So, in the last three months:

- I wrote and recorded 9 songs!!! (1 released, 1 secret, and 7 for this #newAlbum). That’s usually my output for a couple of years!
- And I made and released 3 music videos
- Plus I did some graphics and video tidbits for #NHAM & #TIBtv

And you know what? I’m fucking exhausted! 🫠🥄

I think I need to go back to my #slowLife for a while 😅

52/2 🧵

#musicMaking

Well, song #7 is done. Which probably means the #newAlbum is done!

- I’m still not sure it should include my (still unreleased) fall #bonkwave track which started it all. Maybe a remixed version? 👀
- Since I’ve gone to all this trouble, I’d like the tracks to be properly mastered, and I’ve asked someone I trust to do so.
- So release is probably still weeks away, after the next bonkwave album release.

More waiting, i.e. more time to second guess everything 😅

51/2 🧵

#musicMaking

Recorded vocals for song #7 yesterday. Got a full take that is probably as good as I can hope for on my second try.

I then added a whole bunch of instruments to the accompaniment that is very basic, and then removed them all except for one discrete bar of tuned percussion.

And today I cleaned the vocals and mixed the song, and despite a few mouth clicks that I still need to remove or attenuate, I’m happy with the result \o/

50/2 🧵

#newAlbum #musicMaking

Usually, mixing is hard or easy for me, depending on the song. Song #6 was easy, i.e. I got a decent mix fast, but then I started noticing all sorts of niggly little problems, and it took me forever, maybe a dozen tries, to get mostly rid of them. Unusual.

Anyway, I’m calling Song #6 done \o/

Next job is recording vocals for song #7, pollen count permitting.

49/2 🧵

#newAlbum #musicMaking

Forgot to mention that song #6 features… #ukulele. Was this a crass marketing move after my #ukuleleBonk video kinda sorta went viral on here? You have no proof 😇

48/2 🧵

#newAlbum #musicMaking

With my new video done and released, I went back to song #6 of #newAlbum to try to record the vocals. A first attempt had failed to excite me. First thing I did this time, was to totally remove a four voice brass section that I had written. Then, not only did I get into the zone, but I also improvised a whole section of background vocals that I’m quite delighted with. Mixing is going to be a PITA as usual, but that’s the price that has to be paid.

47/2 🧵

#musicMaking

Fine-tuned the words, fleshed out the music and recorded a quick arrangement this morning. Went all in on the country waltz thing, and I’m quite happy with the result.

If I include the unreleased fall bonkwave track that started it all, I have 8 songs, which is a proper number for a (short) album.

I honestly never thought I would/could write that many oO

46/2 🧵

#newAlbum #musicMaking

When I hatched the concept for this #newAlbum, I wrote down a whole bunch of song ideas, many of which didn’t pan out, as I mentioned before. I wrote several versions and hundreds of lines for one of these ideas but gave up every time.

This morning, I woke up with a silly tune in my head, kind of a country waltz maybe, and my mind went back to that original, rather dumb idea, and an hour later, I had written lyrics I didn’t hate…

So there might be a song #7 after all…

45/2 🧵

#musicMaking

I doubt the super talented #remix wizards here would be inspired to try. One song is in 6/8, has a lot of chord changes and is backed by a string quartet, while the other was recorded way back when on a portastudio and is all Casio auto-accompaniment, sped up vocals, with a real bamboo flute solo in the middle 😅

« But hey, you never know », he posted courageously while everyone was asleep.

44/2 🧵

#newAlbum #musicMaking