Apparat

Take a listen to this track by the artist Apparat.



The song singlehandedly inspired me to buy the album, as many good songs typically do.

Listening to new music is a lot like meeting a new friend for me. When I find a song I really like, it is more like meeting a new best friend. This song is more like the latter.

The start of my relationship with this song began when I by chance happened to find it on reddit. It was a lovely first impression. Within the first fifteen seconds, I already had goosebumps. By the time the sorrowful vocals came in, I knew I had found a keeper. Replay. Replay. Replay. And so the conversation began.

After about the fourth play, I knew that this song and I were no longer strangers to each other. I started remembering my favorite parts of the song. The scratchy bowed instruments and plucked strings in the introduction were always my favorite. The distant sounding piano was so nostalgic for me. I even began singing along with the vocalist.

Yesterday, I took the next big step in our relationship. I went and bought the album the song was on at Newbury comics. Not only did I pay money for the song, but I also got other songs by the same artist. It's almost like I'm getting to know the family right now. I'm seeing the similarities. Genetics, if you will.

I can't say I get the same feelings that I got from the initial first listen. I've been spending a lot of time with this track. That certain spark is now gone. In it's place is a really grounded intimacy with the song. I'm past just admiring the beauty it creates on the surface. I want to get a glimpse of this song's soul. As I move away from the "this song is pretty" attitude, I find myself asking more serious questions. Questions like "what is the form?", "What are the lyrics", and "How can I achieve this sound?"

Where it goes from here, who knows? But can't that be said for any relationship?

Suddenly, Noise.

I never thought I'd be posting to this blog ever again. CLAMP was over and I had nothing to blog about. I got a tumblr. Bitches went crazy. I got rid of the tumblr. And that brings me here. That's my story. Let us begin.

Berklee has given me the opportunity to work two majors (Electronic Production and Design and Music Production and Engineering), so I've decided to step it up a bit and work my composition, production, sequencing, and mixing chops.

Here's how it will go:

Week 1: Write/Compose a song.
Week 2: Sequence/Produce the song.
Week 3: Mix the song.

One more thing, the cycle starts over every week. That means in three weeks, I will be working on three simultaneous songs in three different stages.

I will also be using this process with my roommate Russ. In this process, he will be acting as the songwriter, and I will play more the role of producer.

So lets see, this means about six songs at a time? Bring it on.