When I record a song, I have a tendency to layer many instruments on top of one another. Like, millions of instruments. OK, so maybe that’s a slight exaggeration, but I do tend to get carried away. Sometimes I’ll program a drum part that I think sounds pretty cool, but to beef it up I’ll double it on another kit. And then another. And maybe even a fourth. Then I’ll play a guitar part. And maybe I’ll add a lead… [Read More]
This is a pretty amazing time in the music industry. Sure, you might be hearing a lot about how the business is suffering, records aren’t selling, and all sorts of other stories of doom and gloom. But what you may not be hearing about is how exciting it is for independent artists at the moment. Yes, big record companies are suffering at the hands of the Internet and file sharing. But there’s something else going on that you may also… [Read More]
Wouldn’t it be great if you got a huge, international hit with the first song you ever wrote? Wouldn’t it feel good if the first album you recorded sold a million copies? Most of us musicians picture scenarios like this. We write and record a great piece of music and think, “this deserves to be heard by millions and touch countless lives.” We’re not wrong. It’s perfectly acceptable to shoot for the stars. Actually, if you don’t set your sights… [Read More]
Have you ever wondered what makes a song instantly recognizable? Take a listen to the first five seconds of this song: How is it that it’s possible to know what song it is just from listening to the first five seconds? One instrument (acoustic guitar). Two chords. It can’t be any simpler than that, yet it’s unique and easy to remember. How many times have you been to a live concert where the artist starts playing their hit song, and… [Read More]
It’s happened to all of us: you go an entire day with the chorus of a song in your head, unable to make it go away. You listen to the song over and over again, you listen to other songs to get it out of your head, but try as you might that tune is stubbornly stuck in your brain for good. Infectious catchiness is the hallmark of many a great song. Usually, the catchiest part of the song is… [Read More]