My other hobbies and addictions (Part I)

So, besides playing games, I've been composing original music since I was...maybe 15 or so.

I think musically, I couldn't have grown up in a better time. I was able to catch the tail end of the 70's, got through the 80's and experienced the 90's. After that, I dunno...something happened to music where it's become the stale, cookie-cutter, stuff I seem to hear more of nowadays.

Of course, this is all my opinion. You might like and be satisfied with what you hear on the radio. If so, that's fine. Every generation has got their soundtrack...

Anyway, I was inspired to get into music after listening to "Miss You" by the Rolling Stones. After that, I decided to take drumming lessons. Much to my Mother's dismay, and my neighbors (imagine playing the drums in a NYC apartment!) Although, with all the noise from people's stereos blasting out the windows...you'd think me banging the drums would fit right in. Pffft...

After a while, I switched to bass guitar. By then, Heavy Metal was on the rise and I got swept up in it. After listening to Iron Maiden's Steve Harris (Up the Irons!) I had to try the bass, which was my main instrument for most of that period. I also dabbled with guitar off and on during this time. I used to compose on the guitar, but still play bass mainly.

Then came Grunge. By then, I wasn't into writing music much since I had other things taking my time away from it. But I was still listening to Grunge and started to get back into writing.

Then after Kurt Cobain killed himself (and I think Grunge along with him) I was kind of left in the cold. With Grunge slowly dying and "Alternative" becoming more mainstream, From a songwriters perspective, personally, I was kind of stumped. I had nothing to bitch or moan about, really. At the time, my life wasn't so bad and I didn't have the gloomy outlook that pretty much accompanied those genres.

That was when I heard "Satellite" by the Dave Matthews Band. It was different, it was fresh, it wasn't so gloomy. He came out at the right time, when music needed something else. I picked up the album on a whim, and it pretty much re-energized my love for writing music.

After maybe a good 5 years more or less I got into classical and film score. That is what I compose pretty much exclusively now. It's a lot less of a hassle (and cheaper) for me to sit in my basement with my Mac and compose, than it is to book studio time, deal with other people who might not share the same vision as you, drunks, potheads, etc...

The only thing, nowadays, you have to be a jack of all trades. Not only do you have to compose interesting material, but you have to be the producer, mixing engineer, and mastering house. Wearing all those hats isn't easy, and mastering is an art form all on its own. That's where most of my pieces suffer the most.

So, if you care to hear what sometimes keeps me away from gaming, here's a few selections you can listen to:

• Me - A mixture of different genres. Mostly a rocking tune. When I wrote it, I had an idea for a melody line for lyrics, which is what you hear during the first two "verses". After the breakdown part, the rest is supposed to be just music. I can't solo, otherwise, I'd like to have some solo work over the rocking part after the breakdown. I've always enjoyed and was content with playing rhythm guitar.
  

• Here and Now - An example of what I'm composing mostly now. After hearing the great Carmina Burana (O Fortuna being the most popular and familiar movement) I wanted to compose something where the chorus had as much a part as the orchestra. I still want to do more with this one, but it isn't easy getting a synthesized chorus to do what you want either!

• From My Eyes - I was feeling moody when I was writing this. I was thinking about that piece called "Lux Aeterna" later redone for a trailer for Lord of the Rings, called "Requiem for a Tower". Personally, I seem to have a knack for writing moody, to downright depressing pieces. Not sure what that says about me, but I'll take talent where I can get it!

Anyway, those are a sample of some of my work. So if I appear to have fallen off the face of XBOX Live, I could be composing my next opus...lol!