Podcasts

Just investigating, and listening to some podcasts.

I can't believe that there is an entire wealth of interesting and funny material, all available for free, in the form of podcasts online.

Podcasts have been around for ages, but this is the first time I've ever sat down and listened to some. I wonder how many other people are the same as me, knowing what they are and where to find them but never bothering to look them up?

I think I will definitely be spending more of my time enjoying the material available on these podcast sites.

That Won't Do

I watched Avatar 3D the other day and was completely blown away.

I know the film is already old news to most people and 3D has been around for ages but this was a brand new experience for me.

Firstly, ignore everyone who tells you that the plot for Avatar is lacking - they are wrong. The story is incredibly relevant and poses a huge amount of questions which we should all be asking ourselves. Especially considering what's currently happening between the UK and Argentina over oil.

But the thing that really struck me about the whole experience was that, if you want to create something that grabs peoples attention, makes them think, but above all, transports them to another place, then "that'll do" just isn't a phrase you can use.

Yes Avatar had a huge budget to play about with, but I'm convinced that even with a small, independent budget, a powerful and captivating work could had been made because quality isn't always about money - it's about attitude to work, about pushing yourself and your creative practice so that the end goal is a complete realisation of your initial intention. There is no room for compromise.

Avatar 3D taught me a lot about the quality of my own work and what I consider to be good enough.

Jumping Off Bridges

A little while ago I started working on a few pieces of music for a short film called 'Jumping Off Bridges'.

I can't remember whether I have spoken about the project here or not, but it is definitely turning out to be quite a challenge. I've never done anything on this scale before.

The other evening I had my second meeting with the films director where I showed him some of the rough demos I had produced and had a little chat about exactly where to head with the seeds of ideas that I had.

It was a really positive exchange - he seemed pleased with the ideas that I had and more importantly, was honest about the elements he wanted changing. I now have a really clear idea of what it is that I need to do next.

This afternoon I have been working on some music for one of the scenes where we both felt my initial ideas needed tweaking - the results are already sounding exciting and much more developed then in my rough demos.

Although I mustn't get too carried away with myself, or over complacent, a certain amount of confidence over my work and it's direction is essential for this type of project. I'm really excited to see how the finished film will turn out with my music accompanying it, although I mustn't kid myself that there isn't a hell of a lot of work to do in the meantime.

Burial

I am constantly about 6 - 12 months behind the rest of popular culture when it comes to music. I'm OK with that though, I think music, as well as other art forms, should be absorbed in an organic fashion, as they become a part of, and relevant to your life.

Anyway, I listened to Burials first album the other week.

At first I think I was trying too hard to analyze the details in his music, and because of this I entirely missed the point of what his music is about. I didn't think it was that great.

However, when I sat back and let the music, the sounds, the just glide over me, I began to understand the mood and sense of space that is create ambiences d in his music.

There's a lesson to be learn there about listening habits.

But more importantly, I have now become fascinated with creating a sense of space in my music - Burial is a master of it and I want to be one too.

So far I am having great success, carefully moulding field recordings into beautiful snippets of space and ambiance.

It isn't the quickest of processes by it really works.

Experimentation

Over this last week, I have been experimenting with different samples and rhythm structures.

Some times the experiments provide useful results and the process moves forward.

Mainly though, they have led me nowhere and I find myself starting again from scratch the next day.

This is perhaps the first time in my life that I have worked in such a carefree, exploratory way.

I can see that this way of working may well stick with me. I love how, even if I do not make any measurable progress, I am constantly learning what doesn't work, then attacking the process from a fresh, and usually better angle the next day.

After a week of experimenting with different structures of sounds within a single loop, I have started to get some material that sounds a hundred times more interesting then anything I have made before.

Open Mic Finder

Martin asked me the other week to mention his new open mic finding tool.

It pretty much does what it says on the tin - it allows you to find out about open mic nights being held in different areas. Martin has covered all of the angles so if you are thinking about attending one of the open mics listed on the site, you can travel assured that your time will not be wasted.

I've made it pretty clear to people over the last year or so that I think open mic nights are invaluable to performers hoping to develop their craft.

This tool could be especially useful for acts wanting to promote a gig in a new town in an old fashioned, personal way, instead of just spamming everyone on facebook.

From an audiences point of view, there is nothing better then fresh performers turning up to play at your local open mic night, often injecting a fresh take on things, and some much needed energy to the proceedings.

However, be warned, open mic nights often rely on tight knit communities of performers, regularly patting each other on the back after weekly poor performances. Respect, and the right to play, has to be earned.

So get out there and start earning it.