Yesterday was the second planning session with Dan.
I think we are almost ready now, in January, to hit the ground running, shoot the flag up the pole and see how it shimmies, type of thing….
(I need a bit of equipment yet too, which will have to wait till the money arrives!)
On the agenda was a list of songs: definites, maybes, and works in progress, or perhaps not yet started. We also talked about how we might use session musicians, and which pieces could use digital, synthesised instruments, and which pieces required the real thing.
This involved quite a lot of guess work, as most of the songs aren’t written properly yet, most I have are mere sound sketches… but I can hear some of them already, I know their characters.
But as we worked our way through the list it became obvious. Most of the songs would be constructed with sound collages/patchwork, in my usual fashion. Any conventional instrumentation in these songs can quite easily be generated through the software, as part of the collage.
However, there will be three or four songs where the instrument is absolutely central, almost holding a conversation with my vocal. These pieces will require a musician, and an instrument, and require that conversation to be real. It requires such expression and quality of sound that only happens at the hands of the experienced musician, with familiarity with their instruments: guitar, double bass, piano, violin. It requires a relationship.
I don’t know whether my audience will recognise this when they hear it. Time will tell.
But I will know, and it makes me smile.
ps. it might seem that we are planning really far in advance, but Dan is off on tour over the next few weeks, please take a minute to look at his website and if he’s anywhere near you, I urge you to go and see him. He is wonderful live, great songs, and lovely chatting whilst guitar tuning occurs.
(Sorry, but I can’t seem to get the link to work properly at the moment… so maybe you could just copy and paste into your browser?)
