Remixed and uploaded a song I wrote and recorded last year. The vocal track was over saturated, had too much reverb and a chorus plugin. Crazy. I nuked the saturation, the chorus effect and reverb on the vocal track and it’s much better. Learning. #music #recording #songwriting #rock https://youtu.be/SY0_Z9VECg8
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MIKAEL ÅKERFELDT Discusses His Colorful Song Titles & The Time He Accidentally Wrote A Poop Lyric
Live performances are priceless. Take every stage opportunity, big or small.
I think I've got a version close to final for this song. What do you think?
Keep a journal or notes app for song ideas.
Always engage with fans by responding to comments, participate in Q&As, and keep an open dialogue with listener.
Explore and respect diverse music cultures for broader inspiration.
I'm happy with how one of my current songs is coming along. I wrote the lyrics and melody a year or two ago, a kind of boring bluesy obliquely talking about transitioning. Somehow it's evolved into a down tempo trip hop dream pop kind of thing. The first half is sparse, e drums, piano and standup bass. I am trying to figure out how lush the second half needs to be.
But — I'm struggling to pick this apart — that LIFE OR DEATH DRAMATIC EMOTIONS thing — is that really bad, if it's in an artistic form? Like, is it just a "sincere emotions are cringe" thing when we criticize people for "writing like a teenager"?
AND ALSO. FURTHERMORE. LEADING TO MY MAIN POINT—
Considering I'm autistic, I don't think I'm capable of writing a song without LIFE OR DEATH DRAMATIC EMOTIONS.
So why is that a bad thing?
Fans giving their email means they're eager to hear from you!
Vochlea launches Dubnote sonic sketchbook for iOS (FREE for 24 hours) https://rekkerd.org/vochlea-launches-dubnote-sonic-sketchbook-for-ios-free-for-24-hours/
Here’s a screenshot of my recent song “Floors Of The Dead” in the Tracktion Waveform DAW. Eight tracks. Top to bottom: Drums, Tele rhythm guitar, Danelectro 59 through EHX B9 organ pedal, Tele solo, harp, vocals, bass and shaker. Got one blank purple track in there titled structure, so I didn’t go insane putting it all together. Think I’ve finally cured my addiction of reverb overuse, especially on a blues song like this. Got a minuscule amount of reverb on drum and vocal tracks. Individual track plugins are on far right in pic. I’m still daunted by the aux bus send receive thing. My brain just can’t grasp the concept. So I persist in just dumping plugins on each track. Sigh. Major comping to get what I needed too. Looks like a jigsaw puzzle. Lots of copy/paste on a 12-bar repeat. Lots of learning and still lots more to learn. #music #recording #blues #songwriting
For #TunesOnTuesday, sharing the "title track" from my District Fringe show "Are You Out Of Your Mind?," which I recorded in 2022 with Barbara Papendorp. Hear us perform it live (along with 11 other songs!) between July 17 and 25. Tickets $15 at districtfringe.com/tickets https://ohljazz.com/2025/07/08/tunes-on-tuesday-are-you-out-of-your-mind/
#songwriter #songwriting #cabaret #theater #festival #washingtondc
Attend networking events, as they can connect you with key influencers and peers.
Attend open mics to network and gain exposure.
Got my new blues tune up. Guitars are Telecaster (L) and Danelectro 59M through the EHX B9 organ pedal (R). Bass is Fender p-bass. Harp is Hohner Special 20 B flat. I’m capo’d at the first fret on guitars, and through Keeley compressor. Harp and Tele are both through MXR Timmy. Drums are MT Power Drum kit sampler. I also tracked a Latin percussion shaker. Mics are Apex 550 for vocals and an Apex 327 for harp. Inspiration for the song came from Dylan’s version of Axe and the Wind. #music #blues #guitar #bass #recording #war #songwriting #gearsquad https://youtu.be/72GYFodn9M0
The student of pop music history will recall that this song was written for Keely Smith.
And … tubular bells.
Though I try to forget, it just can't be done.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9ksSn1Ip1o
FEWER.
Had a mad crush on Marilyn McCoo in the old days. This was the beginning of the end of my inflexible attitude toward grammar.
If Bert Bacharach and Hal David favored "one less bell" who am I to object?
'The title was born from working on 'What's New Pussycat', and Angie Dickinson was living with me in London. A doorbell rang, and I think she made the comment, 'One less bell to answer, when I get out of here.' It was pretty intense, and it bothered her. We weren't married yet but we were living together. I think Hal heard her say, 'One less bell to answer'. He thought, that's a good song title and we wrote it."'
—Bert Bacharach via Wikipedia
5th Dimension - ONE LESS BELL TO ANSWER
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jft060DznuU&list=RDMM
When people are critical of your music, remember it's them not you.
Embrace gratitude daily, no matter your current phase/struggles.
The Metal Dog 
