For those of you just finding this blog, I'm a musician. I have three albums available on Jamendo: evolution (Nov 2006), handmade (Feb 2007), and La vie sous la mer (October 2007).
I've never been certain what to call my music. Sometimes I say modern jazz. Really, I just create the type of music that I, personally, like to listen to. But, you know, Bruce Music isn't going to fly as a genre label.
I'm not exactly very productive. It took me almost 9 months to make the last one. What's that -- about 5 minutes per month?
Well, honestly, it's because I'm a one man band. I play guitar, bass, keys, and drums. For a long time I've considered myself primarily a bass player, but recently, I've gravitated more toward the keyboard. I started with organ, went to piano, and now have totally embraced the world of synths. My main synthesizer is a Nord Rack 2X, but I play a lot of software synths as well (especially pipe organ, with Aeolus).
So that five minutes of track time recorded a month? Consider it's usually 10 or so tracks (I like layers). That means 50 minutes of actual instrument time recorded.
But wait. That's instrument time that made the final cut! For every track you hear, I probably made and discarded three to five others (I like variations and improvisation). That's about 150 to 250 recorded track minutes a month.
Then there's the editing time, and the time for rendering effects (I record 'dry', with no effects, and add them in the mix) . . .
You get the picture.
So when I say I'm working on my fourth album, consider that's a bit more than plonking out three chords and the truth. I've still got the truth, but dozens of chords ;-)
I started this past weekend. The compositions have been circulating in my mind since October. So far, I have the following:
- Waiting for You -- a song I wrote back in January 2005, updated to my modern style, with a few extra twists and turns. So far: a beta drum track (won't live to see the light of day, but good for bouncing ideas around); a bassline; 3 guitar parts (jazz clean, telecaster clean, telecaster chunky).
- Falling into the Dream -- One of my genuine regrets is that I can't sing. I can hear the melody to this song clear as anything when I play it. I just can't reach the notes (my range is D to F, below middle C). But I love this song. My wife even asked me to play what I had over again last night . . . even unfinished, it's got a lot of oomph. So far: beta drums, bass, piano, multilayered synth parts.
- Vale Avis Tenebrica -- Actually the sister composition to the above, with a split personality (moves from 6/8 straight 8ths to jazz waltz). In an unusual move for me, no bass -- I play the Hammond for the bass line, as well as some chordal textures. So far: beta drums, organ (3 parts in one -- two manuals + bass!), and piano.
And that's where I stand. Three songs and the truth.
Funny -- last year, I was doing FAWM. When I finished -- that's the day I signed up at Dandelife.
Hmm. That means I have a anniversary coming up.
I'll have to give this some thought.
