John Worsley and I collaborated on a cover of "This Carnival is Dead and Gone." The idea was to mix the folkey sounds of banjo and accordion with synth and digital percussion. John did a great job making it all work - a fusion of two types of music I really dig.
Lyrics can be found here: http://www.pesni.ru/song/21570/
This time I decided to actually learn a real song. A very short song. The kind of song a 5 year old can play. I love how I look like I just finished playing Toccata and Fugue. Really, I was just happy to finally get the notes right after 30 takes or so.
I took that same spanish gypsy scale and tried to make it work on the accordion. Half way through, to mix it up, I changed the timing from 3/4 to 4/4 - I kinda dig the effect.
First off, something creative - Neal (nvonflue) e-mailed me about collaborating on one of the songs he wrote called "Pick me up." As with many of his songs, I wonder just how much of what he writes is based on experience. He thought it'd be fun to have me add some accordion melody, banjo rhythm, and some over-the-top backing vocals (something I'm not entirely qualified to produce). At first I was certain that I butchered the song - I didn't feel like I really added anything of value to it, but afterwards he rerecorded/mixed his part and transformed the song from something that was pretty down and depressing to something still depressing, but a bit funny - maybe even conjuring sympathy.
All in all, I loved what he made of it, and am proud of the little bits I added. Please take a listen: Pick Me Up
I've decided to embrace my drawing hiatus a bit longer. No idea for how long, but I'm taking the opportunity to focus on my career and take some Microsoft Certification. I've managed to draw a couple things in my moleskin sketchbook next to my desk at work, but really, that's it. When I have a few, I'll scan em and post. Not gonna be a fool and think I'm done with comics and art - it'll be there for me when I'm ready. And in the meantime, I have the short term creative fix from music.
My buddy William G. is just about finished with his epic webcomic Bang Barstal. Myron Makere gets a guest spot in the final scene, playing a banjo, no less. Go check it out; read it from the beginning, even! http://www.graphicsmash.com/comics/bang_grsm.php
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