Category Archives: Home studio

52 Songs In 52 Weeks, Demos, Home studio, Songwrite, Songwriting, Soundcloud

Johnny Marr Seaside Blues: 52 Songs In 52 Weeks — Song #7

Audio

“Johnny Marr Seaside Blues” is the seventh song in my song challenge “52 Songs in 52 Weeks.” The song is a tribute to the Smiths. I name check Johnny Marr and Morrissey in the song, but had trouble lyrically fitting in Mike Joyce and Andy Rourke. No slight is intended fellas. Thanks y’all. If you like the song, please share it on your social media of choice.

Lyrics
Johnny Marr would play that math guitar
Shimmering through the darkness
Sine waves shattering darkness
Morrissey would sing away those young man sea side blues

Little town
Falling down around me
Sliding into the sea
My seaside blues they would accrue
Like letters in a mailbox

Chorus
Oh! Seaside blues
Oh! Seaside blues

Johnny Marr would play that math guitar
Shimmering through the darkness
Sine waves shattering darkness
Morrissey would sing away those young man sea side blues

Chorus
Oh! Seaside blues
Oh! Seaside blues

Bridge
All the words are changing
Yes they fly away
The waves crash toward the shore
wind and spray

All the words are changing
Yes they fly away
The waves crash to the shore
Until they’re blue no more
Forever blue

52 Songs In 52 Weeks, Acoustic, Blog, Demos, Free MP3, Home studio, MP3, Songwrite, Songwriting, Soundcloud

Alice (Headed For Wonderland): 52 Songs In 52 Weeks — Song #1

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This is the first song in a series I have optimistically called “52 songs in 52 weeks.” My goal is to write and record a song a week for a year. Each demo will be a free download for a few days, and then available for sale after that.

I wrote “Alice (Headed For Wonderland)” on January 12 and 13.  The recording is from January 13, 2014.

Alice (Headed For Wonderland)
Last time I saw Alice
She was headed for Wonderland
I was between places
Resting my head on the sand

Watching the airships glimmer in the sky
And counting the barges chugging by

She could hold all of summer
She just opened up her hands
She gave me a keepsake
Winking, “I’ll see you when I can.”

Boy, I’m sailing away on a merchant ship
From the harbor soon she and I will slip

Would you care for some company there at sea?
Cause I could come with you wherever that might be
Alice shook her head laughing
Her hair fell long and free
She said this in parting, “I may yet send for thee.”

Now she’s over the waves of the flintlock sea
Headed for Wonderland is she

4 Track, Demos, Home studio

Shooting Star (4-Track Demo)

About Eric’s 4-track (four-track) demos: “Shooting Star” was recorded at some point between November 1995 and January 1996. This song was recorded on a four-track, analog, cassette tape machine. The original tracks have been imported into Avid Pro Tools, mixed in Pro Tools, and finished up in Audacity. No new recordings were added to the original work.

4 Track, Blog, Demos, Home studio, MP3, Songwrite, Songwriting

Four-track Demo: America’s Sleeping (All We Want Is Our Freedom)

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About Eric’s four-track demos: “America’s Sleeping (All We Want Is Our Freedom)” was recorded in April 1998. This song was recorded on a four-track, analog, cassette tape machine. The song has been cleaned up using Avid Pro Tools and Audacity. No new takes or instrumentation were added to the original work.

Lyrics for America’s Sleeping (All We Want Is Our Freedom) are available here.

Blog, Diego Stocco, Home studio, Musical inspiration, Songwrite, Songwriting, Videos, YouTube

Video: ‘Bassoforte’ by Diego Stocco

In this video, Diego Stocco re-purposes the keyboard of the dismantled piano that he keeps in the garden and builds a new instrument by combining it with some other parts he had laying around.

Diego writes:

I ended up with this mechanical hybrid thing I thought to call “Bassoforte” (bass + pianoforte). The neck is from a broken electric bass, as a bridge I used a cabinet handle, the pickups are from a guitar, and the part at the top where the strings are attached is a chimney cap, which works as resonator as well as percussive sound. The track I created is a tribute to my Dad who is a big fan of Western comic books and “spaghetti western” films, and because of him I am too.

Diego Stocco’s website
You can buy the song on Diego’s Bandcamp page
He also has a gallery with a longer video, pictures, and more detailed descriptions here

Hat tip to my Dad for sharing this with me.


Home studio, How to set up songwriting space, Songwrite

Five Steps To Set Up Your Songwriting Space

This article will help you set up your songwriting space in five easy steps.

Set Up Your Songwriting Space In Five Easy Steps

Setting up your songwriting space is an important act. It’s a signal to yourself that you are ready to write–at any time. You will be prepared when inspiration strikes. Follow these steps and you will be able to focus on songwriting without distraction.

Step 1: Pick the Right Spot

As you ask yourself the following questions (touchy-feely disclaimer):

  • Is there a place in my home/workspace where I feel energized, creative, happy? Go and stand in that area. Think about how you feel.
  • Ask yourself, “Can I dedicate this place (or a portion of this space) to songwriting?” If your answer is yes, proceed to the next section (Pick the Right Tools). If not, think of another area in your home, rinse and repeat.

Step 2: Pick the Right Tools

Now think about the following questions, grab what ever comes to mind, and place it in your songwriting area:

  • What instrument(s) do I use or want to use to write music?
  • How can I easily capture songs as they come to me?
  • Do I prefer to write using sheet music, a pen and paper, a handheld recorder, a 4-Track, ProTools, etc.?
  • Where’s my tuner?
  • Do I want to sit or stand?

Depending on your responses to the questions above, set up your space so that you have all of the tools you will likely need. Think about the basics that come to mind. Don’t worry if you can’t have everything you want right away.

Step 3: Choose Your Inspiration

Consider using a peg board for inspirational quotes, photos, goals, and random thoughts that you may have. Who inspires you? What’s your favorite band?

Step 4: Stay Organized

Set up a basic filing system with separate spaces for song bits or fragments, mostly completed songs, and completed songs. A basic notebook will do if you are just getting started. Keep your song ideas organized and you will spend less time searching for that great song idea you had last week.

Step 5: Pat Your Self on the Back

Congratulations. If you have followed these steps, you now have a dedicated songwriting space. Until next time, thanks for dropping in and happy songwriting to you.