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01/31/2008  — 

29 Songs Starts!

We're doin it. Tomorrow.

I'll put a page (and maybe that js-kit forum (yes techcrunch nerds, I'm lazy)) at http://29.netscrap.com to track the progress.

At this point Derek, Seth, Peter, and possibly Mark will join me on a quest toward sketchyness: sketching out song ideas and recording them every day for the month of February.

Seth took the first splash last night:

I decided to see what this was going to be like tonight. It took longer than I thought, but I wrote, recorded, and uploaded a song ... not to the netscrap site because it's not yet February :) but to myspace : http://www.myspace.com/thesethfr eeman - check it out. I don't think I'll be putting in 3 hours every day on this so I'll probably end up with more simple / unfinished idea-type songs for most of the month :)

Derek responded:

Oh man, that's a great song, Seth. It sets the bar impossibly high.

You can beat that Derek! Beat it!

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01/24/2008  — 

February 2008: Song-a-Day a.k.a 29 Songs

Back in the old days, when I was motivated, somewhat creative, and had gobs of freetime I decided I'd challenge myself by writing and recording a song every day for a month. I chose February, the shortest month because I'm not an overachiever. I want to try it again this year.

Clicking around the net, it turns out that my '29 songs in February' idea isn't too original. The RPM challenge is slightly different in that it's more about delivering a full album at the end of the month.

Sure I did this back in 1996 (or was it '95?). The one thing that pleases me is learning that there's something universally musicianly about choosing the shortest month in the year for this kind of effort.

Here's the goal:

  • write and record 1 (or more) song(s) every day for a month.
  • upload our work in some place
  • share & listen with each other at the end
  • put together a best-of for others

Fine print:

  • fragments, grooves, hooks, choruses... it's all good. Just record it.
  • starting early, ending late.... it's all good. Let your guilt be your guide.
  • taking 2 days to finish recording a song... great. Just end up with 29 at the end of the month.
  • ending up with 28 songs at the end of the month... great. Just end up with as many as you can. They don't necessarily have to be good. You might not know they're good until a few months later.

This seems like an unlikely time to get involved with an activity like this: blert is in deep hibernation, Little john is buried, we're up to eyeballs in work and family.

Why:

  • it's a way of getting the cobwebs out
  • time pressure will force you to stay out of creative rat-holes
  • it's good practice to let go. good enough is ok, move on.
  • because then you have 11 months to revise, refine, and record a pile of work (and think like a producer).
  • it's good practice of your engineering skills: get your workflow in shape.
  • it's a good excuse to fly mics in your livingroom (or at the breakfast table)
  • does this really need more elaboration?

A few folks are interested in taking this trek. We'll collect everything somewhere online and share the best of the bestest.

Drop a note if you're interested in doing this too or if you're mucking with the rpm challenge.

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