Many links. Link, linkety-linkety-link. Pow. First a new remix from Sam Reece, for "Esther":
Esther Hurts My Head (Ocean Mix)
That's two remixes by Sam! Thanks, Sam! If anyone else is working on remixes, please to send them to me soon! I am getting the biggest kick out of these things.
Don't forget to download the other two remixes thus far:
That Wine Makes My Urns Beer (Messin' With Urns Mix) by driftingmuppet
That Wine Makes My Urns Beer (Tornado Alley Mix) by Sam Reece
There was a question raised in the comments over here by Iron Chef Klingon (nice handle, that) that I would appreciate further input from everyone else on.
You should think about subscribing to the comments feed if you haven't. It's really helpful for keeping track of the conversations happening across different posts. And participate (please?)!
OK, I really have to get a good amount of work done on #22 tonight.
You guys thought "Deserve" was... fun? You're all crazy people. In a good way.
Song List
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Monday, May 25, 2009
5240 Song #21: Deserve
5240 Song #21 (for May 25, 2009):
Deserve
Um. Well. I feel better now.
Deserve
Um. Well. I feel better now.
Thank you for listening! PLEASE consider posting a comment by clicking the comments link below! Thank you, and I'll see you next week!
Lossless versions of this track available at Bandcamp.com:
Lossless versions of this track available at Bandcamp.com:
Friday, May 22, 2009
Making With The New Learnings
IanM, that rascally scalawag, posted a good question in the comments here, but I didn't want it to get lost in there, so I'm reposting:
I think the way past this involves a lot of things, and since I'm sitting here, I'll try to type some of them up. But I want to make sure everyone is aware that I am no freakin' expert about nuthin'. I'm just going to share a few things I've learned that work for me, and that I've heard/read have worked for others.
The first thing to realize when you get stuck creatively is that it happens to every creative person, everywhere. In every medium. I read a lot of blogs by writers, musicians, filmmakers, etc., because I find creative people to be interested in the same things I'm interested in, and I like reading the perspectives of these folks. What I see, over and over again, are posts that say things like Oh my gawd, I have no new ideas, or I have a deadline in two hours and I don't know how my story ends, or I can't think of what the third verse should be, do I even NEED a third verse?!? And on and on.
So. The thing is, to try to remember that this is part of what generating something via creativity is all about. It's the game the Universe is playing with you - so, you want to make a song (film, book, video, painting), eh? OK - but you didn't think it would be EASY, did you?
So the first response in this situation is to try your very best to ease up on yourself. Give yourself some slack.
Actually, I take it back - the above is really the same way you want to respond to EVERY creative challenge - be excellent to yourself. This means, no self-flagellation, no judgments before the damn thing is finished. No one knows better than me how freaking HARD that is. But it truly is the only way forward.
Another thing to remember about creating is that the reason for YOU to create is so that you can share YOUR point of view. So: stop comparing your fledgling idea with those Giant Classic World-Changing Songs that we all know so well. The worst thing you can do when you're stuck on your song is to start thinking about how it will never be as cool as "Kashmir." Remember, there was almost certainly a moment when Jimmy Page got done playing that "Kashmir" riff for the rest of them, shrugged his shoulders, and said, "Yeah, that's all I got." Lucky for him he had John Paul Jones in the band to write all that mellotron and horns stuff. The people who wrote those world-changers didn't know they were doing it at the time. They were full of insecurity and second-guesses. But they knew that the only way to know if it was good or not was to finish it. To do that, they just kept showing up and working on it.
I have a common problem where I fall too much in love with an idea, and then when I try to add new things to it, nothing measures up to the original part in my mind. Back around week 8 or 9, I was working on "Esther" a lot, and I had that main groove and about five different ideas for melodies to sit on it, and then I had that descending guitar part that ended up being "the chorus." But I got really stuck trying to figure out how to structure the song. What was a verse? Was there a chorus? Did I need more stuff? What kind of bridge should I do, or should I even do one at all?
I got so frustrated that I went off and wrote something else for week 9. And then I had already finished my work for week 10, so I had a little breather. It's a good idea to not underestimate the usefulness of time away from something you're stuck on. At the same time, make sure you come back in a reasonable amount of time, or else risk putting the thing aside forever.
When I did come back to "Esther", all those structure issues were still there waiting for me. I finally decided that the idea that I had been running away from, i.e., letting that main groove be the bed for 80% of the runtime, was something worth at least trying out. So I tried that, and varied the "sections" by superimposing different ideas at different times. Which then lead me to the question, "Well, what happens if ALL of these ideas are happening at the same time?" Which led to that "build up" right before the bridge comes - where it got so crowded that you couldn't understand the lead vocals anymore. Which led me to ask, "Am I OK with not being able to hear the words there?" And I realized I absolutely was, that the point at that moment was NOT what the words were SAYING. So then I realized if I was going to have information overload there, then I should REALLY GO OVERBOARD with it.
This was just an idea that occurred to me. I could have argued the point with myself. But I decided not to judge the idea before I heard the results. It was just an idea, a statement, as simple as "Well, maybe this could happen next." What it was NOT was any kind of rumination as to the world-changing nature of what I was up to.
So now I had total cacophony. What's next? Well, what's the total opposite of total sonic anarchy? As Steve Buscemi says in that Coen Brothers movie, "Total fucking silence." And that's how I got to that bridge.
I find if you just start saying "yes" to the little innocuous voice that pipes up in your head in these moments, instead of the typical knee-jerk "NO", you find yourself in flow. Be open to literally ANY idea that comes to you, no matter how silly, pretentious, stupid, funny, ridiculous it may be. Also be ready to throw out the ideas that you had previously fallen in love with. I don't care how much you love some idea you're attached to, if it's preventing you from finishing something, throw it away.
And at the end of all of this, you will generally find yourself with a different song than you expected to make.
That is so OK with me.
Especially when I've got a deadline to hit.
"I find that when I'm trying to write/record something, I get so tired of hearing it that it never gets finished!! Apart from starting a new tune, do you have any other way of getting over that?"I'm not sure if I've had quite the feeling you mention, IanM, if I understand you correctly. That is, if I have an idea I like, I don't get bored of listening to it. What does happen is that I get stuck, because usually one idea isn't enough to make a song. What happens to me most often is "Now What?!?" Syndrome.
I think the way past this involves a lot of things, and since I'm sitting here, I'll try to type some of them up. But I want to make sure everyone is aware that I am no freakin' expert about nuthin'. I'm just going to share a few things I've learned that work for me, and that I've heard/read have worked for others.
The first thing to realize when you get stuck creatively is that it happens to every creative person, everywhere. In every medium. I read a lot of blogs by writers, musicians, filmmakers, etc., because I find creative people to be interested in the same things I'm interested in, and I like reading the perspectives of these folks. What I see, over and over again, are posts that say things like Oh my gawd, I have no new ideas, or I have a deadline in two hours and I don't know how my story ends, or I can't think of what the third verse should be, do I even NEED a third verse?!? And on and on.
So. The thing is, to try to remember that this is part of what generating something via creativity is all about. It's the game the Universe is playing with you - so, you want to make a song (film, book, video, painting), eh? OK - but you didn't think it would be EASY, did you?
So the first response in this situation is to try your very best to ease up on yourself. Give yourself some slack.
Actually, I take it back - the above is really the same way you want to respond to EVERY creative challenge - be excellent to yourself. This means, no self-flagellation, no judgments before the damn thing is finished. No one knows better than me how freaking HARD that is. But it truly is the only way forward.
Another thing to remember about creating is that the reason for YOU to create is so that you can share YOUR point of view. So: stop comparing your fledgling idea with those Giant Classic World-Changing Songs that we all know so well. The worst thing you can do when you're stuck on your song is to start thinking about how it will never be as cool as "Kashmir." Remember, there was almost certainly a moment when Jimmy Page got done playing that "Kashmir" riff for the rest of them, shrugged his shoulders, and said, "Yeah, that's all I got." Lucky for him he had John Paul Jones in the band to write all that mellotron and horns stuff. The people who wrote those world-changers didn't know they were doing it at the time. They were full of insecurity and second-guesses. But they knew that the only way to know if it was good or not was to finish it. To do that, they just kept showing up and working on it.
I have a common problem where I fall too much in love with an idea, and then when I try to add new things to it, nothing measures up to the original part in my mind. Back around week 8 or 9, I was working on "Esther" a lot, and I had that main groove and about five different ideas for melodies to sit on it, and then I had that descending guitar part that ended up being "the chorus." But I got really stuck trying to figure out how to structure the song. What was a verse? Was there a chorus? Did I need more stuff? What kind of bridge should I do, or should I even do one at all?
I got so frustrated that I went off and wrote something else for week 9. And then I had already finished my work for week 10, so I had a little breather. It's a good idea to not underestimate the usefulness of time away from something you're stuck on. At the same time, make sure you come back in a reasonable amount of time, or else risk putting the thing aside forever.
When I did come back to "Esther", all those structure issues were still there waiting for me. I finally decided that the idea that I had been running away from, i.e., letting that main groove be the bed for 80% of the runtime, was something worth at least trying out. So I tried that, and varied the "sections" by superimposing different ideas at different times. Which then lead me to the question, "Well, what happens if ALL of these ideas are happening at the same time?" Which led to that "build up" right before the bridge comes - where it got so crowded that you couldn't understand the lead vocals anymore. Which led me to ask, "Am I OK with not being able to hear the words there?" And I realized I absolutely was, that the point at that moment was NOT what the words were SAYING. So then I realized if I was going to have information overload there, then I should REALLY GO OVERBOARD with it.
This was just an idea that occurred to me. I could have argued the point with myself. But I decided not to judge the idea before I heard the results. It was just an idea, a statement, as simple as "Well, maybe this could happen next." What it was NOT was any kind of rumination as to the world-changing nature of what I was up to.
So now I had total cacophony. What's next? Well, what's the total opposite of total sonic anarchy? As Steve Buscemi says in that Coen Brothers movie, "Total fucking silence." And that's how I got to that bridge.
I find if you just start saying "yes" to the little innocuous voice that pipes up in your head in these moments, instead of the typical knee-jerk "NO", you find yourself in flow. Be open to literally ANY idea that comes to you, no matter how silly, pretentious, stupid, funny, ridiculous it may be. Also be ready to throw out the ideas that you had previously fallen in love with. I don't care how much you love some idea you're attached to, if it's preventing you from finishing something, throw it away.
And at the end of all of this, you will generally find yourself with a different song than you expected to make.
That is so OK with me.
Especially when I've got a deadline to hit.
Banana
Right at the end of a week which honestly felt like it could not get worse... a ray of sunshine! Another 5240 remix for you guys!
That Wine Makes My Urns Beer (Messin' With Urns Mix)
This remix brought to you by commenter Driftingmuppet (not his real name)! Same song as last time, wildly different take on it (AND extra credit must be given for Mr. DM's sly inclusion of some bits from "Esther" and um... OTHER sources. Great job, Driftingmuppet!
Oh, and I will preemptively apologize to all of you for what I'm posting next Monday morning. Not the best week over here, and um... well. I took it out on poor track 21. You'll see, I mean, hear.
That Wine Makes My Urns Beer (Messin' With Urns Mix)
This remix brought to you by commenter Driftingmuppet (not his real name)! Same song as last time, wildly different take on it (AND extra credit must be given for Mr. DM's sly inclusion of some bits from "Esther" and um... OTHER sources. Great job, Driftingmuppet!
Oh, and I will preemptively apologize to all of you for what I'm posting next Monday morning. Not the best week over here, and um... well. I took it out on poor track 21. You'll see, I mean, hear.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
I Need Your Opinions, Please
Hey, if you guys could help me out here, I'd very much appreciate it. I'm going to do a brief little Q&A-style internet interview, and they've asked me to send a few MP3's, from which they will choose one to have going in a "player" on the interview page itself.
So: as people who are listening to these tunes every week, what are the "top 4" tunes that you would give to someone who had never heard the stuff before, as a means to interest them in hearing the rest? Please post your answers in the comments, along with any thoughts you have as to the whys, if you feel like it. Thanks a bunch!
So: as people who are listening to these tunes every week, what are the "top 4" tunes that you would give to someone who had never heard the stuff before, as a means to interest them in hearing the rest? Please post your answers in the comments, along with any thoughts you have as to the whys, if you feel like it. Thanks a bunch!
Monday, May 18, 2009
5240 Song #20: It Feels Like You Aren't Even Trying
5240 Song #20 (for May 18, 2009):
It Feels Like You Aren't Even Trying
Urgh. Agh. My name Glarg. Me CAVEMAN, argh. Glarg like to hit things. HARD. Ungh, ugh. POUND them into mud. Ragh. Urgh. Glarg POUND, make glorious SOUND. AAGGH!
It Feels Like You Aren't Even Trying
Urgh. Agh. My name Glarg. Me CAVEMAN, argh. Glarg like to hit things. HARD. Ungh, ugh. POUND them into mud. Ragh. Urgh. Glarg POUND, make glorious SOUND. AAGGH!
Thank you for listening! PLEASE consider posting a comment by clicking the comments link below! Thank you, and I'll see you next week!
Lossless versions of this track available at Bandcamp.com:
Lossless versions of this track available at Bandcamp.com:
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Oops
I think that putting up those ZIP files of tracks for "Urns" and "Esther" got both wonky.net and wonky-records.com (where I believe I had put those files) shut down for bandwidth reasons. Should have thought about that when I put up a couple of nearly 450 meg files, eh?
I can't even FTP to those sites. And of course, w-r.com is where I've been putting all the 5240 files. I guess for now, if you want to download the 5240 tracks, you have no choice but to get them at Bandcamp (still free!): http://shawnfarley.bandcamp.com. And for now, plan on Bandcamp being the only place you can download upcoming song #20, while I get this straightened out. Maybe Bandcamp is just the way to go from now on?
Oopsie.
I can't even FTP to those sites. And of course, w-r.com is where I've been putting all the 5240 files. I guess for now, if you want to download the 5240 tracks, you have no choice but to get them at Bandcamp (still free!): http://shawnfarley.bandcamp.com. And for now, plan on Bandcamp being the only place you can download upcoming song #20, while I get this straightened out. Maybe Bandcamp is just the way to go from now on?
Oopsie.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Mime Tanagement
I'm getting annoyed. Annoyed because I know most of my foibles in the last week where it came down to not having enough time here and there to do things I needed to get done, was my own fault. So, New Week's Resolution: I am going to do better at this. Dammit.
Just finished a mix of tune #20, "It Feels Like You Aren't Even Trying." This one is Caveman Rock. Rargh. Argh. Ugh. Raggh. BONK.
For some reason two of my Web sites are down. Boo. Hiss.
Hey! 20 tunes down! I can't believe I've written and finished 20 songs this year! Go me!
Do I have time to make a video this week? When was the last one, week nine? Eesh. Where is that video camera, anyway? Did it get moved to the new place?
Bleh. Blarg. Tired. I'm gonna walk down the street and watch a silly movie. Nighty night.
Just finished a mix of tune #20, "It Feels Like You Aren't Even Trying." This one is Caveman Rock. Rargh. Argh. Ugh. Raggh. BONK.
For some reason two of my Web sites are down. Boo. Hiss.
Hey! 20 tunes down! I can't believe I've written and finished 20 songs this year! Go me!
Do I have time to make a video this week? When was the last one, week nine? Eesh. Where is that video camera, anyway? Did it get moved to the new place?
Bleh. Blarg. Tired. I'm gonna walk down the street and watch a silly movie. Nighty night.
Monday, May 11, 2009
More For The Remixers: "Esther"
Another zip file of raw tracks for y'all - this time the ones for "Esther Hurts My Head." And I forgot to put a "readme" file in with them, so I'll just mention here that the tempo of the song is 80 bpm. Of course, what would be really interesting would be somebody finding ways to combine these tracks with the "Urns" ones... but I'll shut up and let y'all do your thang.
UPDATE: I've removed the stems from my server because of bandwidth issues. If you really want to remix something and didn't get the stems while they were up, send me an email at yogi AT wonky DOT net.
Ready... GO!
UPDATE: I've removed the stems from my server because of bandwidth issues. If you really want to remix something and didn't get the stems while they were up, send me an email at yogi AT wonky DOT net.
Ready... GO!
5240 Song #19: I'm Just Enjoying The View
5240 Song #19 (for May 11, 2009):
I'm Just Enjoying The View
Because we men are visually oriented creatures, don't ya know.
I'm Just Enjoying The View
Because we men are visually oriented creatures, don't ya know.
Thank you for listening! PLEASE consider posting a comment by clicking the comments link below! Thank you, and I'll see you next week!
P.S. - Don't forget to scroll down a post and download Sam Reece's "Tornado Alley Mix" of "That Wine Makes My Urns Beer"!
Lossless versions of this track available at Bandcamp.com:
P.S. - Don't forget to scroll down a post and download Sam Reece's "Tornado Alley Mix" of "That Wine Makes My Urns Beer"!
Lossless versions of this track available at Bandcamp.com:
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Gauntlet, Thrown
The first remix of the 5240 project has arrived!
That Wine Makes My Urns Beer (Tornado Alley Mix)
I LOVES IT, Preciousssss!
This remix brought to you by commenter SAM REECE (who you may recall was one of the contest winners from way back when). Here is what he told me about his remix in an email:
And because I am a greedy bastard, I say to the rest of you who downloaded the "Urns" stems: MORE! I WANT SOME MORE!
Seriously, I love the Internet. Getting this in my email made my freakin' day today. My biggest pleasure doing the 5240 project is in finding new ways to surprise you folks, and now Sam surprised me with what he did - turnabout being fair play and all that. I'm a happy, lucky dude.
That Wine Makes My Urns Beer (Tornado Alley Mix)
I LOVES IT, Preciousssss!
This remix brought to you by commenter SAM REECE (who you may recall was one of the contest winners from way back when). Here is what he told me about his remix in an email:
It's the "Tornado Alley Mix" (I'm from Kansas get it?), and the length of the track is the day you released "Urns Beer".I say, WELL DONE, SAM REECE! Huzzah to you, sir!
And because I am a greedy bastard, I say to the rest of you who downloaded the "Urns" stems: MORE! I WANT SOME MORE!
Seriously, I love the Internet. Getting this in my email made my freakin' day today. My biggest pleasure doing the 5240 project is in finding new ways to surprise you folks, and now Sam surprised me with what he did - turnabout being fair play and all that. I'm a happy, lucky dude.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Ketchup
I'm taking a break from working on the new ditty, this one called "I'm Just Enjoying The View." In a semi-panic about it, since it's nowhere near done, and I have no freaking time available to me, but hey! What ELSE is NEW around here, eh? I keep adding weird little things to it, and I have a basic concept and lyrics. I'm going to take a break from this and watch the new episode of "LOST" after I get done typing here. Then back to panic-stricken music-making for a couple of hours.
Lots of conversations going on in the comments. Did you know I posted a PDF of the melody for "Hey, Zeus! Zombie!"? Well, if you didn't, now you do.
Did you also know that I uploaded all of the audio tracks for "That Wine Makes My Urns Beer" so that you (or someone like you) could download them and remix them to your heart's content? Now you do.
Subscribe to the comments feed in your RSS reader! Comments are fun! We want to talk to you in them!
Alright. Gonna go see what happened on that crazy island tonight.
Lots of conversations going on in the comments. Did you know I posted a PDF of the melody for "Hey, Zeus! Zombie!"? Well, if you didn't, now you do.
Did you also know that I uploaded all of the audio tracks for "That Wine Makes My Urns Beer" so that you (or someone like you) could download them and remix them to your heart's content? Now you do.
Subscribe to the comments feed in your RSS reader! Comments are fun! We want to talk to you in them!
Alright. Gonna go see what happened on that crazy island tonight.
Monday, May 4, 2009
5240 Song #18: Moist
5240 Song #18 (for May 4, 2009):
Moist
An ode to one of my least favorite words in the English language.
Thank you for listening! PLEASE consider posting a comment by clicking the comments link below! Thank you, and I'll see you next week!
Lossless versions of this track available at Bandcamp.com:
Moist
An ode to one of my least favorite words in the English language.
Thank you for listening! PLEASE consider posting a comment by clicking the comments link below! Thank you, and I'll see you next week!
Lossless versions of this track available at Bandcamp.com:
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Alright, Remixers: GO!
OK, the first bundle of audio "stems" can now be downloaded by you all, for "That Wine Makes My Urns Beer." It's a big 'ol download, too - 430 megs.
UPDATE: I've removed the stems from my server because of bandwidth issues. If you really want to remix something and didn't get the stems while they were up, send me an email at yogi AT wonky DOT net.
I want to hear what you do with this! No chickening out, now!
UPDATE: I've removed the stems from my server because of bandwidth issues. If you really want to remix something and didn't get the stems while they were up, send me an email at yogi AT wonky DOT net.
I want to hear what you do with this! No chickening out, now!
Friday, May 1, 2009
There Be A Number 18
Thanks for all the words of encouragement over the last couple of days. Those who have been hanging around for a long time know that I can't just let things slide.
And last night I wrote and recorded most of song #18, "Moist." It sounds like Trent Reznor doing a jingle for a cake recipe.
I'm going to have to get used to how my new surroundings sound. I was pretty used to recording and mixing in the old digs, and now I'm in a completely different type of space. There are hardwood floors in here, and there's a wall behind me where I didn't have one before. I'll get the hang of it, though. Change is good.
Thanks for sticking around.
And last night I wrote and recorded most of song #18, "Moist." It sounds like Trent Reznor doing a jingle for a cake recipe.
I'm going to have to get used to how my new surroundings sound. I was pretty used to recording and mixing in the old digs, and now I'm in a completely different type of space. There are hardwood floors in here, and there's a wall behind me where I didn't have one before. I'll get the hang of it, though. Change is good.
Thanks for sticking around.
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