Song124_The Escape

I started today's song around 5pm, and I had it uploaded by 7:30pm. I wrote the electric guitar (strumming) part with the click playing a steady 100bpm. The chords are just some unique variations of standard chords...one I had never played before, and one that I use often (although typically in a different key). Other instruments in this song are: distorted guitar, drums, bass guitar, synth, and a string section.

Today is Sunday. My recording weeks go from Wednesday to Tuesday. I typically try to create the album artwork on Sunday. This is usually a good day for creative/artistic ideas because I have already created 4-5 songs by this point, but I still have a few days to make changes to the design. A good album is not just a collection of good music. It's a collection of good music that's well titled and packaged. So, I'll probably spend the rest of the evening on the artwork for EVEN STEVEN.

-Matthew

Song123_Closing In

Today is Halloween...the last day of October, which means that I've been recording for 4 months (123 consecutive days)! I've completed 4 songs on the newest album, Even Steven, and focusing on electric guitar rhythms has been refreshing. I like the combination of elements in this week's music.

I started today's song by recording 2-3 drum sections (to find a good rhythm and to assist with recording the foundational guitar parts). The electric guitar was recorded and edited, and then I added bass guitar, a few solo guitars, and some additional percussion (cymbal swells, tambourine, etc). I didn't decide to add vocals until the final hour of recording, but I'm glad that I did. I wrote the lyrics while finding the melody, recorded 2-3 takes of each part, then quickly did a final mix. I started this song early in the day (around 8:30am), but I took a break (to ride and run at Legacy) and returned to recording around 6pm. This song took a little longer that the average song...maybe 7 hours.

LYRICS: "Your new persona, (is) like an animal feeding. (You're) touring the country, like a wealthy baby. You're at an all-time high. Your sunken eyes tell a bitter story. Fortune at what price? You're rich and lonely. No wonder you're tongue-tied. I can feel the earth changing course. Subtle like your breath on my neck. I can feel the edge closing in. Sort of how the dead wait for us."

-Matthew

Song122_Far From Over

Today's instrumental was more of an experiment with rhythms that anything else. I tried to add and remove instruments throughout the song to keep things interesting...I think it worked, but I'll have to come back and listen again with fresh ears. I started this song around 10am, took a break to eat and run, and I finished by 5pm (about 4.5-5hrs total to write and record this song).

I posted some new photos on the website: http://www.anewsongeveryday.com/Gallery/index.htm

-Matthew

Song121_All You Ever Wanted

I started today's song by recording some electric guitar rhythms. I like the chords used in this song...just unique variations of the chords 'A, G, and D.' I didn't have a particular sound in mind when I started. This song is mostly the product of layering (with pre-sets selected and parts written on-the-go). The lyrics and vocals were done quickly. I only sang each part three times, and I used the best two takes for the final mix (each vocal part was doubled, panned, and effected for a natural stereo effect). I wrote the lyrics after pondering an article I read about a popular country singer.

LYRICS: "You came along like a hurricane, and wrote the perfect song. (You) made it like a sing-a-long that spreads like fire. You're like a kid, but millions can't be wrong. You wrote the perfect song, and (you) sang it like a sing-a-long. And it spread like fire. All you ever wanted was money and attention. But you used your riches and fame to buy yourself seclusion."

On a very different topic...my brother (Ryan) got to meet KISS last night in Nashville, TN. A good friend of his has been a fan for many years, and he purchased the special package that allows you to meet the entire band (along with 23 others) in a room backstage just before their show. Ryan wore his 'OTTO' shirt and had his picture taken with the entire band. I'll post it on my site soon. Regardless of what you think of their music, they are rock-and-roll legends, and Ryan said he enjoyed the experience. When I found out that he was going to meet them I wondered what he was going to say to them. Below were some of my suggestions (I thought they were funny, but I amuse myself easily). He didn't use any of them.

1) Have you guys ever seen Spinal Tap?
2) Can I kill the animal in tonight's show?
3) Which one of you is Ringo?
4) Have you actually met Satan?
5) Can I borrow your costume to impress my girlfriend?

I found out yesterday that Mute Math is playing tonight in Dallas. I got to see them pack an 800 person venue just over a year ago ($12), and this year they're playing a much larger ballroom ($27). They're a solid band...great musicians and great performers. They'll probably play an arena on their next visit ($100?!). Anyway, I've seen them before, but I plan on seeing KISS next week in Dallas for the first time.

-Matthew

Song120_Even Steven

Today's song starts a new album, Week18_Even Steven. I have a few goals (musically) this week that I'm going to focus on. One, I'm going to use more clean, electric guitar strumming. Strumming is one of my specialties (as opposed to lead/solo playing). I've experimented with a variety of strumming speeds and rhythms on the acoustic guitar, so now it's time to focus on the electric rhythms. This will also help from a technical aspect because I'll be forced to find guitar effects and pre-sets that work best for the type of sound I'm hoping to achieve. (Until now, I've mostly focused on creating custom pre-sets within GR3 that fit my distortion and solo needs). Also, I'm going to continue working to create upbeat, interesting percussion sections that build and decrease in intensity throughout the song.

This week's (lyrical) theme is about finding (and maintaining) balance in life. During my Paramedic studies we learned a lot about the bodies amazing ability (and need) to maintain 'homeostasis' (i.e. balance). The body can instantly alter individual processes to compensate for changes in other body systems. Most of that is unconsious, but there are obviously many aspects of life that we must consiously keep in check in order to get the most out of who we are. This collection of songs will be based on this topic.

I hope you enjoy today's song...it's the title track on the next album, Song120_Even Steven.

-Matthew

Song119_Scheduled Encore

I had to work until 2pm, then Brandon and I ran the trails at the lake, so I finally got started on this song around 6pm. Today completes another album, but (fortunately) I got the album art designed and the website updated last night. I already had a topic in mind today, and I had written some lyrics during my lunch break, but this song worked pretty well as an instrumental.

I have been to many many concerts in my life, and something that amazed me about a few of the first (big) concerts that I saw were the "encores." In 8th grade I saw The Cure (about 10 rows back), and it was a great experience. I remember them saying 'goodbye' after their set, the lights came one, but no one left. The crowd wasn't leaving until they got more, and they made it known. It seemed very organic...not pre-arranged. I saw something similar when The Sundays came to Dallas for the first time. Their first album had just come out, and they played every song from the album that night at Arcadia Theater. Again, the set was over, the lights came on, but no one was leaving. The singer came back out by herself (after a long stretch of cheering), and she said that they had played all the songs they knew. The crowd didn't care, and they eventually came back out and re-played their 3 biggest hits. It was awesome. I've been to other concerts (more recently) that obviously had scheduled the "encores" as part of the show. That's ridiculous, and it defeats the purpose (and excitement) of a real encore. I saw Coldplay in Oklahoma last year. Great show, but they had 3 (scheduled) encores. I say that they were "scheduled" because the lights never came on when they said 'goodbye.' Who's going to leave when it's still dark in the arena? If they needed a break they could've just said so. Most bands that follow this structure come back on-stage each time...looking a little surprised, as though they have the most generous audience. I guess I can't blame them, though...the ploy works on most people. You truly can control a crowd with lights and sound. I'm just glad I've gotten to experience a few "unscheduled" encores.

Today's song, Song119_Scheduled Encore, completes another album (Week17_Songs For Monsters). This album will be available in a few hours at http://www.anewsongeveryday.com/.

-Matthew

Song118_From The Start

I had a simple guitar melody in my head when I woke up, so I started with that (Em-G-D...then C-D-G). I layered a few percussion tracks before recording the bass guitar (that usually helps with timing), and then I took a break to write some lyrics. I decided to write this song for my wife.

LYRICS: "Your eyes alone speak straight to me. Without a sound, one look says everything. Your silhouette plays like an angel's song. Your hair flows down, like a perfect waterfall. I've loved you from the start. For how you make me feel, and for who you are."

I went back and added a few keyboard sounds...a string section, a flute, and a few fuzz synths.

Today is Monday, so tomorrow will complete another week of recording. "Week17_Songs For Monsters" will be available tomorrow evening.

-Matthew