It’s good to have reference points when you’re creating something beyond your specialisms.
I’m not a pianist or string player but I’ve been composing for both instruments over the last few months. I use my knowledge and expand upon it to get fundamentals right, namely instrument range, harmony, rhythms and idiomatic features.
When I want to take things further, that’s when I do my research.
An abundance scores from previous show the possibilities of extended techniques, engraving and ways to approach writing that you may not have previously considered.
Being creative involves listening and referring to other past works that can inspire you and influence you towards new directions.
I’m also very good at not achieving half of the things I write down.
That is unless I timetable it in.
I’m lucky to have a few projects going on. Some self led, some collaborative amongst my teaching.
Every Sunday I write down things that are specifically scheduled in for the week.
I then decide how I’m going to use the rest of my time and what I specifically focus on.
The process of scheduling in the things I want to achieve has really helped because it psychologically sets me up for engaging with a certain thing at a certain time.
I’m always at risk of saying I’ll do it later when it comes to a to do list. Scheduling the to do list into my week means that later isn’t available to me anymore.
When the BBC decides to make the main headline a nothing story about Harry and Meghan, whilst Matt Hancock’s lack of transparency over COVID contracts has been deemed unlawful, we have a problem.
The handling of public money over COVID contracts and test and trace has been appalling. As highlighted by George Monibot, Millions of pounds went to unqualified friends, teenagers were left running distressing calls and lives that could have been saved, ultimately weren’t.
The fact that this has not been properly covered leads to the plain sighted fact that the U.K. has a problem with elite corruption, both within the way news media operates as well as the severe lack of accountability when things have gone devastatingly wrong due to incompetence across central government.
The general public is being done a disservice and we need to create new systems that are more just and have more representative, transparent and active democratic processes.
In the meantime, we are dealing with a dangerous level of corruption, cronyism and inequality.
I like presets. I tend to use them as a reference point for the kind of things I’m looking for.
The new record I’m making includes new timbres I’ve never worked with before but I’ve spent hours sourcing sounds from plug ins trying to find the right one for the particular passage or song. If I tried building every sound from scratch, I’d release my next record in a decade’s time!
With the amazing technology out there, it’s easy to get a sound you’re after, even close to artists you love. I’m always jumping for joy when I make a synth sound like Boards of Canada.
However, it’s worth reminding myself I’m not them and whilst influences are fine, it’s good to dig deeper, customise, explore and ultimately, find that which can make you unique.
It’s why as a guitarist, I’m ambivalent about digital amp profilers, I know they sound amazing, but I like the unpredictability of microphones and valve amps.
Presets are a good reference point for that which you are after. But good becomes greater when you can tweak, customise and innovate.
I’m of course talking about the Animated TV series from Nickelodeon and not the film adaptation from M Night Shyalaman who took every misstep possible and may have even hindered the series from getting the credit it deserves.
The series came out in 2005 to 2008. I was a teenager at the time who was driven by music and the only TV show I remember watching was Fresh Prince and I was more into movies anyway. The TV series passed me by and I never watched it…until Netflix distributed it last year.
My girlfriend insisted that I must watch it. Being an animated series, I was slightly ambivalent towards it, and didn’t think I might enjoy it as much as Better Call Saul which I had just finished after spending lockdown 1 rewatching Breaking Bad.
A few months later, and I’m not only hooked. I watched it twice and now a fully fledged fan! I would say it’s one of the best TV series ever made.
Where to start with my praise!?
First and foremost, the premise is undeniably intriguing to any family member, a world torn apart by war. And every episode you see the devastating impact that war has laid upon communities, of course in a child friendly way but it’s message is nevertheless profound. There’s also excellent takes on authoritarianism and censorship that are cleverly embedded in the plot.
Secondly, the characters are detailed, rich, and outright adorable. Even the antagonists are likeable! Every character has idiosyncrasies, hang ups and back stories that are well thought out and without giving too much away, there are several character arcs…one of which is just incredible. There’s a celebration of characters who are able to showcase their strengths despite disabilities and there’s a diversity and respect for a variety of Asian cultures.
Thirdly is the sense of humour and adventure tied in with wider themes. This show has proven to be an absolute tonic for me during a long drawn lockdown through winter and if you’ve not yet had the chance to see this show yet…I cannot recommend it enough.
Also you won’t be able to get this bop out of your head.
When I visit Germany, one of the things I admire about the country is of course, it’s stunning forests and natural beauty, but also the fact it’s left so untarnished by human litter.
The same cannot be said for the U.K. and the act of littering is something I’ve always despised and have vowed never to do myself.
Unfortunately though, the culture appears to be riddled with apathy or even worse, a false sense of pride in leaving crap everywhere and anywhere. Over 2 million pieces of litter are dropped in the U.K. every single day.
I walk up and around the mountainside regularly, and cycle the trail to Cardiff and I find it hard to recall any time I don’t see litter at all in what is otherwise, an ultimately beautiful part of the world.
Nature is suffering and all for the sake of human laziness and stupidity.
Pleas, making a post on social media post, the aggressive posters threatening to fine you, don’t seem to do the trick either.
And part of problem is people don’t like being told what to do.
But there are ways to tackle this.
One thing that Germany has that the U.K. doesn’t is machines in supermarkets which allow to recycle bottles and in return receive a small receipt to spend on groceries.
You even spot a few folk going out of their way with bags of bottles they’ve picked up to cash in!
This is one simple solution that involves behavioural economics. A way to incentivise not littering. Something that can and should be implemented.
The issue is of course massive and challenging and my respect to those working hard to fight against it.
In the meantime, we should all ask ourselves what kind of place we want to live in. South Wales deserves more than us fly tipping and throwing cigarettes out of the car window.
I got up this morning and cycled into town after booking a room in my college.
I’m currently working on my new album and the process has been quite different to my previous works, particularly with lyric writing.
It occurred to me that most of the lyrics I wrote for my first solo album were written when I was travelling or when I was in a cafe.
Being robbed of the opportunity to experience both of late, writing lyrics has actually been a struggle and a slog.
But then, I changed my working space and environment. I also had the mic ready to lay down ideas there in the moment as opposed to writing it down and it worked a treat. As of today, I finally have a full set of lyrics for one of my new songs.
A new environment, a new approach are sometimes all that are needed for you to crack that thing you’ve been inhibited from creating.
Football would be nowhere near as interesting if you’re team was winning all the time.
That’s why the Premier League is considered one of the best in the world because different teams can win it, (compared to the rest of Europe’s top leagues).
One of the crutches of the game however, is this incessant need to create a media storm of rumours when things aren’t going well for a team. The seeking of short term solutions when progress and development takes time.
No true follower of Liverpool would in their right mind want Klopp out of the door. Besides the pandemic, there are an extraordinary set of circumstances that has inhibited my team’s chance of retaining the title. Injuries have run amok, and losing Van Dijk was a game changer as his role in the team is not only key for defence, but our attack as well (as was brilliantly explained in a video by TIFO).
After being bombarded by inane questions at a press conference today, some which were stupid, others to be quite frank outright disrespectful, Klopp described the situation as an ‘interesting challenge’.
That kind of attitude and outlook is to be admired. Things aren’t going well, there have been mistakes mixed with a string of bad luck.
Going forward, there are choices, you can stick to your guns or change tact, you can pivot, you can reflect, evaluate and steer forward.
If you’re in the limelight, undoubtedly you’ll always get the flood of negative nonsense thrown your way to which you can shun it with dignity and focus on the interesting challenge.
As many couples celebrate Valentine’s day today, there are many who are separated from each other as a result of the Pandemic. (Myself included).
One of the worst aspects of the pandemic is the amount of uncertainty it has developed and usually in the pre-covid era when you were far away from those you love and care about, you always had the dates in the diary, those moments to look forward to.
For many people, that has no longer been the case and in many cases, couple have been unable to see each other since the beginning of last January.
This has taken a huge toll on people and when I try to think of ways to reassure, it is hard to find any solutions. There is only so much we can control.
Vaccinations are being rolled out, the R rate has finally gone below 1 in the U.K. and we are in the latter stages of the winter. There is light at the end of the tunnel.
In the meantime, I wish everyone strength, resilience and peace of mind.
Rush’s career in the 70s was defined by them finding their sound and establishing themselves as a progressive rock band. The debut album having a clear influence from Led Zeppelin, the introduction of Neil Peart’s lyrics and drumming prowess on their second album ‘Fly by Night’, a flop that was critically panned in their third album ‘Caress of Steel’ and then a ferocious response that could be considered more of a double down than a pivot in their breakthrough album ‘2112’.
The band was relentless in their work ethic. Making records, then touring and they had started to pay their dues towards the latter half of the 70s with the subsequent releases ‘A Farewell to Kings’ and ‘Hemispheres’ which include some of the most fascinating, fantastical concepts and outright crazy musicianship.
Towards the beginning of the 80s, Rush went through a more stylistic transition with the biggest transformation in Neil Peart’s approach to lyric writing with less of a concern on big fantastical concepts and more of the human condition. The 1980 album ‘Permanent Waves’ certainly did this extremely well and then the overall sound aesthetic was taken up a notch with the 1981 album ‘Moving Pictures’ where the band truly captured lightning in a bottle.
Tom Sawyer is an absolutely iconic way to open an album and demonstrates an extraordinary level of focus and artistic execution.
Red Barchetta is a rocking nostalgia trip on the thrills of driving in an old school car.
YYZ is one of the best instrumentals that Rush ever penned down (Along with La Villa Strangiato) , based on the morse code for Toronto airport.
Limelight is one of Rush’s most poignant songs, where Peart explores his notions of fame and the difficulty he had with it interfering with his personal life.
Camera Eye is the epic number and one of the last songs that Rush would use extended form and focuses on city life in both New York and London.
Witch Hunt is a fantastic meditation on the Salem witch trails that covers the theme of discrimination and prejudice in a way that is as relevant as ever.
Finally, Vital Signs is about adaptability and the way in which humans can ‘elevate from the norm’.
Rush elevated from the norm and beyond with Moving Pictures and I keep my description of the record sparse for the experience of listening to it is where the magic is.
Every track is superb and the whole album is a masterpiece.
Ryan Mark Elliott Music 