Archive for June, 2008
Songwriting is an art form. It is a medium by which the songwriter portrays ideas, visions, thoughts and feelings through music. Since before recorded time (No pun intended), peoples have been creating songs to tell stories, celebrate events, and display feelings. However, because of the changes that humankind has gone through, we have suppressed our natural desires to express ourselves musically. Therefore, we have come to rely on people to write songs for us to help us with our feelings and emotions.
Songwriting is not difficult. It just takes great practice and perseverance. Even though one might seem to think that there are rules that have to be followed when writing a song, there are none. We are free to write whatever we’d like and how we’d like. They are an expression of us, the writers. It may seem daunting at first, but that is because we let our critical thinking interfere with our creative thinking. If we begin to inhibit our critical thinking, our ability to create great songs is possible.
We all at one time or another have sung something original in the shower. This happens because we are actually relaxed and thinking not with our critical side but our creative side. It is this portion of thinking that needs to be let loose more. The trick is to be able to catch those moments with paper and pen or with a recording device before we loose them. Whatever comes to mind needs to be caught in its rough stage without thinking.
From the various gatherings of ideas, full structures can be created that will become songs. Those thoughts whether lyrics or musical thoughts, will help create full fledged pieces. We just have to be there to acknowledge the creativeness that is part of our humanity.
The current trend with distribution of major label records seems to simulate the party game of limbo. Everyone is doing something more and more drastic to get sales up in physical media. Some are going vinyl and others now seem to be doing CD, but aiming at low cost department stores to sell their discs. Not only are bargain price stores being used, but also being given exclusives in distribution on NEW releases, not just existing releases.
It seems that no matter what segment of the music industry is examined, it has hit or is approaching rock bottom. The music industry is lost or floundering as to where to go to get back its mojo that it once had. When will it become apparent that the need for aiming higher in the content area will be the trick for getting sales to where they used to be and in the manner that it used to be. Yes, digital will be around, but digital should not be blamed for the slip.
How much further can the limbo bar be lowered before the whole industry falls while trying to slither under it? Everyone knows that marketing is no longer just in the hands of the big record companies, but almost breaking the rules to allow ground contact when getting under the bar is the question.
There is an organization that I have now had the privilege to work with for over two years now, Sweetwater Sound. The quality of service and support that I have gotten in choosing the right equipment for the job has been phenomenal. Unlike other companies that sell music and recording equipment, the sales engineers at Sweetwater know their stuff and give valid advice compared to sales clerks at other organizations who barely know what they are selling to you.
The greatest help I’ve gotten has been in selecting the gear for my new mobile recording venture, Streamin’ Sound. Even though the selection process included two different sales engineers, Brandon McSwain and Forrest Powell, both have steered me in the right direction as far as quality for on a shoe string budget. Even after the purchase, my current sales engineer, Forrest Powell, has been a great help in suggesting new approaches and worthwhile upgrades. The best part about working with them has been that I have a dedicated sales engineer who know me and my goals in music.
With regards to music, everyone at Sweetwater is involved in the music industry somehow. Most are musicians and recording musicians themselves so they assist from their own experiences. If they don’t know something they have gotten back to me right away either having spoken to a colleague or calling a manufacturer’s representative. In fact, recently, I have even received a courtesy call to tell me that my sales engineer was out on the road and would return my call when he returned.
I recall seeing an ad for Sweetwater a few years ago in a magazine and just put it aside as I was using another vendor for my audio equipment needs. When I began looking into establishing a recording studio, I found that the sales staff at my previous vendor was not familiar with what they were selling me. So, I decided to try the folks at Sweetwater. Since then, I have gone nowhere else for my recording and music equipment needs. Both Brandon and Forrest have been great in recommeding products based on the current industry and letting me what what new stuff is coming down the road. Once in a while I just give a call to my sales engineer to let him know what projects I’m working on and if he has any suggestions that could make the recording better.
I would recommend Sweetwater to anyone who is an electronic or recording musician. They have everything that you could want and if they don’t have it, they’ll get it for you. They’re just great to work with in general.
Everyone has heard a studio recording of a band, orchestra, choir or some other musical performance. They all sound for the most part, plain, sterile, and manufactured. Everyone has also at one point or another heard or bought a “Live” recording which sounds completely different. There is an element of freedom, originality and realness to the sound.
When looking to do a recording, one of the decisions that could make or break a record is where and how it is recorded. With today’s recording technology, recording can be done just about anywhere allowing greater options to the performer. One can choose to record in the traditional studio or somewhere else which can give the recording a little extra flare. The location can also greatly affect the mood of the musicians playing allowing the recording to be more relaxed. Using an alternative location may also offer a unique effect that no electronic effects generator could reproduce. For example, recording a choir in a gothic cathedral would far outweigh the quality of the recording compared to doing the same recording in a studio or even in a concert hall. The accoustics of the high ceilings along with the materials the building is made from will offer a characteristic that is non-reproducible electronically.
No longer is location an issue when it comes to recording. It used to be that the better recordings were accomplished in the studio. With the way that music technology has evolved, it is now possible to do great works anywhere and sometime better.
As musicians, we know there are musicians out there putting out quality music. The question that should come to mind is “Why is it so hard to find?” Real talent and new music is out there, but because of the unrest in the music industry, artists who break the mold are not being selected by the record companies for contracts. A&R companies such as Taxi get new talent in all the time, but record companies keep calling for the same cookie cutter sound that no one wants to buy. If you find the good stuff, you have to actively search. Unfortunately, when you contantly hear on the radio the same cookie cutter material, you come to a fast assumption that the talent has disappeared.
Because of this cookie cutter philosophy, musicians have had to become more creative and more self-reliant. Since the big companies are not searching the way they used to, musicians have to promote their work. Getting our work out there and noticed requires relying on connections and increasing the impression upon the target markets. Thus, letting people know you have a unique sound requires some marketing skills.
As listeners, to find new we have to search outside traditional means. Since indie musicians are the ones with a unique product, the most obvious place to look should become the Internet. If we search places suc as MySpace, music download sites, and indie distribution channels, the odds of finding something fresh is likely.
Like a good snack or meal, it takes trial and error and when we find a good one we should notate it and share the word with others. That’s the way music is right now. It’s like that little hole in the wall restaurant that’s been there but had to go out and sample it to realize that it can compete with the current competition.