musicians have a new way to express their art and not have to know how oscilloscopes work.

Historic Mile Stones

1978- launch of "Space Invaders" arcade game

1980- Pac Man debuts in United States

1981- "Mario" character introduced in Nintendo's "Donkey Kong" game

1983- "Video Game Market Crash" (due to low quality, unregulated, unlicensed 3rd party games). Most video game companies went bankrupt.

1985- Nintendo releases 8bit graphic console NES

1989- Super Mario Bros, Legend of Zelda & Metroid

       -Gaming licensing & intellectual property regulations imposed by Nintendo
       - Nintendo releases handheld "Gameboy"

Hold My Beer, Nintendo!

After the video game crash Nintendo emerged with a new marketing plan for its 8-bit technology, marketing it as a toy not a video game. It seemed like no one would ever catch up or compete with there massive head start and virtual monopoly of the industry. 

That was the case until Sega, a company that appeared seemingly out of nowhere launched it's 16-bit (that's twice the bits!) full color console with it's iconic original character "Sonic The Hedgehog." At the time this was a huge technological leap in graphics and hardware capability. It would be like a car company coming out with a model that uses half the fuel,  goes twice as fast and sold for about the same price. This started a console war with the two companies essentially trying to "one up" each other over the next several years with other companies like Sony and Microsoft eventually joining the race and giving rise to a multitude of 3rd party developers that are still around today. It's due to this rivalry that video games keeps pushing the limits of computer  and graphic technology.

Violence in Video Games.

While it could be argued that the first violent video game was created in 1947 with physicist pretending to blow up imaginary airplanes with a rewired radar display most people point the finger at Sega with their 1990's releases of games like Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat. After several congressional hearings and debates on "Do video games make kids violent?" Sega instituted a game rating council called to provide a description of each games content. This eventually formed into today's game rating system overseen by ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board).

Do Video Games Make You Violent?

The short answer is no. There hasn't been any conclusive evidence that video games will make you violent (and people REALLY have tried). The studies conducted over the years have actually suggested the opposite as it seems to provide an outlet for violence that can be redirected into an object rather than another human being. Think of the person that gets mad and hits a punching bag at a gym for a few hours instead of their boss.

What we have to remember is that video games are art and art tends to mimic what society is doing. If we didn't have war, no one would make games like Call of Duty. It would be a foreign concept that wouldn't make sense. Art can and always will be offensive as long as there are offensive aspects in our society. It's a good thing when we get offended by offensive things. Daniel Tosh said it best, "If you don't like my jokes encourage society to make better choices and I'll adjust my material accordingly." Art is a mirror. If you don't like what you see you need to change what the mirror is reflecting. If you break the mirror, that thing you don't like about yourself will still be there. You'll just be less equipped to do something about it.

Do Games Make You Lazy?

Absolutely.  At least a lot of them have the potential to encourage it. Many of them (especially mobile games) are also designed to be addictive. These video games are based on the timeless psychology of "Action for Reward." You get a small amount of dopamine with every action. That's why it feels good to complete that level, defeat the the bad guy, put that puzzle piece right where it goes or get that colorful explosion when when you make a row of all gumdrops or candy canes (or however that last one works, we haven't played Candy Crush). It can become a problem just like anything that gives you a certain amount of dopamine for your choice to interact with it, like alcohol, dare-devil fishing or the worst one of all: social media. The WHO classified video game addiction as a mental illness in September 2019... but they also said it's a really great way to stop the spread of Covid 19 and maintain social connection in April 2020... so there's that.

What we need to remember is that it's OK to be lazy every once in a while. It's ok to disconnect from reality every once in awhile and let art take you away in an immersive experience. That's why we're musicians. We want to offer you a distraction every once is awhile. You shouldn't use someone else's art as an excuse to ignore your responsibilities entirely. You shouldn't use ANYTHING to ignore your responsibilities entirely. However, as artists we understand that it's are job to let you have a break for awhile, as often as your responsibilities allow.

Van Philosophy Live Volgcast Episode 18

Tonight we'll be chatting about our favorite games, our not so favorite games and why we're so fascinated by them. We try to be as intellectual as possible but at the same time we'll probably just act like a bunch of nerdy teenagers, lol. Make sure you subscribe to our YouTube Channel and tune in at 8:00pm/est, tonight Wednesday 9/23/20 and tell us about your experience with video games. We started the live vlogcast of our Van Philosophy Vlog to recreate those late night miles, driving to next city after a show while out on tour, trying to keep each other awake. We're excited that, in a way, we're able to take you along with us. Get in the Van!

Special Thanks To Our Patrons on Patreon! 

As independent artists you can imagine it's not the most lucrative job in the world. So, if you enjoy what we do and it has value to you please consider donating just $1 per month to us on Patreon. It really helps. There's multiple tiers and our $5 per month subscribers get a special request cover music video made just for them every month. There's even a tier to get your own private living room performance every month! Thanks to every one that's already participating:  

Nancy B, Spencer R, Renee T, Steve B & Rachel E  

and to our PayPal monthly donors: Jeff C, Nancy B & Grass Cutters  

You are helping us continue to create music even though we're not able to be on the road this year due to Covid 19 and also helping us find new ways to reach more people online in ways we never would have thought of. Thanks for supporting us and showing you enjoy what we do. It means the world!

 

All Photos By Roshambeaux
Additional Photo Credits

Cathode ray tube amusement device- US Patent 2455992
The Brown Box1967-1968-  National Museum of American History
The Sega Genesis- Popular Mechanics
 

 

 

 

Facebook issued some confusing statements last week about its most recent updates to its music policy taking effect on 10/01/2020. Here's what they said: 

Lots of musicians panicked reading these statements because they are so vague. It very much seems like Facebook is discouraging any content for the purpose of listening to music. It seemed like live concert streams, music videos, vlogs with music in them will be removed since they constitute a "listening experience" and possibly lead to musician accounts being throttled or deleted. 

Since the backlash of users and multiple publications, Facebook has clarified that these statements only apply to specific situations and have been their official policy since 2018. So here's a quick list of what Facebook says should and shouldn't be ok. 

What's Allowed: 

Music Videos 

Facebook has clarified that music videos will not be removed from it's platform as long as the upload contains video associated with the upload. 

Bands uploading videos from a concert or streaming a concert live. 

Facebook has clarified that showing clips from a concert is OK and even showing a concert in it's entirety is ok as long as there is video associated with it. Facebook has said that shorter videos are preferred. 

Solo performances 

It seems like Facebook will still allow solo and band performances of cover material for now. 

What's Not Allowed: 

Uploading a video with "background music" that you do not own or have permission to use. 

DJing music you do not own. 

Uploading songs or playlists that have no video or only a thumbnail image. 

Uploading prerecorded albums (without video). 

What's Hazy 

DJing Live 

Facebook has said it will allow live performances but since DJ's use tracks that have already been recorded and in many cases did not write or do not own, it leaves a gray area. Are DJ's performing covers or are they uploading prerecorded tracks? Since the the Covid 19 quarantine lots of DJ's have experienced issues with Facebook's algorithms and experiencing strikes on their accounts, removal of videos and in some cases having their accounts deleted. 

Music Videos As Playlists/Collection 

Facebook has stated that the more prerecorded tracks a video has on it, the more likely it will be "limited." Since music videos are considered ok but album uploads are not it leaves a little confusion as to what Facebook would do with a collection of music videos in one upload.

 

What We've Learned About Social Media As Content Creators

Each social media platform is meant to be used differently and has advantages and disadvantages depending on what type of content you're creating. This is what we've observed so far.

Instagram

Instagram favors good photography because it's about photography. Instagram pages tell stories through photos. Instagram is not meant for passing around information. It is only meant for showing the world what you're up to. There's no "Share" button instagram and there are no links to click on.

YouTube

Youtube is meant for video. It's also the second most used search engine coming in behind Google. It's platform handles video better than any other major social media network. Live streams perform better and videos are clearer as it supports higher bit rates. In addition, it utilizes licensing of content very efficiently, protects artists from piracy and ensures that owners of content receive credit and useful notifications on their creations if someone else uses it later on with or without permission.

Facebook

Facebook does a lot of things well and is a pretty good balance of photography and video but it favors sharing information. Facebook is meant for users to engage with each other and share content. We've found it's best for expressing ideas, discussing opinions and having conversations and it's algorithms seem to favor this as well. As artists we've noticed that viral posts on Facebook usually don't have much to do with our art and have more to do with our ideas. 

Spotify

Most people don't think of Spotify as "Social Media," but it very much checks the box for us as musicians. Spotify is only about music. While you can learn a little about the artist you're listening to directly on the platform (their current tour schedule, biography, social media links etc), those aspects are pretty limited but it's very valuable to create a "listening experience" for listeners and forge relationships between audio artists like musicians and podcasters with their listeners.

Patreon

Patreon is meant to share exclusive paid content. It's very valuable to content creators as it allows them to share extra content with their subscribers in exchange for their financial support. Patreon is a very big part of how musicians and other content creators are able to survive in the digital age when merchandise sales or content sponsorships are not always enough to keep them going.

Van Philosophy

We'll be going in to a little more detail on this tonight for our 17th Episode of Van Philosophy Live Vlogcast. We started this live podcast because we were always trying to find things to talk about to pass the late night miles after a show on the way to next city. Be sure to subscribe to our channel and tune in Wednesday 09/16/20 @ 8pm/est. We'd love to get your thoughts and hear what you've been up to. So, get in the van and let's keep each other awake.

Special Thanks To Our Patrons on Patreon!

As independent artists you can imagine it's not the most lucrative job in the world. So, if you enjoy what we do and it has value to you please consider donating just $1 per month to us on Patreon. It really helps. There's multiple tiers and our $5 per month subscribers get a special request cover music video made just for them every month. There's even a tier to get your own private living room performance every month! Thanks to every one that's already participating: 

Nancy B, Spencer R, Renee T, Steve B & Rachel E 

and to our PayPal monthly donors: Jeff C, Nancy B & Grass Cutters 

You are helping us continue to create music even though we're not able to be on the road this year due to Covid 19 and also helping us find new ways to reach more people online in ways we never would have thought of. Thanks for supporting us and showing you enjoy what we do. It means the world!

Roshambeaux Shop 

We know sometimes $10 bucks is just too much to spare. Believe us, we've been there. That's why for a very limited time our Live Acoustic EP, "Flat Tops & Wooden Boxes" is only $3.

And... For a limited time all of our premium tank tops are only $20!

 

 

 

(Throwback to recording "Flat Tops & Wooden Boxes" at The Maelstrom Studio)

A lot of people ask us if we're working on a full length new album and the truth is we always are. Even with our last album we had a few songs that we decided to save for a different project. We're always writing but it's a lot different from how we always imagined bands write albums.

Fall's almost here and we've noticed this is typically the time of year we put extra focus on songwriting. We're not really sure why. It might be a left over "Store-House" effect from our ancestors that needed to rack up on supplies before winter or maybe it's just a time to cool down and catch our breaths from a long hot summer. In any regard, we've been hitting the studio with brand new material a lot these past few weeks. We don't really have a cut and dry method to our process. It varies depending on the song. However, it usually starts with one of us having a very simple idea that sounds nothing like a song. So here's a few examples of what we've done in the past.

Na-na-na-ing

A lot of our songs come about with one of us scatting something that won't get out of our heads. Usually if there are any lyrics, they don't end up in the final cut. This is how "Hunting Grounds" was written. We were sitting in J's kitchen and J kept mumbling this riff to himself. "Hey, what if we made that a guitar riff in something?" Kyle picked up a guitar and followed along through the typical "No, it's more like this" and "Yeah, do that again." 

The next week Kyle came back with a notebook with just a few lines for a verse as we hit the road for the next stretch of the tour. We finished the lyrics late one night in our hotel room each throwing out lines. "Oh, ok and after that how about this?' We even kept the Na-na-na's in the song! You can listen to it HERE

Setting A "Scene"

A lot of times our songs aren't really inspired by anything musical. Sometimes it's just a feeling we can't shake whether it's a frustration or feeling really good for no apparent reason. One of us will say "It feels like I'm in this room, with these types of people etc." The other person might say, "Oh yeah? What's the girl in the back corner of the room wearing?" or "What color is the ceiling?" A lot of our songs come from painting a visual picture of a location, object or person and describing them. "Turn The Lights Up, " was written this way, so was "Got It."

Waking up with Lyrics

Every once in a while it seems like we're just given a song or at least part of a song in our sleep. With our song, "Neighbors" we released as a single earlier in 2020. J had been saying he had this idea for a song where the chorus went, "We don't care what the neighbors say." It went on for a few weeks. J would ask Kyle, "Hey man, do you have any ideas for that idea?"... "Not really, man. Every time I try I just come up with crap." A little more time went by, "Hey man, I can't get that thing outta my head. Any luck?" ... Same story.

Than one morning Kyle messaged J, "Hey lets get in the studio, I think I got a verse. I was literally dreaming and singing and woke up and wrote this down before I lost my twilight brain." We met up, left the 1st verse verbatim, wrote the second verse together (with some na-na-na-ing and scene setting), tightened up our ideas for the chorus and laid a few tracks down.

Leaving Room

There's a lot of other ways we right songs. Sometimes one of us might even have an entire song with all the music and lyrics ready for tracking but we make sure we leave room for the other person. The rule usually is: if you're the one playing it, you have final say the details of the part. That being said, sometimes J writes guitar parts and sometimes Kyle writes drum parts. We know the other person is there to lean on if we're having trouble and we trust the other person's ear enough to know that they'll take an idea we came up with and make it even better. We usually don't argue too much about things. If one person feels really strongly about a particular choice the other one typically doesn't. We'll say stuff like, "I could get on board as long as you're 100% that's right." or "I think this is why it won't work right there. Let's put it here instead." We feel like it's important to help each other create balance and if something doesn't work the other person is there to help make it fit.

 

Vlogcast is Back Tonight!

We've taking a few weeks off from streaming but we'll be back in full force tonight at 8:30/est! We've upgraded our camera and lighting and we think the set looks incredible! We had fun experimenting with moving the live Vlogcast to YouTube but we're going to move the broadcast back to Facebook for the time being. However, after each episode airs you'll be able to rewatch them on YouTube. Tonight, we'll get into our writing creative process in a little more detail and tell you about the new stuff we've been recording in the studio. We'll also be answering any questions you have about it so be sure to tune in and get in the chat. We absolutely love talking with y'all! As always, the Vlogcast isn't all about us so if you want to chat with us about your ideas, life or struggles hit us up! We love it when you do!

Special Thanks To Our Patrons!

As independent artists you can imagine it's not the most lucrative job in the world. So, if you enjoy what we do and it has value to you please consider donating just $1 per month to us on Patreon. It really helps. There's multiple tiers and our $5 per month subscribers get a special request cover music video made just for them every month. There's even a tier to get your own private living room performance every month! Thanks to every one that's already participating:

Nancy B, Spencer R, Renee T, Steve B & Rachel E

and to our PayPal monthly donors: Jeff C & Grass Cutters

You are helping us continue to create music even though we're not able to be on the road this year due to Covid 19 and also helping us find new ways to reach more people online in ways we never would have thought of. Thanks for supporting us and showing you enjoy what we do. It means the world!

(Click Image & Sign Up NOW)

 

Roshambeaux Shop

We know sometimes $10 bucks is just too much to spare. Believe us, we've been there. That's why for a very limited time our Live Acoustic EP, "Flat Tops & Wooden Boxes" is only $3.

Get Your Copy NOW for only $3

We've been taking a break from our Van Philosophy Live Vlogcast but we wanted to give you a quick update on what we've been up to and what's coming up behind the scenes with Roshambeaux. We're really excited!

Upgrades

We've been trying focus on ways we can create better content. Since we've had to take a break from touring this year due to Covid 19 restrictions we've pretty much been relying on our online content to keep us going. Neither of us were super savvy with the online content before the pandemic but it's been exciting to learn new ways of reaching people even though we can't be on a physical tour right now. We're SO grateful for our supporters on Patreon that are helping us continue and make improvements along the way! 

We'll be taking at least one more week off from Van Philosophy Live Vlogcast so we can wrap our brains around a few new pieces of tech for the main studio but we plan to return to normal streaming after Labor Day. J's been diving in head first into research and we're really excited to show you a few new things! We think it's gonna be awesome!

On top of a few upgrades to the main studio, Kyle's gotten a tune up to his home office as well so we're able to share ideas ahead of our studio days. So far, it's been a great blessing and has helped boost our turn around and prep for production on the new music we've been working on. Kyle's notoriously shy in the studio and be able to stay in recording mode at home has made studio days a lot easier.

 

Van Philosophy: Return To Facebook

We experimented with moving the last two Episodes of Van Philosophy  Live Vlogcast over to Youtube. Our plan now is to keep each episode on YouTube after they air but we'll record it live on Facebook. We won't be airing a new episode this week but you can watch previous episodes on Facebook (E1-13) and YouTube (E14-15).

New Music!

We've been getting asked when we'll release another full length album and we're excited to announce that we've been working on the next one! We have several songs finished and are working on a few more. Be sure to subscribe to our mailing list HERE so you can stay up to date on it's progress and of course, find us on your favorite social media site as well.

This year we've released two EPs. You can check out both of them below if you haven't gotten a chance.

Video

In addition to new music, we're focusing on making some new types of video content as well. Right now, as a perk for our "High Fiver" supporters ($5/month) on Patreon, we're doing exclusive monthly performance videos. Each month, our patrons make suggestions on what we should do next. It's been really fun to step outside of our comfort zones with the suggestions that have come in. Last month's video was a reimagining of Ted Nugent's "Stranglehold." We were super intimidated on making an attempt to cover such an iconic rock song but we think it turned out great! So, if you've been enjoying what we do and would like to see more, hop on over to Patreon and sign up. There are tons of other behind the scenes content and music as well.

patreon.com/Roshambeaux

Special Thanks To Our Patrons!

Steve B, Renne T, Spencer R, Nancy T & Rachel E on Patreon
And Jeff C & Grass Cutters for there monthly PayPal direct support!

We truly couldn't do this without you!

New Merch!

Last month we partnered with Store Frontier to help us keep our merch in stock. They do such an awesome job managing everything from orders, to shipping and customer service! We're really excited to be partnered with them! We have returns of some old classics and even a few brand new designs available right now. Be sure to check the store because we have a few new items we'll be releasing in the next few months!

 

By The Way...

If you're reading this we love you! You're why we're able to continue making music. See you soon!

Kyle & J

 

 

Awhile back, we were challenged to think of our "best self," and who that person is and what their typical day looks like. Anytime we find ourself not progressing we try to stop and ask ourselves, "What am I doing that's holding me back?" After all, the only one we're accountable for is ourselves. Life might deal blows and even tragedy but as creators we have to take responsibility for the worlds we create. It's easy to compare what we have to other people. "If I had what 'So-and-so has I'd have A, B or C." All to often we fail to realize that "So-and-so," probably has what they have because they made an effort to go get it and place themselves in a position to make it happen.

Even if someone wrongs us, it's a more efficient use of our time dusting ourselves off and moving on than sitting around and complaining. Imagine a cyclist in a race that falls off his bike. Instead of getting back on the road, he pulls off to the side and gathers the spectators and gives a seething speech on why his fall was not his fault. "They didn't pave the road properly here. My chain is dirty. The other racer cut me off! I could have come in first!" While all of these may in fact be true, it doesn't help him finish the race. He screams, "It's not fair!" He's totally right but the tragedy is that even if it was in fact out of his control, or worse, someone else's fault, it doesn't help him. It hurts him.

We feel more and more it's so easy to succumb to this mindset and it may even be warranted. This year especially has been rough and stressful. The music industry like so many others has come to a grinding halt and it's hard to stay positive when there's so much to complain about. The problem with this is that where we decide to put our focus ends up becoming a more vivid reality. Every single action we take starts with a thought, whether it's subconscious or meticulously planned for weeks. In short, when we focus on negative things, we do negative things. However, thankfully, the same is true of the opposite.

Neither of us are particularly religious but we always admired Creation stories. A being with only an idea says, "Let there be..." and it happens. We're not saying that this philosophy will yield a perfect existence like a lot of books suggest but we do feel that underneath the sentiment lies an inherent truth. If you only focus on falling off a bike you'll live your life with scabby knees. If you only focus on how messed up our political system is, it will never change. If you only focus on how much better your co-worker has it you won't ever get that promotion. It's because you're wasting time. You're wasting that thing inside you that wants to create something good.

You Have To Believe In Yourself

The only one that's in your way is you. We've learned this the hard way so many times and we're sure we're not done. As musicians, it's easy to buy into weird lies. "You have to be in the right place at the right time." As if serendipity is the only means of success. It's like saying, "The only way to start a business is to win the lottery." While this does happen (look up Baconaise), it's not normal. Cosmic cards don't have to line up just right for you to be happy and feel proud of what you're doing. Only you know what your dreams are. So, it's only up to you to go for them.

Successful Me

We'd like you to take a challenge with us. If you knew that you'd reached the pinnacle of a successful life, make a list of what the person looks like. What does that person do when they wake up? What kind of attitude does that person have? Here's a few of ours...

More often than not, the things we really want don't require a different life. They require a different attitude and perspective. Imagine what life could be like if we just said what we want for ourselves instead of focusing on what we don't want. We see a huge issue with polarization between people that have most things in common. Most people want to have enough food, peace, low crime, access to good healthcare, safety for our loved ones, a good place to sleep when it's cold and to belong even when we make mistakes. We argue tirelessly, behind keyboards that make us 10 feet taller than we are in person and no one ever actually says what they want. The next time you want to complain skip it and just say what you want. You probably won't be met with any opposition because you're creating something good from the very start of the conversation. In the words of Socrates, "Be kind for everyone you meet is fighting the hardest battle." If we hope to be heard, we must first find out what we have in common. If we all want the same things we have a better chance of getting them if we ACTUALLY focus on them.

Vlogcast Tonight!

We'll be talking more about our personal experiences on this topic tonight (WED 08/19/20) live on YouTube at 8pm/est. Be sure to subscribe HERE so you can tell us your thoughts in the live chat. If you can't make it, we'll leave it up on our channel so you can leave your thoughts in the comment section. We really like hearing from you, especially since we're not able to get back to normal touring just yet. See you tonight!

Special Thanks To Our Patrons!

Being independent musicians isn't always the most lucrative thing but we're able to keep going through the generous contributions from our Patrons at patreon.com/Roshambeaux. There's different tiers that include include exclusive content, music, videos, early access and one on one interaction starting at just $1/month. So, if you like what we do and find some value in it, please consider becoming a patron along side these awesome people below. It goes such a long way!

Rachel E, Nancy B, Spencer R, Steve B, Renee T

Additional Thanks To Our Site Donors

We're always trying to come up with new merchandise and music as often as we can. If you'd like to make sure you stay in the loop you can pledge a monthly donation at roshambeauxmusic.com/donate to make sure new paid content is sent sent directly to your email or home as soon as it's ready.

Thanks Jeff C & Grass Cutters for helping us to continue to create!

 

 

We've been diving into our own anxiety this week. This week's blog may be a little dark and heavy compared to some of our others, so if you just need some happier vibes right now go check out our other entries HERE. Otherwise, here's what we've been discovering in our own heads.

What is Anxiety?

Depending on where we looked, it seemed like there were a lot of different answers to what anxiety actually is (which doesn't help, lol). We think it's because it's hard to sum it up as just one thing. The AADA says there are 8 different kinds of anxiety disorders and it affects about 18% of our population. There's a wide range of how and why it affects people and to add insult to injury it's effects are usually along side an entire list of physical disorders from eating disorders, headaches, IBS to chronic back pain. We'll dive in a little more on our live vlogcast tonight (8/12/20) at 8pm but we encourage you to take a look at the ADAA's Facts & Statistics Page.

A lot of times when we look something up in the dictionary it feels like the denotation doesn't match  our connotation, meaning "It just doesn't describe how it makes us feel." The American Heritage Dictionary says that anxiety is, "A state of uneasiness and apprehension, as about future uncertainties," and to be "Eager, often agitated with desire." To us, both of these statements used in conjunction sums up how anxiety feels.

"I want to do this so bad but I just... can't."

It's awful feeling this way. As musicians, we often accept this state of being as normal. We call it "Stage Fright." You're so excited... You're so scared. It's like everything you want and need are on the other side of a brick wall and you have no idea how to climb it. You tell yourself you're being silly. Of course that brick wall is something you've just made up in your head. But it's like there's this voice that keep's saying, "It's real. You can't do this. You're going to fail." 

Because there are lots of different types of anxiety there isn't a one size fits all treatment. We can tell you what's worked for us in the past but if you feel like you need help with it, it's not a bad idea to tell your doctor about it. It's worth trying to understand what's getting in your way and how to overcome it.

1. We give ourselves a day.

It's so simple, yet it feels so hard to do. After all, if you take a day off aren't you being lazy? As ridiculous as that sounds that's often the reality of our mindset. What makes it almost tragic is that, if you don't let things rest you will get less things done and that alone can cause anxiety. Give your brain a break. Do something just for fun (even if it's taking a nap in a hammock). Joy is not meaningless. It's good for you. It's so much better to 'waste' a day with your friends or family than get 'caught up' if it's at the expense of your sense of well being.

In Roshambeaux, we both have days like that. Recording is like pulling teeth when that happens. We get all tense and weird. We make silly mistakes. And tell each other, "Yeah let's do another take... I'm ready to get this over with." We forget that you're doing something you love. It comes out in the take. The take sounds like it's anxious and you question your life. The result ends up in a "wasted day." What's always funny is that if we come back the next day fresh, we usually knock it out in one take.

2. Stop. Eating. Junk.

We know all about comfort food. We are not denying it's amazing. We think you're weird if you don't. However, it doesn't help with anxiety. It actually makes it worse. Anxiety is a tough battle all on its own but if you don't give your body what it needs to fight you not even giving yourself a chance. Eat green things that come out of the ground and eliminate as many steps from harvest to your mouth as possible. 

3. We Find something that helps us function.

Sometimes, we get nervous at the idea of taking things things habitually, even things like coffee. It plays into the "I need to do this on my own"  stubborn mentality. A lot of artists are like that. However we've found out if you don't take the first part of your day to make sure you feel good, you'll be struggling with it all day. There's a wide range of supplements and herbal remedies that we think work for us but we think it's equally important to find something fun to do that makes you sweat and loosen up. Even if you have "So much to do," take the time everyday to make sure you feel good, in a healthy way.

 

Talk It Out.

If you're dealing with anxiety, talk to someone about it. Just having someone there can make a huge difference. We all go through times where we need somebody to lean on. If you don't have anyone feel free to join us Wednesday night's for our live Vlogcast and become a part of our community. We're here for you. We also have a group on Facebook called RoshamFam, a safe place to talk about art, projects, ideas and life.

 

 

Vlogcast Tonight!

Last week we took a break from the vlog but we're back up this week on a new platform. If you've been following us for the past 14 weeks we've started a live Van Philosophy Vlogcast where we can interact with you once a week. It's totally unscripted and live. We really enjoy hearing your ideas, philosophies and what's going on with your week. This week we're moving the show over to Youtube. Don't forget to subscribe HERE so you don't miss it! We'll see you tonight Wednesday 8/5/20 at 8pm/est. Come hang out. When you do, leave a comment. We really like that!

New Apparel Store!

We've always struggled to keep merch in stock. We've been able to partner with our long trusted manufacturer to be able to manage our stock for us and get you more things on demand. Please check it out. We're so excited about a few new items and we think you'll enjoy them. We're planning on getting lots more this year so be sure to check in every once in awhile!

Special Thanks To Our Patrons & Subscribers! 

With no real timeline of when we'll be able to go back on tour due to the Covid 19 pandemic we rely on the generous contributions from people like you to ensure we can continue to create music, articles, vlogcasts and art. It's been a very tough year but we're able to keep our heads up thanks to these amazing people! We truly couldn't do this without you! Thank you SO much! 

Nancy B, Renee T, Shelly R & Steve B 

If you enjoy what we do and find even a little value in it, please consider becoming a patron at Patreon.com/Roshambeaux. Even just a $1 a month goes a really long way to ensure we can continue to create free content for you. There are multiple tiers with unique perks that aren't available anywhere else online starting at just $1 a month.

We'd Also Like To Thank Our Other Monthly Donors! 

Jeff C & Grass Cutters 

We're always trying to come out with new content, music and merchandise. Thanks to these people for ensuring that we're able to get new things out by with monthly pledges. If you'd like to join these folks in getting these new items automatically when they are available visit roshambeauxmusic.com/donate hit the donate button and make it a monthly donation.

 

Sensational!

What if we told you that the Government is in fact admittedly in possession of UFOs, there are thousands of people in Europe protesting mask mandates, a high profile astrophysicist briefed the The Pentagon on spaceships "not of this earth," element 115 might be able to produce forcefield technology and the CIA tested LSD on civilians? It sounds crazy. It sounds like either we're losing our minds because we've been in quarantine for too long or we're all in big trouble because the government is lying to us, doesn't it? The funny thing about all of this is: It's all true... and isn't that big of a big deal. 

Wait... What?

We love conspiracy theories. Just look at our artwork for our full length albums (which you can listen to on Spotify HERE). So, anytime we hear a good one, we like to check it out, stay up late and talk about it. Part of the reason we started "Van Philosophy" last year wasn't just to keep ourselves awake on a long drive to the next city on tour but because we want to have a "sibling-like" understanding of the world around us.

The word philosophy comes from a pairing of two Greek words: φιλέω (phileo) and σοφία (sophia). Sophia, simply means wisdom or understanding. Phileo means love but it's not as broad of a word as it is in English. You may have heard that "Philadelphia," is "The City of Brotherly Love." Brotherly love defines "phileo" to a native English speaker very well. If you have siblings (or close friends you consider family) think about how you love them. It's a lot different from the way you "love" a good meal, a sports team or sex (which are all different words in Greek). Phileo is the kind of love you reserve for someone you care about even when it's not easy. It's more or a sense of honor and obligation than it is a feeling. Although, it's not something you have to tip-toe around. If you're brother does something stupid, you call him out on it and hopefully he understands why. This is the type of love we want to have for learning. We question it when it doesn't make sense but we also stick up for it when it needs it.

The Best Lies Are Slivers of Truth.

As artists we tell lies so hopefully people know the truth. We create something artificial, whether out of paint, words or spaces between musical notes, so hopefully the observer or listener can find something real. However, it seems every time we look down at our phone there is someone telling us the truth so hopefully we'll be deceived. Here's a few examples of true statements said over the last week, that may get you to believe a lie if you're not careful.

1. "The US Government is in possession of UFOs from the 60s."

It's totally true. If we dig into protocols of classified and declassified information in the United States government we generally find that classified information tends to have a shelf life of about 60 years given its sensitivity. It's 2020 now, so lots of information from the 1950-1960s is becoming declassified. During those times, the United States was going through a lot: Hot wars with Korea, The Philippines & Vietnam, Cold ones with Russia and Cuba, rising tensions with a growing amount communist countries, the Space Race, a Civil Rights movement and trying to round up Nazi's that escaped from justice and offer a means of redemption to their scientists under Operation Paperclip.

With all this going on it would be extremely unlikely that the US Navy DIDN'T discover flying objects it was unfamiliar with. One might argue, they weren't doing their job very well if they didn't, as the US Navy's main mission is to keep wars far away from US soil. One also might argue that CIA wouldn't have been doing it's job if they hadn't studied, tested and even attempted to replicate what was found. 60 years later, the public is just starting to be able to review government intelligence from the time period. 

This doesn't mean that aliens don't exist. However, it's easy to think it's being suggested when someone asks, "Do you have UFOs," and the quick answer is, "Yes." Perhaps, the question, "Did you ever come across any technology you didn't immediately recognize during 3 wars, a conflict and a space race?" doesn't make good news stories or late night conversations. Connotation is everything.

2. "There are thousands of people protesting mask mandates in Germany."

This is totally true. However, the statement remains true if we find two thousand people that disagree with mask mandates out of Germany's population of almost 84 million people. When information is left out it creates a tunnel vision view of the world that can encourage irresponsibility. It creates false majority. Sensationalism distorts facts. 

3. "An Astrophysicist briefed the Pentagon on 'Off world vehicles not made on this earth.'"

Totally True! If you want to look up more about it his name is Eric Davis and was formerly a defense consultant for the US government. What was said in this meeting remains classified and more than likely will for another 60 years or so. Does this mean that the Pentagon found an alien spacecraft and needed an astrophysicist to confirm it? That's totally possible and we'd hope that's what they'd do if that were the case. However, it's very likely that the briefing was about how to determine what materials are native to our home planet, which one's are not and how an analysis of physics and aeronautics from an expert can determine whether a craft (whether real or theoretical) is air-worthy, space-worthy or both. Sure hope it's aliens though!

4. Element 115 may be the answer to 'Force Field' technology."

If you haven't watched "Bob Lazar- Area 51 & Flying Saucers" on Netflix you TOTALLY NEED TO CHECK THAT OUT! You also should not read the next paragraph or two until you've watched it so we don't spoil anything for you. That is, if you're into that sort of thing.

The statement about element 115 is true but printing it in news papers is not responsible journalism. While a few people claim that element 115 was discovered in the 1980s the majority of the the international physics & chemistry communities agree that element 115 (Moscovium) was first observed in 2003 in Russia by Russian and American scientists. We're not going to explain the finer details of particle acceleration (because honestly, there's a lot we don't really get) but this is an oversimplified explanation of how scientists discover new elements on the periodic table.

The numbers on the Periodic Table of Elements correspond with the element's atomic weight, or mass. The lightest known element Hydrogen (H) has an atomic weight of 1.008 and is 1st on the table. The heaviest known element Oganesson (Og) has an atomic weight of [294]ix which means it has no known stable nuclides (number of protons and neutrons) and its value indicates the mass number of it's longest lived isotope (chemical variant where the number of neutrons have changed in an element). It takes slot 118 on the table. 

How New Elements Are Observed.

While natural elements can just be observed with a really fancy microscope, synthetic elements need more of a process. New elements are typically discovered by adding the mass of two known elements together and seeing what happens. The problem with actually doing this is a principle called "electrostatic repulsion." Positively charged particles tend to not want to stick together just like two positive ends of magnets. 

If you have two positively charged magnets and you're strong enough, you can hold them together for a brief moment. The same can be done with atoms but because we can't get our hands around them and hold them together we fire them at each other as fast as we can and take a picture of what happens when they "touch." This moment in time is usually only -10 to the 20th power of a second: a RIDICULOUSLY short period of time.

When this happens, scientists get a snapshot of the element's properties and can make fairly accurate assumptions and predictions like atomic weight, melting point, group, density and electronegativity. What we have to remember is that ALL of that data is a prediction. So saying it's possible for a new element to have a unknown isotope that can do a specific thing is a true statement. We'll only know for sure if someone proves it, though.

5. "Masks don't protect you very well from Covid-19"

It's very true. It's generally true for most viruses. If someone is sick and you are wearing a mask it doesn't do much to protect you. However, it helps tremendously if someone is sick and wears a mask to help keep moisture from their mouth contained and reduces the airstream directed at other people. It's why your dentist wears a mask, so she doesn't spit in your mouth. With Covid-19 being a highly communicable, water transfered virus, masks do help but only if the people that actually have it wear one.

The reason why so many responsible people are urging that we all wear a mask in public is because a lot of people are asymptomatic, meaning they don't show symptoms. "I'm not sick," isn't a convincing argument unless you get a test showing negative results and proceed to live in a vacuum.

You Don't Have To Buy Ours But Please Wear A Mask

 

Right now, for every pair of Roshambeaux cloth face masks sold, we'll donate one to an essential worker until we run out. These people still have to deal with the public every day and we are very grateful for them. Without them our economy would fail and we want to do what we can to support them. This offer is exclusively available at roshambeauxmusic.com/donate We'll even throw in our new single and new EP for free when you donate $25 for a pair.

Moving To Youtube!

If you've been following us for the past 14 weeks we've started a live Van Philosophy Vlogcast where we can interact with you once a week. It's totally unscripted and live. We really enjoy hearing your ideas, philosophies and what's going on with your week. This week we're moving the show over to Youtube. Don't forget to subscribe HERE so you don't miss it! We'll see you tonight Wednesday 8/5/20 at 8pm/est. Come hang out. When you do, leave a comment. We really like that!

Special Thanks To Our Patrons & Subscribers!

With no real timeline of when we'll be able to go back on tour due to the Covid 19 pandemic we rely on the generous contributions from people like you to ensure we can continue to create music, articles, vlogcasts and art. It's been a very tough year but we're able to keep our heads up thanks to these amazing people! We truly couldn't do this without you! Thank you SO much! 

Nancy B, Renee T, Shelly R & Steve B 

If you enjoy what we do and find even a little value in it, please consider becoming a patron at Patreon.com/Roshambeaux. Even just a $1 a month goes a really long way to ensure we can continue to create free content for you. There are multiple tiers with unique perks that aren't available anywhere else online starting at just $1 a month.

 

We'd Also Like To Thank Our Other Monthly Donors!

Jeff C & Grass Cutters

We're always trying to come out with new content, music and merchandise. Thanks to these people for ensuring that we're able to get new things out by with monthly pledges. If you'd like to join these folks in getting these new items automatically when they are available visit roshambeauxmusic.com/donate hit the donate button and make it a monthly donation.

 

 

All photos by Roshambeaux
Additional Photo Credits

Stock Static TV- motionaray.com
Plato- CS Online
UFOs- cia.gov
German Protesters- dw.com
Eric Davis- Astrophysicist- Research Gate
Moscovium- Encyclopedia Britannica
CERNs Collider of the Future- Sputnik News

 

 

Through the continued affects of pandemic life, we've found it really important to find ways to cut cost of living but still maintain a sense of normalcy. As musicians, we knew when we quit our "normal jobs," 10 years ago, we more than likely would have to find ways to make a lower income work for our lives and ensure our survival while we pursued our passion. Back then, we were able to make that decision and prepare our minds for that inevitability but we know a lot of people have been thrown into it with little or no choice because of Covid-19. Through these current trials we're reminded of what it's like to be a "starving artist" again. We imagine a lot of people outside of the entertainment industry do too. Back then, we quit smoking and learned how to make e-cig coils and vape juice from scratch (It easily saved us $200/month). We've kicked vaping as well and this time we're focusing on healthier ways to cut cost. Honestly, it's not just about saving a little more money during these hard times. We feel that crafting allows you to put a little bit of your soul into something useful. It's meaningful. It's good for you. We think if you can find a way to make art, you should, anyway you can.

How To Make Laundry Detergent

It's not something you think about very often but laundry detergent can be ridiculously expensive, especially considering what's actually in it. In the United States, consumers spend, on average, $15-25 once or twice a month on laundry detergent which can equal to anywhere from $180-$600 per year. 

With the list of ingredients below you can save anywhere from $148 to $564 per year! On top of that, you won't be at the mercy of what detergent companies think smells good. We'll give you the average price of these these ingredients and break down the cost of a 60 load container below and show you how to make your own.

Ingredients

1.5 cups Washing Soda ($4.12 for 55oz, cost per 60 loads: $0.91)

1.5 cups Baking Soda ($0.52 for 16oz, cost per 60 loads: $0.39)

.5 cups Epsom salts ($4.87 for 3lbs, cost per 60 loads: $0.40)

.25 cups Himalayan Pink Salt ($7.77 for 2lbs, cost per 60 loads $0.97)

Optional- 30-40 drops of Essential Oils ($6 for 1oz, cost per 60 loads $0.36)

Steps

Mix all dry ingredients

Add essential oils (optional)

Makes 3.75 cups- Use one heaping tablespoon per medium size load.
Each batch makes about 60 loads and costs about $2.67 (round up closer to $3 if scented)

*We found this works best with standard top loading washing machines adding detergent while the water is filling and then add your clothes. If you're wondering about the pros and cons of liquid or dry laundry detergents we found a good article HERE

Making Bar Soap

This process is a little more labor intensive and requires a good set of goggles and rubber gloves but has similar annual savings. This recipe makes about 3lbs of soap that's great for cleaning your hands and body.

Ingredients

Lye Solution

7.2oz Food Grade Lye

15oz Distilled Water

Oil Mixture

 15oz Coconut Oil 

 15oz Olive Oil 

 12oz Sweet Almond Oil 

 6oz Shea Butter 

 1.5oz Castor Oil 

It's best to use a kitchen scale to measure your ingredients. The closer you get to the exact amounts, the better your soap will be.  

Tools

A large crockpot 

 A digital kitchen scale 

 Safety glasses and plastic gloves 

Heat proof containers- like Pyrex

A hand blender 

 A soap mold

Set Up

1. Set Crock Pot To LOW

2. Measure your oils & solids and add to the crock pot 

3. Get the lye solution going while the oils are melting.

IMPORTANT!  ALWAYS MEASURE OUT THE WATER FIRST.  THEN THE LYE.  Never add the water to the lye because you may end up with a volcano. Lye can burn you so be sure to wear goggles, gloves and use a heat safe container like pyrex. Let the lye solution sit for a few minutes while oils are melting down.

4. Pour Lye Solution into Oil Solution, gently.

5 Mix & "Trace"

Get your stick blender and begin to stir.  BE SURE TO WEAR YOUR SAFETY GLOVES & GLASSES!  The lye solution is caustic, and the soap mixture will be caustic until the lye is completely cooked out. Stir until the mixture reaches "trace."  This means it looks like thick pudding, leaving hills on the surface. At this point you can add coloring if you like. You should stir until all is evenly mixed. Make sure there are no clumps.

6. Cook

Put the lid on the crock pot and cook for 45min to an hour

7. Stir... A LOT!

In the beginning, you will see the cooking mixture rise up the sides of the crockpot.  If everything is REALLY hot, the whole mass will rise. Don't worry, just stir it until it calms back down and continue cooking.  If you see any opaque areas at all, the soap is NOT ready.

8. Continue cooking and stirring.

You will see it turn into a translucent mass with a gel like consistency.  At this point, it is done. It takes about 45min to an hour. It's best to leave in a little longer just to make sure the lye is completely gone.

How To Test To Make Sure It's Done Cooking...

pH Test
Use a pH strip. It should be around 5.5

ZAP Test
Soap should feel waxy in your fingers and cool quickly. Take a small amount of soap and put it to the tip of your tongue. If it "zaps" you, it's not done. Soap that is done tastes like soap and doesn't tingle. If it looks wrong, it probably is.

9. Add Essential Oils
While the soap is still in the crockpot, turn the crock pot off.  Let it cool for a minute or two and add your essential oils or scents if you'd like. 2-3oz is about the sweet spot for a 3 pounds depending on how fragrant you like your soap.

10. Mold

Put the soap in a soap mold. Be sure to tamp down any air pockets.

Let the soap cool overnight. The longer you leave it, the longer the scent will last. Remove from the mold and cut into desired shapes.

VLOGCAST TONIGHT

We go live on Facebook every Wednesday @ 8pm/est. Come hang out with us tonight and make sure you get in the chat. We really like that!

Special Thanks To Our Patrons On Patreon!

With no real timeline of when we'll be able to go back on tour due to the Covid 19 pandemic we rely on the generous contributions from people like you to ensure we can continue to create music, articles, vlogcasts and art. It's been a very tough year but we're able to keep our heads up thanks to these amazing people! We truly couldn't do this without you! Thank you SO much! 

Nancy B, Renee T, Shelly R & Steve B  

If you enjoy what we do and find even a little value in it, please consider becoming a patron at Patreon.com/Roshambeaux. Even just a $1 a month goes a really long way to ensure we can continue to create free content for you. There are multiple tiers with unique perks that aren't available anywhere else online starting at just $1 a month.

 

Special Thanks To Our Monthly Site Supporters!

We try to offer as many cool new merch items and fresh music as often as we can. Special Thanks to our new supporters from last week: Robin L, Tracey P, Jeff C & Grass Cutters! Y'all rock! If you'd like to make sure you always keep up with our merch and music tiers you can pledge a monthly donation to make sure you get new music when it comes out.

Special Thanks to Jeff C & Grass Cutters for helping us continue making music with your monthly support!

 

 

NEW MERCH!

It's always been a struggle for us to keep merch in stock, especially when we're on tour. We're excited to say we've partnered with Store Frontier so we can keep things in stock for you!
 

Store Frontier is powered by Terminus Tees who we've trusted for over 10 years to bring you the highest quality apparel. They have an awesome customer service team and fast shipping! We've brought back a few of our favorite designs as well as some brand new ones! We have multiple color options, guy tees, girl tees, unisex tanks, face masks, v-necks and even options for kids! Sizes S-3XL. Tell us which one's you'll be getting in the comments below!

LIVE Vlogcast Tonight!

We took a break last week from our weekly live Vlogcast last week so we could prep for getting these new merch items set up. We're getting back to it tonight WED 7/22/2020 at 8pm/est live on Facebook. Tune in and get in the chat. We really like it when you do!

Special Thanks To Our Patrons On Patreon!

With no real timeline of when we'll be able to go back on tour due to the Covid 19 pandemic we rely on the generous contributions from people like you to ensure we can continue to create music, articles, vlogcasts and art. It's been a very tough year but we're able to keep our heads up thanks to these amazing people! We truly couldn't do this without you! Thank you SO much!

Nancy B, Renee T, Shelly R & Steve B

If you enjoy what we do and find even a little value in it, please consider becoming a patron at Patreon.com/Roshambeaux. Even just a $1 a month goes a really long way to ensure we can continue to create free content for you. There are multiple tiers with unique perks that aren't available anywhere else online starting at just $1 a month.