I attended a drum circle, or “Rhythmic Motivation” as it was more officially referred to, with my friend Mindy yesterday. (Full details on the program are here.) That was just what I needed right now! A few days back, I had expressed a desire to return to exploring the more visceral and performance-based world of … [Read more…]
I’m not sure at what point it happened, but it happened at some point over the last month or two. Whatever muse I had is gone. It happens from time to time, but it’s all the more concerning this time due to the fact that I’ve been going through those moments of emotional confusion and … [Read more…]
I’ve had this itch lately to make some good old-fashioned industrial music. No, not like Nine Inch Nails or Ministry, or even Skinny Puppy. I’m thinking the banging on pipes, hitting oil drums with sledgehammers, and mangling tape loops kind of industrial. Einsturzende Neubauten at their most abrasive and experimental, but perhaps with a bit … [Read more…]
I mentioned a few days ago that I was starting to draw again, and hoped to have my first piece done over this weekend. The penciling turned out great, looked fabulous and made me quite proud! Now, I really wish I had scanned the pencil version before I inked it in, because it really doesn’t … [Read more…]
I’ve finally gotten back into drawing this week. I’d dabbled here and there over the last couple months, but ended up setting it aside every time. This time, I’m sticking with it pretty well. I’ve got a fairly major project that I’m well into, and fully plan on finishing. I’ve got the pencil work done, … [Read more…]
Getting better at putting these out in a more regular fashion, rather than the binge and purge method I used to employ! Another little slice of textural, Basic Channel-style techno. This song is about all those people that have dropped into my life and made a huge impact. All too often, these people leave my … [Read more…]
Okay, I’m pretty sure I’ll be done rambling on creativity and the right brain after this. There’s a couple more things I spent some time examining and thinking about, so here it goes… (The quoted bits are again from “How To be Creative”.) The more talented somebody is, the less they need the props. Meeting … [Read more…]
I’ve been spending a lot of time today reading the “How To be Creative” text I quoted in my last post, and thinking about it a lot. One element of it has really stuck in my head: Everybody has their own private Mount Everest they were put on this earth to climb. You may never … [Read more…]
I won’t try to claim any deep or personal meaning to this track, it’s just some good old thumping Detroit-style techno. I’d clearly been listening to too much Jeff Mills and Robert Hood before I wrote this. Guilty as charged. :-) I also had a little help on this one, my friend Jim (aka ) … [Read more…]
Finished another new track! This track is the yang to the yin of my last couple tracks. Whereas the last couple I did were rooted in randomness and chaos (mostly for the timbre, synth patches and whatnot) this track is planted firmly in the corner or order. All the rhythmic and tonal structure is based … [Read more…]
For the first time in many years, I sat down and tried to do some creative writing. I used to do it all the time, short stories, poems, song lyrics, you name it, I did it. I’m not saying any of it was any good, but I did it for the same reason I make … [Read more…]
My mood hasn't been so great lately, pretty damn depressed actually. Between job woes, out of control emotions, and a melange of other things that have beset me, I've been pretty down in the dumps lately. As a side-effect, however, I've been much more creative (musically) than I have in a long time. Before the … [Read more…]
Okay, so I went back to the basic four-on-the-floor techno stuff here. I gotta write what comes out, not wat I want to write. Besides, I don’t mind the four-kick stuff so much anyway. This is another one of those kinda personal tracks, though the messages aren’t so subliminal this time (but still rather veiled.) … [Read more…]
This is breaking completely free of the usual over-structured four-kick techno stuff I usually do. I’ve been experimenting a lot with alternate grooves and random sound generation, and here’s the first result. It’s pretty much 7+ minutes of shifting textures and subliminal messages. Download (128k MP3) here: I Don’t Mind (Yes I Do)
This was an attempt to finally break free of my usual four-on-the-floor techno stuff. Less minimal and more abrasive than usual, and a bit random. Still thumping though, it just doesn’t go “boom-tsk-boom-tsk” the whole time. :) Download (128k MP3) here: Recurring Themes