Creating original music

[Fierce Critter]

For those of you who are involved in creating original music - your observations, please.

There was a time in my life that I was extremely serious about music. A period of about 6 years in the early through mid 90's that I spent developing my musical skills, and attempting to "get somewhere" with my music.

I spent that time learning and improving my guitar playing. Writing original music VERY prolifically. Getting involved with the Detroit music scene.

My intent was to put together a band and, the ultimate goal, get signed to a lable and "make it" in the music business.

And I treated it as such. I busted my ass doing everything I could think of to both put together a band, and promote it. I became downright infamous in the scene for my hand-posted "band members wanted" flyers in music stores, as well as my almost weekly ads in the Metro Times classifieds. Strangers posted their own ads observing how tenacious I was, it was quite the phenomenon.

But it was incredibly frustrating. I would find great musicians to work with, incredibly talented people who were just amazing. We worked well together, composing original music together, practicing regularly, etc. Eventually, we'd end up in a studio recording demo tapes with which to promote ourselves.

But things never panned out. The story was always the same - I busted my ass WORKING at the BUSINESS side of music, and the others just wanted to play. IF I could even get them to do THAT. I got no help posting flyers, scheduling practice, STICKING to practicing schedules, promotion, etc. Eventually the group would break-up because people just didn't want to WORK at it.

I came really close at one point to making that all-important connection - meeting someone who could connect me with someone at a lable or lables who might give the project a chance. But once again, the project fell apart and I had nothing to farm out.

At the time, it never occurred to me to try to make it as a solo artist. I never had enough faith in my own instrumental talent to feel I could do without, at very least, a better guitar player to play leads for me. And the thought of being a Mariah Carey or even Melissa Etheridge-type solo artist supported by studio musicians - strangers - always seemed distasteful to me - I wanted a BAND of like-minded musicians to do it with. In retrospect, I regret never having gone that route.

Eventually, I burned-out. I spent so much time handling the serious, business side of things, I couldn't enjoy the creative "fun" part of music anymore. I quit - entirely.

Fast-forward to last year. My guitars and amp have sat dusty for about 7 years. I haven't written anything new for at least that long. The only live singing I've done has been karaoke out of simple desperation to SING. And DGN Vol. I is in the works.

So I download and learn some electronic synth & mixing programs, and go to work. I take a song I wrote a decade past and re-arrange it into an electronic format. And I submit it. And the reaction to it is better than I could have hoped for.

And I really enjoyed doing it. I am particularly amazed, and relieved at how doing the work electronically enables me to overcome my prior dependence on someone else to play the instrumental parts for me. I'm no longer limited by being unable to make the sounds & arrangments in my head come out my hands. Woo-hoo!

And a year goes by. And I don't do anything more.

And now we're at today. Vol II is in the works. I get some new equipment, and better software. I've got everything I need at my disposal to make another song to contribute to the project.

Once again, I take a decade-old song previously meant for guitar and begin transposing it to an electronic format. Spend a couple weeks learning the new software, and plugging in the notes I need to begin building the parts.

And I stop. And I've gotten no further than an intro and a single verse of melody done thus far.

Now, I can chalk some of this inertia on the clinical depression for which I've just begun being treated. Motivation has been hard to come by for about 4 years now.

But part of it is a serious doubt as to why I should do anything at all. There was a time in that busy, determined period of the 90's that I would get incredibly frustrated with truly talented guitarists who were content to noodle around in their basements - and never try to do anything serious with their talent.

And I'm wondering where I stand right now in that regard. So I created a single song that got good response, and I've found I have a talent I had only hoped I had.

But what do I want to do with it? Do I just want to keep on at this pace - creating a single song each year for contribution to a compilation, or do I have interest in getting serious and once again doggedly pursue putting together an entire album's worth of songs on my own?

And why? Do I really, at 38 years old, think I can go anywhere with it? Would any lable be interested?

And do I even want that at this stage of my life? I'm pretty comfortable with the life I've got - beyond depression of course. Would I be able to handle or even like the life a successful career in the music industry - no matter how small or large - would mean for me and my husband?

I really don't know what to do. Part of me still feels VERY STRONGLY the same way I did about those talented guitarists. Why do this if I'm not going to promote it and work at it seriously? Why sit at the computer creating music nobody, save maybe myself and a few friends, will ever hear?

How do you handle this sort of thing? Do you think it's a waste of time to work on music if your goals don't include doing it as a business? Are you content just doing it "for fun" and not caring if the songs are ever played outside of your own CD/MP3 player?

I just don't know. I don't know how much of this is "seeing the world through depression glasses" as my therapist put it, and how much of it is that old problem I've had with playing music "just for the love of it".

I'd really like to know what other artists on this board think in that regard. Have you ever struggled with the same kinds of thoughts?

Thanks.

[Hellion]

For those of you who are involved in creating original music - your observations, please.

There was a time in my life that I was extremely serious about music. A period of about 6 years in the early through mid 90's that I spent developing my musical skills, and attempting to "get somewhere" with my music.

I spent that time learning and improving my guitar playing. Writing original music VERY prolifically. Getting involved with the Detroit music scene.

My intent was to put together a band and, the ultimate goal, get signed to a lable and "make it" in the music business.

And I treated it as such. I busted my ass doing everything I could think of to both put together a band, and promote it. I became downright infamous in the scene for my hand-posted "band members wanted" flyers in music stores, as well as my almost weekly ads in the Metro Times classifieds. Strangers posted their own ads observing how tenacious I was, it was quite the phenomenon.

But it was incredibly frustrating. I would find great musicians to work with, incredibly talented people who were just amazing. We worked well together, composing original music together, practicing regularly, etc. Eventually, we'd end up in a studio recording demo tapes with which to promote ourselves.

But things never panned out. The story was always the same - I busted my ass WORKING at the BUSINESS side of music, and the others just wanted to play. IF I could even get them to do THAT. I got no help posting flyers, scheduling practice, STICKING to practicing schedules, promotion, etc. Eventually the group would break-up because people just didn't want to WORK at it.

I came really close at one point to making that all-important connection - meeting someone who could connect me with someone at a lable or lables who might give the project a chance. But once again, the project fell apart and I had nothing to farm out.

At the time, it never occurred to me to try to make it as a solo artist. I never had enough faith in my own instrumental talent to feel I could do without, at very least, a better guitar player to play leads for me. And the thought of being a Mariah Carey or even Melissa Etheridge-type solo artist supported by studio musicians - strangers - always seemed distasteful to me - I wanted a BAND of like-minded musicians to do it with. In retrospect, I regret never having gone that route.

Eventually, I burned-out. I spent so much time handling the serious, business side of things, I couldn't enjoy the creative "fun" part of music anymore. I quit - entirely.

Fast-forward to last year. My guitars and amp have sat dusty for about 7 years. I haven't written anything new for at least that long. The only live singing I've done has been karaoke out of simple desperation to SING. And DGN Vol. I is in the works.

So I download and learn some electronic synth & mixing programs, and go to work. I take a song I wrote a decade past and re-arrange it into an electronic format. And I submit it. And the reaction to it is better than I could have hoped for.

And I really enjoyed doing it. I am particularly amazed, and relieved at how doing the work electronically enables me to overcome my prior dependence on someone else to play the instrumental parts for me. I'm no longer limited by being unable to make the sounds & arrangments in my head come out my hands. Woo-hoo!

And a year goes by. And I don't do anything more.

And now we're at today. Vol II is in the works. I get some new equipment, and better software. I've got everything I need at my disposal to make another song to contribute to the project.

Once again, I take a decade-old song previously meant for guitar and begin transposing it to an electronic format. Spend a couple weeks learning the new software, and plugging in the notes I need to begin building the parts.

And I stop. And I've gotten no further than an intro and a single verse of melody done thus far.

Now, I can chalk some of this inertia on the clinical depression for which I've just begun being treated. Motivation has been hard to come by for about 4 years now.

But part of it is a serious doubt as to why I should do anything at all. There was a time in that busy, determined period of the 90's that I would get incredibly frustrated with truly talented guitarists who were content to noodle around in their basements - and never try to do anything serious with their talent.

And I'm wondering where I stand right now in that regard. So I created a single song that got good response, and I've found I have a talent I had only hoped I had.

But what do I want to do with it? Do I just want to keep on at this pace - creating a single song each year for contribution to a compilation, or do I have interest in getting serious and once again doggedly pursue putting together an entire album's worth of songs on my own?

And why? Do I really, at 38 years old, think I can go anywhere with it? Would any lable be interested?

And do I even want that at this stage of my life? I'm pretty comfortable with the life I've got - beyond depression of course. Would I be able to handle or even like the life a successful career in the music industry - no matter how small or large - would mean for me and my husband?

I really don't know what to do. Part of me still feels VERY STRONGLY the same way I did about those talented guitarists. Why do this if I'm not going to promote it and work at it seriously? Why sit at the computer creating music nobody, save maybe myself and a few friends, will ever hear?

How do you handle this sort of thing? Do you think it's a waste of time to work on music if your goals don't include doing it as a business? Are you content just doing it "for fun" and not caring if the songs are ever played outside of your own CD/MP3 player?

I just don't know. I don't know how much of this is "seeing the world through depression glasses" as my therapist put it, and how much of it is that old problem I've had with playing music "just for the love of it".

I'd really like to know what other artists on this board think in that regard. Have you ever struggled with the same kinds of thoughts?

Thanks.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

:devil I know exactly what you are talking about,I used to play Guitar for a while,and I used to roady for a local metal band,until ego's and drugs ruined everything.I personally know other local musicians,and if you need any info I can try my best,just leave a PM if you want.And by the way original is all I will deal with.

[phee]

Interesting post Critter...

I have been at this since '93 and I have loved the result that I have gotten.... I am doing what I love.

After I got over the ideas of "making it" or "getting signed" and just started doing shows and recording, I just seemed to feel better universaly.

From what I can tell the lines that divide musical terms like "solo artist" vs. a "band" are really no longer valid (Nine Inch Nails is one guy) and so forth... Also the concept of a "label" has changed very drastically...

When I have enough material that I am proud of to release, I am not going to worry so much about getting signed.... I am going to record it, mix it, master it, and copywrite it... then perhaps worry about "distribution".

I have always wanted to do soundtrack work for a living, I have now done some short films and plays in the area... My band Alienare has played local venues... and to me that is very inspiring...

I guess before I ramble too much more (too late) besides being recognized or famous... I don't really see what else there is at the end of this "making it" idea.... I love to make music, and whether a little or a lot of people listen, well I just hope they like what they hear.

[Hellion]

Interesting post Critter...

I have been at this since '93 and I have loved the result that I have gotten.... I am doing what I love.

After I got over the ideas of "making it" or "getting signed" and just started doing shows and recording, I just seemed to feel better universaly.

From what I can tell the lines that divide musical terms like "solo artist" vs. a "band" are really no longer valid (Nine Inch Nails is one guy) and so forth... Also the concept of a "label" has changed very drastically...

When I have enough material that I am proud of to release, I am not going to worry so much about getting signed.... I am going to record it, mix it, master it, and copywrite it... then perhaps worry about "distribution".

I have always wanted to do soundtrack work for a living, I have now done some short films and plays in the area... My band Alienare has played local venues... and to me that is very inspiring...

I guess before I ramble too much more (too late) besides being recognized or famous... I don't really see what else there is at the end of this "making it" idea.... I love to make music, and whether a little or a lot of people listen, well I just hope they like what they hear.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

:devil I would like to hear your music,The best music is your own,your own creation.Well said Phee.

[kellygrrrrrl]

I would do it for pleasure rather than business. Sounds like you need creative release.....go out there and just do it, and don't worry about getting famous. Do what you love to do to do it....

let the creative juices flow....don't deny yourself of doing that much. you will regret it. even if you go and play in some dumb coffee house, you will at least be doing what you love to do.....and hey...if something pops up..then go for it....

[phee]

I would love for you to hear it.... thanks

And one distintion that is important... your talant determines only how much a person as individual may like you and has little to nothing to do with how popular or know you are....

[Steven]

I have no doubt that inside of you is a wonderful dreamscape of colors and sounds.......

most musicians can relate to everything you've said.

I just sold my beloved red sexy semi hollow elvis would die for guitar....cause I needed to pay a bill.

but the truth is that guitar has only been noodled on these last couple of years....and i too - work best with others - and yet that combination is difficult to acheive.

You need to take care of you first.

Play your music and write it - to express yoruself as your own unique language. One thign I've learned is that when I play I'm free....those are the very few pure moments in my life.

I'm 39. I doubt I'll make it either. Doesent really matter to me anymore though....the "making it" part. What I'd rather do is smile across the stage at my friend while we're doing out thing.

dont pressure yoruself critter. write when you can...just to write. Play that one chord and love the feel of it.

Steve

[phee]

I have no doubt that inside of you is a wonderful dreamscape of colors and sounds.......

most musicians can relate to everything you've said.

I just sold my beloved red sexy semi hollow elvis would die for guitar....cause I needed to pay a bill.

but the truth is that guitar has only been noodled on these last couple of years....and i too - work best with others - and yet that combination is difficult to acheive. 

You need to take care of you first.

Play your music and write it - to express yoruself as your own unique language.  One thign I've learned is that when I play I'm free....those are the very few pure moments in my life.

I'm 39.  I doubt I'll make it either.  Doesent really matter to me anymore though....the "making it" part.  What I'd rather do is smile across the stage at my friend while we're doing out thing. 

dont pressure yoruself critter.  write when you can...just to write.  Play that one chord and love the feel of it. 

Steve

What he said

[mauraway]

fierce critter asked:

"Do you think it's a waste of time to work on music if your goals don't include doing it as a business? Are you content just doing it "for fun" and not caring if the songs are ever played outside of your own CD/MP3 player?"

i reply:

No, to question number one. Yes, to question number two.

If you love doing something, it's never a waste of time. I play instruments and make music just for fun, and because I -have to- [i.e. or I would explode]. Normally nobody ever hears me other than myself. But it makes me happy just to do it.

Now, yeah making music is always more fullfilling if you have other people to play with. Maybe I'm just group oriented that way since I grew up in band/symphony environments. And getting to perform in front of other people is always more fun than just entertaining yourself, but I grew up performing in music and dance, so maybe that's just me.

I'd still love to find someone or other to play music with. In the meantime though, I'm content just entertaining myself.

Play with me

http://www-personal.umich.edu/~mauraway/playwithme.html

[odims_sphere]

My opinion is that you can't do music to "make it". The ones who do make it generally don't start off with that goal in mind. Once you start making music that you think will get you somewhere you are compromising your own personal integrity. Besides when you take the pressure of having your music accepted off the actual creative process becomes much more enjoyable and flows easier.

I got into a funk one time where I hated everything that I was writing and Pete Greko taught me something that helped out a lot. Instead of trying to write a "song" start with sounds. Good songs have to be made up of good sounds. If you are having trouble writing a song just spend a day editing and programming sounds all the while thinking stereophonically and multi layered. Once you've created a bunch of really cool sounds you'll be inspired to put them to song, which at that point they'll flow almost on their own.

[phee]

My opinion is that you can't do music to "make it". The ones who do make it generally don't start off with that goal in mind. Once you start making music that you think will get you somewhere you are compromising your own personal integrity. Besides when you take the pressure of having your music accepted off the actual creative process becomes much more enjoyable and flows easier.

I got into a funk one time where I hated everything that I was writing and Pete Greko taught me something that helped out a lot. Instead of trying to write a "song" start with sounds. Good songs have to be made up of good sounds. If you are having trouble writing a song just spend a day editing and programming sounds all the while thinking stereophonically and multi layered. Once you've created a bunch of really cool sounds you'll be inspired to put them to song, which at that point they'll flow almost on their own.

Good post...

If you are not into sound design, the same can be said for riffs, or even words if you are a vocalist

[Hellion]

Good post...

If you are not into sound design, the same can be said for riffs, or even words if you are a vocalist

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

:devil Original Music is the only music I ever listen too,Always liked the bands own material.

[Steven]

Good post...

If you are not into sound design, the same can be said for riffs, or even words if you are a vocalist

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

yes. exactly. and by the way good post Odim's.

[mauraway]

Once you start making music that you think will get you somewhere you are compromising your own personal integrity. Besides when you take the pressure of having your music accepted off the actual creative process becomes much more enjoyable and flows easier.

I'd agree to this and add:

Often it seems that when people start gettting all self-conscious about "pleasing the masses" and "making it", the music tends to suffer. It starts sounding kinda "fake".

Some people don't mind that I guess. But at some point, the self-consciousness starts to show.

I say, just do what you feel like doing, and someone will like it, somewhere. Even if that someone is only yourself. What's the point in trying to please others ?

[Der Nister]

The artist known as Jandek released 42 records since 1977 and has only recently played his first live shows during this past year. You could always do that if you wanted. My point being you don't have to perform to create your own music and prosper. Something to think about.

[Blackmail]

"making it" is a relative term anyway. In the 90's it was extremely expensive to put out an indie CD but because of technology you can do a grassroots CD on your own that looks and sounds almost as good as a CD by a band recording at a local studio and getting their CD's pressed at a plant.

Anyway FC, if you decide to make music and get more serious about it and you don't get sell a million records and you don't get played on the radio - you've lost nothing. Just having your own CD full of songs that you've written and recorded should be reward enough and it will be something you can listen to for years.

By the way I am the best guitarist who has ever lived so I can play on your tunes if you want.

[SanctumNocturna]

Maybe I'm the opposite end of the spectrum then. I'm not an egotist by any means, honestly I've struggled for many years to even allow myself to record...and rabid perfectionism has inhibited most of that.

But over the course of the last year, I've made a very conscious effort to buy equipment, to make an investment in these things that I do....which is the first time I've ever done so. Working on the DGN II is another big step for me, and an important one. For the years I've been making music, it's generally remained something that I'd hidden. Never thought what I was doing was "enough," and never thought that what I was doing would be desirable to anyone but myself.

This is an attitude within myself I'm looking to change. Writing the music has always been about getting out those things inside me that I could get out no other way. It was an immensely personal experience, and in many ways, it's putting myself out on the line to do so. To stand or fall, per se.

It's not necessarily about success, but it's about reaching the people who actually take the five minutes to listen to the song...to hopefully pay attention to the lyrics...and maybe, if I'm lucky, wonder what the meaning behind it was.

These feelings began within the last year in many ways, as I started playing with my cousin and best friend, who'll be present on the new recordings.

To make it for me is to get up on that stage... To make it for me is to not throw those recordings in a drawer and not let anyone hear... To make it for me is to take the risk, to look someone in the eye and know that what I'm doing isn't as bad as I would have thought.

That being said, I'd hope someday that people would enjoy my music enough to stop in and by a CD. That's not saying a million people, but a few people that would want to support me in that venture, and in making more. Is it so wrong to be capitalistic, and to want to play gigs? I don't think so.

In a lot of ways, I've struggled with an artistic integrity element as well..."When we play gigs, should I only play my originals or get some covers in there so we have more of a chance of being booked in some places?" Does doing covers make you a good band? No. There's a million bands out there who do bad covers, and they're getting paid many nights a week to do so....because someone wants to hear them.

In a way, I've become more capitalistic. Does that mean living the dream? No. But it means making the investment in myself, in these things that I do, and in giving it an honest shot. And it's become more important to me with everything I've poured into it...taking on extra work to raise the money for equipment...using the spare seconds I have to pour into writing, and preparing to record.

Of course I'm doing this for me, and in the end, if nothing else, I would be able to listen and enjoy what I'm doing. But at the same time, it's important for me to get out there and at least make the honest effort to have other people hear too. I don't know if that's so outside of the point everyone's making, but for some reason upon reading the other posts, I felt that I might be on at least SOMEWHAT of a different wavelength.

Either way, DGN is a big step for me personally. And one that I hope those who take the time to listen enjoy...for all of us participating.

I'll get off my podium now.

[Pulse State]

I would do it for pleasure rather than business.  Sounds like you need creative release.....go out there and just do it, and don't worry about getting famous.  Do what you love to do to do it....

let the creative juices flow....don't deny yourself of doing that much.  you will regret it.  even if you go and play in some dumb coffee house, you will at least be doing what you love to do.....and hey...if something pops up..then go for it....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

As an artist, I couldn't agree more. Sure, send demos out if you want some label backing (financially, or just for a bit of advertising help), but do it for the love of music.

Very well said, though!