Thursday, 24 May 2012
Lost in Ostinato Album Artwork Idea
I've been working on some fresh album art this afternoon to distract myself from the utter crapness of my maths exam this morning (I was bang on the money all through Easter break, thought it was a safe subject so prioritised other revision above it and then realised last night that no, I couldn't remember much. Classic rookie error). Anyway, remember how I said in my first ever post how I thought Lost In Ostinato (hopefully my piano EP) should have peas with faces for album art? Well I actually did it and am quite happy with the result. It's just a draft cover as I'm not quite happy with the peas face and need to sort some other stuff, but should give an idea of where I'm coming from.
Monday, 21 May 2012
Frustrations
I'm finding music rather frustrating at the moment. I'm trying to revise for my A-level exams which I am mid-way through, but it's proving extremely difficult. Aside from concentration and work issues in general, I have this thing where the minute I start to really apply my brain to something dull it immediately comes up with masses of ideas for creative pursuits, and a lot of these are ideas for lyrics and tunes. In essence this is a good thing as it's great to keep having new song ideas to work with, but a real wind-up if I'm trying to revise as it gives me a dilemma - keep working or sacrifice some study to develop the song (because I know that if I don't immediately work out the song on an instrument I will completely forget it).
I've forgotten loads of songs in my time. Some never made it to the piano keys or the guitar strings ad I've got over that. Some will be remembered years later when I stumble across the hastily scribbled lyrics in a lost notebook. But nowadays I'm scared to forget a song because what if that song is The One?
The One is the one song you write which sticks with someone their entire life. No matter how good an artist you are general, that one song will always be above the rest because it just means more. They're songs with potential to affect your life. It's very difficult to explain, but I'm sure most people experience several One songs in their lives. Some of mine are 'Don't Be Angry' by The Organ, 'Civilian' by Wye Oak, and 'Divenire' by Ludovico Einaudi (but only after 4:52). I can't explain what it is about them but I would jump through fire to keep listening to them.
My ultimate aim as a songwriter is to write a song that someone else connects to as much as I connect to those songs. That would be completely musically fulfilling. If I come up with that song whilst I'm working I don't want to throw that opportunity to craft that song away because, you know what, it means more to me than grades ever will. But it is a frustrating choice to have to make every day because it does get to a point where I can't justify leaving work to write music because I will end up entering that exam hall knowing nothing.
I did once read some research which suggested that we think more creatively when we 'distract' the analytical part of our brain with an academic task, so perhaps I am not alone in my experiences!
I've forgotten loads of songs in my time. Some never made it to the piano keys or the guitar strings ad I've got over that. Some will be remembered years later when I stumble across the hastily scribbled lyrics in a lost notebook. But nowadays I'm scared to forget a song because what if that song is The One?
The One is the one song you write which sticks with someone their entire life. No matter how good an artist you are general, that one song will always be above the rest because it just means more. They're songs with potential to affect your life. It's very difficult to explain, but I'm sure most people experience several One songs in their lives. Some of mine are 'Don't Be Angry' by The Organ, 'Civilian' by Wye Oak, and 'Divenire' by Ludovico Einaudi (but only after 4:52). I can't explain what it is about them but I would jump through fire to keep listening to them.
My ultimate aim as a songwriter is to write a song that someone else connects to as much as I connect to those songs. That would be completely musically fulfilling. If I come up with that song whilst I'm working I don't want to throw that opportunity to craft that song away because, you know what, it means more to me than grades ever will. But it is a frustrating choice to have to make every day because it does get to a point where I can't justify leaving work to write music because I will end up entering that exam hall knowing nothing.
I did once read some research which suggested that we think more creatively when we 'distract' the analytical part of our brain with an academic task, so perhaps I am not alone in my experiences!
Friday, 27 April 2012
Rainskill
What is rainskill? (Pronounced rain-skill)
Rainskill is a word I invented to sum up that moment when you arrive at a building, step inside and a few seconds later it starts to rain. This is skill involving rain, thus rainskill.
It is also a potential title for my ukulele EP. The EP will feature all the songs I've written specifically for the uke (as opposed to the guitar or piano) which at the moment is looking to be around 8 songs. I've decided to separate the ukulele material because it is significantly different in tone to my other work so some people may hate my other stuff but love uke songs or may hate the ukulele (but seriously, why would you?) but really like guitar based ones. I think it works nicely to separate them like this. Plus my uke songs feature less instruments than the other ones so will be easier to record thus being a good way to get used to using recording software.
Rainskill is a word I invented to sum up that moment when you arrive at a building, step inside and a few seconds later it starts to rain. This is skill involving rain, thus rainskill.
It is also a potential title for my ukulele EP. The EP will feature all the songs I've written specifically for the uke (as opposed to the guitar or piano) which at the moment is looking to be around 8 songs. I've decided to separate the ukulele material because it is significantly different in tone to my other work so some people may hate my other stuff but love uke songs or may hate the ukulele (but seriously, why would you?) but really like guitar based ones. I think it works nicely to separate them like this. Plus my uke songs feature less instruments than the other ones so will be easier to record thus being a good way to get used to using recording software.
Tuesday, 10 April 2012
Lost In Ostinato (Piano EP Plan)
I know, I know, I have many EP plans that I talk excitedly about for a few days and then change my mind. However, I feel more set in this one. It's called 'Lost in Ostinato' and is kind of a play on the film title 'Lost in Austin' (which I say over and over again in my head because I like the way it rolls, not because I like the film which I have not seen), and ostinato in music meaning a repeated, generally bass, pattern, and that was one of my musical challenges to myself over a few years - can I write a few pieces that are diverse enough to be enjoyed, but use a similar bass ostinato?
Basically it will be a collection of piano pieces composed from ages 13-16. The track listing isn't fully decided, but I feel confident that it will contain Satirical Glory, Stricken/Vigour (haven't decided which name yet), Enjangled and another I haven't found the right name for yet. The pieces are generally vigorous in nature, pretty short and to the point and generally a right laugh to play. It draws on the minimalist influences of Ludovico Einaudi, Michael Nyman, Phillip Glass and Yann Tiersen. For the album artwork I'm thinking peas with shocked or happy faces drawn on. Don't ask why!
Basically it will be a collection of piano pieces composed from ages 13-16. The track listing isn't fully decided, but I feel confident that it will contain Satirical Glory, Stricken/Vigour (haven't decided which name yet), Enjangled and another I haven't found the right name for yet. The pieces are generally vigorous in nature, pretty short and to the point and generally a right laugh to play. It draws on the minimalist influences of Ludovico Einaudi, Michael Nyman, Phillip Glass and Yann Tiersen. For the album artwork I'm thinking peas with shocked or happy faces drawn on. Don't ask why!
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