November 23rd, 2010
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This last year or so I’ve thought a lot more about the songwriting process than I have in quite a while – specifically by paying more attention to the many subtleties in the music I find myself listening to. In order to do so, I’ve been forced to evaluate the music I listen to, and am now trying to find ways to factor this into the way I create music. I haven’t quite made a breakthrough yet, but I am learning things about my musical brain and how that translates to the rest of me, which is interesting.
Something that speaks to me very directly is the “voice” of an artist. In most cases I’m probably thinking about bands with a single main songwriter/singer who also has great musicians at their disposal to help take the music somewhere else (Peter Steele of Type O Negative, Glenn Danzig, Dave Wyndorf of Monster Magnet, Adam Turla of Murder By Death), although there are other examples of bands that work together more collaboratively (Tool, Black Sabbath), and there’s also a few examples of singer/songwriter teams (Ween comes to mind first). And of course, Mike Patton, who can fit into every category depending on what he’s doing.
These artists (especially Ween) can also be adept at adopting a “voice” for an album (or any amount of time, whether its 3 songs in a row or 15 seconds). There is a difference between this and a “concept album” however, which maybe I’ll go into greater detail about in another post. The point is that they are adopting a sound, but (if they are doing it right) can really make that sound like it belongs to them, putting a very personal spin on it. This kind of music can also be very accessible without needing to dumb down the sound for mass audiences. However, what seems to really make the difference is the amount of personality and craftmenship that goes into these albums (or songs, or whatever). Famous (or semi-famous) bands can change their sound to become more accessible, which may or may not help their popularity, but when a musician finds a way to put their “voice” into something specific but still authentic, that’s when I get really excited.
Before I know how to apply this knowledge to what I do, I’m first stuck with finding my voice. That’s one of those things that’s so obvious it catches me off guard. I’m a professionally trained musician who’s been doing this for years I think, How is it possible that I don’t have a voice? (I admit, I can have a pretty high opinion of myself sometimes). The truth is, that you have to do this all the time with great attention to what you are doing, and I just don’t compose music that often, and certainly not with much intention these days. The reason is I’m usually too busy playing in bands to write or practice my own stuff – and that’s made me lazy. I don’t know what my voice is…I sort of know some things that I usually do, and I certainly have a playing style that is relatively my own. But I don’t know what my voice is.
What this means is that now that I’ve been exposed to the concept of “having a voice” and now I have to work backwards to “finding my voice”, and I’m not sure where it is exactly. It seems to be all over the place. In my head, my voice is too crazy and complicated. But when I look at my solo musician repertoire I’m often finding it’s almost too simple and predictable. Don’t get me wrong, I won’t play a song if I don’t think it’s cool and fun to play -unless I’m in someone else’s band – but I’ve been forced to keep things simple and straight forward as a solo bassist, and I don’t think I need to keep thinking of myself as a solo bassist anymore.
So then what? Not sure exactly. I have been paying more attention to the voice of other musicians that I respect and would like to emulate (in terms of quality and musickal prolificness), and trying to see how they do what it is they do in an attempt to figure out things I can steal and make my own. And hopefully, within all of that, some of my personality will shine through, I’ll figure out the tricks I like the most, and I’ll start talking with my voice. It probably will take me a while to recognize it as my own, but I’m pretty sure that’s part of the journey.
What it really breaks down to, is I need to write more, really write, not just grab ideas and say “that’s cool” and never revisit a theme again. You know, be a REAL artist.
I think that’s the new theme of this blog/site/whatever. The journey to becoming a real artist. I could debate with myself over what that means, but for now I feel like I’ll know I’m getting there if I’m doing it right.
Disclaimer: I’m not actually on any sort of deadline to get anywhere, and I generally move sort of slow and cautious towards my goals until I am ready to persue them, so I won’t be quitting my job to move to a farming co-op. Certainly not this year. *wink*
P.S. This also of course applies to blog-writing. I’m realizing there’s also an art to writing and maintaining a blog, and that I need to keep practicing it to develop a rhythm that works for me. Of course, double-coding things into Severe Slang takes extra time too (But is oh so necessary </sarcasm> )[/translate]
[translate lang=Severe-slang]This last year er so ahve thought a lawt more about tha songwriting process than ah have in quite a while – specifically by payin more attention ta tha many subtleties in tha musick ah find myself listenin ta. In ordah ta dae so, ahve been forced ta evaluate tha musick ah listen ta, n am now tryina ta find ways ta factor this intae tha way ah create musick. Ah haven’t quite made a breakthrough yet, but ah am learnin thangs about my musical brain n how that translates ta tha rest of me, which is interesting.
Somethang that speaks ta me very directly is tha “voice” of an artist. In most cases ahm prolly thinkin about bands with a single main songwriter/singer who also has great musicians at thar disposal ta help take tha musick somewhar else (Peter Steele of Type O Negative, Glenn Danzig, Dave Wyndorf of Monster Magnet, Adam Turla of Murder By Death), although thars other examples of bands that work togetha more collaboratively (Tool, Black Sabbath), n thars also a few examples of singah/songwritah teams (Ween comes ta mind first). N of kerse, Mike Patton, who ken fit intae every category depending on what he’s daein.
These artists (specially Ween) ken also be adept at adoptin a “voice” fer an album (er any amount of time, whethah its 3 songs in a row er 15 seconds). Thar is a difference between this n a “concept album” howevah, which maybe ahll gae intae greatah detail about in anothah post. Tha point is that they are adoptin a sound, but (if they are daein it rite) ken really make that sound like it belongs ta them, puttin a very personal spin on it. This kind of musick ken also be very accessible without needin ta dumb down tha sound fer mass audiences. However, what seems ta really make tha difference is tha amount of personality n craftmenship that goes intae these albums (er songs, er whatevah). Famous (er semi-famous) bands ken change thar sound ta become more accessible, which may er may nawt help thar popularity, but when a musician finds a way ta put thar “voice” into somethang specific but still authentic, thas when ah git really excited.
Before ah know how ta apply this knowledge ta what ah dae, ahm first stuck with findin my voice. Thas one of those things thas so obvious it catches me off guard. Ahm a professionally trained musician who’s been daein this fer years ah think, How is it possible that ah don’t have a voice? (Ah admit, ah ken have a pretty high opinion of myself sometimes). Tha truth is, that you have to dae this all tha time with great attention ta what yer doing, n ah just don’t compose music that often, n certainly nawt with much intention these days. Tha reason is ahm usually too busy playin in bands ta write er practice my own stuff – n that’s made me lazy. Ah don’t know what my voice is…ah sort of know some thangs that ah usually do, n ah certainly have a playin style that is relatively my own. But ah don’t know what my voice is.
What this means is that now that ahve been exposed ta tha concept of “having a voice” so now ah hafta work backwards ta “findin my voice”, n ahm nawt sure whar it is exactly. It seems ta be all over tha place. In my head, my voice is too crazy n complicated. But when ah look at my solo musician repertoire ahm often findin it’s almost too simple n predictable. Don’t git me wrong, ah won’t play a song if ah don’t think it’s cool n fun ta play -unless ahm in someone else’s band – but ahve been forced ta keep thangs simple n straight forward as a solo bassist, n ah don’t think ah need ta keep thinkin of myself as a solo bassist anymore.
So then what? Nawt sure exactly. Ah have been payin more attention ta tha voice of other musicians that ah respect n would like ta emulate (in terms of quality n musickal prolificness), n tryin ta see how they dae what it is they dae in an attempt ta figure out thangs ah ken steal n make my own. N hopefully, within all of that, some of my personality will shine thru, ahll figure out tha tricks a like the most, and ahll start talkin with my voice. It prolly will take me a while ta recognize it as my own, but ahm pretty sure thas part of tha journey.
What it really breaks down ta, is Ah need ta write more, really write, nawt just grab ideas n say “thas cool” n nevah revisit a theme again. You know, be a REAL artist.
Ah think thas tha new theme of this blog/site/whatevah. Tha journey ta becomin a real artist. Ah could debate with myself over what that means, but fer now ah feel like ahll know ahm getting there if ahm daein it right.
Disclaimer: Ahm nawt actually on any sort of deadline ta get anywhere, n ah generally move sort of slow n cautious towards my goals until ahm ready ta persue them, so ah won’t be quittin my job ta move ta a farmin co-op. Certainly nawt this year. *wink*
P.S. This also of kerrse applies ta blog-writing. Ahm realizing thars also an art ta writin n maintainin a blog, n that ah need ta keep practicin it ta develop a rhythm that works fer me. Of kerse, double-codin thangs intae Severe Slang takes extra time too (But is oh so necessary </sarcasm> )[/translate]
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