Off the Record - September Edition

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It’s been a weird summer.

Not on a personal level. I mean, yeah, alright, it’s been weird that way too, but I digress.

No, I’m talking about music. I’m always talking about music.

I’ve noticed a weird pattern. It hit me as new, but it might just be me. More music has been released over the last couple of months than ever before in summer. Okay, strike that, it ain’t clear enough. More proper music. “Proper” meaning not summer hits and shit like that.

Actual music that we’d listen to the rest of the year. Many artists released songs over the summer. And not one track to tease an album for the autumn, no. Several, half a record sometimes, with music videos and everything. The whole works.

That’s new, innit? Summer used to be spent on the road gigging or in a hole resting. Is this a new trend? The new normal?

I’m merely observing, like you are. I don’t have any inside track or anything. But this is an interesting turn of events. A big change in the traditional calendar of the recording artist.

Noga Erez, Bleachers, Lana, Childish Gambino, Charly Bliss, Gracie Abrams, Salarymen, Paris Paloma, Salty, Katie Gavin…
I’m losing track, there’s been so many.

Forget everything you knew about releasing music. There is no such thing as bad timing anymore. Nothing is off limit. Go with the flow. If you feel like releasing in summer, there’s nothing to stop you.
I’ll miss your songs, since I tend to be offline most of that season. But I promise to do my best to catch up when September comes around.

Seriously though, this is a game changer in my book. Destroying the traditional calendar. Two to three months of brand-new release real estate, as the kids would say.

Did you notice this pattern as well? I’m curious. In any case, something to keep in mind for next year.

But then again, what do I know...

PSA: When I’m not writing these pretty emails, I’m writing pretty music. If you’d like to hire me to produce your next record, drop me a line over here. Or just reply to this email. That works too.

Cut the Quiet

Quiet is great. Quiet is needed. But sometimes, quiet is out the door and nobody misses him.

Creating is all about decision-making. Arranging is no exception. And after working on a song for a while, it’s easy to lose sight of what’s needed.

You added a bunch of parts, tried many ideas, kept a few things from the demo that sounded great… You see what I mean. You end up with a session full of tracks, and pretty soon you’re not even sure what does what and when.

I’m all for dynamics. I preach them all day long to anyone who will listen. But that’s not what this is about.

Sometimes, as the arrangement progresses, quiet parts become useless clutter. You might think they bring some great depth to your song, but truth is, you’re the only one hearing them. And that’s only because you put them there, not because you have superior hearing.

I’m guilty as charged, don’t get me wrong. And every so often, several quiet parts do make an interesting, audible sound together. That’s fine. But then make your life easier: print them down onto one track.

In other cases, stop faffing about. Mute everything. Add parts in one by one. Be drastic.

What needs to stay for the song to work? Everything else can go.

Labour

Ever heard of Paris Paloma? Her feminist anthem Labour has become a huge hit since its release last year. It is featured on her record Cacophony, released August 30^th . But in the meantime she released several versions of the song.

Smart move, by the way. When a song works, double down and milk it as much as you can.

I’ll level with you: the album version left me pretty unmoved. There was potential, but I found the production quite flat, it didn’t make the song justice. This is only my opinion, of course. And at the time of writing, the music video has 29 millions views on YouTube and counting, so what the fuck do I know. Let’s say I’m not the target audience.

But last April she released this live version that left quite an impression on me. I live for great live sessions (hello White Session), and this one features all the elements required:

- an interesting arrangement
- a wonderful performance
- a beautiful venue
- a great sequence-shot.

But enough chitchat. Let me know if this one resonates with you.

Fare Thee Well

Since you’re getting this email, it means a new month has started. I just checked to save you the trouble: it’s September. I’m exaggerating for dramatic effect, but my perception of time still hasn’t recovered from COVID. I’m not the only one, right? Right…?!

Oh well. In any case, the date reads 10^th September 2024. Time to go back to work. Stand up proud. Write some fucking amazing music. Let’s make the world a better place the only way we know how to, because the bad guys out there sure are trying to make it worse.

Do your fucking best. Anything else isn’t enough. Go go go!

P.S.: if this newsletter has left you feeling inspired, do me a huge favour and forward it to a friend.