And looking forward.
I’ve completed my challenge, and it was a complete success. I achieved my objective, which was to jump-start the creative process. I’d say it’s been three years since I’ve devoted time daily to songwriting. As this blog has demonstrated, my songwriting muscles had atrophied.
Now my juices are flowing, but will I maintain the daily regimen? The answer is surely yes. Because writing is how I express myself, and it is key to my happiness and well-being.
I’d like to note, for those who follow the link (rapidshare.com, username: tommydean/pass: songwriter), that my songs don’t generally get finished for months or, usually, years. I offer these songs as technically complete, but they are likely to undergo some changes before they are ready to go on a record.
As further caveat, I have to apologize for my untrained voice. Horrible is probably a better description. Usually I would recruit Jan Jablecki to make a demo for me at this point. But I can’t do that anymore.
How on earth can you record songs with a horrible voice and peddle them to the public, on CD even? you may ask.
With lots of practice, I can reign in my voice, and make it listenable–I believe. People find this curious, but –after I write a it–I still have to learn a song. The fact is, many of my songs are at the boundary of my skill level. And a lot of these songs here are like that–the last one in particular. The reason I am able to sing (moderately well) the songs I write is because the simple melodies I tend to use. This last one, tentatively titled I’ve Been Scared, is less simple, due partly to the accompaniment. Where I usually would write one chord, here I’ve written four. This forces me to hit the actual notes in the melody, not slur and leap between the notes.
Why did I write such a song? You’ll have to ask my muse.
I also rely on certain recording tricks to make my voice sound better than it really does, if you can make sense of that.
So the recordings on rapidshare are, well, embarrassingly raw. Having said that, I think most people will be able to overlook my limitations as a singer, and be able to recognize the diamonds in the rough. And I sincerely believe–once I’ve worked with them a little longer–I’ve got some jewels here.