Sometimes I wonder. Sometimes I wonder what it would have been like if my parents weren’t both artistic in nature. It’s most likely because my parents were artistic that my sister and myself have turned out to be artistic in our own right. My sister’s an architect. I’m a musician. But then, you already know that I’m a musician.
I can remember that my Dad sometimes would get into heated arguments about the artwork that he was creating for client. Obviously has a kid you don’t understand why. However, looking back on it now I can understand the reasoning behind it. My Dad is a genius with color. If there is anyone on this planet that knows color better I have no idea who that would be. Often times those arguments would be about color. I suppose it could be construed that my Dad would be considered stubborn. Especially when it comes to color.
He also had a very unique sense of artistic style. He was on the forefront of commercial art in his heyday. Part of his artistic vision has been imprinted upon a vast majority of commercial art even though it’s now created on computers. His tool of choice was the airbrush. Unfortunately it is no longer a good tool for commercial art today. To put it mildly, he was definitely being different. There’s no doubt about it that some of that has rubbed off on me.
Yesterday, I had a writing session for a song that I’m finishing with a friend. We’ve written a few songs in the past together. Usually will get the structure in the first sitting. Then I’ll set time aside to do the actual recording of instruments to fit what it is we’ve created. Most of the time when writing with a partner it’s fairly easy to throw ideas together. I will say that it is easier to write with someone who plays an instrument with proficiency. The main reason being is they will understand the rhythms that certain of instruments play for a particular style of music.
For the song in question we had a very definitive rhythm. So I chose to create parts that supported it. Yet, when he came into listen yesterday he didn’t hear it. He started singing different rhythm ideas that he thought would work. While the ideas were alright, they didn’t fit with what was already there. I wanted to be accommodating but I know I got a little bit testy. I believe the reason why is due to knowing how to layer different parts. Not to mention that this song required keeping things simple. Eventually I ended up creating an entirely different part for the guitar in this section in question. The whole idea was to give it character. I knew we had it, but now it’s different. A different character anyway.
Like today’s song, the band that did it is definitely doing things different. If you didn’t know who they were and you closed your eyes to listen you might very well think that they were not from America. In fact you definitely wouldn’t think that they would be from Seattle. Instead you’d probably think that they were from England. My first impression is one of Coldplay. There’s no doubt about it. Although I will say this band uses a lot more guitar.
The thing about Seattle is that was the breeding grounds for Jimi Hendrix, and more recently, the grunge genre. So to have a sound that comes from across the pond is a little different. That’s not a bad thing. I know that this song is already had a bit of a hit run to it. But do you actually own it? It’s time to be different, get it now. Get it and go be different.