Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Invasive question time.

Ask us anything

Granted, we may not answer if it is too personal.

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Thursday, December 17, 2009

The Narrator: III.

Despite being highly disillusioned, The Narrator is out to save the world with the power of truth and beauty; but so often it is corrupted.

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Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Sincerity.

Malik and I have a different approach to music. Although a musician, he is very much from a business perspective. First and foremost, he would like is ventures to be profitable. By now you must know me. Although it would be nice to make a living from music, I don't like to make compromises. Not to be all cliche "I'll die for my art . . .blah, blah, blah" but in actuality it is very close to the truth. It is a part of me. Indivisible from me. It is me. I cannot be dishonest. There is just no room for insincerity when the narrator has a story.

I'll do all I can to market what I do as I do it, I have no interest in cashing in on fads. I believe if you believe in your product with your everything, others will believe in it too. In fact, that is how I've convinced every creative collaborator on any project up to this point, including Malik. No one knows what they are getting into when I have an idea. Sometimes I don't exactly know either.

Sometimes it surprises me because I think I ask for a lot from my co-conspirators. Complete trust and a healthy dose of blind faith. But no one has said "no" yet. And I would never lead anyone astray.

Whenever something happens in pop culture or the world at large I often wonder what Bill Hicks or Howard Zinn would say (the latter more for current events.) As for music, it can be one of two things-- completely sincere or completely insincere and manufactured. There really is no in between. You can't cash in on a craze and honestly say you are giving it your heart. Your intentions wouldn't be sincere.

I think Malik and I will be a good partnership. He'll remind me that I need to find some way to survive by what I do and I'll remind him that he is not just a business man. Before we sat down yesterday and had a talk, he was really focused on creating a phenomenon based on what was already popular. Likewise, I was floating with minimal direction besides a loose "marketing" plan based on documenting EVERYTHING. I convinced him that being true to your soul can be profitable and he convinced me that we don't have the time or assets to create art that doesn't at least pay for itself. Basically, we balance each other out.

His deadline to get his project up and running is May. My goal is to have all the pieces for my project recorded by the time I turn 28 (8/15.) Although I do not put a lot of stock in astrology, my Saturn return has started. By 30 I would like my life to change for the better artistically.

Before this, I was terrible slump musically. It probably lasted for about three years. I had no focus or direction. I wrote poetry/pros(e), circuit bent toys and performed harsh noise shows; but that was about all I did. Then about February or March I figured out what I needed to do. And it has been clear ever since. What it comes down to is trust. Primarily trusting others-- and trusting myself to do what is best for every one.

I leave you with this:



Play with your fucking heart, indeed.

(Little did I realize at the early 2am-ish I posted this Bill Hicks video--amongst others--on Malik's facebook, it was Hicks' birthday. He would have been 48.)

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Saturday, December 12, 2009

The Narrator: II.

The Narrator says, "I am telling my story, but it is yours as well."

The Narrator studies culture as if it were a Rubik's Cube. The impossible problem no one can solve. S/he looks for answers to the cultural code in pop radio and 4/4 time. S/he finds them in the stories of first and second generations of American born immigrants. S/he says, "The answers are programmed into your helix and curves. Deoxyribonucleic acid. A message from your ancestors in a language of chemicals."

The Narrator is stuck and can't leave. More accurately, The Narrator refuses to leave. It is the same song, played in infinitum. S/he says, "I wrote this message to you, but it was written for me from the very beginning. I just didn't know at the time. . ."

The Narrator is secretly and hopelessly wistful, although the common observer would never know.

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Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Funny story about finding what you didn't think you were looking for on the internet.

I hate facebook. I also dislike talking to strangers on the internet over just about any networking site but twitter. Oh, hell, who am I kidding-- sometimes I hate talking to my friends and family. There, I said it. Happy?

(Aside-- but just because I don't talk to you all doesn't mean I don't think fondly of you and hope you are doing well.)

Coincidentally, I met Malik, a stranger on the internet, on facebook. And somehow I didn't give him a polite brush-off when he contacted me (or maybe I did and he was just very good at working around it.) He also managed to get me out of the house to meet him-- impressive for being a non-work related stranger.

But I was motivated by music. I probably would have politely found a way to discontinue the conversation had he not disclosed that he played sitar and oud. And in all actuality, it was probably this picture in his facebook surrounded by instruments that prompted me to ask if I knew him initially:



I suppose I was slightly intrigued by someone who was silhouetted in front of two (possibly three?) keyboards holding a guitar with another guitar in the background.

(Coincidentally, I usually find out down the line that most people with whom I exchange dialogue are musicians. It is as if we stumble on each other because we vibrate at the same frequency. Some sort of unconscious magnetism, even over such a sterile form of interaction as the internet.)

And I am glad I met him and have plans to work with him soon. I did not know what to expect when I went to meet him; but he was more polite and had a deeper appreciation of aesthetics than I had anticipated. Our mutual admiration of Alexander the Great and seeing he had one of my favorite paintings in his livingroom, "The Storm" by Pierre-Auguste Cot, leads me to believe we may have much in common.

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Wednesday, September 2, 2009

The Narrator.

The Narrator is on a quest to find his/her place in America. S/he has a hard time articulating to others exactly what s/he is looking for or even describing the inborn traits in anything but generalizations. But the Narrator knows these definitions can't begin to describe the meaning. S/he is exploring his/her culture, but it is a secret history. It is not one that can be isolated and examined in a petri dish because it spirals and intertwines with other cultures; those of pilgrims and invaders; travelers, tribes, explorers and conquistadors. History is a mutating virus which alters in order to fit each story.

S/he is looking for truth in interpersonal interactions. As s/he drifts to far to one truth, the universe conspires to pull him/her center with conflicting stories. S/he accepts that everyone has a right to their own story. S/he accepts validity of of the experiences of people on the outside of his/her culture dealing with the people within it. S/he thinks it is beneficial (albeit slightly dangerous) to form relationships with people who may not always like his/her kind on a whole. The Narrator also has difficulty understanding if s/he has "a kind." If not, then why doesn't s/he feel like s/he has a place in American culture?

The Narrator wants to do what is right for everyone. The problem is The Narrator can be an extremist. Sometimes The Narrator is so completely convinced of something that s/he cannot be moved. More so if The Narrator feels it is what is right for everyone. (s/he thinks this may be another inherited trait of his/her culture passed down without explanation, but does not know.)

It is a popular assumption that The Narrator has no feelings and is an insensitive stoic. This is incorrect: s/he just shows no outward reaction. Unless it goes against one of The Narrator's unmovable convictions, s/he needs time to discern what the proper response should be. When The Narrator tries to tie up loose ends in a hurry, s/he can often become impulsive (often at the expense of his/her desire to do what is right for everyone.)

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Tuesday, September 1, 2009

JT plays . . .








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Monday, August 31, 2009

Test run: arabic ring drumming with JT

I am on my way to record JT who plays Arabic ring drum now (I am actually typing from my Blackberry, so I am sure this will be riddled with typos.) I am a little nervous since this is the first person I am recording with this set up.

JT has also dropped something on his hand which has affected it's dexterity so he cannot play for too long. I am concerned that his drumming today may cause further irritation to his healing hand.

If anything, we'll only be recording one five minute piece. This may work out best anyway because I am not sure what bugs need to be worked out of this recording system anyway.

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Recording JT-- try #2


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Monday, August 24, 2009

Recording JT-- try #1



(I forgot to confirm-- whoops. But that is okay, we rescheduled for 8/31.

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Friday, August 7, 2009

The Solution.

After much thought, I broke down and bought a real video camera. I sold the crappy one. Might as well get good quality footage-- although modifying a camera might be fun.

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Saturday, June 20, 2009

The Mod.

I anxiously look forward to returning home. I recorded some test videos and I want to see if the audio is in any way salvageable. It really was terrible on all my test recordings, as if you were standing in a wind tunnel. Sometimes you could not even hear the speaker. I figured that I could use Virtualdub to separate the video from audio and fix the sound quality in Sound Forge. A little more post-processing work in the end, but it if I can do it successfully it may deter the need for plan B: mods.

I didn't spend a lot on it, comparatively speaking, but I don't really want to loose the $43 bucks I did put down on it by doing a bad hack job. I was toying with the idea of installing a different mic before I left, but quickly dismissed the idea. This is a bit more complicated than my circuit-bent toys (which in the nature of circuit bending, you technically "break" the toys to make instruments . . .but I digress.) Yet the urge to attempt a mod and make it more useful is overwhelming.

So I did a search looking for any help at all and stumbled on a link for adding an external mic to a shit digital video camera. It's a mod for the Aiptek A-HD, but my camera is pretty similar to it. So much for not breaking my equipment. The idea to mod is back, but this time with detailed pictures. I would love to put a 1/4" jack in and run mics (because I love putting 1/4" jacks on just about anything) but my concern is that it will be to big for the casing. It is not the unsightliness that bothers me, it is the delicate nature of having wires hanging out as well as acquiring a static/pop sound when the external mic is moved. The guy in the demo instructions used a 3.5mm TRS jack (1/8") from an old cd player. It was even in a nice chassis to cut down on shock (unlike all my 1/4" jacks.) So I will just have to use a 1/8" to 1/4" jack-plug converter to run my mics. No big deal, it will be on a tripod anyway for music recording. And when it is not, I am pretty sure I have a tiny "spy" mic which I can tape to the top and plug in for little stuff that does not require the good mics.

If it comes down to it, that is what I will probably have to do. IF- the big if-my camera looks the same as his on the inside.

I also probably need to pick up a new soldering iron. The tutorial recommended 15 watt to prevent burning out the board. I generally use a 25 or 45 watt. In circuit bending burning out the board is not as big as a concern as in delicate electrical soldering. Look at me, getting all excited about modding without even knowing if my model of video camera can support it.

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Dreams and drums.

I had a dream last night that my noise path led me back to Richmond, Va. In real life, there was no sound related reason for me to be there. I was seeking the guitarist (who in real life resides in Vermont.) In my dream I did not find him. I got distracted. But who I encountered in RVA was my friend, a bassist, who no longer plays due to a severed tendon in his hand.

I am seeking many people from my past and present, they just do not know it. Yet.

Currently, I have my eye on a very specific drummer with a unique skill set. In this project, it is important to lay down the percussion first- starting with the most complex piece and filling in the gaps with less complex parts. I am of the mindset that the rhythm section is the backbone. The best bands have a strong percussion and bass. These components are irreplaceable. Also, by laying out the drums first, it gives everyone a "beat" with which to sync their parts. (Consequently, I get along best with drummers and bassists, specifically bassists. Probably because in band situation, the rhythm section are generally the ones who seem to understand that the piece is not about their cock-rock solo. There has only been one guitarist ever with whom I have truly gotten along-- he thought like a bassist, choosing song form over vanity.)

Since the drummer and I were never more than acquaintances; I was afraid he would not know who I was outside of the context of my significant other. I am fairly reserved and tend to keep to myself. I don't go to bars and only seem to leave my house now when I have art modeling gigs (ie: work.) Due to this, I do not think people know who I am, regardless if I know who they are. Or that I am nameless, the designation "girlfriend of . . ." Which makes it difficult to ask some one if they would like to work with you on a project because they don't have an understanding of who you are or what you do. But thankfully, on my most recent visit to the house he shares with several others, he did.

Asking is another issue. How and when. I have (and always did have) an open invitation to their house. that being said, I am not one to drop by uninvited. Perhaps it is old-school manners drilled into me by my mother, but I feel intrusive entering another's space without specific permission. But it has to start somewhere, so it will have to start here. Unfortunately, I am currently stuck in NYC for two weeks. As much as I love this city, there is some place else I would rather be.


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Tuesday, June 16, 2009

I hope you (all) agree.

Edit: Seems I can't keep track of everyone. Delial's Sigil Mock-up attempt #2

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Saturday, June 13, 2009

Tools of the trade P2.

My digital video recorder came today. The sound quality is kind of shit and it is easy to inadvertently put your thumb over the microphone. But like I said in a previous post, it was cheap. It came with a mini-tripod (which would be great if I was video recording ants.) But I can't complain because it came as a kit and maybe some day I'll need it. Who knows.



But I would like to point out the awesomeness of the pictures in the eBay listing. For some shots, the seller took to the default stock item pictures and pasted their pictures on the camera screen. (I obviously added any text.) They also included some of the stock pictures, unedited. Truth be told, I like the seller's pictures better and find them more interesting. Supposedly you cannot copy pictures hosted on Auctiva picture service by ye old right-click but I know a loop-hole and I did.

Here was the main picture, the thumbnail you see in the left-hand side while you browse the auction listings (AKA: "look at my new girlfriend!"):




Look at my tits, indeed. Silicone not included in the purchase of the camera.

This is me, doing the lawn work:



stock picture:




Have you noticed that quite a few camera/tv/printer ads use hot air balloons? Did some consumer test panel tell them that this is what buyers like or do they not have enough money to buy different stock pictures?

This is our dog:



stock picture:




Really, what is this, the wing of a plane? How big of a tourist must you be to record footage of yourself flying? I also love how the most stock product pictures have that shitty fake reflection to attempt to fool you that the picture wasn't taken against a plain white background.

Well, time to go make some pornos. Kidding! But I may take the video camera and the Tascam out for a test spin at Allentown Arts Festival.

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Thursday, June 11, 2009

Tools of the trade P1.

My Tascam DR-1 arrived in the mail Tuesday. Light-weight, portable and easy to take on the road. (It is charging as I type this.)



I will admit I am slightly befuddled by the “adjustable mics”. They seem to be omni-directional due to the openings all around the microphone head, so unless I am doing it wrong; rolling them in one direction vs. another probably doesn't make a whole hell of a lot of difference. (My significant other suggested it might have something to do with where the diaphragm is located.)



Initially I was debating between the DR-1 and the DR-07, but what sold me was this comparison:





Nice it came with a warranty. However, Tascam can't make all dreams come true:


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Wednesday, June 10, 2009

The plan.

As I discussed in my previous post, I have difficulty relating to others on a collaborative musical level-- especially if I am required to get many of these people together in a room and do something besides converse about the weather. On the flip side, because technology enabled me to do virtually anything I want musically, including making whole melody lines based on alterations of one note sample I've recorded, sometimes I can be a bit of a musical control freak (AKA: Billy Corgan Syndrome.) A third problem is the members of my ideal band live far away. And probably would not be able to stand each other over a long period of time.

Well, I found a work-around for all three of these problems. The idea was sparked by something my friend Terry told me when I was first trying to pull together an ensemble. I found a viola player, but she just gave birth a month prior and it was difficult for her to leave the house for long periods of time. Terry suggested I bring her recordings of the band's sessions for her to use for practice purposes.

In the end, the band never materialized as I would have liked. But Terry's advice stuck with me and came back in a different manifestation. Why not record every instrument separately and put them together as I go along? I can even email the next player the tracks ahead of time so when I get there, the individual would have a basic idea of where to start. When I get done, I can do a final mix and master in Cakewalk Sonar. But I will need to keep myself in check and avoid the temptation of cutting, altering and editing parts outside of the basic effects (ie: reverb, noise reduction, pan, etc.) I want this to be as close as a collaborative effort as possible. Not just me doing what I have always done-- recording what I want and slapping it together however I deem fit.

For my audio recording, I ordered a Tascam DR-1. It is a pocket-sized audio recorder with an external mic input which can capture 24-bit 48/44.1kHz .wav files. I've also decided to document the process so I have also ordered a cheapo video camera (you know where my priorities lie), an SVP HDDV 2300 which can capture videos up to11MP and 640x480 in size.

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Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Sound Collector.

Did you ever watch the recording of Jim Morrison talking about the future of music? He said something to the effect of, “I can kind of envision one person with a lot of machines, tapes and electronic set-ups; singing or speaking and using machines.”

That was me for almost 15 years. The resulting effect is is I have been so autonomous musically, it has become increasingly difficult to relate to other people on a musical level. So I am going to try to do it the only way I know how- like Harry Everett Smith, a collector of sounds.


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Saturday, March 14, 2009

A question of balance.

http://www.facade.com/tarot/


The Creative Process spread is designed specifically to peer into the nature of a project or creative undertaking, and shine a spotlight on the evolution of its parts. The Golden Tarot is a modern celebration of late medieval artwork. This deck is the choice of scholars, for it evokes images of elegance amid barbarism, and the light of virtue in dark times.




The card in the middle represents the creative force behind the project, be it a person, organization, or other entity. Wheel of Fortune: The path of destiny. Karma on a grand scale. An unexpected turn of good fortune. A link in the chain of events. Success, luck, and happiness.





The card on the top represents imagination - the prophetic image that stems from the creative force of the previous card to initiate the project. This is the poetry or voice of the undertaking. King of Cups: The essence of water behaving as air, such as a billowing cloud in the blue sky: Great maturity, endless patience, tolerance of other points of view, and a deep knowledge of human nature. One who intuitively knows the strengths of those around him, and gently cultivates them. Remaining calm and relaxed in all situations, and making artful use of diplomacy or a quiet word to resolve conflicts. The ability to listen to what another person is saying, and truly understand what is in their heart. A rewarding partner and a beloved leader.




The card on the left represents emotion - the feelings aroused by or surrounding the ideation of the project that takes place in the previous card. This is the music or scent of the undertaking. Justice, when reversed: Lack of balance, harmony and integrity. The suspension of action until a decision is made. Lawsuits and prosecutions. Unjust decisions and the consequences of those decisions. A turn for the worse in legal matters.






The card on the bottom represents thought - the analytical process of organizing the project and capturing the emotional content of the previous card. This is the science or vision of the undertaking. Five of Coins (Worry), when reversed: Concern over finance leads to prudent action. Impending physical threat is met with calm and skill. Suffering and loneliness leads to spiritual growth. Stress is met without resorting to excess or the pursuit of oblivion.






The card on the right represents manifestation - the real work involved in completing the project, and the form it will take upon culmination. This is the painting or touch of the undertaking. Seven of Wands (Valor): Standing courageously for your beliefs in the face of adversity. Fear of failure overcome by the will to succeed. Great obstacles met with heroism and determination. Inner strength brought to bear at a critical moment.





Don't be to hasty to believe the random generated probability-- every thing is still an option.

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