A list of rules by Smith’s guitarist Johnny Marr.
Also, and this is not put out there lightly, his version of “How Soon is Now” is shockingly great. Not that it shouldn’t be. Rather, it’s an example of his continuing artistic strength.
Johnny *&^ing Marr! This is an official nickname by the way.
What else can be said really.
-jd
I’ve been trying to bang out more songs faster.
Here’s some of what’s helped so far:
Learn and map out a bunch of basic song structures. Drag your favorite song into your DAW and mark the sections.
Then, when writing, pick a structure and write to this. You can always get fancy later.
If the above feels too restrictive consider the alternative is the hard way. (Maybe you do not know your structures enough. I didn’t but thought I did.)
100% of the time it’s easier to break the rules when you know them in the first place.
Even if you just have 4-bars, stretch out the song idea over a whole structure immediately, no mater how pitifully thin some parts seem. If the spark is real and you actually have something, your seed/ idea will more than survive. In fact, there will more than likely be more to it than you initially thought.
Remember, it’s easier to take away then to add after your initial burst of inspiration.
The dark magic may be in your initial writing, but the money is in the re-writing. Anyone can come up with an idea, but hardly anyone produces finished work.
Set a time of day to re-write. An appointment.
When at a this writing appointment give yourself 2 options: write or do nothing; not internet nothing. Absolutely nothing; just sit there. (This is advice is from Neil Gaiman, and he knows.)
Always better to have too many words and verses.
Then, the more medieval you are about chopping words the better.
Keep it simple. Play to about 50% of your top-end ability.
-jd
Had a fantastic Saturday night, pool-side set. Beautiful vibes all around. I am at my level best @ this kind of gig.
Actually hanging up the solo electronic/ acoustic spurs for a bit to concentrate on these DJ sets.
Gives me a greater opportunity to share music I love, keeps me so current — searching for new cuts, and I can mix in my own electronic stuff (that fits).
-jd
Playlist
Walking on the Moon – The Police
A classic, ushering in the right feel.
All I Want to Do – UB40
Deep cut from my favorite album of theirs. Such a great groove. Amazing drum machine and bass (machine) too.
Natty Dread – Bob Marley
All time favorite Bob track. So chill.
T’aint What You Do – Fun Boy 3
So weird and great.
Non Stop – Kraftwerk
One of the greats. This is a newer remix. Absolutely love the mood here.
Verona – Lastlings
Nice, close song. I think I heard it in passing on Apple Music.
Rat in Mi Kitchen – UB40
Couldn’t help myself. Had to go back to the well.
Fems Pay Douces – Raphael Toiné
Heard this via Paris’ Le Mellotron. Shows up in a lot of folks sets. How could you not love this guy?
I Fell it Coming – The Weekend/ Daft Punk
Such a jam. Chorus is repeated a lot. Not sure the kids know what he’s talking about, luckily.
Sentimental Street – Night Ranger
Again, I can not help myself sometimes with the 80’s.
Paradise (live) – Sade
Thee deepest of grooves. Love this whole record too.
Wouldn’t it Be Good – Danny Hutton Hitters
A classic. Good break-the-sounds-up song. A bit cheesy, version-wise.
A Message to You Rudy – The Specials
Perfect pool-side music. Drunken horns on a Saturday after noon are perfection.
Down Under – Men at Work
Always sounds great loud. You wouldn’t think, but it’s true.
Brother’s Cup – Red Hot Chili Peppers
Wasn’t sure about this one. Kept waiting for an errant blue word. Never came!
Matadjem Yinmixan – Tinarwian
I love this song so much. Perfect chill afternoon vibe.
Cruel Summer – Bananarama
Ditto. Love this too. Sounds so wooly and perfectly of its time.
Where Angels Fear to Tread – Disclosure
Amazing. The whole thing; every facet. Made me a fan of these guys.
Meditate – INXS
Weird, but it worked. Forget how it even got on the playlist.
Oguo – Lakou Mizik & Joseph Ray
I almost misted-up when this started. Such amazing work here combining the rural, very real island life with the modern. Breathtaking. Watch the video. Reminds you what an amazing world we live in.
Secrets – The Weekend
The most modern way to cover songs ever. Genius.
Adventure of a Lifetime – Coldplay
No apologies for loving theses guys. This record changed the course of my life.
Crazy – Gnarls Barkley
Classic. Everybody loves it. Period.
Bad Dream – Cannons
How cool is this? Love these guys.
Love is Not Enough – Above & Beyond ft. Zoë Johnson
Beautiful remix. And that voice. Wow.
Chameleon – Panu
Happiest song ever? I could listen to it over-and-over-and-over.
Warning Signs – Alan Fitzpatrick & Lawrence Hart
This has been playing in the car a lot. Like a lot.
One More Time – Daft Punk
I can still remember the first time I heard this. Fell right in love.
Sailing – Chicane
Cool idea and execution. Prefect for the Country Club afternoon set. Tailor made.
Beyond Beliefs – Ben Böhmer
The summer song of 2021. For sure.
+[encore]
The Telephone Call – Kraftwerk
Yes! Current favorite Kraftwerk song.
SuperJumper – MadMixMustang
So ridiculous.
Saturday I am opening for myself, or as I like to call it, playing myself in.
Here’s the pick-list: https://embed.music.apple.com/us/playlist/21-7-10-dj-crate/pl.u-Z6Wmjtq6KvN
My first steps from zero to hero:
Next post: set building.
Hopefully you did not come here for advice, but I bet you may be looking for new ideas.
Spend a week with a synth. (A month in my case.)
Which synth does not matter and is the wrong kind of detail! If you have an iPad you have acres to a world of them under $10.00, and you also have all YouTube to get you going in the right direction.
What did I find out, learn, or reinforce in a week/ in week one?
1. Make new sounds from existing ones. You do not have to start from a basic patch. (This is how you make a basic patch.) Think of presets as a springboard.
2. I am not the player I could be, but I’m not as bad as I thought. In fact, I may play a song live this weekend (typically only perform w/ guitar).
3. All synths sound the same to the general public.
4. In the context of a mix, effects may be more important than the synth patch/ tone.
5. I really do love my first true synth love, this Alpha Juno. (Yes my site and record label are named after the AJ series.)
6. I am a writer first player and player next, but I still need to be able to get my ideas across as fast, efficiently, and as accurately as I possibly can. A/K/A I need a practice routine. [Austin Kleon has already said how succinctly.]
Patches matter less I thought they did, but they still matter a lot. Better general keyboarding will speed up the demo process for me. Committing to the journey and work of #programertoplayer will pay-up huge. I have a much better ear than I used to.
Knowing this synth well will also save me real money. I think we all know that going out and buying a synth or spending time researching/ SHOPPING for new models—for the “sound in your head”—is wasting energy as compared to practical application, never minding that “sound in your head” is probably just lazy journalist writing that we’ve all come to accept as true.
Imagine not shopping as much. Or imagine the habit of going to your synth when you have something in mind.
For me, my key here and to my writing is this: the process is my reward.
The end-of-the-line song is fine, but if you do not love the journey and keep faith that it will end somewhat victoriously, you may need to rethink things. Out of everything, reenforcement of these is the true one synth lesson for me.
So do you sell everything else?
(Gear is the worst! *and the best)
Why am I writing all of this?
To find my audience/ spread the music.
Listen here.
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