I have never blogged about the production of my music in the same way that I have with films. I think this is because the first stages are so embryonic and the production in the last few projects has taken months, rather than having a clear focal point of pre-production/production/post. The work for this project followed on immediately from An Unreachable Peak, and in some cases, overlapped. There were certain tracks that didn’t get used for that project which are being reappropriated here.
First, I should give some context for this project. Everything that I’ve made since 2018 (Lunarticks, Qualia, some of Four Scores, An Unreachable Peak) have all had similar workflows. Specifically: I record music demos on video so I can see the chord changes and finger picking, I then record into GarageBand, then I work out some lyrics, record them, then mix/master etc. This process can take months. In some cases, the gap between music and creating lyrics has been debilitating and drenched in uncertainty. I have truly hated that process for the last two projects. So, this time round I went back to what I did for my piranha, which is composing the songs in full on paper, then recording the videos with lyrics/fingers etc.
In August I had a lyric writing spree, which has been the absolute opposite of my recent experiences. More importantly, it means I am recording with the lyrics in mind, rather than trying to bolt them on later.
I intended to go back to 4 track recording on my Tascam 424 Mkiii, but I couldn’t find the power adapter. I interpreted this as an ominous sign. Filled with the excitement of wanting to get started, this tiny obstacle planted a seed of frustration which I was not willing to overcome. So I did a test on my laptop in GarageBand again. I figure that I need to have the discipline of the 4 track when working on the laptop, to prevent the endless twiddling, which eats the time.
This album focuses on hobbies. It will be the antithesis of An Unreachable Peak. Where that is cynical and despairing, this should be fun and sincere. I have twenty demos which I aim to record to make a concept album that acts as an extensive, but not exhaustive compendium of hobbies. The working titles include Skydiver, The Guitar Was Still There, Paintball Massacre, We Can Save Up for a Telescope Sometime, Me or the Bike, Pigeon Fancier, Stuck on Four Down. You get the idea.
The aim is to have it completed by February 2024, which is ambitious and unlikely. However, I’m conscious that I don’t want it hanging over me like previous projects and the whole intention is to produce it faster and with a clear sense of cohesive occasion, rather than a sprawling session. I’ve been listening a lot to the Beach Boys lately, and keen to get some of that vibe into the recording.
No doubt I’ll have a grunge album instead around 2028.
