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Re: Studio recording - breaking patterns - ideas?




David,

Just catching up on some e-mail, so this may be a bit
late...

For one, i'll chime in and cheer on your studio efforts
to date.  I *really* enjoy all three records of yours i have
(two from UNDO and one from Super-Cannes).  Many people with
whom i have shared your music have really been knocked out
with it.

So, bravo!  Go into your next recording session knowing
listeners of diverse walks of life are charged by your music.

Second, i can offer that i believe most of us go into the
studio thinking, at least on some level, we are doing
something for posterity's sake, that this should last, it
should speak to generations, it is carved in stone, it's what
we are leaving the world.

However much or little truth to any of that there may be,
LEAVE IT AT THE THE STUDIO DOOR WHEN YOU WALK IN.

It's not easy, for many of us are paying a good chunk to record,
or at the very least, making ourselves vulnerable within that
moment of creation (the very definition of artist, to me)--it
costs us, one way or another, and we feel we need a lasting
return on our investment.

At the risk of sounding like i am preaching the Buddhist doctrine,
i say embrace the *impermancence* of what you are doing when you
go in to record.  "Shiver!--the Record button is on!"  Forget
about it already.  It's NOT going to capture who you are and what
you do no matter what, it'll only be a snapshot, so accept that
and have fun.  Ever seen a still image of log rollers?--it's quite
a different thing in motion, especially when you're doing the
rolling.  That's being the artist, and the best an audience can
expect from a recording is that still image.  Roll on anyway!
The "still image" you leave behind will be better for it.

Third, if you are particularly worried about repeating certain
patterns, i encourage you to immerse yourself in music very
foreign to your own but that speaks to you just before recording.
Bring it into the studio even.  I saw Terry Bozzio do this with
a field recording of Senegalese tribal drummers.  He couldn't
possibly replicate what they were doing, but it put him in a
different place, it threw him in the deep end, if you will.
Personally, i've done it with Steve Reich recordings, Thai
classical music, the latest in Top 40 slick pop.  Try Judy
Garland, play it on 10.

I've blathered on...

Let me say just one other thing: it's GREAT NEWS to hear you
are heading back into the studio, David!  Let us all know when
you feel you have something new to share.

Best,
Peter

______________________________
Peter Koniuto
Creative Recordist - Composer
Red Sun Soundroom
Niskayuna, NY

COMING SOON!
Pseudophone's "Reach"
A free EP from Negative Sound Institute

http://www.RedSunSoundroom.com
peter AT RedSunSoundroom.com
______________________________


>     On Jun 30, 2007, at 2:55 AM, David Kirkdorffer wrote:
>
>
>       Hi -
>
>
>
>
>       I'm going into studio next weekend to record.  Over the years I've
> fallen
>
>       into patterns.  I'd like to try something different.
>
>
>
>
>       Past efforts can be heard here: http://www.myspace.com/undomusic
>
>
>
>
>       And this is a great community for sharing ideas.  What are some
> concepts or
>
>       strategies you've used to break out of your patterns?
>
>
>
>
>       Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
>
>
>
>
>       David
>
>
>