Category Archives: Discussion

Songwriting During Periods of Writer’s Block

Posted on by August 28, 2017

For me, creativity rarely flows like a continuous stream. In fact, more often than not, it comes in violent volcanic bursts. We’ve all had those stretches where songs seem to fly out with ease and other times where we stare down at our instrument or notepad for hours and nothing seems to really work. Sometimes this can stretch out over days, into weeks. or even months or longer. That feeling of burnout — when writing feels like a chore — can be brutal. So, what exactly causes this writer’s block and what can be done about it? I can really only speak for myself, but typically when I have extended periods where I am not excited about anything, there is usually some underlying expectation that isn’t being fulfilled. In other words, I have an idea in my head of how something should sound, but my fingers don’t want to cooperate. … Continue reading →

Are Music Videos Keeping Experimental Filmmaking Alive?

Posted on by August 28, 2017

I have been getting into experimental filmmaking recently.  Although I don’t know a great deal about the movie industry, it is perhaps fair to say audience for these pictures is niche, to put it favorably. Unlike music, where artists have bridged the technology gap and can more easily self-release professional grade material, the lack of strong studio backing for unconventional films leaves filmmakers with limited budgets and crews, making the process much more difficult. But, one intriguing aspect about experimental film techniques is their rather widespread use and general acceptance in music videos. This is true even when the underlying song doesn’t seem to require such an unusual interpretation. Interestingly enough, mainstream audiences seem to be totally accepting of the fact that these videos may have little to no coherence, contain extreme visual effects, and utilize unconventional camera work. In fact, it often seems like weirder has always been perceived as … Continue reading →

Songwriting in an Era of Options

Posted on by August 28, 2017

When it comes to creating art, taste is everything. We often think of songwriting as an additive process, which might start with a basic chord progression and build from there. But, sometimes it is what is not included in the final product that gives the work its aesthetic quality.  Today, we live in a time of excessive options. Electronic musicians often get cited for not playing instruments the traditional way, and yet the process has never been as simple as pushing a few buttons. Given all of the plugin and looping options, it is perhaps knowing what to leave on the cutting room floor that shapes the character of the modern musician. With this reality, decision paralysis becomes a real problem in songwriting. There is a tendency to fall into the trap of believing that more is always better, or wondering if something could be tweaked to make the piece … Continue reading →

Challenge Accepted

Posted on by August 28, 2017

I remember the first time I heard The Residents. Nothing could have prepared me for such a unique onslaught of noises (most of which were initially unpleasing to my ears). And yet, something told me to continue listening past the point of wanting to tap out — I guess I had faith that it would all make sense at some point. It eventually did, but in order to reach that level my musical orientation needed a complete repositioning. It recently occurred to me that most of the music I have come to love presented with a rather steep learning curve. Frank Zappa and Mr. Bungle come to mind, both of which produced sounds that were simply not very welcoming to new listeners. In fact, in relation to Zappa, one Redditor summarized the listener’s response cycle for each album, broken up into four stages: Stage 1: What is this shit? Stage … Continue reading →