The Process
I have been playing guitar intensely for four years. That said, do not expect to hear a shredding metal solo, or a distorted blues riff, in any music that I produce in the near future. I want to get that out of the way first. Don’t get me wrong; I respect musicians who play blues and metal guitar for their superior technical abilities. These styles simply aren’t for me; I intend to create something as unique as possible by playing music.
I digress. Here is a step-by-step procedural chart of my progress over the past three months.
Equipment Used:
-Fender HW 1 Stratocaster Guitar
-Fender Precision Bass (acquired in April)
-Roland SPD-S Drum Sampler
-Yamaha PSS-480 Keyboard
- Tambourine (manufacturer unknown)
-my younger sister’s voice
-Apple Macbook Computer with Garage Band
I went into Senior Project wanting specifically to produce a bubbly surf-pop album like those created in the fifties (and later reinvented in the early 80’s). The following should effectively explain why I did not, in fact, produce such an album, as well as how I developed as a recording artist.
-FEBRUARY:
- I begin fiddling around with the Garage Band recording program on my computer, but discover that I am totally inept at using it.
- I learn that my older friend from work, Cameron Keuhl, is not only proficient with the garage band program, but records and plays his own music
- I casually work with Cameron over the next two weeks to develop my skill at using the program. He shows me various effects, as well as how to alter the sounds of recorded instruments.
- I record roughly seven separate songs before march 1st. These songs are highly primitive; mostly consisting of one or two guitar riffs and a drum line. No Vocals are used in these songs
-MARCH
- I make a conscious effort to study specific types of music over a variety of eras. In my research I discover the Big Band music of the 1950’s and 60’s (Charles Mingus, Thelonius Monk, Miles Davis), some obscure Post-Punk Bands (the Monochrome Set, the Raincoats, the Feelies), Vintage German Electronica (Kraftwerk, Can), and the origins of ‘Emo” music (Rites of Spring, Sunny-Day Real-Estate, Knapsack, Jawbreaker). These are just a fraction of what I found on the Internet and through friends.
- I record the ‘Wing’ song currently on my EP
- I begin reading “Gravity’s Rainbow” and am inspired when I see that an artist on the internet (Zack Smith) drew a surrealist illustration for each of the 759 pages in the book. I decide that I will devote the lyrics of my Senior Project to songs about certain pages of the novel.
- I begin scribbling lyrics. I discover myself to be highly self-conscious, and an unbearable perfectionist. Any writing from this time were destroyed soon after they were produced
- I purchase a MIDI-Plug In from target, which allows me to record music by plugging instruments directly into my computer via a USB port. Previously, I had been using the built in microphone on my Mac.
- My ears begin to ring. I blow my first set of headphones.
- I (possibly) invent a new instrument, which I call “the fuzz”, using the software instruments and a combination of unconventional effects in Garage Band. This instrument can not be heard on the final EP, though I will showcase it in my presentation.
- A total of 25 individual tracks recorded. Many of them are simply pseudo song that I intended to finish at a later time, but never got around to.
- DISASTER STRIKES! My Fender has problems with its input, and further recording is postponed until mid April.
APRIL:
- I get my Dad’s friend John Squiciarini (no joke; that’s how its spelled) to fix my guitar
- I begin to have my sister assist in my recordings. She can be heard singing in the track ‘Stigma” on my EP.
- I quit attempting to write lyrics and develop an extemporaneous method of stream of consciousness writing. This method proves to be vastly more natural and effective. From APRIL on, I adopt the slogan ‘If I remember it, it was worth singing’.
- I work rigorously at making my voice sound better. I am an awful singer, but find that Reverb and Chorus effects can improve the sound of my voice.
- I discover a breed of music called “shoegaze” in which voices like mine are favored. I attempt, somewhat, to replicate the shoegaze sound on the track ‘Blips’
- I record 4 covers; Sweet Jane by the Velvet Underground, ‘Killing Time” by Echo and the Bunnymen, Under the Milky-Way by the Church, and “Ready 2 Wear” by Felix da Housecat.
- I acquire a Bass guitar from my mentor. It is bright pink, but does its job. I spend the next week explaining where the “light-red” bass in my room came from.
- My sister and I decide to name ourselves ‘Mir Cat’ whenever we record. I had previously been using the monikers “Summer Home” and “Garden Terrace”
- I begin speaking with my neighbors Dad, Joe Cavallero, about my project. He being a musician of 40 years, agrees to let me use his recording studio, as well as offer crucial song-writing advice. I intend, from this point, to present my project recorded in analogue format. I could not due to time constraints.
- I further conquer my perfectionism and finish the tracks ‘Blips’ and ‘Stigma’
- I notably leave ‘Wings’ which appears on the EP, unfinished. I find that Wings, recorded a month prior, sounds much closer to sound I had originally intended for this project. This, to me, was a sign of creative growth.
- I discover Slowdive, a band whose lead singer has a voice remarkably similar to mine. My self-confidence rises significantly.
- I attend two highly inspiring live shows in San Francisco. The bands were Xiu Xiu at Bottom of the Hill, and Dilletants at the Knockout.
MAY:
- I chose the three songs to put on my prospective EP, but decide that these do not represent the final versions. I plan to later use Mr. Cavallero’s studio to finalize the songs.
- I finish the final vocal tracks.
- Cameron asks for his pink bass guitar back. I have yet to return it.
- I make plans to display the track “Stigma” on Myspace.
That concludes my Procedure Piece. The results can be heard in my presentation. I hope that you enjoy them.
A Reflection
My Senior Project has taught me not to reflect too thoroughly on things I create. That said, I can’t be held responsible if this section is particularly brief.
Because of this project, I have produced three songs for which I am semi-proud to have produced. This is a gargantuan personal accomplishment for me. Understand that until last month, I had genuinely disliked nearly all of the music I had ever produced. I thought my sonic monstrosities to be trite, untalented, and exceedingly annoying. But having a set deadline has done wonders for my creativity, which has in turn led to increased competence and subsequent confidence.
One aspect of my songs that I am wholly proud of is their uniqueness. For better or worse, I cannot name any bands that produce music quite like mine. And I made an effort not to “ape” any of my favorite songs and call them my own. That’s not to say that music like mine does not exist; I simply don’t know of any other like-minded musicians in my immediate vicinity. You may notice that some songs on my EP are technically simple, particularly “Stigma”. I try not to pride focus on my technical prowess, (I dislike guitar solos) but rather on my creativity and ability to express a mood with a given instrument. Prior to this project, I could never have put any of this to words, mostly because I disliked thinking about the music I made to the extent that I couldn’t write about it.
Ok. I shouldn’t have said that there is no music like mine. I couldn’t have created this project without having prior influences. Looking at the (pseudo) finished products on the EP, my songs are like a mix of Sonic Youth, Xiu Xiu, Joy Division, the Velvet Underground, My Bloody Valentine, and the Ravaonettes, to name a few. The process of discovering new bands and types of music was imperative to completing my senior project. Hearing songs I liked, after all, added a blend of competition and encouragement to my musical thinking.
The idea to make my project “about something” marked a major turning point in my creative process, and dampened the sense of impending doom that hung over my shoulder whenever I thought about showing anyone the music I had made. It gave me focus.
In summary this project rocked.