I figure I go on too much, so this week I'll make it shorter I hope. I was thinking about the fame dangle again. That thing studios tend to push a tad too much where the experience of recording feels like that first rung up the ladder of success. Where real people in the real music biz will hear your stuff and be awed by it's majestic beauty and imminent rise to the top of the charts. I shy away from the concept of fame or success, having recorded and released a few CD's myself. One of which even won a Juno. I never made much off that CD but I did some cool gigs because of it so I'm happy. So's ya knows, it wasn't my own CD, rather it was Murray Porter's CD, and I did the guitar and produced and recorded it. I play in his band. Nonetheless I worked on it probably more than anyone including Murray. To be clear, I've worked harder and longer on many CD's that never won a Juno. I spent much time on it, but it was Murray who did the harder and much more important stuff, like writing and singing it. And it was his Manager Elaine Bomberry who did the other much harder job of marketing and booking gigs. But I digress. I'm not sure the hafta-pee-a-bit holy-crap-we're-gonna-be-rock-stars feeling of imminent fame is the best way to record because it's based on transforming your reality into something it's not for a while. A false positive that may or may not help the recording. That may or may not help performance or song. Reality is perception. In a closed environment a false reality can be created with very few people. Upon exiting that closed environment that reality goes poof. If you can convince enough people including yourself that the reality you created is real then it becomes real. Freaky or what dude. With the assumption that reality has safety in numbers, I'm offering a one time deal on reality. For the small price of $29.95 you can be a part of my reality where everything is super awesome. If you act now I'll throw in a second reality where we're all as talented and good looking as we had hoped. And what the by golly heck, I'll even toss in a third reality where aliens give us tons of money. Operators are standing by. Offer void where prohibited by drug laws. What this false reality usually creates is a big let down when you leave the studio. The minute you walk out with your heart and soul digitazered into plastic you lose your team of cheerleaders. Thanks ever so much for your patronage, now off you go. Best of luck and all that. Please leave the rose colored glasses with the receptionist on your way out. It happens slowly over a few days. At first you fling CD's at everyone full of optimism and legitimized life choices. You're hoping against hope that people will look at you in a new light. They'll suddenly see your genius and you'll be invited to parties where you'll wax philosophical to gathered crowds of the enlightened about the intricacies of music. Gigs will magically appear where the minute you open your mouth even the most jaded will look up from their drinks in amazement. What actually happens when you play your CD for people is they listen for 2 bars then start talking over the music telling you what it needs. Your mom will say "That's very nice dear." with glazed eyes. It's kind of a weird phenomena. The minute you create something people will start telling you the weirdest theories about what constitutes a good song or how to be successful in music. Most people have the fantasy of fame and have daydreamed about it many times. They have ideas that they're quite convinced are The Only Way To Go. Then you have to sit there talking over your own music thanking them for their wise insights. Most people are insensitive and completely unaware of the world around them and what's actually going on in any given minute. Many rarely listen to music and can't play a note, but they're convinced they know how to succeed at music. After much observation I've come to the conclusion that the vast majority of people in the world are soulless filler put there to irritate me. They have no real consciousness or awareness. You can tell them by the way they drive. Anyways... realize that new music takes a while to grow on people. That's why so much crap is on the radio. They're trying to jam it down our ears until it hooks. When you exit the studio the positive feelings begin to fade. The Dream calls you a fool and moves back into the clouds dragging your muse with it. It occurs to you that all your stuff would fit nicely in a shopping cart. There's another phenomena that happens too: addiction to recording. For some, you can't get the feeling of fame and success in the real world so you go back to the studio to get your fix. And another one: Throw more money at it. Bigger studio. Same concept as a mediocre guitar player buying a vintage guitar instead of learning and practicing. At any rate, all I really wanted to say is be aware of it. Enjoy the experience but don't get too sucked in... maybe. Guess I didn't manage to keep this short after all. No probs though, you and I are the only one's who will ever read this far.
cosmictunes7