Oct 06 2008
I recorded this the week before leaving for Hong Kong; I never got around to letting everyone know about it. It’s actually a tune by the band Weezer. They do it a lot differently to how I did it though. I’ve included my version and Weezer’s versions on this post.
My version of “Dreamin’”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrI6xvQQoWg
Weezer’s original version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHG5NnsydnE
Sep 22 2008
Listen to my musical composition for today here. Or watch it here.
There’s an interesting story behind today’s tune. It’s not mine though, so I won’t bother telling it.
Callum Macrae of the BBC does a much better job of it than I ever could; he has made a documentary about the civil war in northern Uganda. The synopsis is that a militia leader called Joseph Kony has been raping and pillaging that part of the world, and forcing children participate.
While listening to the podcast of the documentary, I heard part of a song written by a blind Ugandan about the war. Although I couldn’t understand a word, and only heard a few seconds of it, it grabbed me. I haven’t copied it exactly (I couldn’t from the few seconds I heard) but suffice it to say that I didn’t have an original idea when it came to this little tune, all of it was taken from the Ugandan musician that played it on BBC’s podcast. Can you hear how the fourth of the chord part is a little bit sharp? Even that was his idea.
If you want to hear the original, have a listen to the documentary podcast here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/crossing_continents/7609324.stm
The original tune comes in at 20 minutes into it. Don’t let that put you off, it’s an interesting podcast.
I called the tune “Free Uganda” because I couldn’t think of anything particularly profound to say, but thought I should mention Uganda.
Listen to my music here: http://media.libsyn.com/media/maxiewawa/Free_Uganda.mp3
The original podcast is here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/crossing_continents/7609324.stm
(Click on “listen” to do just that, or “Podcast” to subscribe to it.)
Hope you like the tune! The whole explanation has been quite depressing, but I just in case you thought I pulled this composition out of thin air I thought I’d explain how I came up with it.
Sep 09 2008
I recorded a tune just now. Here it is.
The first time I heard it in its entirety I just had to laugh. I had been trouble getting all the parts down just right, but when I heard the completed thing I just… well, I like it anyway. Funny in a gruesome way.
I made a video too, but the card-reader-thingy I have broke. I’ll have another tomorrow and you’ll be able to see me recording the recorder part. For all those people who didn’t believe I actually played the guitar in the last musical video I made (you couldn’t see my hands) I made sure to capture me actually playing something.
Sep 08 2008
Cody put something interesting in his blog the other day; he’s drawn up a plan of action for this calendar month. In it he’s put everything that he wants to achieve. Good for him! I suspect that he’s been procrastinating too long on things that he feels that he needs to do, and feels that putting them up somewhere for everyone to see will help him do it!
Well I’ve decided to do the same thing.
I’ve always liked writing stories/blogs/making youtube videos, but have always been lazy. Well not this month.
From this week, and for the next four weeks afterward, I’ll have a post (or at least some kind of content) in Japanese, Chinese, Korean and English, and have a new musical recording. I’m planning to have:
Music on Mondays,
English on Tuesdays,
Chinese on Wednesdays,
Japanese on Thursdays,
Korean on Fridays
If I forget a day, I’m sorry, but feel free to pester me by leaving a comment. Why not join our campaign by making a plan of your own?
May 03 2008
I used to spend hours making music not on the piano, but with a computer. Here’s a little ditty I came up with the other day. I’d like to pretend that I just whipped it off but it’s actually a really fiddly process… I’m quite pleased with the results though!
I’m never sure how to arrange tracks like this, so if anyone’s got any suggestions let me know!
May 01 2008
I came across Magnatune in a podcast directory and I’m glad I did! They are a record label with a difference: their philosophy is very different to most record companies, one buys albums there by making a “donation”. Recommended donation is $8, but they accept a minimum of $5.
I won’t go too into their whole philosophy, if you’re interested have a look at their site. A record label with a conscience really why I’m taking the time to write this post; of much more importance is that through Magnatune I found Drop Trio.
On one of Magnatude’s podcasts I heard two great tracks; I checked the track listing and found that they were both by the same band, Drop Trio.
Have a listen to Magnatune by clicking on their name above. Groovy, aren’t they? They mention on their homepage droptrio.com that they have a podcast of all their live shows. As you might be able to tell from my own podcast, it is a medium that I’m very interested in.
A great band with an active interest in podcasts. Don’t great minds think alike!
Apr 30 2008
Here’s the video I promised the other day.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkC9vRZte_Q#GU5U2spHI_4
Apr 29 2008
The first track I’ve recorded with my famous mic!
Also, I recorded this at about midday, when traffic is at its noisiest. It was so noisy that I had to move the piano to the bedroom, along with all the recording equipment. At one time the mixer dropped off a bedside table and onto the floor, accompanied by a lot of profanities from a very pissed off piano player. Now that I think about it, I think that happened twice…
I also made a video. I’ll try and get it onto youtube as soon as possible.
Apr 22 2008
I recorded this tonight. Enjoy
That RSS feed again, is maxiewawa.libsyn.com/rss , once again, maxiewawa.libsyn.com/rss
Apr 19 2008
I’m the owner of a new Behringer XENYX802 mixer. More audio equipment! I recorded something quickly today, I didn’t get to use the microphone I wanted to; my big one didn’t fit the little holder (sorry for all the technical jargon).
Although this is also called “Arabesque Number One” it’s different to the Arabesque I uploaded a while ago. Ironically, none of them sound the least bit Arabic to my ears.
Please let me know what you think!
If you want to hear more of my music (or any kind of audio of me) don’t forget to subscribe! My RSS feed is http://maxiewawa.libsyn.com/rss .
