A summary of 2025 is that it was very much a mixed bag of stuff being started and nothing being finished! On a positive note, I’ve managed to preserve most of my New Year’s Resolutions from this current year, for fresh execution in 2026!
Despite not actually getting anything finished in 2025, it’s been a great year for starting lots of new things! If everything goes to plan, some of these new seeds and ideas will come into fruition in 2026.
Without further ado, here are my plans for 2026!
Music
My main mission will be to get music finished and put out into the wild! – Also, as a good friend told me, “don’t worry if it’s not 100% finished or completely perfect. In reality, it’s probably never ever going to be either of those things, so just get it out there!” – With this in mind, I have a whole bunch of sci-fi instrumentals and short demos ready to go. I do need to find the originals to get them ready for release, which may take a while as they’re scattered across two old Mac computers with various unhelpful filenames, eg, the filenames rarely match the final name of the tracks, and there’s usually 4 different Logic files and versions of each track. Pedley the procrastinator is a prolific creator of unfinished music. The Gorgeous Creatures project with Nina is shaping up nicely, and we have a collection of new songs that are very nearly finished.
Videos
This year, I’ve had fun creating short little videos for some of my existing 120 Project and Gorgeous Creatures tracks. It’s been great to learn a bit more about Adobe Premiere, After Effects and video editing. Next year I’m hoping to do even more! I’ve also been utilising a bit of (the dreaded) AI to animate and enlarge images to use in my videos. Although it feels like I’m cheating, it’s probably only the same as using samples, sounds or presets created by other people in my music. I think the creative element is choosing how you bring all these things together, like a director or composer. In a perfect world, I’d have the time to create all my sounds and images from scratch, but with everything else going on, that’s unlikely to happen. I do think there’s a lot of positive creative uses of AI, but I do think AI is a real threat to all artists and musicians.
Social Media
Over the years, I’ve become totally obsessed with Social Media, and I think it’s an essential part of connecting to a potential audience – especially with the music. I can’t say I’ve been successful (so far). In fact, the opposite is true – But I’m enjoying trying and have set up new channels on Instagram, YouTube and TikTok to see what happens.
Sci-Fi
I love my sci-fi blogs, and I’m looking forward to creating more video content, more book and artist videos for This-Is-Cool. I’ve found this to be the perfect delivery system to send my electronic instrumentals to the unsuspecting public.
Web
The web moves at a crazy pace, and I do wonder how long I’ll be able to keep up with the changes (and the youngsters), but I’m hanging in there for now! – We’ve started work on a revamped Pedleyonline, so I’m hoping to get that up and running early in the new year. Even as an old dog, complaining about having to learn new tricks – I do still enjoy it. This year I’ve learnt some new CSS skills, utilising web animation and video on my websites. I do wonder how long, like my artist and musician friends, before I, too, will be replaced with an AI Web Designer.
Friends & Driving
Anyone who knows me will not be surprised that I haven’t been driving… they’ll also know that I rarely leave the house! – It’s not that I don’t like going out, but I absolutely love staying in! Having said that, I’m hoping to get my driving mojo back before I completely unlearn everything. I also need to connect to my Brighton, London and Essex-based friends (I do miss you!). In the event of me not getting down to visit, I’m going to be stalking you all with threats of FaceTime and WhatsApp video Calls.
F is for Fitness and Family
In 2026, I’m going to get reacquainted with my Apple Watch (nice to meet you, my fitness companion!) and start back on the treadmill and maybe (gulp) walking outside! – I’m also going to start using my new weight bench (thank you, Santa) and start doing some (very light) weights. I say this every year, but I WILL spend more time with my lovely family! (especially if they stay indoors!)
I’m pretty safe in the knowledge that I’m the only one who ever reads this! – My own private part of the World Wide Web!
Big love to anyone who gets to this bit, and Happy New Year!
