It has been almost a month since the release of “The Ghosts On the Lake”. The acoustic version is now FREE on NoiseTrade. Please download and share via Facebook and Twitter. If you like what you hear, please consider leaving a tip towards future recording projects. THANK YOU SO MUCH for listening and for your support!!! http://www.noisetrade.com/laurensum/the-ghosts-on-the-lake
It’s been one week since the release of “The Ghosts On the Lake”! #TGOTL
I had already taken Survey of Jazz and World Music when I was thinking of taking the History of Rock and Roll course at my university. Everyone told me not to take the course because of the professor. So, of course I didn’t sign up on something I really wanted to learn because of what I had heard. Then I discovered Coursera and since then, I’ve been taking History of Rock Part 1 and 2, taught by John Covach, professor at University of Rochester. I am really grateful to have this opportunity to learn from such an outstanding teacher and to learn what I wanted to know more about. I have learned a whole lot, some of which I’m embarrassed I didn’t know about before, since I am a music enthusiast. Professor Covach is one of the best teachers I’ve ever had. I only wish I knew him in real life. He is well knowledgeable, humorous and let’s have an education and love every moment of it kind of guy.
I’ve been thinking a lot about this week’s discussion of the 1990s, the era I was born and grew up in. Professor Covach discussed how as we approach music that’s relatively new, it’s a little more unclear about what truly makes music history presently today. He continues with how music trends from the past can be found in today’s music.
In History of Rock Part 1, Week 5 American Responses (1965-1967), “Dylan Goes Electric”, I learned that the folk scene thought Bob Dylan was selling-out for playing the electric guitar. So in response to all the unhappy folk scene, he writes “Positively Fourth Street” (1965). I didn’t think much about this until recently, while I’ve been paying attention to the trend in the music I listen to. What I’ve come to realize is that the artists I love and have inspired me through their sounds in the singer/songwriter genre are moving towards a pop/electronica/synthesizer sound.
One of the first artists I listened to that shocked me with their new sound is Taylor Swift’s Red (2012) album. She’s always been known as country, but a lot more pop, especially with Fearless (2009) and Speak Now (2010). The sound on Red, the heavy drums, instrumentation was far from Taylor’s signature sound and it took me a while to actually like her new album. There’s a group, Ten Out of Tenn that showcases individual acts from Nashville, Tennessee. I like to think there’s a Nashville sound and that Madi Diaz is part of that sound. She released two albums last year, Plastic Moon (2012) and We Threw Our Hearts in the Fire (2012). Plastic Moon (released earlier in January) features warm guitar sounds played by Madi and Kyle Ryan. We Threw Our Hearts in the Fire (released in October) has a completely different sound, marking the beginning of Madi’s transition to her now space sound. Tegan & Sara hit mainstream radio with a pop-like synth sound in “Closer” on Heartthrob (2013), completely different from “Where Does the Good Go” on So Jealous (2004). Andrew McMahon, known for a piano punk/pop/California sound recently released The Pop Underground EP (2013) with dance synth sounds layered with honest lyrics he’s been known to spill. Andrew Belle, also part of Nashville’s Ten Out of Tenn released a single, “Pieces” from a new album Black Bear (2013). Previously singing out his heart on an acoustic guitar, his new song features a dark instrumentation of synthesizers and drums. Brooke Fraser is releasing a new album in 2014 and this morning, she Instagrammed all kinds of synthesizers from a studio in London. I’m predicting synthesizer sounds on the new album.
SYNTHESIZERS are the new HEARTBEAT of singer/songwriters. In a way, all of this makes me sad. I’m reminded of what my guitar teacher once said to me. Once you love something, of course it has to change. Life is not static and neither is music. People keep evolving. Music evolves with the people who make the music. Artists experiment and become the artists they are, not by being craftsmen (also, what I learned in History of Rock Part 1).
Similar to how Bob Dylan reacted to his fans by writing a song, I have reacted, too. Only in reverse as a fan reacting to singer/songwriters gone pop/electronica/synthesizer.
Yesterday, my right hand was sore while attempting to play the cello for the first time. Today, my left hand is sore from playing barre chords. It’s been a while since I’ve picked up my guitar. I don’t feel like a musician at all. Sometimes my soul feels a lot like crying. Because I haven’t written a song I’m in love with. And every now and then, especially of lately, I question whether if I’m a qualified music teacher or not. All of this goes down, my enthusiasm, my very heart and work. I’m wondering what has gone wrong and why my flame is dimming. I can’t answer these questions now. But maybe I’ll find an answer soon.
via wire to the ear
Struggle is a part of songwriting. Being your own critic is raw honest opinion and not the easiest route. One of the questions I find myself asking is if this were another artist’s song, would I want this on my iPod? I’m still trying to figure out how a song fits together. I’ve found that some of my strengths are writing parts of an unfinished song, chord progressions and rhythm guitar. Sometimes inspiring lyrics find a way to me. Sometimes I have the lyrics and I have the chords, but I can’t seem to pull the two together. Melody is the core of a song I have yet to master. I haven’t found a melody I’ve actually liked. I’ve played many songs and studied the chord progressions. Intervals and chords in a key have played a huge part in thinking about which chords I’m playing. I never thought about melody lines until now and I think it’s time I look further into melodies. I’m hoping to largely improve songwriting by embracing my struggle, learning from confusion, continuing practicing and writing songs. I want to learn a lot more. I want to write a melody, guitar rifts, instrumental and multiple instrumental parts. I know I’ll be going back to the drawing board multiple times and revisiting square one. For now, I have to keep reminding myself it’s the courage to continue that counts and making the best of this songwriting journey.
(You can listen to my in the working demo by clicking on the link at the sidebar.)
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