Where I'm At

Since the last time I updated  you all, I have written eleven songs. I am still feeling particularly inspired by my life's happenings right now, so there will probably be more. My goal here is to write as many songs as possible, practice them until I have a good grasp on them, arrange the guitar, bass, drums, and organ parts, and then start recording them.

The past couple of albums I wrote and recorded at the same time, and while the results came out pretty good, I am looking to improve upon those efforts and produce a more mature, more professional sound. That means it's going to take a while--I don't know how long. It has been a long time since I recorded this way, but I am looking to potentially play some shows eventually, so I am going to need the time to practice and improve as a musician. Not to mention, I want to get these songs down, since the parts (save the drums) I am going to be recording live, and I don't want to have to do eight-hundred takes of each part.

I am not sure about whether or not I will perform with a band, or as a solo artist. It would be nice to form a band, but I would have to find the right people, or find the time (and not have to move for a job) to be close to the right people that I already know. Since I am looking for a job, and could potentially move virtually anywhere across the United States, a lot is up in the air right now.

My goal here is to keep the arrangements and the parts relatively simple, as it seems like too much complexity is distracting. I believe it will be more effective to write and record songs that are internally cohesive, melodic, and meaningful.

Basically, these songs are going to consist of lead and background vocals, one, maybe two guitar parts, a bass part, the drums, and the organ.

I guess you would say that would make this a more song-oriented album than my past couple, which were more focused on experimentation and seeing how I could push the envelop. These songs I am going back a little more towards the center, focusing on melody, quality, and meaning. 

When it comes down to it, I have what I think are some pretty strong songs here, and I can't wait to share them--although, unfortunately, I am going to have to for a while. As soon as I am ready, though, you can bet you will be hearing them!

The Return of... Survival Pilot! (And Other Such Projects)

Holy crap it's been a long time since I have posted anything here. Perhaps that's because I have busy occupied with other things, like work, and school, and what-not. Now I am finished with school, and I am searching for a full-time job. I have been working as an adjunct at some local colleges. Once I find a full-time position I will be more available to record and hopefully perform, again.

With some Christmas money, I bought an audio interface for my computer. This makes it easier to record, and record more high quality material. I have more or less figured it out, as well as the recording software, Ableton Live Lite, which I actually have had for a while but have never really used because I could never really get it to work before now. It might only be the bare bones version, but, quite frankly, that's all I need for my purposes, since I am recording with live instruments and vocals. In short, I am really upping the quality of my recordings, and I can't wait to get some stuff down, so that I can share it with you all!

I do have an album to record. The lyrics/concept/melodies are all pretty much written--I just need to figure out the music, which I do as I go along. I am also now in a band, which I hope to record. That is actually my main musical project, and you will probably be hearing more about it over time. These guys are my musical soul brothers, and sometimes when we are playing, I get chills. Maybe it's because we have been playing together for such a long time, but we have some real chemistry together.

Anyways, if I have a New Year's Resolution, it is to devote more of my creative energy on music. Maybe I am just burned out on writing, or maybe this was my first love, and my romance with it is rekindling. Anyways, as I have grown older, and become a better musician, I have realized that I get far more enjoyment of it than I do writing. That is not to say that I don't love writing, and won't continue doing it, but I feel like this is a more rewarding way to spend my free time. I can just let go, and play, and express myself.

It will probably be a while before I have anything to share, but just know that I have plans in the works, and that when I am ready, you will hear it.

Obscurity

First post of 2014!  Huzzah!  It's only... April.  Shit.  Not too much has been happening for me, musically, as school and what-not has kind of gotten in the way.  Life.  Don't you hate that?  Anyhoo...  I have been getting the itch.  That itch that I can't scratch except by making the music happen.  As school draws to a close, and I begin looking for a job, hopefully I will have more time to put to this whole thing.  It is looking pretty good, quite frankly.  If I can get a decent job, I might even have a little money to put into it for some new equipment, from time to time.  That is the dream, isn't it?  It is for me.  Writing and playing and recording and just getting creative and seeing what happens.  Self-expression is an amazing thing!  I hope to go in a lot of different directions and see what happens.  I don't want to be pinned down as this or that particularly, not that anyone is really paying attention.  That is the thing about complete or almost-complete obscurity: it allows me the freedom to do what the hell I want.  That is conducive to experimentation and outside-the-box thinking, in particular.  My goal is to hide some diamonds among Internet trash and to see who might be sifting through the world wide dumpster, looking for treasure.  Hopefully this that is trash to many is treasure to someone.  It is to me, at any rate, and I guess that is all that matters, otherwise I wouldn't continue doing it.  I feel like the ultimate judge of something that is truly artistic is whether the artist is willing to continue doing it whether or not anyone else notices.  It is not about putting up a billboard and making a scene, it's about creativity and self-expression.  Thinking about putting together some Youtube videos of my music--although, I am a bit hesitant as well.  It might help me get my music out to more people, but, then again, there are a lot of dumb people on the internet, and I don't really need their trolling in my life.  I already subject myself to it enough.  Part of me thinks that I will be happier not trying to get more people listening, that this is not about that.  I don't know.  We'll see what happens.

Stuck on Radiohead

I can't get enough of this mesh up Radiohead's OK Computer and In Rainbows, called 0110, or 01 and 10, and the more I listen to it, the more I want to listen to it, and the more I listen to it, until I realize I have been listening to it for like six hours straight...

Here is a Youtube video of it (although, somehow their version is about 3 minutes less than the Winamp playlist I made with the albums):



Okay, after listening to a couple of the tracks, the person who made the video cross-faded the tracks together, which is really unnecessary, since it still works just by making the playlist and hearing the songs together.  Either way, it's really cool and definitely seems intentional.

I wish more bands/artists out there put more effort into their music and made attempts at doing things like this, think outside the box, create art that leaves a lasting impression.  Strive for more than sales and popularity and looking cool.  Radiohead is proof that you can do all of those things and still have artistic credibility.

There are other acts out there currently that are doing thinking outside the box and being creative and moving music as an art-form in new and interesting directions.  I am just saying that there should be even more.  That's my goal.  That's what fills me with passionate and pushes me to play guitar and improve my skills and experiment and make recordings and put together albums.

It's been a while, so...

Anybody know of any internet radio stations that would be into this sort of experimental/psychedelic bullshit that I do?  I have reached out to some of my old connections, but I am not really interested (or able) to play shows right now, so it will be harder to build a fan base.  I was also thinking about posting some videos of my songs and my albums to Youtube as I might be able to draw some interest that way.  While I am certainly not looking to be a rock star or anything like that, I would like to share my music with people, and I think there are people out there who would enjoy it.  Maybe not very many (I don't know), but I would be very happy with a small, niche group.  Part of the joy of making music is sharing it with people.

New uploads / Goodbye Melancholia released for sale.

I know it's been a while, but I have uploaded to Soundcloud a rough cut of a song I will likely re-record, "How to Live" and the single version of my favorite song I have recorded, "Goodbye".  I am also making Goodbye Melancholia for sale on Bandcamp for just $5. Also available: Neverending Static (which is only $2).

Goodbye Melancholia

Made some changes to the album, Goodbye, Melancholia.  These changes make it so much better!  Hopefully you can check it out!

I would like to make some music videos to put on YouTube, but, that will have to wait to a future date.  "Goodbye" would be my first choice, or (ideally) all of them.

I am looking to do some or for someone who is interested to do some new cover art.  Email me gabegott@gmail.com if you are interested.

Also, I am thinking about having a (small) listening party sometime.

Check out the new music page!

Goodbye, Melancholia released today, so check it out!


Very proud of how this turned out!

It's been a while...

Thank you for all those who have been listening to my music.  I haven't recorded anything new for a while, but maybe, this weekend?  We'll see...

I am currently listening to my album, Neverending Static, of which there is a version, all songs available for free (.mp3) download if you click on my music page.

It's very...  Minimalistic, I think is a good way of describing it.

The upcoming album, Goodbye Melancholia, the current songs of which are also available for download, I think are vastly better.  In act, I would say that "Goodbye" is definitely the best song I have ever written.  I am really a big fan of everything I have recorded that I haven't released yet: a 15-minute instrumental track, "Melancholia", a real groovin' track called "American Dreamin'", and a bright and cheerful instrumental track called "Lotus Eater".

I would like to record another song or two.  We'll see what I have time to get down by the end of the summer.  That is my deadline.  Then I will listen to it a bunch, think about it a bunch, and, eventually, put out the final version.  That might be a while.

If I kind find the time when I have a more regular schedule I am thinking about finding a drummer, a bassist, and a lead guitarist to play these songs with...  Maybe.  It is kind of a fantasy at this point, but, maybe it will have to wait a year until I can get a job, after grad school.

"Goodbye (single edit)" and "Groove Trippin' (short trip)"

Posted: "Goodbye (single edit)", which starts right in the meat of the song, and a new song, "Groove Trippin' (short trip)" -- for all you ravers out there!

See my music page to listen!