Its a cyber war!
Its us verses them!
Check this out...
http://vimeo.com/31100268
Strange... They didn't sue the president for copyright infringement.
http://music.uk.msn.com/whats-hot/president-obama-sings-al-green
Friday, 20 January 2012
Low cut tops and short skirts.
I've often heard songwriters refer to their own songs as their 'babies' or 'children'...
While blubbering over what songs they're going to play in their set, they'll say things like "its like trying to chose between my children!"
It's not that I disagree with this. The opposite almost. I don't think that they're being specific enough. For me a song is like my daughter. And no, not because I need to protect them, or they need emotional support or something dumb like that...
Songs are like girls because if they are naturally beautiful, they need nothing be done to them. They are perfect just they way they are... and you can appreciate that even more if you're a songwriter yourself! They sound good on an acoustic guitar in a lounge, or on a stage with a band.
Its just a beautiful song. Simple but perfect. and you wouldn't want it any other way would you?
Or maybe you would? I don't know... see, you do get those guys who like strange girls they've never met before, caked in make up in some dark club to disguise what they really are... and what are they really? a terrible song. But you can't blame them! Its just the way they were born. They need the make up. They need the alcohol at the gigs. They need the hype, and the lights, and the smoke machines. They couldn't survive without it! They would be exposed to their true nature. Ugly.
And they would wither away...
However if you've got a great song. There's not need to dress her up, put her in a low cut top and short skirt. It would be upsetting to see!- No. It is upsetting to see! As a father (not literally) with my own "daughters", When I see other song-writers do this I just don't understand! Why?? When you hear what could be a good song, but its so over developed and there's just no need. Strip it back, let it breath! Don't smother it!
If I could marry a song... it might be this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36bItoBXpxk
While blubbering over what songs they're going to play in their set, they'll say things like "its like trying to chose between my children!"
It's not that I disagree with this. The opposite almost. I don't think that they're being specific enough. For me a song is like my daughter. And no, not because I need to protect them, or they need emotional support or something dumb like that...
Songs are like girls because if they are naturally beautiful, they need nothing be done to them. They are perfect just they way they are... and you can appreciate that even more if you're a songwriter yourself! They sound good on an acoustic guitar in a lounge, or on a stage with a band.
Its just a beautiful song. Simple but perfect. and you wouldn't want it any other way would you?
Or maybe you would? I don't know... see, you do get those guys who like strange girls they've never met before, caked in make up in some dark club to disguise what they really are... and what are they really? a terrible song. But you can't blame them! Its just the way they were born. They need the make up. They need the alcohol at the gigs. They need the hype, and the lights, and the smoke machines. They couldn't survive without it! They would be exposed to their true nature. Ugly.
And they would wither away...
However if you've got a great song. There's not need to dress her up, put her in a low cut top and short skirt. It would be upsetting to see!- No. It is upsetting to see! As a father (not literally) with my own "daughters", When I see other song-writers do this I just don't understand! Why?? When you hear what could be a good song, but its so over developed and there's just no need. Strip it back, let it breath! Don't smother it!
If I could marry a song... it might be this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36bItoBXpxk
Tuesday, 17 January 2012
Effort.
My dad has always been a U2 fan. So I think weather I like it or not, a little bit of U2 appreciation was just born into me. Its not that I'm a massive fan or anything, I'm not. They're more of a band i use to listen to when I was younger. In my opinion their best albums are 'War' and 'The Joshua Tree', but if you know anything about U2 that wont surprise you...
In 2009 they released 'No line on the horizon' which I didn't take much notice of at first... but the more I heard my dad play it. It grew on me. Its just one of those albums. Its not going to grab you by the ears and demand your attention, It doesn't have that single that you just can't get out of your head. But give it a chance... I found I actually enjoined it the more I heard it...
The album, as predicted, launched to the top of the charts in its debut week selling 484,000 copies. Which sounds impressive, lest we forget U2's 2004 'How to dismantle an atomic bomb' which sold 840,000. It was actually below there sales target, and it seemed whoever you asked either didn't like it, or just didn't like it that much...
It just wasn't that popular, and I recon its because for once it takes a little effort on your part as a listener.
I think a lot of artists and albums are like this and its always a shame when they seem to go unnoticed. Of course for U2 its a little different, due to their prior success they already had everyone ears open. However if your debut album is like that, then in such a harsh, lazy, pop culture music world do you really stand a chance?
Of course you do, its just that bit harder...
Just heard 'Cedars of Lebanon' and thought I'd share my thoughts.
P.S.
Look up 'Dawes'.
There a band I love more every time I hear them, and come highly recommended.
In 2009 they released 'No line on the horizon' which I didn't take much notice of at first... but the more I heard my dad play it. It grew on me. Its just one of those albums. Its not going to grab you by the ears and demand your attention, It doesn't have that single that you just can't get out of your head. But give it a chance... I found I actually enjoined it the more I heard it...
The album, as predicted, launched to the top of the charts in its debut week selling 484,000 copies. Which sounds impressive, lest we forget U2's 2004 'How to dismantle an atomic bomb' which sold 840,000. It was actually below there sales target, and it seemed whoever you asked either didn't like it, or just didn't like it that much...
It just wasn't that popular, and I recon its because for once it takes a little effort on your part as a listener.
I think a lot of artists and albums are like this and its always a shame when they seem to go unnoticed. Of course for U2 its a little different, due to their prior success they already had everyone ears open. However if your debut album is like that, then in such a harsh, lazy, pop culture music world do you really stand a chance?
Of course you do, its just that bit harder...
Just heard 'Cedars of Lebanon' and thought I'd share my thoughts.
P.S.
Look up 'Dawes'.
There a band I love more every time I hear them, and come highly recommended.
Wednesday, 11 January 2012
Untouched
I've been on holiday.
It's not a great excuse but its better than nothing.
I spent the Christmas period in New Zealand with my family over there, it was great to see some very good friends I haven't seen in years. Especially my cousin Reuben, who I used to play a lot of music with when we were younger. It is always interesting hearing what he's writing and playing over such a long time of not seeing him.
We often talk about different styles of music, what were into, what were not so into anymore. And we came to the conclusion that in order to make a lasting career in music, you need to either be completely original, or way better than what came before.
Which bought us to the question of course, is there any original left to be had? Probably... But probably not that much...
A week later we went on a little boat trip down a river. We went down for miles and miles and the tour guide eventually stopped the boat and turned off the engine... and thats when you realized. Just how quite it was. No sound of traffic, no nothing. Just the background music that nature provided. The tour guide told us that at this exact point, there was no real civilization for miles in every direction... He then made a cheap joke (like they always do at these things) that boat had stopped working and that we'd have to swim back.
And it bought me back to me and my cousins discussion. Was there any where in the music world that is completely untouched or undiscovered? Even for miles in every direction? Somewhere as serene and beautiful as where we had found ourselves.
I hope so.
It's not a great excuse but its better than nothing.
I spent the Christmas period in New Zealand with my family over there, it was great to see some very good friends I haven't seen in years. Especially my cousin Reuben, who I used to play a lot of music with when we were younger. It is always interesting hearing what he's writing and playing over such a long time of not seeing him.
We often talk about different styles of music, what were into, what were not so into anymore. And we came to the conclusion that in order to make a lasting career in music, you need to either be completely original, or way better than what came before.
Which bought us to the question of course, is there any original left to be had? Probably... But probably not that much...
A week later we went on a little boat trip down a river. We went down for miles and miles and the tour guide eventually stopped the boat and turned off the engine... and thats when you realized. Just how quite it was. No sound of traffic, no nothing. Just the background music that nature provided. The tour guide told us that at this exact point, there was no real civilization for miles in every direction... He then made a cheap joke (like they always do at these things) that boat had stopped working and that we'd have to swim back.
And it bought me back to me and my cousins discussion. Was there any where in the music world that is completely untouched or undiscovered? Even for miles in every direction? Somewhere as serene and beautiful as where we had found ourselves.
I hope so.
Wednesday, 12 October 2011
Pioneers
Played a fantastic gig last night at 'Proud Camden' really good venue in London, brilliant crowd. Anyway we were playing on a bill with several other bands. So after we had sound checked i was watching another band get ready when i realized something.
The best artists are stubborn.
Not in the way that they're a pain to work with, but with the way they play live. They're doing it the way they think is best. No matter what their label says, their manager says, the sound man says, and if they're really fearless, no matter what the fans say.
The big pioneers in all areas of art surly had their critics. Now had they listened to them and conformed to what everyone else thought. They'd never of become as pinnacle figures as they did. Its sounds cheesy, but its true, as soon as you stop believing in yourself and doubt your own ability and creativity, you'll never become great. As an artist you need to be unmovable with what your going for... I'm not saying you need to 'go it alone', and I'm definitely not saying you shouldn't progress your sound. The opposite.
You need other people, you need support, but only the right kind of people. You need pioneers. The kind of people who are creatively on the same page as you are. Or better yet, someone who's even more venturing than you are. Find someone like that and it will challenge you to move forward. However if you surround yourself with negative thinkers the opposite will occur. Unless you shrug them off they'll pull you down. They're down on new ideas, and they're down on the unfamiliar. There like a cancer for the innovative.
My favorite kind of bands always progress. Its always risky going for a new sound, especially if the old one worked so well. But no matter how much you get slated you've gotta do it. Other wise its just re-runs. And sure 8 times out of 10 the fourth album is never as good as the first or the second. But personally, I'd rather of written 5 different records, some not as good as others, than 5 records that sound exactly the same as the previous. Its all about taking a risk, stepping out.
The best artists are stubborn.
Not in the way that they're a pain to work with, but with the way they play live. They're doing it the way they think is best. No matter what their label says, their manager says, the sound man says, and if they're really fearless, no matter what the fans say.
The big pioneers in all areas of art surly had their critics. Now had they listened to them and conformed to what everyone else thought. They'd never of become as pinnacle figures as they did. Its sounds cheesy, but its true, as soon as you stop believing in yourself and doubt your own ability and creativity, you'll never become great. As an artist you need to be unmovable with what your going for... I'm not saying you need to 'go it alone', and I'm definitely not saying you shouldn't progress your sound. The opposite.
You need other people, you need support, but only the right kind of people. You need pioneers. The kind of people who are creatively on the same page as you are. Or better yet, someone who's even more venturing than you are. Find someone like that and it will challenge you to move forward. However if you surround yourself with negative thinkers the opposite will occur. Unless you shrug them off they'll pull you down. They're down on new ideas, and they're down on the unfamiliar. There like a cancer for the innovative.
My favorite kind of bands always progress. Its always risky going for a new sound, especially if the old one worked so well. But no matter how much you get slated you've gotta do it. Other wise its just re-runs. And sure 8 times out of 10 the fourth album is never as good as the first or the second. But personally, I'd rather of written 5 different records, some not as good as others, than 5 records that sound exactly the same as the previous. Its all about taking a risk, stepping out.
Saturday, 8 October 2011
True Artists
Its Been 9 days since i did my last blog, so i think its about time i write a new one. I have no idea how some people write them every day. I've recently subscribed to 'Bob Lefsetz's' blog. Really good. If your interested in music business you definitely should check him out... Anyway, he used to be pretty big singer song-writer, but now is a big wig music business kind of guy. He has all of the know about the industry.
I read an awful lot of his blogs and the big thing that he seems talks about a lot is honesty about the state of the industry. Which taken the wrong way, as a musician can be a little discouraging. However, I've come to realize, as an artist, that while the music industry has become a more tough business over the years. It has also done something quite special, and often rather difficult. Its amazing! As if by accident, it has separated the true artist from the fakers.
Because anyone with a smart business head will tell you that basing a career from the ground up in music is a waste of time. Its a market that is making less money than ever. In fact the industry as a whole is worth less than half of what it was 10 years ago.
So where does that leave us? It leave us with true artists! People who aren't only concerned with the size of their wallet, in fact that's the last thing on their mind! People who focus far less on their 5 year business plan and more on the lyrics of a new song, and they're not trying to write the most catchy tune to make their next million. They're not sell outs, they love music, and that is their soul reason for doing what they do. And i would say to everyone else, GET OUT OF THE WAY.
Cause I wanna hear real music!
I read an awful lot of his blogs and the big thing that he seems talks about a lot is honesty about the state of the industry. Which taken the wrong way, as a musician can be a little discouraging. However, I've come to realize, as an artist, that while the music industry has become a more tough business over the years. It has also done something quite special, and often rather difficult. Its amazing! As if by accident, it has separated the true artist from the fakers.
Because anyone with a smart business head will tell you that basing a career from the ground up in music is a waste of time. Its a market that is making less money than ever. In fact the industry as a whole is worth less than half of what it was 10 years ago.
So where does that leave us? It leave us with true artists! People who aren't only concerned with the size of their wallet, in fact that's the last thing on their mind! People who focus far less on their 5 year business plan and more on the lyrics of a new song, and they're not trying to write the most catchy tune to make their next million. They're not sell outs, they love music, and that is their soul reason for doing what they do. And i would say to everyone else, GET OUT OF THE WAY.
Cause I wanna hear real music!
Thursday, 29 September 2011
Blog no.1
Its 1.30 am and I've decided to start writing my first ever blog for the new website. Never written a blog before. Don't really know where to go from here...
1.45 now, better get going... Iv had a good week, its been sunny, heatwave sunny... surprising for September. Been busy writing a new song with the band. Were having a long day of practice tomorrow, we wanna get the new stuff ready for you soon as possible. Playing at 'The Farmhouse' in Canterbury on Saturday, so who knows we might have it ready for then...
Not sure how long these things usually are, probably way longer than this...
2.00 now and I feel like it would probably be better to do this in a more awake state.
You know I'm thinking this will be something I'll get better at the more I do it, so ill maybe just leave it there for now and have another go some other time. Its fun though, I like it, so ill try and update it regularly. No promises but i will try...
I hope you are enjoying the site. We will try and keep it fresh, put some stuff in the 'band pot' and do some more of these 'blogs'. Anyways, bedtime. Thank you for reading please spread the news about the new site. Until next time.
Wes Triffitt.
1.45 now, better get going... Iv had a good week, its been sunny, heatwave sunny... surprising for September. Been busy writing a new song with the band. Were having a long day of practice tomorrow, we wanna get the new stuff ready for you soon as possible. Playing at 'The Farmhouse' in Canterbury on Saturday, so who knows we might have it ready for then...
Not sure how long these things usually are, probably way longer than this...
2.00 now and I feel like it would probably be better to do this in a more awake state.
You know I'm thinking this will be something I'll get better at the more I do it, so ill maybe just leave it there for now and have another go some other time. Its fun though, I like it, so ill try and update it regularly. No promises but i will try...
I hope you are enjoying the site. We will try and keep it fresh, put some stuff in the 'band pot' and do some more of these 'blogs'. Anyways, bedtime. Thank you for reading please spread the news about the new site. Until next time.
Wes Triffitt.
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