I am struggling to return to the routine of this project, and have ended up a few days behind again. My life is messy at the moment: my mental energy is being swallowed by recent rental uncertainties, and the potential disruption and financial pressure of having to move to a new apartment is really stressing me out. This is fuelling the voice that asks "what is the point of doing this?", and not just this project, but music altogether.
Read MoreA little video to mark my break. I didn't include today, which I guess means I'd better get writing.
Read MoreThis was where I decided to take a proper break. I think this video suggests that was a good idea.
Read MoreMore on the growing up theme, with a very un-grown-up performance (although the next video trumps this one in terms of childish behaviour).
Read MorePart III.
Read MorePart II.
Read MoreSo far in this project I haven't really been sick, but last week I crossed that hurdle. Since just before Easter I have been experiencing a mysterious case of hives every time I exercise. I have been pretty sedentary since they started, which is an easy habit to fall into when you're locked in a practice / teaching room all day with your instruments. In a burst of inspiration to get active I went out for a jog, and came home an allergic mess. As well as hives covering my entire body, my lips and tongue had swelled up, so I went to the emergency room in case of anaphylactic shock.
Read MoreThis is yesterday's song. I didn't spend ages on it, but I did engage myself fully in the research, writing and recording process, which I must admit I haven't been doing recently. I'm perhaps regaining control over the project, and the other parts of my life too, and it feels very nice.
Read MoreThe third of my glove mind map improvisation experiments.
Read MoreThe second of my glove mind map improvisation experiments.
Read MoreThis is the first in a series of three experiments with a mind map for the theme glove. The mind map became a kind of graphic score, with a random starting point chosen and then the lyrics improvised in performance using parts of the mind map as prompts. This is similar to the way my brain works when I sit down to do a timed writing exercise, but I find it much easier to translate my thoughts to pen and paper rather than speech. This exercise was an interesting way to bypass the pen and go straight to my voice. I found it quite challenging, but resisted the urge to record second takes of any of the improvisations.
Read MoreIn my attempt to catch up I allowed myself to just play around with the previous day's video for this one.
Read MoreAnother spontaneous improvisation, taking the theme ring from the previous piece.
Read MoreThis one marks the end of four months worth of songs. Goodness gracious. Still so far to go...
Read MorePart three, I destroyed my installation and it was incredibly satisfying.
Read MoreThe second in a series of three, playing with mirrors.
Read MoreTaking the them kaleidoscope from the previous day's song, I made a little installation out of tin foil and let it guide a series of improvisations. I played with light, breath and mirrors. This is the first in a series of three.
Read MoreMost of the linguistic connections to vista focus on light, and this piece explores the opposite, continuing the same camera angle as the previous day. A quick improvisation taking advantage of the background noise in my apartment. I have a new mysterious British neighbour, and ever evening he speaks on the phone in our building's stairwell. Yet I've never managed to actually see him, only heard his voice amplified by the shape of the stairwell. Perhaps he is a phantom?
Read MoreFor the next small set of pieces I worked with the theme vista. To help the difficulties I've been having motivating myself to write I decided to implement some rigour to my process. I adopted the pomodoro technique, and chunked my work into 25 minute blocks, both songwriting and all the other tasks I have on my plate at the moment. I have literally been carrying a kitchen timer around the house with me so that I can set it when I get started on something. This has made the last few days fairly manageable, and I have been able to maintain my focus for the short blocks of time.
Read MoreThis is the first time I haven't actually recorded something new. Instead I decided to see what would happen if I reversed my reverse-talking video. Then I layered the non-reverse video over the top and did some video editing as my creativity for the day. So although I didn't record anything new I still created a new piece of art.
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