PostMarks and JaKlab: L.E.P.
11.12.2003Experiments with recording and 'Pop' song structures
The following recordings were done over a 4-year period in NYC from around 2001 to 2004. Most recordings during this period were experimental jam sessions that resulted in fixed songs structures. Experiments included singer/songwriter material, instrumental compositions, and indie-rock structures. Many pieces have an 'un-finished' quality and are not very refined. Their 'incomplete' nature is what makes them interesting and complete. These recording DO NOT have a underlying coherence but instead are meant to experiment with different musical genres, sounds and content.
PostMarks and JaKlab: L.E.P.
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01 Superguest
02 Soft As Rock
03 Urban Heat
04 LoFi and Indie
05 Alive to Die
06 Polling Inner
07 Every Day
08 Serinade
09 Drum Go
10 The Piece
11 Polling Inner Reprise
Description
While this project I was back to the idea of 'amateurism'. All recording were done under very unprofessional conditions - one mic in the room, cheap microphones etc. I was also very interested in the concept of 'collaboration' and understanding how music and sounds can be a collaborative enterprise. Many various individuals participated - all from varying musical background and expertise.
What materialized was some very interesting recording and experiments. It was not that these recordings were meant to be 'unserious' but instead time was utilized in a way that increased the enjoyment of the experience rather than force a product into a preconceived mold.
Many of these recordings started with a simple idea or song structure that was built upon. Some were a product of just 'on-the-spot' song creation. There was really no one in particular lens in which we started or ended. No recordings presented here have been finalized but instead have been chosen to be displayed 'as is' giving them a characteristic of unfinished, unrefined and even sloppy.
But I think to quickly label these recording as nothing more that 'messing around' would be foolishly underestimating their purpose - to be a presentation of an exploratory process. These recording are not meant to be provocative, interesting or in many ways even listenable for that matter. What I think is important is that through these recordings and educational process can be witnessed. This is a process not of consuming a product but in the creation of processes. Whether accomplish musicianship is present or not, just though the act of creation and recording do technologies become learned and understood - music in this sense is something that is made and shared rather that something that is bought and sold.
It is this aspect of this project that I am really very interested in- the idea that students, individuals, groups have a technology at their disposal but are afraid to create and to share because the product that might be produced doesn't sound like 'what’s on the radio' or is not professional enough. Radio, television and internet technologies have molded the ears, eyes and brain to be aesthetically responsive only to those creations that are legitimized through the media industries. Prior to electronic recording and distribution, sounds and music were much more of a vital folk dance where participation in the medium was a prerequisite to it legitimacy as an art form. Now it seems like an art form is only legitimized through its consumptions rather than its participation, collaboration and production.
Throughout this project these were just a few of the observations that were made.
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