Today’s clip:
Not sure if saturday’s events were recorded or not, but I’ll update the post if they were. Until then, enjoy the Trøndertrall EP with 15 remixes + remix pack!
Making electronic music is sweet, but …
First off, let me just say that I really enjoy everything that electronic music making offers me. I can capture sounds around me and manipulate them beyond recognition, in ways that weren’t even possible just a couple of decades ago. If it hadn’t been for these possibilities, I would have stopped my journey in music at learning how to read notation and quit.
The one particular annoyance I’ve always had with my way of making music though, is that it’s difficult to share in person. People are of course intrigued by what I do – Tens upon tens of tracks put together to complement my imagination; I mix, arrange, tweak, compose and manipulate the medium of sound itself!
How is such amazing music played then? Do I operate a super cool looking complex control panel? Do I have tiny gnomes in my computer? Do I summon the spirits of time and space, and extract the essence of every thing and no thing, with thunder and lightning and fireworks in the background? No; I press the play button. Somehow disproportionate to all the exciting things going on behind the scenes I’d say!
Why I guess most people aren’t interested by electronic music
Some people will appreciate the sensation of letting their imagination merge with electronic music. I am definitely one of those. For most people however, this isn’t how things work. Electronic music is actually quite introvert and antisocial when you think of it.
Other kinds of music allow you to directly hear other human beings, which I can imagine is far easier to relate to for most people. It’s not easy to tell the difference between a laptop DJ and someone who checks his e-mail. And of course, mainstream electronic music sucks, but that’s a different topic.
The guy with the guitar (we all know one) on the other hand is a blast to watch! He can interact with the crowd, add spontaneousness to his songs, he’s actually doing something, his energy is infectious and brightens up the whole room! And of course, he gets all the girls. This is a radical contrast to me pressing the play button.
Accordion: Chuck Norris approves
My mom got a simple accordion with accompanying lessons back when she was a teen. She didn’t play it much, and so it found its place in our attic. One day I discovered it, and having made the Trøndertrall EP with an accordion VSTi, I could only imagine how fun a real accordion would be.
I brought it to my student dorm, but it mostly stayed on the table, since I didn’t have anyone to play with. I do however have a couple of out of town friends who occasionally drop in with their guitars. Whenever these guys come, guitar+accordion epicness ensues!
Accordions kick ass because:
- They’re really loud / instant awesome! Press and hold a button – drag accordion to bring air to reeds – you’re playing a chord at volume 11! Holy shit!
- They don’t need to be tuned (at least to my knowledge)! Unlike guitars. Tuning seems a little boring.
- They don’t require electricity! Both my computer studio and my keyboard are a hassle when it comes to this. Power outlets, external speakers, stand, etc. No such worries with an accordion!
- You’re playing multiple things at once! The left side is both bass and chords, and the right side is the lead melody. Playing different chords with both sides is just too cool!
- They can be played with one hand! The straps are holding it in place, so you can pump your right fist in the air, and still be playing!
In fact, anything becomes exponentially epic with an accordion involved! Just imagine doing any ordinary thing; while playing an accordion! Walking, buying groceries, brushing your teeth, shoveling snow, taking out the trash, etc. suddenly become doings of divine glory!
Imagine Rambo playing a combined machinegun/accordion! Holy shit.
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