[ddots-l] Re: rekindling the passion for music composition
- From: Paul Leishman <pmleishman@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 11 Jul 2010 11:53:59 -0700 (PDT)
Interesting topic this. This is just my own personal thoughts on composing at
the moment. I’m 40 years old and have been messing around with recording and
production since I was 15. It isn’t always easy to motivate yourself to compose
music especially up to a releasable standard. I used to joke with some of the
bands I have worked with over the years about the “eye of the tiger”. When your
young and just getting into music everything is new and magical and one is
eager to learn the tricks of the trade. Like most things I guess once you know
how the trick is done you need more and more novelty to get the creative juices
going. I’ve found it harder to finish tracks as I have got older. Starting them
is pretty easy though LOL. It’s like being a production junkie LOL.
I have found that the best times I have had writing music have been working
with another like minded person. I always had more fun, got more done and far
quicker when I had a great working partner. This is despite all the changes
with technology and the effort it takes to learn it before you can even get
started on any tune. I sometimes wonder whether having a computer that can do
just about anything these days in some ways isolates us music makers and
discourages us from making the effort to work with other musicians.
Even though I have a room full of old synths, drum machines, guitars etc, I
have taken to just having my Novation remote 61 controller keyboard and a
laptop in the conservatory and a guitar in the corner. O yes, and my rocking
chair LOL, I just find having this simple setup works better for me these days
for breaking the back of a new track. I won’t start playing with any retro
stuff until I have gone through this process now. It keeps me on track if you
pardon the pun!!!
--- On Sun, 11/7/10, Steve Wicketts <steve.wicketts@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
From: Steve Wicketts <steve.wicketts@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [ddots-l] Re: rekindling the passion for music composition
To: "ddtots" <ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sunday, 11 July, 2010, 10:03
Hi Scott,
Everyone has that wow factor when having their first synth or Work Station, the
sounds sound amazing to you and you own it. In a few Weeks you know exactly
where every single patch sound is located and which one's you love.
Everything is quick and this links to being inspired.
Using Sonar, is a much slower working environment, , we have issues with a lot
of the great sounds not being accessible and there's a lot to learn, however,
once you climb the learning mountain.
The view is one of production levels that you never thought possible,
understanding of making a tiny softsynth sound so big it blows your speakers
off the wall.
Having effects where you can tweak or even completely change the presets,
Routing sound so you can isolate the whole Horn section with just one key
stroke.
I too felt disillusioned when first looking at Sonar, I'd spend a Week on a
project and when comparing my Sonar project with the same Motif project the
Motif would sound much richer and overall just better.
It took awhile and loads of patients before the Motif was finally made to look
like an old little mouse frightened in the corner of my studio.
I don't believe your Passion has gone, it's just frustration throwing a blanket
over it.
If you'd like, I could sent you an MP3 of some music I did on the Motif and the
revamped version on Sonar.
Just let me know what style of music you like and I'll send examples in that
style.
It's music from other artiste that inspires me, for example, Prince's new
album "2010" was released in Europe and the UK yesterday, after hearing this
album, my inspiration has been set to mega boost.
His best album in 20 years and I've got them all.
Steve W
----- Original Message -----
From: Scott Lawlor
To: ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Sunday, July 11, 2010 3:47 AM
Subject: [ddots-l] rekindling the passion for music composition
Hello.
I'm feeling lately that the passion and love for music composition that I used
to have is fading.
When I got my kurzweil pc3, and would play it, I didn't feel the same
excitement and creative spark that I felt long ago when I had my first keyboard.
I'm not sure if it's a case where maybe I've changed over all this time without
an outlet for musical creativity because I've been without a board for so long
but I'm wondering, for those of you who have been in music for a while, how do
you ignite the passion if you feel it slipping away?
Someone suggested to me that maybe I'm just ready to go in a new direction
musically. Reworking old material is predictable and boring, even on a new
board and as much as I'd like to get into ambient and space music, I find that
when I try to write that sort of thing, I find myself wondering where to go
with an idea, how long to stretch it out, etc. I enjoy the long-form
characteristics of a lot of ambient music. Perhaps I'm getting in my own way as
I've heard that some artists have that problem.
If we get this new house that we're hoping to buy, I'll have a dedicated space
for my pc and whatever keyboard I decide to buy and maybe that will help,
having my own personal creative space. Right now, everything's in the study
which is a common area for all of us.
Thanks for letting me ramble out some thoughts and for giving me any ideas or
feedback you might have regarding what I've written.
Scott
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