Audio Processing May Move Along the Creative Process

Well now, if lack of blog entries would be considered a gauge of my sincerity toward songwriting, my future in the industry would indeed be insecure; in that light, I shall frequent this expressive tool a little more often to share with you my craft and progress toward commercial and artistic success.

As I review recent WIPs, or works-in-progress, I've determined that my favorite way to further an effort into a more polished project is to route the audio track through a basic audio processor (I happen to use an old BOSS-BR532) with a channel linked each to a mic and guitar.  For some reason, hearing the process in this audio realm gives me a level of creativity that makes me feel like the song is taking flight.  Perhaps when a song is in a raw, unrecorded process, it still seems like an
immature, unauthentic song, much like a child unable to walk yet.  This notion doesn't really prove that the song has any better chance of becoming a game-changer, but it does add a level of likeability from this writer's point of view. 

For example, in one of my current projects titled, "Gonna Take a Faster Guy," hearing some of the original concept audio files (that I captured on my trusty Sony ICD-PX312) is useful for determining lyrical configuration, but upon hearing sample tracks that were recorded through the BOSS, I feel a smile slowly grow between my ears because of the added richness to the project.  I like that, and will increase the use of this method to move along the creativity, as well as the form for my stronger song ideas.

-James Wood, aka Chords of Wood

Tritone Tuesday-Touting Copyright Respect

I had a rather disturbing remind-er recently that the ongoing struggle between the art of music and the audio connoisseur, rather the unappreciative digital shop-lifter, steadily downloading unauthorized musical tracks without paying those responsible entities who've invested in the genre to recoup and profit from their enterprise. 

How has the respect for property, in this case-intellectual, dissipated over several generations to where people believe it is their right to copy and distribute these tracks? 

Sure, there are the educational purposes, and personal use situations that stand to reason, but frankly, the motive to create for a profit is going to continue to weaken, and quality, professional music organizations will faulter due to lack of support.  Great Britian, where so many legendary music groups have come from, is dealing with this issue like an infestation of beatles. 

Here's an important statistic reported by The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA):  "-Frontier Economics recently estimated that U.S. Internet users annually consume between $7 and $20 billion worth of digitally pirated recorded music." 

Wow, can you imagine how many talented musicians, songwriters, artists, bus drivers, stagehands, etc. might get a pay raise is some of that were recouped?  Not to mention that some mortgages might get paid.  I've heard the stories firsthand of how houses have been borrowed against to record a full album in Nashville (not that I'd do that or recommend it).

Music is moving, and sometimes obnoxious and irritating, but we have the freedom to experience the style that fits our personality...for now; I for one, will continue to tout the need for copyright respect.  Pay for the music you love so much.  If you want to directly support an artist, check out any major "underground music scene" where many bands sell direct to the public.

The Courage to Say "No"

Some of us had a front

row seat to the financ-

ial chaos the subprime

mortgage meltdown

delivered, a perform-

ance undeserving of a

standing ovation.  Pay-

ing for our mistakes is

an unsettling venture

that is hard to face, but

take heart.  Time will

ease your pain. 

This photo of a home that was in our neighborhood

represents adversity  to me and encompasses all that one would never want to face...being locked out of their own home by some authority.  This is a motivating photo to me (likely material to inspire a song) to remind me how I can’t let life just happen, but rather to do my best to prepare for it and the unexpected.

It occurred to me recently that I had actually forgotten about a Nissan Sentra wagon that my wife and I surrendered to the bank in 1988, putting it through the auction procedure, and ending up with the balance.  It has since been paid for a long time.  However, we didn’t quite learn enough from that mistake, so acquiring other debt over the years made us hear that same familiar tune.  What is it about owning debt that

makes us feel so grown up? 

Fortunately, we’ve heard the different drumbeat of Dave Ramsey, who espouses the idea of gaining a debt free lifestyle.  It takes courage to say "no" to the world and yourself when it comes to the ease of credit use.  For us, it’s not been easy , but has been very rewarding.  We’ve been without consumer debt for several years now. The sense of exhilaration might be what a band must feel after a great show everyone loved.

Hopefully, if you’ve been unscathed by the credit bug, you’ll hear an imaginary “fire!” and storm for an exit the next time someone suggests you pay for something over time.  You may just pay dearly like so many have.

An Uncelebrated Hero

     In my regular work as a scrap metal truck driver, I have lots of time behind the windshield to mull over ideas for my music and lyrics.  It just so happens that in my usual routine, I would frequently see a fleet of regional beer trucks depart for their daily trek to supermarkets, various bars, and liquor stores from their South Bend, Indiana headquarters.  I would catch myself saying, "there goes the beer man," and think to myself, now there's someone who doesn't get enough credit for the ongoing party.
     Having been reminded visually every time I'd see these "hop and malt heroes," that I should write a
song about them, a melodic contour accompanied the phrase, "there goes the beer man."  I imagined that this idea should have a moderate pace and certainly be fun.  So, the idea was born, but it was probably a progression of several weeks and creating a deadline trip to Nashville that gave me purpose. 
     With guitar in hand and wit freshly charged I set out to write this, imagining how a beer man's day might
go.  Having had experience in daily deliveries myself in other trucking jobs, and observing how these fellows have to contend with curbside parking or traffic, it helped me liven up the lyrics with my narrative.
     Keeping my audience in mind was a critical factor as I created the lyrics, knowing full well this is for a NASCAR fan base, or a NFL crowd, or a group of blue-collar workers celebrating down at "Pete's" after work.  Anytime they glimpse the "beer man," they can shout out my mantra!
     Click on www.reverbnation.com/chordsofwood to hear the results and scroll down to the lyric page to view the wording as well.  -JW
    

About This Blog...

Frequently songwriters are asked about how they come up with their song ideas.  We don't know.  It is likely one of the great grand daughters of Zues and  Mnemosyne, whose daughters Euterpe and Polyhymnia were considered the goddesses who distributed such talent in Greek folklore.  My blog will attempt to explain my sources for my inspirations as I make songs available to the public, at publisher discretion, and perhaps lend you a hand in your own personal journey for inspiration.