Monday, October 18, 2010

as music saved my soul: writing music

When writing music, I'm often dark -- almost goth. I started writing lyrics about real issues (political, social, damnation, etc) around 1986 -- after listening to "Master of Puppets" by Metallica (http://www.metallica.com/), "Rest in Peace" by Megadeth (http://www.megadeth.com/) and "South of Heaven" by Slayer (http://www.slayer.net/). That was the break through era for thrash/speed metal. Within the raw power, the lyrics screamed justice, pain and rejection to the world status quo.

My whole direction in music went from sex and party to social issues. As a matter of fact, this might be why I like The Clash (http://www.theclash.com/) rather than The Sex Pistols (http://www.sexpistolsofficial.com/). Well I also like The Ramones (from Queens, NY; http://www.ramonesworld.com/), but that's a totally different story.

I enjoy the darkness of music without getting into minor chords for ten minutes that feel like hours -- though I like Black Sabbath (http://www.black-sabbath.com/) with Ozzy Osbourne only (http://www.ozzy.com/) and Judas Priest (http://www.judaspriest.com/). To me at least, dark lyrics with "good" music achieves more -- like The Doors (http://www.thedoors.com/) and Type O Negative (from Brooklyn, NY; http://www.typeonegative.net/).

I make reference to my music preference and inspiration -- if the word applies or matters -- because this is basically how I think musically. As a matter of fact, this morning I came up with a great idea for a two-voice/harmony (low and high octaves) song with a Hammond B4 and Leslie cabinet (no less) as the main musical instrument with dual guitars as the secondary sound backed up with jazz-like drums (brushes on the tom-toms, snare and hi-hat). The lyrics I was coming up with were religious -- how ironic and primitive.

If anyone cares, I'd gladly share my music and play it, but I'll hold all rights to my material including but not limited to the publishing. Did I mention that I studied music and its legal aspect? So let's rock!