Kathy #amediting, #amreading, #amwriting, 2021, 50/90, Electronic Music, LogicProX, Music Production

Wired for Story But Not The Kind You Might Think (#Music vs #Writing)

These days I enjoy reading about writing more than I do actual writing. My brain seems to have been rewired for music – not story. At least, not the kind of story you think of when NaNoWriMo hits the stage every November (for me, November is the worst month with Thanksgiving and travel).

Still, I keep trying to gear myself up for NaNoWriMo, even though I did it once and hated it. So why do I keep trying to do it? I was hoping to finally finish “She’s Not That Good,” but I’m thinking it’s time to put that one away for good. It’s “not that good” – lol! (And I don’t want to spend the time trying to make it that good.)

Or maybe because there’s been a bit of a letdown after 50/90 ended. I miss the music community. So when I peek into the NaNo forums looking for community, I notice there’s definitely a leaning toward younger and it all feels so corporate. I now remember how good it felt to leave Silicon Valley behind. Why would I want to step foot in it again? I don’t.

And so it’s back to Logic Pro 10.7, but this time using one of my 50/90 songs to try out some of those Dolby Atmos features. Oh, yeah, I’m much more excited about that. Here’s the song I’m going to be working on:

Now that’s my kind of story – a whole lot more fun than character sheets and outlines.

 

 

Kathy 50/90, Ableton Live, Electronic Music, IndieArtist, LogicProX, Lyrics and Music

Why I Used #LogicPro Instead of #Ableton for #50/90 #Songwriting #Challenge

For those of you who do not know, 50/90 is a songwriting challenge where you attempt to write 50 songs in 90 days, starting around July 4th, ending October 1. It’s an offshoot of FAWM (February Album Writing Month) where you attempt to write 14 songs in the month of February.

2018 was my first FAWM and it nearly killed me – lol! I was new to songwriting and music production and putting my music out there for critique was stressful. But I was hooked. The community is especially supportive, and I loved that interaction with other songwriters/musicians.

The first time I heard of 50/90, well, I thought that was insane and never really took it seriously. Last year, I might have written a couple of songs. But this year, I ended up creating 60 songs – busting past the 50 even. I couldn’t believe it. But I got hooked on creating songs every day.

Right before 50/90 started this year, I’d purchased Push2, and I’d hoped that 50/90 would be a great opportunity to get creative with Push. However, with the daily pressure of getting songs out there, I found I was relying on me knowing Logic Pro and being more comfortable with it.

The other personal music challenge I’d given myself was to do more songwriting/performing rather than the usual EDM tracks and I much prefer Logic Pro for that – the “note” section is perfect for writing lyrics and/or having them while recording.

Logic has an awesome assortment of loops, which I also relied on during this time crunch. My intention for Push2 was to move beyond stock loops and create my own, but I just didn’t have time to acquire those skills in time for 50/90.

It’s 4 months until FAWM 2022. Is that time to get comfortable with Ableton and Push2?

Kathy 2021, 50/90, Disco, LogicProX, Lyrics and Music, Modern Musician, Music, Music Producer, Music Production, Songwriting

“Don’t Touch Me” (#50/90 #music #producer #songwriting #challenge #LogicPro)

Now that 50/90 is over for this year, I’m going through my tracks to pick out my favorites to bring back into the studio for further mixing/remixing, etc. This one I did in Logic Pro.

Don’t Touch Me
(Kathy Holmes @ Screamie Birds Studios)

Chorus

Don’t touch me, don’t touch me
I’m just here for the beat

Don’t touch me, don’t touch me
I’m just here for the beat

Verse

I brush past you in the crowd
Give you a little bump
You bump back, give me a smile
Haven’t seen you in a while

Verse

Since the day you asked me out
And then never showed
Got a better offer I heard
Or that’s what I was told

Chorus

Don’t touch me, don’t touch me
I’m just here for the beat

Don’t touch me, don’t touch me
I’m just here for the beat

Bridge

You ask me for my number
I don’t do that, don’t do that
You know you want it, want it
No I don’t, as a matter of fact
I just came here to dance

Chorus

Don’t touch me, don’t touch me
I’m just here for the beat

Don’t touch me, don’t touch me
I’m just here for the beat

Kathy #amproducing, 2021, 50/90, Electronic Music, LogicProX, Modern Musician, Music Producer, Music Production

The Truth Is: 50/90 Song #55

I haven’t been able to stop writing songs for 50/90–it’s such an awesome motivator, especially with feedback from this community of fellow musicians/songwriters.

One of the features is that you can indicate your favorite songs so when somebody stops by, they might want to listen to those. The problem is, my favorite song seems to be the one I’m working on – lol!

So, song #55, my latest song at this moment (55 out of 60), is my favorite. With this one, I was experimenting with the CLA vocal plugin, recommended to me by a fellow producer. I start with shadowing vocal samples from Audentity Records and then take the lead with my lyrics using the “Moody” preset of the CLA plugin.

Take a listen here:

Kathy #amproducing, 2021, 50/90, Songwriting

50 Songs in 55 Days (#50/90)

It’s September 1st – yay! And I completed 50/90 a few days ago, a whole month early, writing 50 songs in only 55 days!

I’m so exhausted and completely dry creatively. But I will cull through some of these songs in the future, curating a DJ playlist or two.

But maybe I should post one of my favorites now. This one is called “Latin Heat.”

Kathy #amproducing, #amwriting, #lyrics, 2021, 50/90, IndieArtist, IndieRock, LogicProX, Music Producer

“I Need to Know” – from #Lyric #Poem to #50/90 Song

Based on the poem I wrote called “Mystery of My Heart,” it is now a song I created for 50/90 called “I Need to Know.”

Kathy #lyrics, 2021, 50/90, Poetry

White Wine (#lyric #poem)

White wine in the evening
Is not good for sleeping
Eyes snap open every hour on the hour
Brain is whirling with Samson-like power

Thumbing through Kindle for temporary distraction
Writing poems for lyrics and 50/90 reaction
Using the time given, borrowing from daytime
Vocals too tired to steady the night”s rhymes

Making big plans in the dark of the night
Counting the minutes til earth’s morning light
Struggling to function for long in the morning
Reminding me of truth that comes as a warning

White wine in the evening
Is not good for sleeping

Kathy #amproducing, #amwriting, 2021, 50/90, House, IndieArtist, IndieRock, LogicProX, Lyrics and Music

First Song for 50/90 2021 #lyrics #music #producer #LogicProX

A Lifetime

Lyrics*

A lifetime is a long time to never have known you
Decisions were made without your consent
Birthdays and Christmas and favorite Sunday dinners
Counting the measures never ending torment

Photos displayed on a beachy white dresser
The cross prays for family unknown to the pastors
Strumming the coasts in search of heart’s answers
Mothers in hiding and cruel puppet masters

The child pays the price for adults who are wounded
The cycle must end in choices not taken
Letting go of love for what can never happen
Walking day to day with a soul deeply shaken

(Repeat)

*Inspired by the #lyric #poem I wrote here.