In regards to my last blog...
You don't 'decide' what you do... you do what you do because its what makes you the person you are. If the great songwriters before us had decided to work for, say the council or something instead of write the amazing songs that define moments of our lives... I would not have enjoyed and explored the parts of life I thankfully have. If I had never read Shakespeare to Stephen King, watched dance pieces by Isadora Duncan to Merce Cunningham, explored performances by the Worcester Group to researching Jaques Lecoq (where I began to loosely apply the semiotics of clowning to my everyday life!), laughed my heart out to the likes of Billl Hicks and Eddie Izzard, my life wouldn't be well... bad - but it would certainly be different, and perhaps not quite as nice.
I guess I'm gonna try to start taking more advice from my small intellectual book by John C. Parkin called Fu*k It. A conclusion to years worth of religious research, all theories broken down to this idea of thinking... you know what... F**k it.
Here's a brief section from his notes...
How F**k It Works, Pt. I:
You realise that things don't matter so much after all.
Most of us believe that meaning and purpose in life are good things to have: where the heck would we be without a sense of meaning and purpose for goodness' sake?
In fact, from a young age we start to pursue meaning - and the bigger MEANING - of life. This process usually culminates at around age 18, late at night, drunk and arguing with other students about The Meaning of Life.
Funny, then, that we get so much relief from saying F**k It to things as adults... given that we usually say F**k It when the things that mean a lot to us have begun to cause us pain.
For example, if keeping fit means a lot to you, but the early-morning runs or the squeezed-in gym sessions have started to become like torture - then you'd say F**k It and stop training, or do something else.
When we say F**k It, we say 'Well, it's causing me so much pain, it's not that important is it?'.
And as we start to say F**k It to things in our lives, we realise that it's the things most matter - that mean the most - that either cause us pain or have the potential to cause us pain.
Saying 'F**k It' reduces the hold that these 'meanings' have on us.
In Buddhist terms, we begin to release our attachments.
And meaning is attachment .
Particular favourite quotes are...
That thing you're worrying about will most probably work out just fine. F**k it.
Say F**k it to the things you can't change
Curry kills cancer cells... red wine helps with heart disease... The F**k It Life is now being supported by scientists.
Might write a song called F**k It. haha :-)
Love from the idealistic, idiotic, idling, invitingly itchy, imaginative, intimate ink-cartridge.
xxxxxxxx
Sunday, 14 March 2010
Wednesday, 3 March 2010
bit of chewed up brain on a page
bit of chewed up brain on a page
Actually, if you've got better things to do - I'd probably honestly go do them if I were you. This might be a slightly long, pointless and random rant. I'm really selling this now aren't I? All hyped up?! Ha ha please don't be. :-)
I wonder sometimes, in fact sometimes quite a lot of the time, am I doing the right thing? Working towards a future where I'm ultimately trying to make a living by doing something I love? By not only having an outlet to express myself the best way I know how, but to base my life around it and have it create wealth for me (even if just a very modest small amount?) Is that incredibly selfish? Isn't there more worthy and needed paths I should take?
Although... (on a slight tangent) - What is all this 'path' business anyway?! I make about a million little decisions every day, there's nothing that could tie all these choices down to all leading in 1 direction. If every single being has a 'path' isn't that just a shitload of lonely paths rolling around? But then is saying we are all connected and 'deep down the same', a bit of a cliche that now, actually doesn't circulate well with real day to day issues? Do I feel that we are actually all one, and there's so more to life that we're not exploring, and that the afterlife may well be more fun anyway? And if I did, is it gonna help me pay my TV license over the phone with an automated voice thats patronising me because it keeps fucking up? I doubt it.
I watch these 'reality' TV shows and wonder when did so many people decide that being famous was what they were 'born for'? What happened to being a scientist or doctor? I don't know - I guess everyone has their different drive and direction. Airports really set me off - the most diverse, yet connected bunch of people going to different places, living various lives. The world is so vast and I'm a speck trying to make sense of what, well really doesn't make sense. So in regards to my conscience, wondering whether I should dedicate my life to something more important... (care workers, for example are surely much more selfless?) ...I guess everyone falls somehow into place, and I pass people from time to time that remind me, I can't be or do everything. I can't be seen as right, wrong or sane by everyone. Nor can I abide by everyones religion or way of life. How and when do we decide ourselves high up enough to judge anyway? I guess everyone has an opinion, but when does that change into a standard that people are expected meet?
So do you just do what you wanna do - if this is just 1 life, do you just explore every avenue that you want to - and leave less aesthetically pleasing paths to someone else? there are a lot of 'someone elses' after all. Or do stop relying on someone else to do the right thing and think about life as an infinite stretch, much past this one we're living in now. Or maybe I just should swap thinking, for a refreshing cold beer?
So, ermm, yeah...
Songwriting.
Oh I don't know!
Might leave the songwriting blog to another day where I'm not resembling a crazy person. Grrrr... that is something else that 'crazes' me. Might start banging on about what on earth constitutes someone as being 'crazy.' Or what 'crazy' actually is. But don't worry I won't! I don't wanna drive you crazy now.
But well I guess I know that regardless of how you read this and therefore what you may think, I am really alright. l genuinely am smiling pretty much all the time. Even if it gets temporarily hidden when I'm working in the pub and someone slurs, stumbles and sprays a little bit on my face (This is grim by the way for those drunkens who spray it and don't say it.) But seriously, I do feel very special to have the amazing people that I'm close too. I'm very much doing okay. Lots of things could be worse. Everything really. If i keep being grateful and try and not only match but exceed what niceness is given to me, then I'm hoping I can't do too wrong.
I hope this blog isn't too weird. Or really crap. I never know how I come across - perhaps I should've written this into a song. The chords behind the lyric could lead you nicely through this little rant. La la la.
Bye for now :-)
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Actually, if you've got better things to do - I'd probably honestly go do them if I were you. This might be a slightly long, pointless and random rant. I'm really selling this now aren't I? All hyped up?! Ha ha please don't be. :-)
I wonder sometimes, in fact sometimes quite a lot of the time, am I doing the right thing? Working towards a future where I'm ultimately trying to make a living by doing something I love? By not only having an outlet to express myself the best way I know how, but to base my life around it and have it create wealth for me (even if just a very modest small amount?) Is that incredibly selfish? Isn't there more worthy and needed paths I should take?
Although... (on a slight tangent) - What is all this 'path' business anyway?! I make about a million little decisions every day, there's nothing that could tie all these choices down to all leading in 1 direction. If every single being has a 'path' isn't that just a shitload of lonely paths rolling around? But then is saying we are all connected and 'deep down the same', a bit of a cliche that now, actually doesn't circulate well with real day to day issues? Do I feel that we are actually all one, and there's so more to life that we're not exploring, and that the afterlife may well be more fun anyway? And if I did, is it gonna help me pay my TV license over the phone with an automated voice thats patronising me because it keeps fucking up? I doubt it.
I watch these 'reality' TV shows and wonder when did so many people decide that being famous was what they were 'born for'? What happened to being a scientist or doctor? I don't know - I guess everyone has their different drive and direction. Airports really set me off - the most diverse, yet connected bunch of people going to different places, living various lives. The world is so vast and I'm a speck trying to make sense of what, well really doesn't make sense. So in regards to my conscience, wondering whether I should dedicate my life to something more important... (care workers, for example are surely much more selfless?) ...I guess everyone falls somehow into place, and I pass people from time to time that remind me, I can't be or do everything. I can't be seen as right, wrong or sane by everyone. Nor can I abide by everyones religion or way of life. How and when do we decide ourselves high up enough to judge anyway? I guess everyone has an opinion, but when does that change into a standard that people are expected meet?
So do you just do what you wanna do - if this is just 1 life, do you just explore every avenue that you want to - and leave less aesthetically pleasing paths to someone else? there are a lot of 'someone elses' after all. Or do stop relying on someone else to do the right thing and think about life as an infinite stretch, much past this one we're living in now. Or maybe I just should swap thinking, for a refreshing cold beer?
So, ermm, yeah...
Songwriting.
Oh I don't know!
Might leave the songwriting blog to another day where I'm not resembling a crazy person. Grrrr... that is something else that 'crazes' me. Might start banging on about what on earth constitutes someone as being 'crazy.' Or what 'crazy' actually is. But don't worry I won't! I don't wanna drive you crazy now.
But well I guess I know that regardless of how you read this and therefore what you may think, I am really alright. l genuinely am smiling pretty much all the time. Even if it gets temporarily hidden when I'm working in the pub and someone slurs, stumbles and sprays a little bit on my face (This is grim by the way for those drunkens who spray it and don't say it.) But seriously, I do feel very special to have the amazing people that I'm close too. I'm very much doing okay. Lots of things could be worse. Everything really. If i keep being grateful and try and not only match but exceed what niceness is given to me, then I'm hoping I can't do too wrong.
I hope this blog isn't too weird. Or really crap. I never know how I come across - perhaps I should've written this into a song. The chords behind the lyric could lead you nicely through this little rant. La la la.
Bye for now :-)
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Week 8. and 9, 10 and 11 and so on. :-)
Ello! erm yeah - sorry its been yonks. I didn't write any blogs during the last month of term. Or the month after. I have little recollection of what I was doing, apart from frantically running along with the fast pace, often with arms and legs flailing about. (I hope this is a word - its great. I would google it but I know I'll get distracted by other definitions of words beginning with fla... and it'll then be another month before I actually write and finish a blog.)
So yes it was very busy and very fun and I'm sure I have progressed loads even if it sometimes feels like I'm even more clueless than ever. For the solo songwriting module - I completed my 1st 8 songs of the course, and submitted a meaty 5000 critique journal on a few of my peers songs. I listened to one of the songs I was critiquing 159 times. It says so on my Itunes. He found this amusing. I passed this module thankfully. The Industrial Context Module (where we'd had all these fantastic guests in), helped us explore possible options as a songwriter and was what my 3000 essay discussed and evaluated. Another still a pass thankfully :-) The other module which had double credits , was the Songwriting in Context module - which within a weekly seminar, we listened to, debated and evaluated a lovely range of songs which then within a 30 min video we applied to 4 of our own songs. This was really difficult to put together but very rewarding when I finished. Shame I ran out of time and had to leave the sock puppets out thou. :-( Bad times.
So all our work for the last trimester (not semester or nicehamster as i first thought) was handed in mid January. Ooh that was a good day :-) albeit a really long one that carried on from the previous day. But all handed in at 12:02 midday after a slight manic runaround visiting technicians, printers and library books with slightly crazed unfocussed eyes and a red bull in hand.
So with this month passing by with a bit of much needed chilling time, catching up with my 'homies' and extra shifts in the pub, we are back to week 1!! But with all new exciting modules and adventures!!! I've written another blog which I shall probably post after this one and then a weekly blog should start after that one.
Just incase you wanna read!
Love from the horrifyingly hungry,helplessly hairy, happy, hyper hula hoop
xxxxx
P.s has anyone actually got used to writing 2010 yet? I feel like I should be writing it from my own spaceship somewhere in the future!
hmmm or maybe just me then?!
So yes it was very busy and very fun and I'm sure I have progressed loads even if it sometimes feels like I'm even more clueless than ever. For the solo songwriting module - I completed my 1st 8 songs of the course, and submitted a meaty 5000 critique journal on a few of my peers songs. I listened to one of the songs I was critiquing 159 times. It says so on my Itunes. He found this amusing. I passed this module thankfully. The Industrial Context Module (where we'd had all these fantastic guests in), helped us explore possible options as a songwriter and was what my 3000 essay discussed and evaluated. Another still a pass thankfully :-) The other module which had double credits , was the Songwriting in Context module - which within a weekly seminar, we listened to, debated and evaluated a lovely range of songs which then within a 30 min video we applied to 4 of our own songs. This was really difficult to put together but very rewarding when I finished. Shame I ran out of time and had to leave the sock puppets out thou. :-( Bad times.
So all our work for the last trimester (not semester or nicehamster as i first thought) was handed in mid January. Ooh that was a good day :-) albeit a really long one that carried on from the previous day. But all handed in at 12:02 midday after a slight manic runaround visiting technicians, printers and library books with slightly crazed unfocussed eyes and a red bull in hand.
So with this month passing by with a bit of much needed chilling time, catching up with my 'homies' and extra shifts in the pub, we are back to week 1!! But with all new exciting modules and adventures!!! I've written another blog which I shall probably post after this one and then a weekly blog should start after that one.
Just incase you wanna read!
Love from the horrifyingly hungry,helplessly hairy, happy, hyper hula hoop
xxxxx
P.s has anyone actually got used to writing 2010 yet? I feel like I should be writing it from my own spaceship somewhere in the future!
hmmm or maybe just me then?!
Thursday, 19 November 2009
Songwriting - Week 7
Hello....
A&R companies, Record labels, Manager or not, Publisher or self publishing, Looking for artists i could write for, Finding out who they are signed to, Library Music, Diversifying as a writer/artist, Writing commercial music for radio, The differences between writing in Nashville and say the UK, How you can have International Success in different markets - Japanese, American, European, UK, X-factor/American idol - The kind of shows that are producing artists who need us songwriters, Pop, Country, Singer/Songwriter, Folk, What makes Commercial music so, um, commercial?!
Songwriter vs Artist.
Just a few things rolling around my head this week then.
The industrial context seminar this week consisted of us discussing the module so far - what we may include in our essay and evaluating what options could work for us based on academic evidence, and evidence from other songwriters. I kind of waver between excitement, determination and having an idea of the things I would like to achieve - and then wavering to the darker side where I feel miles out of my depth and straggling along somewhere behind. But I am here and doing this. And it feels right. So somewhere I need to kick myself up the a** and make the most of this opportunity!!!
Today - I'm writing this blog in a room of delightful musical chaos with guitars and excited chatter floating about... musical patterns emerge and develop and fade into something else. We move rooms and a grand piano dictates the way I type and the mood of the group seems to grow soft and chords will pull on my heart strings to make me feel a bit sad and then an opera voice will fall in rather dramatically and we all laugh. The groove kicks in and I bounce my shoulders as I write, dah da dah da dah!!! What it is about music that adds a dimension to your mood that just wouldn't exist otherwise? How much thinner would life seem? Ha and as I edge towards being philosophical, a conversation about pasties begins. Mmmmm pasties....
So yeah. Another week passes and more questions arise. I feel so full of questions sometimes, I question whether I actual know any answers at all??! So heres a few more floating about in this pea head...
Could I ever be a credible artist? Or maybe even just an artist?! Do I have the ability to write songs for a living? What route should I take? Why do I need music prominently in my life? How does a single chord resonate with a certain feeling? How does rhythm feel like its really inside me? Is music and day to day life so intergrated that they both consist of sounds, beats, noises, patterns, structures, familiarility, exciting moments, pauses, phrases, waiting, emotions, journeys, frustrations? And sometimes made up of not much? Can it be possible to think too much? Do I not think enough? Why do people hold themselves back? Why are things sometimes so hard and daunting? And do the greatest rewards come from the most difficult accomplishments?
I could actually go on for ages but ha I won't, sorry for the moment of self indulgence...
I think I'll finish off with a couple of quotes, well 3 actually cos I like the last one in particular :-) Wish I could imprint these things in my brain so they stuck.
"Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value." - Albert Einstein
"Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors." - African proverb
"I've seen many troubles in my time, only half of which ever came true." - Mark Twain
Thank you for your appreciated attention
With mighty love from the
gabbling, gallivanting, googling, gazing, ghastly, gift-wrapped geek
A&R companies, Record labels, Manager or not, Publisher or self publishing, Looking for artists i could write for, Finding out who they are signed to, Library Music, Diversifying as a writer/artist, Writing commercial music for radio, The differences between writing in Nashville and say the UK, How you can have International Success in different markets - Japanese, American, European, UK, X-factor/American idol - The kind of shows that are producing artists who need us songwriters, Pop, Country, Singer/Songwriter, Folk, What makes Commercial music so, um, commercial?!
Songwriter vs Artist.
Just a few things rolling around my head this week then.
The industrial context seminar this week consisted of us discussing the module so far - what we may include in our essay and evaluating what options could work for us based on academic evidence, and evidence from other songwriters. I kind of waver between excitement, determination and having an idea of the things I would like to achieve - and then wavering to the darker side where I feel miles out of my depth and straggling along somewhere behind. But I am here and doing this. And it feels right. So somewhere I need to kick myself up the a** and make the most of this opportunity!!!
Today - I'm writing this blog in a room of delightful musical chaos with guitars and excited chatter floating about... musical patterns emerge and develop and fade into something else. We move rooms and a grand piano dictates the way I type and the mood of the group seems to grow soft and chords will pull on my heart strings to make me feel a bit sad and then an opera voice will fall in rather dramatically and we all laugh. The groove kicks in and I bounce my shoulders as I write, dah da dah da dah!!! What it is about music that adds a dimension to your mood that just wouldn't exist otherwise? How much thinner would life seem? Ha and as I edge towards being philosophical, a conversation about pasties begins. Mmmmm pasties....
So yeah. Another week passes and more questions arise. I feel so full of questions sometimes, I question whether I actual know any answers at all??! So heres a few more floating about in this pea head...
Could I ever be a credible artist? Or maybe even just an artist?! Do I have the ability to write songs for a living? What route should I take? Why do I need music prominently in my life? How does a single chord resonate with a certain feeling? How does rhythm feel like its really inside me? Is music and day to day life so intergrated that they both consist of sounds, beats, noises, patterns, structures, familiarility, exciting moments, pauses, phrases, waiting, emotions, journeys, frustrations? And sometimes made up of not much? Can it be possible to think too much? Do I not think enough? Why do people hold themselves back? Why are things sometimes so hard and daunting? And do the greatest rewards come from the most difficult accomplishments?
I could actually go on for ages but ha I won't, sorry for the moment of self indulgence...
I think I'll finish off with a couple of quotes, well 3 actually cos I like the last one in particular :-) Wish I could imprint these things in my brain so they stuck.
"Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value." - Albert Einstein
"Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors." - African proverb
"I've seen many troubles in my time, only half of which ever came true." - Mark Twain
Thank you for your appreciated attention
With mighty love from the
gabbling, gallivanting, googling, gazing, ghastly, gift-wrapped geek
Songwriting - Week 6
Hi all :-)
Weeeek 6. Owwwww already. This is course is gonna go way too quick, I just know it!!! Amazing week this week thou, we had Kim Richey with us, whom was the guest speaker and also in the solo songwriting module.
It was fascinating to hear everyones thought's on her, it seemed everyone was really blown away by her, everyone felt they had an invaluable critique of their song this week, and one the great things everyone seemed to say was, well, just how nice she is!! We listened her to speak about her collaborations as a songwriter, and her experiences as an artist. About the pro's and con's of having a manager, the importance of having a booking agent and playing live. we also asked about her experiences when co-writing, along with Paul and Andy , and they discussed splits and general ettiquette!!
I wrote a new song called 20:49 train home this week - got some potential i guess - and i got drums and an elec piano in there too!!! woo!!! can't wait till the rewriting and the collaborative modules next term - i feel these are so important for me.
This is a very short blog - Sorry. just not so much to say this week. Perhaps next week shall be fuller.
Love Love Love
from the
Fanatic, freezing, following, far-fetched, fearful, fictional, flavoured forearm.
Weeeek 6. Owwwww already. This is course is gonna go way too quick, I just know it!!! Amazing week this week thou, we had Kim Richey with us, whom was the guest speaker and also in the solo songwriting module.
It was fascinating to hear everyones thought's on her, it seemed everyone was really blown away by her, everyone felt they had an invaluable critique of their song this week, and one the great things everyone seemed to say was, well, just how nice she is!! We listened her to speak about her collaborations as a songwriter, and her experiences as an artist. About the pro's and con's of having a manager, the importance of having a booking agent and playing live. we also asked about her experiences when co-writing, along with Paul and Andy , and they discussed splits and general ettiquette!!
I wrote a new song called 20:49 train home this week - got some potential i guess - and i got drums and an elec piano in there too!!! woo!!! can't wait till the rewriting and the collaborative modules next term - i feel these are so important for me.
This is a very short blog - Sorry. just not so much to say this week. Perhaps next week shall be fuller.
Love Love Love
from the
Fanatic, freezing, following, far-fetched, fearful, fictional, flavoured forearm.
Tuesday, 10 November 2009
Songwriting - Week 5
Week 5. This came round quick!!
(And meaty apologies for the late arrival of this blog)
So starting from the top...
Monday Monday, no longer is it a dreary, weary effort to haul myself from my bed and face a week at work in the same chair, saying the same things on the phone, wearing the slight vacant expression on my face. Monday is Funday! Woo har!
Although to be fair, this Monday wasn't actually the typical bouncing girl going into uni - was a bit of a weird day - woke up a bit sad with no apparent reason really. And this in itself was confusing.. but what would normally seep into a grim week was over by 10 mins into the seminar (About 10:10.) So this was nice !!
Because how could Motown not cheer any one up??! Marvin Gaye to Diana Ross, beautiful soulful melodies, and being able to lose yourself in music that I only then realised had been such an inspiration to me. I found I was improving my listening. Cos we figured there's listening, then there's listening... I love both. Ooh I hope this course doesn't ever stop me from the 1st kind of listening - the kind without too much analysis, concentration or agenda. But then I'm really enjoying being able to listen - because there is just so much to listen for - and I guess its the kind of thing where the more you put in, the more you get out. (I may just apply this to every aspect of my life from NOW!)
So anyway, apart from the listening and the listening.. (could I say this word any more?!) we looked at a lot of songs written by Dozier and Holland - and the style of writing and the structure's seem to have some general themes running through - e.g. pre - chorus? what pre-chorus?! Or maybe just a line or two at the most? Fantastic momentum, rhythm and sometimes such simple honest lyrics. Varying structures from A-B-A-B-A-B to A-A-A-A-A ( Where did our love go - Holland, Dozier, Holland) and before I knew it, lunchtime arrived and I was in a much better frame of mind.
Tuesday (My busiest and by far my favourite day) Solo songwriting - where for the 1st time - I felt comfortable with my song - I didn't have the irritating desire to make endless apologies and excuses about the song. On The Edge was played to eager talented ears and helpful nice constructive things were said.
Tuesday tottered along with 3 an a half hours spent learning recording techniques, drum programming and general 'logic' madness. And another guest lecturer gracing us with his presence was publisher Andy Grahame whom, with a wealth of A&R, Publishing and Management experience answered question after question. These Industrial Context lessons have multiple effects on me... On one side, its reassuring, inspiring and makes things that little bit clearer about the music industry. On the other side, some harsh realisations rain down, and it seems that its a cut throat place to be. Rejections, struggles and instability seem to be inevitable. Perhaps necessary? Songwriting at a high, commercial, successful level, it appears may well be something so so few songwriters wil be able to achieve. But I kind of feel that's okay. After all, isn't it sometimes the hardest things in life, the things that are most worth having? (Something like that anyway...!)
Wednesday was jam day. And no not the raspberry variety. Grand Piano, a fantastic big space with many a guitar and oodles of talent floating in and out of the lovely chapel arts centre. And even a bit of opera and a spot of ballroom dancing, (and no not the serious variety!)
Thursday was the 1st open mic I have done in maybe a year or so... and it was good!! and surprising not as scary as previous ones I had done. The eccentric host even participated with a spot of harmonica - lovely stuff!!!
So to wrap up then...
With every week that passes - I try to remember and take in everything I can, because I have a feeling taking this MA could be the best decision I've ever made
And P.s Is it just me that has to mutter 'Never Eat Cake Eat Sausage Sandwiches And Remain Young' when spelling 'necessary'??! ( I even had to mutter it again then!)
Thank you for your time - these blogs, (as random, odd and occasionally zzzzz as they are) are quite important for me to do. I think. So thank you for reading!
Love from the
edible, eligible, evenly empathising, eggcup with a touch of eiderdown xxx
(And meaty apologies for the late arrival of this blog)
So starting from the top...
Monday Monday, no longer is it a dreary, weary effort to haul myself from my bed and face a week at work in the same chair, saying the same things on the phone, wearing the slight vacant expression on my face. Monday is Funday! Woo har!
Although to be fair, this Monday wasn't actually the typical bouncing girl going into uni - was a bit of a weird day - woke up a bit sad with no apparent reason really. And this in itself was confusing.. but what would normally seep into a grim week was over by 10 mins into the seminar (About 10:10.) So this was nice !!
Because how could Motown not cheer any one up??! Marvin Gaye to Diana Ross, beautiful soulful melodies, and being able to lose yourself in music that I only then realised had been such an inspiration to me. I found I was improving my listening. Cos we figured there's listening, then there's listening... I love both. Ooh I hope this course doesn't ever stop me from the 1st kind of listening - the kind without too much analysis, concentration or agenda. But then I'm really enjoying being able to listen - because there is just so much to listen for - and I guess its the kind of thing where the more you put in, the more you get out. (I may just apply this to every aspect of my life from NOW!)
So anyway, apart from the listening and the listening.. (could I say this word any more?!) we looked at a lot of songs written by Dozier and Holland - and the style of writing and the structure's seem to have some general themes running through - e.g. pre - chorus? what pre-chorus?! Or maybe just a line or two at the most? Fantastic momentum, rhythm and sometimes such simple honest lyrics. Varying structures from A-B-A-B-A-B to A-A-A-A-A ( Where did our love go - Holland, Dozier, Holland) and before I knew it, lunchtime arrived and I was in a much better frame of mind.
Tuesday (My busiest and by far my favourite day) Solo songwriting - where for the 1st time - I felt comfortable with my song - I didn't have the irritating desire to make endless apologies and excuses about the song. On The Edge was played to eager talented ears and helpful nice constructive things were said.
Tuesday tottered along with 3 an a half hours spent learning recording techniques, drum programming and general 'logic' madness. And another guest lecturer gracing us with his presence was publisher Andy Grahame whom, with a wealth of A&R, Publishing and Management experience answered question after question. These Industrial Context lessons have multiple effects on me... On one side, its reassuring, inspiring and makes things that little bit clearer about the music industry. On the other side, some harsh realisations rain down, and it seems that its a cut throat place to be. Rejections, struggles and instability seem to be inevitable. Perhaps necessary? Songwriting at a high, commercial, successful level, it appears may well be something so so few songwriters wil be able to achieve. But I kind of feel that's okay. After all, isn't it sometimes the hardest things in life, the things that are most worth having? (Something like that anyway...!)
Wednesday was jam day. And no not the raspberry variety. Grand Piano, a fantastic big space with many a guitar and oodles of talent floating in and out of the lovely chapel arts centre. And even a bit of opera and a spot of ballroom dancing, (and no not the serious variety!)
Thursday was the 1st open mic I have done in maybe a year or so... and it was good!! and surprising not as scary as previous ones I had done. The eccentric host even participated with a spot of harmonica - lovely stuff!!!
So to wrap up then...
With every week that passes - I try to remember and take in everything I can, because I have a feeling taking this MA could be the best decision I've ever made
And P.s Is it just me that has to mutter 'Never Eat Cake Eat Sausage Sandwiches And Remain Young' when spelling 'necessary'??! ( I even had to mutter it again then!)
Thank you for your time - these blogs, (as random, odd and occasionally zzzzz as they are) are quite important for me to do. I think. So thank you for reading!
Love from the
edible, eligible, evenly empathising, eggcup with a touch of eiderdown xxx
Saturday, 31 October 2009
Songwriting Week 4
hy hello my little turtles,
Thank you for reading... :-)
Week 4 has passed with a blink of the eye as they say.. (they do you know!) and again my knowledge and understanding of songwriting/music within an industrial context and also technically is growing - although my god, there is so much more I need to know. Monday saw a 3 hour seminar, listening to and discussing songwriting within a historical context - this week mostly looking at Lennon/McCartney songs (ace!) and I'm starting to develop skills so I can begin to analyse things like structure slightly more than before. I found a lot of the songs we listened to had such varying concepts and surprising elements. For example in 'Can't buy me love' and 'She loves you' there's this idea of a double chorus which for me brings a new layer to the song's and keeps the momentum going - both such great song's for me where all sections (verse, chorus, another chorus etc) are so fantastic - you don't believe that they can keep adding these emotive, catchy melodies!
It was such a great session - especially being more familiar with these songs and finding more resonances between ideas, sections, concepts of other songs and mine.
Tuesday saw 2 guest speakers join 2 of our already knowledgeable lecturers which altogether was a fantastic range and depth of experience - answering all the questions we could ever want to ask.
Will Hicks and Jez Ashurst were guest speaking and discussions regarding writing for radio took place - and top tips for doing so! Being able to ask Will (whom not only did this same course last year and now whom works within production and also from an A&R perspective) what kind of direction he see's the popular music industry heading was so interesting, we got to hear about the kind of artists his company is working with at the mo. It appears that there has been such a great influx of edgy, ballsy female artists (Think Florence and the Machines, La Roux, Little Boots, Lady Gaga etc to name a few) in recent times, that this now seems to be creating space and demand for male artists/bands - although this inevitably will perhaps swing in another new direction at any given time. We discussed so many topics - the difference's between the British music industry and say the American, Japanese and European markets - and the whole session was so important for us because this is learning the industry firsthand - invaluable!
Tuesday also saw the solo songwriting module continue - Jez joined us in this module this week and I performed my new song for him and the group. My god it was nerve wracking. The night before, I was still working out the melody and what bits i wanted where... it was about 2 in the morning, still not close to being happy with it and i was like... RIGHT I GIVE UP!! - I'm just going to play an old song I've written previously! Because you kinda want to make a good impression on these people right??! Not turn up tired, nervous and garbling strange sounds. But if there's 1 big improvement I know I need to make, its extending my catalogue of songs - and by keeping up this momentum of writing new songs, it can't be anything but goodfor my progress really. So I stuck with the new one. I performed my song 'Only you' (well, just about!) and got some really good feedback and really useful thoughts on how I can improve it.
I think the more you begin to critique other's work and listen to what people say about yours, it really starts to make some sense in discovering your strengths and weaknesses - it feels ilke it opens you up to be able to start looking within, and work out what it is you really want - what part of you it is that wants to express itself. And I think the strengths we learn about ourselves give us reason to keep going!! For me - I love melody. When I listen to music I hear the overall concept of the song - and the melody for me tell's the story - creates and brings emotions to the surface. Whereas although I have always loved writing lyrics - on a first time listen of a song they take the back seat a little. I feel its so important for me to recognise these things about my writing - and I'm looking forward to many more observations to come as I keep exploring styles/genres/structures and writing methodologies.
Well, I'm sure I have kept you long enough. So again - ta for reading and come back to me next week??
Farewell
from the dissolving, dusky, directionless, drafty, dramatic duck
x x x x
Thank you for reading... :-)
Week 4 has passed with a blink of the eye as they say.. (they do you know!) and again my knowledge and understanding of songwriting/music within an industrial context and also technically is growing - although my god, there is so much more I need to know. Monday saw a 3 hour seminar, listening to and discussing songwriting within a historical context - this week mostly looking at Lennon/McCartney songs (ace!) and I'm starting to develop skills so I can begin to analyse things like structure slightly more than before. I found a lot of the songs we listened to had such varying concepts and surprising elements. For example in 'Can't buy me love' and 'She loves you' there's this idea of a double chorus which for me brings a new layer to the song's and keeps the momentum going - both such great song's for me where all sections (verse, chorus, another chorus etc) are so fantastic - you don't believe that they can keep adding these emotive, catchy melodies!
It was such a great session - especially being more familiar with these songs and finding more resonances between ideas, sections, concepts of other songs and mine.
Tuesday saw 2 guest speakers join 2 of our already knowledgeable lecturers which altogether was a fantastic range and depth of experience - answering all the questions we could ever want to ask.
Will Hicks and Jez Ashurst were guest speaking and discussions regarding writing for radio took place - and top tips for doing so! Being able to ask Will (whom not only did this same course last year and now whom works within production and also from an A&R perspective) what kind of direction he see's the popular music industry heading was so interesting, we got to hear about the kind of artists his company is working with at the mo. It appears that there has been such a great influx of edgy, ballsy female artists (Think Florence and the Machines, La Roux, Little Boots, Lady Gaga etc to name a few) in recent times, that this now seems to be creating space and demand for male artists/bands - although this inevitably will perhaps swing in another new direction at any given time. We discussed so many topics - the difference's between the British music industry and say the American, Japanese and European markets - and the whole session was so important for us because this is learning the industry firsthand - invaluable!
Tuesday also saw the solo songwriting module continue - Jez joined us in this module this week and I performed my new song for him and the group. My god it was nerve wracking. The night before, I was still working out the melody and what bits i wanted where... it was about 2 in the morning, still not close to being happy with it and i was like... RIGHT I GIVE UP!! - I'm just going to play an old song I've written previously! Because you kinda want to make a good impression on these people right??! Not turn up tired, nervous and garbling strange sounds. But if there's 1 big improvement I know I need to make, its extending my catalogue of songs - and by keeping up this momentum of writing new songs, it can't be anything but goodfor my progress really. So I stuck with the new one. I performed my song 'Only you' (well, just about!) and got some really good feedback and really useful thoughts on how I can improve it.
I think the more you begin to critique other's work and listen to what people say about yours, it really starts to make some sense in discovering your strengths and weaknesses - it feels ilke it opens you up to be able to start looking within, and work out what it is you really want - what part of you it is that wants to express itself. And I think the strengths we learn about ourselves give us reason to keep going!! For me - I love melody. When I listen to music I hear the overall concept of the song - and the melody for me tell's the story - creates and brings emotions to the surface. Whereas although I have always loved writing lyrics - on a first time listen of a song they take the back seat a little. I feel its so important for me to recognise these things about my writing - and I'm looking forward to many more observations to come as I keep exploring styles/genres/structures and writing methodologies.
Well, I'm sure I have kept you long enough. So again - ta for reading and come back to me next week??
Farewell
from the dissolving, dusky, directionless, drafty, dramatic duck
x x x x
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