Song294_Broken

Today's song (Song294_Broken) completes another album (Week42_Common Denominators). The newest album, which consists of 7 songs plus original album artwork, will be available for sale later today at www.anewsongeveryday.com.

I started today's song with a drum sequence, and then I layered the violins, electric guitar (picking along with the chords: Verse=C-Dm, Transition=Bm-A-G-A, Chorus=Am-G-C), and synth bass. I also added: 3 vocal tracks, 3 additional electric guitars, and 2 additional percussion tracks.

LYRICS: "I was far from hopeless, but strong winds buried my ship. I control the rudder, not winds or other factors. You are not alone. I'm broken, but for what it's worth it was worth it all."

I took about 1-2 hours early this morning to create the album cover for this week (Week #42). Everything is complete now, so I should have the new album uploaded and available within a few hours.

-Matthew
www.anewsongeveryday.com
matthew@anewsongeveryday.com

Song293_Cornerstone

I started today's song with the rhythm section (drums and bass guitar), and then I added 2 electric guitars (picking solo notes), one e-bow electric guitar, and a string section. The chord progression is a little odd, and it loops instead of resolving (Em, D, Em, C, D, Em...). I experimented with a few vocal melodies, but lyrics would've distracted from this songs ability to make the mind wander.

-Matthew
www.anewsongeveryday.com
matthew@anewsongeveryday.com

Song292_One Step More

I woke up early today, ran 3 miles in a light rain, then started writing today's song. Once again, I started this song by writing some chord progressions on the electric guitar. Then I added bass guitar, drums, one e-bow electric guitar, and two electric guitars picking single notes. There are no synth/keys in today's song, which is rare. I liked the grittiness of the strummed electric guitar, so I decided not to smooth it over with any synth sounds.

I enjoy endurance events (running, cycling, hiking, recording a new song every day for a year, etc), and I hope to continue improving in these areas as life goes on. Life is also an endurance event. It takes lots of focus to do it right, and the mind truly can make-or-break the body. Today's lyrics reflect that thought.

LYRICS: "In the time it takes for you to form complaints, you could've made up time...could've come from behind. You're halfway done, tongue stuck to the floor. You're out of breath, now take one step more. You've made it far, but so have ones before. You can't stop now, keep taking one step more. Don't just get through life. Winning is a state of mind. You can still make up time. You can still come from behind. You're halfway done, tongue stuck to the floor. You're out of breath, now take one step more. You've made it far, but so have ones before. You can't stop now, keep taking one step more."

-Matthew
http://www.anewsongeveryday.com/
matthew@anewsongeveryday.com

Song291_Frayed

I started writing today's song around 1100, and I had the main guitar, bass guitar, and drums recorded and edited within an hour. I wrote and recorded the vocals next, which is earlier in the process than usual. Only about half of the lyrics that I wrote ended up in the song, but I like that the vocals have sparse appearances. Other instruments include: 2 e-bow guitars, 2 electric guitars picking single notes, cymbals, tambourine, 3-4 synths, and 6 separate vocal tracks. I completed this song around 1750.

LYRICS: "Some things can't be bought or sold. Your 'ups and downs' are in vein, but you need to feel in control and have balance in every day. But having faith is not the same as a relentlessly positive attitude. God's love for you is not measured by your degree of happiness. Some things can't be bought or sold. Your 'ups and downs' are in vein, but you need to feel in control and have balance in every day. But having faith is not the same as a relentlessly positive attitude."

-Matthew
http://www.anewsongeveryday.com/
matthew@anewsongeveryday.com

Song290_Common Denominators

Today's song is an instrumental, 18-track song that's upbeat and repetitive (yet changes often). Once again, I started today's session by writing chord progressions on the electric guitar. After adding percussion and bass guitar I added 2 e-bow guitars in the 'Chorus' sections. Next, I added 4-5 synth parts and 2 additional electric guitars (which added meat to the bones).

I didn't have any specific ideas before starting today...this song is just a product of writing one instrument at a time, then using the inspiration created from each track to write and layer new parts.

I had to work on other things today from 0900-1300, took an hour break to run, then I recorded from 1400-1930.

-Matthew
www.anewsongeveryday.com
matthew@anewsongeveryday.com

Song289_The Slow Fade

I wrote today's song on the electric guitar (Verse=E-A-E-B-E, Transition=A-B, Chorus=E-A-C-B, Bridge=A-B...E). Next, I wrote and recorded the drums, bass guitar, and the e-bow guitars (i.e. the smooth, continual guitar notes that sound like a bow is being raked across the strings). There are about 12 additional layers (6 of them are vocals), which gives the song around 20 tracks total. I recorded today's song in 2-3 separate chunks of time that totaled around 5 hours.

The lyrics today are about aging, which we all experience. I hope to live a long life with my wife. And, although I am enjoying my youth, I don't fear being an old man. Every birthday is an accomplishment. Every day is a gift.

LYRICS (taken from the Bible: Ecclesiastes 12): "Before the silver chord is severed. Before the golden bowl is broken. All is meaningless. Before the pitcher is shattered. Before the wheel is broken. All is meaningless. When the street door's closed and the keeper goes inside, and the sound of grinding fades out with the light. When the keeper comes. When the song grows faint. When the strong all kneel to accept their fate. As time goes on we need not be afraid. We all move on as time goes on. Before the dust returns to soil. Before you finally reach your home. God gives, and God takes. When the street door's closed and the keeper goes inside, and the sound of grinding fades out with the light. When the keeper comes. When the song grows faint. When the strong all kneel to accept their fate."

-Matthew
www.anewsongeveryday.com
matthew@anewsongeveryday.com

Song288_Normal's Relative

Today's song begins a new album, Week42_Common Denominators. In some ways, this week will be a continuation of last week's style. However, I am altering a few things such as: guitar settings, types of percussion, adding more e-bow guitars, more synth sounds, and smoother (more cohesive) transitions than last week. This song is a pretty good example. Hopefully I can continue this theme without being repetitious. The lyrics today are slightly goofy, but they're fitting. After I had recorded 97% of the instruments I sat down with a blank sheet of paper, and 20-minutes later this is what I had.

LYRICS: "We all wait in lines and struggle with traffic and loneliness. We all want more time, money, freedom, and happiness. We're so much the same. A little like distant relatives. Take it day by day. We're all strange. Normal's relative."

-Matthew
http://www.anewsongeveryday.com/
matthew@anewsongeveryday.com