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I've decided to start this
section on the site as I thought it might be fun for you to share the
journey with me over the next year or so until my new album - which I've
already decided to call Fourth Wall - is completed. Hopefully, this
will help you better understand the process of writing, arranging and
producing an album like this.
February 24, 2005
I have been working on
a piece which is inspired by the music of John Dowland. This is code named
Barock. Since I have just come off tour I am not in full work mode so I just
play it quietly while the TV is on or Pablo is playing in front of me. It's
quite a serene piece in D minor. It seems to be going into another part
which is more rhythmical (in 7/8 time) and I can't decide if they are two
different pieces or not. Time will tell.
March 1, 2005
Now I can see that Barock
and the 7/8 one (now called Iguazu) are separate entities. But they
definitely work well next to each other. Possibly merging from one another.
I found a major breakthrough with the 7/8 tune. Trouble is
it's got me into trouble because I have found myself on a chord and don't
know where to go from there (here). But it's such magic though. I don't know
where it came from but I do know I need to solve this. Kind of like finding
a
really nice table and then having to re-design a room to fit around it.
Sometimes I have to just ask God. The best time to write or compose or solve
these problems is while I am driving because I am away from the instrument
which means I have to use my wits, not chops. I am driving to Bath today to
do a DVD for Guitarist magazine. Hopefully I will 'find' it by the time I
get home. I am still on holiday which still means I am not full on writing
but at times like this I get the best results. I feel these two tunes are
setting the pace for Fourth Wall. Once there is a plot it can start
writing itself. I am just the channel. Check in with you later...
March 4, 2005
Shane (Fontayne) came over
yesterday to roughly go through the songs for the Broken Music tour.
We are leaving for Italy on Sunday to start rehearsals. When we finished I
had a 'moment' of inspiration. After he left I ran through what I knew of
Iguazu and when I got to the problem chord I stumbled upon a direction
(chord) which I know in my heart is the right way forward with this piece.
The reason I am calling it Iguazu is because the music reminds me of
the way I felt when I was in my early twenties. I had a band called Iguazu
and we did some recordings (none of which were released). I actually had a
tune with this title too but this is now a homage to that guy in the early
eighties. I was somewhat lost back then so I feel now it’s time to air those
feelings. It’s such a great gift finding my way with a tune. It’s like
magic. Shane is coming back today so hopefully after he leaves I will go
further with it. I can’t wait to be in Italy because Sting has a beautiful
chapel with acoustics to die for. I am sure I will find time to do more
there.
March 6, 2005
I am going to
leave Iguazu alone for a while because I am satisfied I have a good
enough sketch of it. There is of course more work to be done but I need to
move on. Once I have more tunes up to this level I will start re-visiting
them with more focus. It's like getting a team of players together. One
can't pay too much attention to one while neglecting the others. Now I will
be scouting for new ones and then see how they work together. So far I have
Iguazu and Barok. I am going to Italy today. I can't think of
a better place to find new entities for Fourth Wall.
March 10, 2005
Haven't worked
on any of the tunes recently due to the busy schedule here in Italy.
Rehearsals are going extremely well and I am very excited about what we are
creating here. I don't have a new tune per say but I DO have a feeling I
want to emit. This is going to be one of those tunes created after the
thought. I know the colour, shape, feeling and even aroma I am after. Now
it's a question of putting it to music. I think I will meditate for a few
minutes (when I find the time) and then just go for it. It will be called
Serenity. I will let you know as soon as I have the first chord. Until
then...
March 15, 2005
I have found it! This is so exciting. I was waiting for Sting, Shane and
Josh to arrive for a rehearsal when Serenity came to me unexpectedly.
Like a gift from heaven. It was very frustrating because we started work
about a minute later. I must admit I was thinking about it during the
rehearsal (act versus memory?...) and had to restrain myself from playing
it. As soon as we had a break I went back to it. It's in B flat and has a
slow 6/4 feel. The first chord is a kind A suspended over B flat. Don't ask
me why. I don't ask 'Him'. Now it's my obligation (to Him) to work on it
which I will. But the feeling of making a discovery like this is hard to put
into words so I will put it into music especially for all of you. These
tunes will be my story.
March 16, 2005
I revisited Iguazu yesterday and it sounds almost finished.
Last time I played it I thought it was a bit sketchy but now I can't think
of changing it in any way. Maybe it is done. Barock sounds good
although it's too short. I can't work out whether it's meant to be a short
piece or not. Where does it say a composition 'must' be of a certain length?
When I see some paintings I wonder if the artist asked him/herself the same
question. If indeed it is a short piece it will be the intro to Iguazu.
So I have three now. I feel I am getting wealthier. These pieces are like
investments. The key is to know when to 'spend' it and what on. I have to
nurture these tunes (or entities as I like to think of them) while still
moving on. These three 'entities' will have to learn how to deal with new
siblings which will very much affect their character and behaviour. We (I)
will cross that bridge as and when or if this happens.
March 18, 2005
Very frustrating. I woke up this morning or I was woken up by what seemed
like the most logical, perfect tune in my head. It is quite rare when one
can move knowingly from the subconscious to the conscious. But now I can't
remember it because I thought I wouldn't forget it. It seemed like I spent
all night with this tune but I heard somewhere that dreams are very quick or
not in real time. Even while I was awake making coffee at 6am I had it
running through my head and was feeling quite chuffed with this new gift. I
played chess online for about an hour and then tried to think of it again or
access it. Was it there? Was it **ck. Idiot. On the last album I had a
similar experience with a tune called Forgotten Dream. I worked hard
to 'find' it and did the best I could but this time I don't have the
slightest clue. If I can see or hear it again I will let you know.
March 20, 2005
I think I am getting close to finding the lost tune. Instead of looking for
the notes I am more trying to access the feeling I had while I was having
that coffee. I do know this: It is not a slow piece. I have a feeling it has
a lot of movement and perhaps humour. I will call it The Bridge
whether I find it or not. If not, then I will leave an empty space on the
album with its own track number and title so we can all think a little bit
about what we were dreaming the night before.
March 22, 2005
I made a
connection with The Bridge. Even though I am not sure if this is it,
I like whatever it is. It sounds familiar and I don't know if someone else
has written this or not. I might have to ask some of my mates who might
advise me. Actually I am worried I may have stolen it from Bach. Ill let you
know.
March 23, 2005
I am in Los Angeles now and woke up with jet lag at 3am. I had a
package waiting for me with a new Martin Guitar which has been made for me
with the view of doing a signature series (one of the perks). I started
playing it looking out of the window to the LA skyline and played what I
knew of The Bridge. Now I see what is happening. The opening notes
were like a key to what I can only describe as a treasure hunt. I could now
discard them and just start from the new idea. They led me to some music
that just came out of nowhere. The ideas flowed so fast I couldn't keep up
and was afraid to lose them. It's almost like the notes were writing
themselves. Unbelievable. The last time this happened was when I (or
something) wrote David (from First Touch). I now feel that
perhaps what I have with this tune now is going to lead me to the next clue
of this treasure hunt. It might be possible that Barock, Iguazu
and The Bridge might be part of the same suite (they are in the same
key). This is getting to be fun.
March 25, 2005
I am scared to go to Serenity in case I **ck it up. I know
this is an important piece and I am respectful of it. I need to be more
prepared mentally before I can go there. On a brighter note, The Bridge
is my new companion. I am living with this tune now. It goes everywhere with
me. This theme came to me from looking at the sun rise here in LA. It speaks
to me about the glories, uncertainties and wonder of what the day ahead
might bring. It's almost like an astrological reading. It's talking to me
about what might be as long as I believe, have faith and above all, trust.
Do I sound wacky? Maybe, but this is how it is for me. Today.
March 26, 2005
I have some real focus on The Bridge now. I felt the need to
go back to the original idea (the key in the treasure hunt and the 'lost'
dream idea) and work on it with a view to understanding it better. Now it's
turning into a fugue. Originally it was just a series of notes in monotone
that sounded very Bach like. It still sounds like that but I thought I would
take it a step further by trying to write it as a fugue. The challenge now
is to make it go into the new idea. So I am having to work backwards or
towards something. It's like having a punch line without the set up. I will
stay with this for a while until it's time to move on. The truth is I want
to go to Serenity. This I am treating with the same anticipation one
might feel about going on a date with someone you are fascinated by.
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