10 posts tagged “creativity”
I’m sitting here in the loft of a log cabin, high atop the Smoky Mountains. It is the night before we travel home from a 3-night “get away” mountains. This is the second time we’ve been to this very structure in the woods, and each time it has resulted in a great unleashing of musical output. Something about the purely natural surroundings and (admittedly) isolation from any distractions, is very conducive to letting the creativity soar.
In the past 2 days I’ve written 5 new pieces, each of which Christa has given the thumbs up. We’ve been working with a slightly new technique lately of approaching each new piece as a story, rather than a song. For each of the Smoky Mountain pieces, for example, Christa sat listening and describing the visuals that came to mind in text. With that description and a musical sketch in place, we can embark together on completing lyrics (if appropriate) and a more polished arrangement. It’s less about making a 3.5 minute pop song, and more about the story of the thing. I’m sure some will end up as 3.5 minute pop songs… some, perhaps not. These visual descriptions may or may not end up in the finished product, but they are great stepping stones to the next part of the journey.
Now, returning to “civilization” and routine, the task of keeping the distractions at bay is upon us. Stay tuned.
Happy New Year to all.
2008 has been an odd year indeed. An entire year passed by and there is little tangible to show for it. We performed just 2 shows and put our weekly podcast, “Tea with Hungry Lucy” on hold. Reflecting, as one does, on the past year, though, so much happened and so many lessons were learned.
Among them, we learned that “good enough” is anything but.
We learned that change is essential for growth.
We learned that transparency can be stressful, especially for introverts.
We learned to experiment without placing expectations on the results.
We learned that simplicity is often the most powerful and appropriate path forward.
We learned that “getting it wrong” is valuable and useful thing to do.
We learned to learn.
I know many of you patiently awaiting a new album. You will get one in 2009, you will also get back “Tea with Hungry Lucy”. We spent much of our time since pausing the podcast working on new songs, gradually easing them towards completion. We came within striking distance of a complete album. Many of these songs were good, but not great. These songs are now filed away somewhere and may or may not ever see the light of day. This took us quite a way back in the whole process, but everything we have ready, is truly some of our best work. This also means we still have quite a way to go. No one but Christa and I have heard these songs, and no one will until the album is complete.
So, with the lessons of 2008 behind us, we move forward. We are both very excited about 2009 and our current frame of mind/heart.
What can you expect from Hungry Lucy in 2009? Expect nothing. Expect everything.
Happy New Year to all.
“… the best way to predict the future is to invent it”
- Alan Kay, Pioneering Computer Scientist“Following a trend just means you’re always behind”
- Lydia Hutchinson, Editor, Performing Songwriter Magazine
It's hard for me to believe that Hungry Lucy turns 10 years old this month (Nov. 2008). Although our cover of Depeche Mode's "Blue Dress" kicked everything off earlier in 1998, November of that year marked the first time we put pen to paper and fingers to keyboard to create our first original song, "Bound in Blood". I remember getting up one morning and finding that Christa had left the lyrics with a little description of the "sound" for me. It was like a little present. Using that description as "instructions" I began to form the music. And Hungry Lucy was born!
We've sure come a long way since those days. Working in our own little bubbles was the way we both dealt with the very personal work of songwriting back then. The shear distance we've come was reinforced this past weekend when Christa and I (close to giving up completely) threw away several of the songs we had for the next release. Although this seems rash, it was just the catharsis we needed. Within a few hours of this decision, we had sat down together and created what is my current favorite song, "Pulse of the Earth". Gone are the attempts to emulate the artists we love and respect. Frankly, that was the problem with the songs we threw out. It can be tough to trust one's own instincts when you're creating something for which you know people are waiting. Casting all the expectation aside is what it takes, and where Hungry Lucy is headed (once more) as we go into our 11th year as a band. We've never been a normal band. We never will be... and that's OK. We are nothing more than husband and wife, creating the little pieces of art of which we can be proud.
Coinciding with our 10 year anniversary, we recently took a trip down memory lane for the excellent "Music for Midnight" podcast. Austin Beeman (our gracious host) did an excellent job of producing something that provides a lovely audio scrapbook of our past 10 years.
You can subscribe to Music for Midnight or listen directly to the Hungry Lucy - Feature. "In Their Own Words" (MP3 link).
Thank you Austin for shining a light on what we do!
In the absence of our podcast, "Tea with Hungry Lucy", I'll be writing more about the album's progress in the next few days. For those of you that have emailed, TWHL will be back... just not yet! For all the people that have emailed and commented with your supportive patience, we thank you. Something special is brewing and we'll share it with you all very soon!
That is all... as you were.
War-N
Today (Sunday) was spent working on a new song (called “Just Imagine”) that started life as “Futurist Space Car”. We actually played bit of it on TWHL #102.
I spent today cleaning up the arrangement and we just recorded Christa’s final vocals about 30 minutes ago. The song started life as a little drum loop from Matilda (our affectionately named Alesis Micron) and a somber, yet spacey, synth pad. If memory serves correctly, Christa wrote lyrics on the spot for this one and we recorded scratch vocals right away. The lyrics and whole feel of the song speaks of life(?) after we are all gone for this world. Christa’s melody is really beautiful in contrast to the cold music bed. With this in mind, I decided that Christa’s lone voice should be the only real human element to the song. I added some very mechanically played electric piano… playing only the first and fifth of each chord. I’ve always liked the way fifths leave enough space in a chord progression for the melody to really dictate the tone. Is it major or minor? There is also a certain sterility to this method of harmonizing that lends itself well to this song. For a nice lift (but not too much) on the chorus I added some very stylistic TR-808 and CR-78 cymbals. Nothing screams early electronics like these percussive sounds. There’s a 8 bar break between verse and chorus that needed a little something. So I added a very cold sounding CS-80 synth (well, a virtual version of it). The song ends (quite dramatically I think) with just Christa’s voice and the ambient synth pads, so a nice crescendo is needed to build up to this. The crescendo still needs a bit of work. I’m thinking (and Christa agrees) that some strings might fit the bill here. That will add another human element besides the voice I suppose, but what are rules other than things to break?
Sorry if I’ve been a little too music theory/tech geek in my description here. I just wanted to document what we’ve been up to today… in the only language I know. All-in-all… a good day of creative work. It’s been along time since I’ve had such a productive and rewarding day, musically. So I wanted to share.
Human nature, at least many people's, is to always suspect that the grass is greener on the other side. We take the parts of our lives that we don't like and focus on how great life would be if the exact opposite were true. The trouble with that bad habit, is that it never goes away. Life is a compromise. No matter what possessions you have, what job you have or what relationships you have... there will always be a downside. There is a fine line between striving for better and never being happy. It's easy to recognize what is wrong in our lives, but not always so easy to recognize the wonderful experiences and people in our lives. Find what makes you happy in your life and totally dwell on it... go on... just roll around in it! Take all that energy you spend wishing for something more, and bask in everything great you have going on right now.
It's working for me... right now... and I aim to keep it that way.
Signed, one moody bastid ;)
In this week's Tea with Hungry Lucy War-N & Christa share a preview of a new song (working title: Pajamas), likely title "The Best Day of Her Life". We get to hear the original noisy piano recording, and the newly arranged music.
I listen to focus. I listen to motivate. I listen to correct my state of mind. I listen to detach. I listen for inspiration, to summon the muse. When I create, I create something to which I can listen. I create, because I have music in my head, heart and soul, but I cannot physically hear it yet. The desire to hear that music is what drives me to create. I do not create for money. I do not create for others. I only create for me. Once I have finished creating, I like to share. I share in hopes that others may enjoy as much as I do. I do not share to brag. I sell what I create. I sell in hopes of someday supporting my family from my creations. This is not something I deserve or expect. This is a hope ... a dream. People buy what I create. I buy what others create. I buy because the creations of others move me. I am moved when I listen.
Why do I listen? I listen to create to listen.
After a one-week hiatus, Christa and War-N are back to delight you with tales of musical excursions, violently smashing rehearsals, War-N’s Facebook fun and Bjork spoofs. War-N speaks about some other people’s music in the form of the delicious Tania Moran (who reminds War-N of Olivia Newton-John) and the fascinating new project from Collide and Daren Garcia (of Curve) called The Secret Meeting. Christa tells us of her plans for a new video series and promises to deliver the first one next week … personally, I’m moist with anticipation! War-N also alludes to some life-changes in the not too distant future, but we’re unsure of what’s the hell he’s talking about … what’s new? ;P
Hungry Lucy perform this Tuesday (June 12) at Northside Tavern in Cincinnati with the amazing Stephanie’s Id.
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If you haven’t experienced Stephanie’s Id live (from Asheville, NC), you won’t want to miss this show. They have managed to reaffirm my faith in the power of music every damn time I see/hear them!
This morning I wandered down to one of my employers “Am Buzz” sessions. These are usually interesting presentations on topics that pertain to this advertising and marketing industry in which I find myself toiling daily. This morning’s presenter was Todd Henry of AccidentalCreative.com. He only had a scant 30 minutes to share his wisdom on the creative process, but he still managed to blow my mind! A key point that stuck out was the importance of protecting one’s”creative core” while outside forces are trying to scoop from it. He put it much more eloquently than that, but that’s why he was at the front of the room. 
In reading the AC blog I find this same point that was illustrated in the fabulous “Before the Music Dies” film.
(Ever wonder why pop music is bland?) This is because things that evoke a strong response in research, (a “5″), tend to be polarizing. Either you love them or you hate them. Therefore the goal is to be “just good enough” that a listener won’t change the radio station, but not so good that the song is polarizing. You’re “shooting for the 3.”
Thanks to Todd for giving my mind a good shake this morning!
