Evolution of a full-length number two (possible live tracks too?)

LATEST NEWS: On the home front - (NOTE: The next few sentences relate to my 24-track at home and NOT StudioBallistico.) I am about to finish the keyboard parts for song 8 (roughly titled "Tricky Fingers" because it was a bitch to learn!) Songs 1 through 7's keyboard parts are done. Some of the drum tracks are also complete. My goal is to have 10 brand spankin' new songs (all tracks [keys, drums and all vocals/lyrics] completed by mid February (by "brand new" I'm talkin' "NOT including 'Feel No Evil' songs". The 5 from that EP will stay on that EP).


Now it get's REALLY exciting!! Ready?


I never actually planned on recording live with the guys I record with in the studio, but it is looking more and more like we will this March. The funny thing is - it will be "live" in the studio! (sorry to disappoint some. No live shows just yet). This "live" thing is in the fetal stages now. What I would like to do is record perhaps 3 or 4 older songs "live" in the studio and add them to the future full-length. I mean we're talkin' a possible grand total of 14 friggin' songs here folks! No lie! Not sure which 3 or 4 songs just yet (perhaps "Forever Today", "Trouble Free", "Sparkle and Shine" and "Burning"? That all depends if Erik [bass] and Dave [guitar] can have a spare bass/guitar on the side when the "tune-down" sections hit.) No tricks here. I want as little editing done as possible. That is how I have always been. When I record a keyboard part I make damn sure I truly can play through it in the most polished way possible (as if I were going to play it live the next day) prior to actually recording it. So "live" will be "live" in the sense of  "no bullshit - I'm talkin' like: "We can play these songs 'live' if we had to without a hitch." No manipulation (editing, correcting notes, blah, blah, blee) to the tracks. On top of that will be an HD video of the whole shebang! This will be our debut on YouTube and anywhere else for that matter. I am not messing around here!


Not sure when this full-length will be ready for the outside world (guessing September 2010? May put the live stuff out a lot sooner.)


So keep an eye, ear and sixth sense peeled because here we come! :~)


Ian

India and its influence

It comes as no surprise that I found myself in India last month. Ever since I was a teen I was drawn to its people and its music. I won't delve into the trip itself. I'd rather write about how my 21- day adventure influenced my approach to music.

I heard a lot of Indian music while I was there. Most of the music was Indian pop, but every so often some Indian classical influence emerged.

Other than the fact that The Beatles were heavily influenced by it in the late 60's thanks to master sitar player Ravi Shankar (Amazingly, Ravi Shankar turns 90 this April 7th and he is still jammin'!), I honestly know very little about Indian music.

I took some incredible courses when studying at The American Conservatory of Music in Chicago (African Drumming with a Ethiopian tribe leader) and at Elmhurst College (World Music), yet nothing compared to watching a performance live in its native country.

I certainly know that Indian music has a profound affect on my emotions. No doubt there is something going on here on a much deeper level. Incorporating it into my songs comes naturally. I have been incorporating it into my music long before I went to India. ("Forever Today", "Trouble Free" and "Stargazer" definitely have this influence).

Currently I have a couple of new, Indian influenced songs on my future full-length release (postponed until the summer of 2010).

My Indian experience was amazing! I plan to share it with you through my music in the years to come. World music has always influenced me and the more I delve into it the more it is reflected in my music. So keep an ear out the next time you listen and let me know how my music influences you and what influences to hear! I would love to know! And, please - if you have any world music suggestions please share!

Next EP is slowly becoming next full - length CD!

Things are really coming together these days! I was planning on having a 3 song EP recorded in January 2010. Much to my surprise, it looks as though I am well on the way to creating a brand new full - length album! Six new songs are currently on the menu three of which came to life in the last two weeks! One of the six songs is over ten minutes in length! Prior to leaving to India for three weeks in December, I wouldn't be surprised to see a few more tunes pop out of nowhere.

Recording times for this next full - length (yeah, that's right - I am already calling it a full - length), may have to be pushed back. In the event this occurs I am looking at a possible late spring/early summer release in 2010.

Musician's will once again include Erik Swanson (bass) and Dave Bowers (guitar). Tim Sandusky will, once again, pour his heart and soul into the sound engineering process and co-producing. Tim may even add some more Maui Xaphoon as well! Depending on the circumstances this winter I may consider adding some other musician's as well.

I haven't forgot about the Yellowstone sounds I recorded back in September 2009. I will be adding some of these samples to one or more of my upcoming songs. Keep an ear peeled!

New Music Seminar, Chicago, IL 10/6/2009

I didn’t know what to expect from the New Music Seminar on October 6th so I went with an open mind and open ears. With badge in hand, I found a seat directly in the thick of it all. In a strange twist of irony, I happened to have a job interview earlier that same day. Because of that, 4 p.m. was the earliest I could get there. It didn't matter. The important thing was that I showed up! What a thrill! These few words are all that is necessary to describe my adventures when I walked through the front doors of the Park West situated just north of the loop in downtown Chicago.


Right out of the gate I found a comfy seat. I caught the tail end of the panel called the " The Creative Process and Radical Differentiation". Despite the fact that it was nearly over by the time I got in, I still absorbed a lot from it! The next panel, " Your Live Show & Tour: Simple Steps to Cut Through the Glut & Reach the Magic 300 Ticket Mark" began. The panel members, Martin Atkins, Tour:Smart; Invisible Records, Joe Carsello, The Metro (prominent Chicago club), and others, took the stage. Two large video screens mounted on either side of the stage began to fill up with messages sent from audience members’ cell phones in the wireless abyss. Tom Silverman (Tommy Boy Entertainment and a whole slew of other music business related careers) gave his final words including a proverb from a prominent Native American, which was very moving. The New Music Seminar wrapped up as neatly as it unfolded.

After the panels ended, the lights came up and room became a Schmooza-torium (yes, that’s what they called it). New contacts and friends were soon made by attendees and panel member alike. I recognized a few faces. CyberPR founder and social networking/PR master Ariel Hyatt was someone I was curious to meet. I read her "Music Success in Nine Weeks", watched her YouTube interviews with guys like Derek Sivers (founder of CD Baby and an old high school acquaintance), and admired her aggressive, yet honest approach to helping Indie musician's get their names out there.

I recognized Ariel from across the room and knew that it was now or never. I had to meet her! This was it! I had to overpower the music on stage to grab her attention. I called her name and she immediately turned and smiled. She greeted me with a kind hello and I introduced myself. Just to point out how kind she is, she immediately grabbed her camera and took a picture of us!

Unfortunately, there was just too much going on at the time to actually have a conversation. Ariel was surrounded by names like Michael Spiegelman (head of Yahoo! Music), Lou Plaia (co-founder of ReverbNation), and the list went on and on! I respected her space and moved on to talk with local artists . I hope one day to get another chance to talk to her in person. I wasn't looking for a PR person at the time (however things will be changing in the months to come). But I am definitely considering approaching Ariel simply based on the great energy and positive attitude I felt from her.

Simply put, I appreciate and respect those out there who are helping sculpt the new music business and supporting independent musicians like me. I want to thank the organizers of the NMS. I hope they have this even next year (and I plan not to have a job interview on the same day). And a huge thanks to Ariel for coming to Chicago and for her efforts in propelling indie musicans to new heights!

If you’d like to learn about the NMS, please visit this link.

And if you’d like to learn about Ariel Hyatt and her Cyber PR services, please visit this link.

Did you attend the New Music Seminar in Chicago? If so, let me know what you thought. Would you go again next year?

The sounds of Yellowstone to be added to next EP

A 10 - day adventure now in the past; my wife and my trip to Yellowstone National Park was full of wonderful memories and amazing sounds!

No need to explain everything in detail. It is the sounds that I would like to further elaborate upon. From the endless, random splash of the Clepsydra geyser off the Fountian Paint Pot Trail to the tumultuous waters of the hot spring Dragon's Mouth in the Mud Volcano Area, Yellowstone earns its star on the map!


This is where my iPhone's "Voice Memo" app really was of tremendous help! With cupped hands around the iPhone, I was able to block most of the relentless wind allowing play by play action of all thermal action that lay before me (please select links above to listen to the end result!).



My next plan is to seamlessly and selectively sneak some of these captured sounds into the background of a song or two on my next three song EP. Keep your ears and mind open when listening to these three songs when released in March 2010!!!

What's goin' on....

Working on an intro to my latest 5/4 - 4/4 tune (no title as of yet). I finally finished the bastard last night (drum and keyboard tracks so far). It was one of those 5 day rehearsals (~ an hour a day) for just one 1 - minute intro. All piano (Kurzweil's PC1x' Grand Piano sample was the final selection), this time with some bizarre-ass background sound I also found on the PC1x, but this time off of the vintage chip. It is quite a menacing tone to say the least! I like to plop good tones/happy melodies with scary/combative underlying layers at times - creates tension. It makes you squirm for the duration - making your subconscious mind wriggle and pray for resolution! :~)

Once I snap this aforementioned juxtaposed set of melodies into the correct location on my Tascam I will have completed 3 new songs (keyboard tracks for the most part), and will move on to the Vdrums for all rhythm/beat tracks. The 5/4 tune was based off a beat, so, for the most part, this song is almost ready for phase 3: Vocals.

Yes, only 3 songs for the 2010 EP. I could blame it on the economy, so I will. The economy is just preventing me from creating another full -length (would have written 6 new songs to add to the 5 - song EP "Feel No Evil" I released back in April 2009. But no!! Economy issues! Enough said.

At this point in time I am not certain who will be accompanying me to the studio and what studio this will be recorded in as, again - the economy is predicting my fate at this point in time.

My wonderfully talented wife and I are off to Yellowstone, WY soon (road trip!!) and we just can't wait!!! I will post from the road complete with possible photos and places to see.

More to come in the weeks, months, years, decades and cent.. (ahem - yeah right), to come! Stay tuned and remember to never give up on your dream(s)!

My tps = 0 (thoughts per second)

Ian

Out of nowhere: Really?

I believe we have all heard this expression regarding how most musicians write music: "...and it's like this song came out of nowhere." Really? Out of nowhere? I beg to differ! For one thing nowhere is just that. How can a something be yanked out of nothing? This is preposterous! Order in the court!

Well, not really. Nowhere is a loose term we all use when we can't wrap our heads around something we can't hear, see, taste, or feel. We are all guilty of using this popular word: "It just came out of nowhere, he's going nowhere fast", or "we're on a road to nowhere".

Songwriting is no exception. A melody from "out of the blue" comes into your head, your hands tap out a rhythm you may have never heard before, or you begin humming what you thought was a familiar tune only to find out later it came from....well.....nowhere. Why is this? Who's really the orchestrator behind all this?

For me personally, I feel that it is a combination of spirit and human experience which leads to human emotion which leads to in some - melody, rhythm, and lyrics. Spirit's definition is not an easy one. I personally feel there exists an invisible connection to and from everything. If you are made up of atoms you are part of this (yes, even a brick has its part!)


A song comes to me in pieces. I grab a melody out of "nowhere" by striking non-thought out, random chords on my keyboard. Once I get two or more chords working in my head and that "feeling" of what I call "spiritual emotion" kicks in; the beginning of a song is born. So is the initial spark of the song truly coming from nowhere? No! I have answered this question in the second and third sentence of this paragraph: ("by striking non-thought out, random chords on my keyboard. Once I get two or more chords working in my head and that "feeling" of what I call "spiritual emotion" kicks in; the beginning of a song is born.") Ah, hah! Nowhere no longer exists!

But what about this "spiritual emotion"? What the hell is it? Is this somehow different from emotion? The answer to this is simply - Yes. I define spiritual emotion as an emotion which lies at the epicenter of emotion. Spiritual emotion has tendrils connecting anger to glee, elation to depression and sadness to sassy. From where is it derived? My belief is that it is derived from a human-to-sound vibration that we all posses. If your spiritual vibrations within lay between a couple vibrating chords your body will resonate, thus a feeling will arise (any feeling....I unconsciously gravitate towards the positive in my music).

I really have no proof of what my previous paragraph describes. I only know what I personally feel when I listen to someone's music, or my own. That feeling of oneness with the song, the ebb and flow of aliveness within, the pain, the pleasure, how I can relate to it. Nowhere is attainable. Nowhere comes from somewhere after all!