Sometimes it can feel good to get away from the studio. It's unfortunate that ideas will happen at these times. I do have a laptop, loaded up with my music software, but without a nice small portable controller, I don't have much desire to get the ideas down. The QWERTY keyboard MIDI driver is a neat idea, but too much of a pain to work with. But now it looks like Korg has answered my prayers:



The only one that I feel that I'll really need is the nanoKEY (the keyboard one, duh). If I'm on my laptop somewhere and need to get some drums down, the keyboard will work just fine for that, and no need to mess with the nanoKONTROL either(the mixer looking one). From what I hear, these are going to be reasonably priced as well. I saw some European prices on some other site, all around £49, which puts it at around $96 here now, at the current exchange rate...wow that's really sad. Still though I think it's worth it.

i'm getting a little sick of getting into a rut every so often when it comes to writing music. it really happens far too often, and takes far too long to get out of. Sometimes the constant weeding through samples, presets, synths to use in a song can take precedence, and can wear you out rather quickly.

so my experiment for today, is to start a new song. i'm going to leave my VSTs either all at their default setting, or do the entire song in piano tracks. For drums, just going to pick the first samples I see and get to work on concentrating on patterns.

i'm fighting to split apart the two parts of the musical process that have been going head to head in my...head. composition. then production.

we'll see how that goes.

"when the sky begins to fall"

we've been digging the hole
for far too many years
and it'll be time to say goodbye
when we all just disappear

C:
so is this how it ends
doesn't really matter at all
i'll be right beside you
when the sky begins to fall

the world grows silent
and time slows to a crawl
i'll be right beside you
when the sky begins to fall

what have we done
it's only begun

-----------------------------------

"reflection"

1st chorus:
the reflections that you see
are far too faded for me
i'm fighting to break free
you're not what I'll ever be

2nd chorus:
the reflections that you see
are far too faded for me
i'm fighting to break free
you're not what I'll ever fucking be
it's become so hard to believe
the reality that we perceive
oh how much you've been deceived
I think it's time for you to leave

is it just me?

now, I've not been to many "industrial" shows. pretty much Nails and 51 Peg and that's it. but as it seems, when you went to a show for industrial music, it really wasn't all that dissimilar from a rock 'n roll show. you had guitars(albeit likely heavily distorted), on occasion you had a real drummer, and most importantly, you had that same energy.

nowadays, it seems like fans in the "industrial scene*(vomit)" are only interested in "club nights" and seeing the frontman of one of today's terrible "industrial" acts play DJ for a couple hours instead of actually playing music. now it may be argued that energy on a dance floor could rival that of a rock or metal show. Probably true, but it's a different kind of energy. It's not even close to the same.

maybe those of us that are not trying to pander to this crowd should try to garner fans that aren't so diluted. you want to dance? go to a rave. when I start performing all I want from people is to just chill out and enjoy the show, have some drinks, and have a good time.


*I really hate this fucking word.

p.s. I am now 1/4 century old.

works in progress.
------------------------------

i am my own obstruction
breeding self-destruction
digging a deeper hole
failure i can't control

i've got too much ambition
yet i lack inspiration
this repeating pattern
and it just keeps on turning

i'm backed up to the wall
and there's nowhere to run
can't seem to fight myself
when i've become undone

-------------------------------------

even after all
i'm still stronger than you
you may see a wall
but I just push right through

your greed is a virtue
that i will never share

It occurs to me that a growing number of independent artists I have met on Myspace and other such sites(some I would even call friends) are seriously considering giving up on music. Their reasoning? Money(as if it should come as any surprise). More bitching about piracy. More bitching about it not being worth it. Sorry fellas, but if that's the way you see things, then your heart was never in it to begin with. Electronic musicians today sicken me. One for example, has completely given up on industrial. He now fronts a band that plays a style that is very popular on the radio. To me, that is the absolute definition of sell out. Well best of luck buddy.

The real problem with industrial music(or any type of electronic music) today is simple. Complete and blatant lack of originality or substance. Everyone is just out to emulate their favorite "industrial" band(9 out of 10 it's Combichrist). The "scene" or whatever the fuck you pricks want to call it, is so overpopulated with total garbage, that it is hard for something interesting and new to shine through it all.

So, what do people in this situation do? Give up or press on it seems. Honestly, it's going to be nice to separate the true musicians, the ones who are mind, body and soul 100% into what they do, from those out there who just picked up an Access Virus just because it was "cool" and "all my favorite bands use it".

I'm releasing my next album as a FREE, high-quality mp3 download. Probably distributed by torrent.

What side of the fence do you think I'm on?

Fuck off.

Firstly, I'm disappointed in you, Pennsylvania. You can probably guess why (hint: it's about politics).

Down to business.

1. The move was successful and I am very comfortable in my new recording space:

2. I'm no longer using Reason as my primary musical program. I'm moving on to Ableton Live and VSTs, and loving it. I feel renewed inspiration now and am really digging in. I absolutely adore the Tension plug-in that came with Live, since I'm a sucker for a plucked string sound, and putting all sorts of effects on it.

3. I've been really messing around with the Ebow lately, and getting some crazy feedback sounds out of it when held a certain way, it's really cool and I need to just record myself fucking around for later use.

4. I'm going to work on a cover soon. It's a well known song, or at least it should be. The band is still recognizable today, and the song is from the early 90's. I can't really think of anyone else covering it, honestly. Everyone can send me a guess. Or just wait.

5. More and more lyrical ideas are coming to me. I may finally be settling into having to be a lyricist. I just hope they sound as good sung as they do on paper, or on the computer screen in this case.

6. I'm going to stop being social soon and really concentrate on the work ahead.