Arranging Addict!

A current in-development song in Cubase

I just can't seem to write without arranging!

It's not enough for me to lay down the chords and sing over them, because I always have more in mind than that.

I have an impression of what the drums ought to do, what the bass should sound like, what kind of solo or instrumental there might be, for how an electric can sit on top of the acoustic, and so on.

So I find that whenever I write a song, I can't stop at just laying down the bare bones - though maybe I ought to learn to do that.

Thing is, I am a writer, not a performer, but the downside to having so much in my head for how the song should sound is that it takes time to do all that extra stuff.

That slows me down in terms of getting my songs down in a listenable form rather than just in my head. But, as a writer, I really ought to show that I have a lot of songs.

So I am thinking it's time to take a different approach, and "scribble down" the songs. After all, it's not my plan to release them, really I want someone else to take them and run with them! All I really need is something that sounds good enough to get the point of the song across, to let listening ears hear the possibilities in them!

We'll see how that goes, when I refuse to give satisfaction to the arranging part of me, or to the perfectionist part of me that wants to tweak and twiddle with the effects and settings and more - wish me luck!

Camp Copperhead was awesome!

Steve Earle closing one of the open mic sessions

It was very inspirational! Not so much about how to choose a chord to come next, but about songwriting as art, its place in history, its roots, and thoughts on useful mechanics (e.g. use computers rather than pen and paper for writing your songs.)

I think the biggest thing I took out of it was, work on your music. Take it seriously. The second and third verses (that you write) are bastards, but work on them so that they meet or exceed the bar you set in that first verse you scribbled down that came out "just so" and don't coast on that one great verse and leave the rest average.

Meantime, the "day job" sucked up time, but now wrapping up the mix for "Pedal To The Metal" and then will be bundling the songs together and getting them out as an EP on iTunes.

Travelling soon

Must...keep.... awake!

Only a few more hours before I try to go to sleep through the evening, til about midnight, so I can head out here on the way to Camp Copperhead, should be leaving here about 1am ish, to get there about 3pm ish their time tomorrow.

Stayed up late last night, but got up early this morning. Hoping that gives me enough fatigue to sleep through the evening which is normally prime awake time for me! Once I get the drive to Dallas done I'll be good as can sleep on the plane before Albany to the resort.

Poor body is confused right now though as I mess with its sleep schedule. Sorry biology, you have to take a back seat just for a day.

With a great sale going on, seized the opportunity to snap up the Chris lord-Alge collection from Waves. Needed a new bass sound, and am also finding this perfect for acoustic guitar, and for voice too, as it comes with a wide range of modules. They promise "instant gratification" and that's useful for when I want to focus on writing and less on mixing!

Only 12 days to go before Camp Copperhead with Steve Earle! It doesn't get any more awesome.

Is this thing on?

Ok, never mind if it is on or not, let's begin with.... mando!!!

Please give a warm welcome to the latest member of the family of instruments that abide in my home! Right now she is currently making squealing, crying noises, because I can't actually play the mandolin just yet. Have always wanted to. No time like the present. Her name is Kate. All instruments have a name - well, all stringed ones - well, except for my bass, I've never named it. I wonder if it feels left out?