LOG ENTRY 010
Welcome Aboard
Every expedition begins with a destination...
but it becomes unforgettable because of the people who choose to make the journey together.
If you've read the first ten Journals...Thank you. You've travelled with me through a few childhood memories. Forty years in the music industry. Unexpected twists. New beginnings. The moments that shaped not only my career, but the person I've become. But here's the thing...Those stories were never the destination. They were simply the route that brought us here. Because this is where the real journey begins.
When I first imagined Terra Nueva, I never saw it as a company. I didn't even see it as a project. I saw it as a place. Not a place on a map. A place where creative people could find one another. Where musicians could meet filmmakers. Where games developers could collaborate with artists. Where local businesses could support local talent. Where technology could amplify creativity rather than replace it. Where communities could feel proud of what they were building together. That vision hasn't changed.
If anything...It's become clearer.
One thing I've learned is that the most exciting opportunities rarely happen inside our own industries. They happen where different worlds collide. A conversation between a musician and a software developer. A filmmaker working alongside a games designer. A local café sponsoring a grassroots event. A student sharing an idea with someone who's spent decades in business. Innovation doesn't happen in isolation. It happens when people who would never normally meet...Suddenly do.
That's what I hope Terra Nueva becomes. A meeting place. A catalyst. A connector. Not because we have all the answers. But because we can help ask better questions. And introduce the right people to each other. Over the past few months, I've been incredibly fortunate to meet people who share that belief. People who care deeply about Dundee. People who believe that creativity can strengthen communities. People who understand that success is something to be shared, not protected. Their optimism has been infectious. It's reminded me why I started this journey in the first place.
Now I'd like to ask something of you. Not for investment. Not for sponsorship. Not even for support. I'd simply like to invite you into the conversation. Tell us what you're working on. Share your ideas. Celebrate someone else's success. Introduce two people who should know each other. Recommend a local venue. Champion a local business. Encourage a young musician. Promote an independent filmmaker. Support a games developer. Every community is built one connection at a time.
This is no longer my Journal.
From today...It's ours. Every week, I'll share what's happening behind the scenes. The progress. The setbacks. The wins. The lessons. The people I'm meeting. The projects we're building.
Some weeks there'll be exciting announcements. Other weeks, there'll simply be honest conversations about the realities of creating something from the ground up. I promise they'll always be genuine. Because that's all these Journals have ever tried to be.
People often ask me what success looks like. It's actually very simple. If, five years from now, someone says..."I met my business partner through Terra Nueva." Or...”Our band got its first opportunity because of Terra Nueva." Or..."Our film found an audience thanks to Terra Nueva." Or..."We discovered that Dundee was one of the most creative places in the UK."
Then I'll know we've achieved something worthwhile. Not because of one event. Not because of one business. Because of a community.
So...
Whether you're a musician. A filmmaker. A games developer. A photographer. A student. An entrepreneur. A venue owner. A local business. Or simply someone who believes that great things happen when good people work together... You're welcome here. This is your invitation.
Welcome aboard.
Let's see where this adventure takes us.
The journey continues... 🌍
Next Log: The First Week
Because every great adventure is written one week at a time.
Stu