Monday
Jun232008
Letters to the Editor, Vol. II - The First Step
Monday, June 23, 2008 at 01:05AM
Last year I did a little project, an acoustic EP, where all the songs were based off of ideas and photos submitted by readers of this site. Well, that little project turned out to be one of my favorite things I've ever done. At the last minute I decided to add "Vol. 1" to the title, in hopes of continuing the idea later.
It's later now.
And I'm excited.
So here's the deal. I'm going to start working on this project in early July, and for this to work at all I will need your help.
The main thing I'm looking for at this point are your ideas. A poem, a photo, a story that's always inspired or intrigued you; anything you've ever thought "somebody needs to write a song about this..." I want to write that song.
Also, any ideas you have sonically. Instruments you'd like to hear or rules you think would be fun to follow. (Strict "rules" were a big part of the first project.)
You can send your ideas to me at this address:
ideas4andy@gmail.com
Anything you send me I'll read and whatever inspires me I'll try to write about. Two quick things:
1. By submitting your ideas you release ownership of them to me. (i.e. you won't get any royalties or copyrights for songs that come from them).
2. If you send me a story you want to share but you want kept confidential (outside of obviously informing a tune) try and make a note of it. Not that I'm going to say anything like this anyway, but I'd hate to post "Jack Jones gave me this great idea about his really embarrassing secret!" in my blog and find out later that wasn't really for public consumption.
So that's about it. I'm going to annoyingly document the process this time, and I hope you'll join me. It was an amazing experience making music with the people that listen last time and I hope to take it a few steps further this go around.
You guys are amazing. Thanks for letting me play music and try out these crazy ideas.
Here we go!
It's later now.
And I'm excited.
So here's the deal. I'm going to start working on this project in early July, and for this to work at all I will need your help.
The main thing I'm looking for at this point are your ideas. A poem, a photo, a story that's always inspired or intrigued you; anything you've ever thought "somebody needs to write a song about this..." I want to write that song.
Also, any ideas you have sonically. Instruments you'd like to hear or rules you think would be fun to follow. (Strict "rules" were a big part of the first project.)
You can send your ideas to me at this address:
ideas4andy@gmail.com
Anything you send me I'll read and whatever inspires me I'll try to write about. Two quick things:
1. By submitting your ideas you release ownership of them to me. (i.e. you won't get any royalties or copyrights for songs that come from them).
2. If you send me a story you want to share but you want kept confidential (outside of obviously informing a tune) try and make a note of it. Not that I'm going to say anything like this anyway, but I'd hate to post "Jack Jones gave me this great idea about his really embarrassing secret!" in my blog and find out later that wasn't really for public consumption.
So that's about it. I'm going to annoyingly document the process this time, and I hope you'll join me. It was an amazing experience making music with the people that listen last time and I hope to take it a few steps further this go around.
You guys are amazing. Thanks for letting me play music and try out these crazy ideas.
Here we go!
Reader Comments (20)
Dammit, I expect a song about space monkeys.
Ahhh, I was hoping to find another release ready - a volumne 2 for download. Oh well, I can't wait to get the next one. I thought it would encouraging to express my interest in your music. I mainly listen to hip hop (christian) but after hearing your volume 1, I made a big exception. I loved it! Kudos for your creativity. I'll sit and anticipate an exceptional sequel.
Can't wait. Seriously, hurry up.
Awesome!!! Can't wait to to see what happens this time. [Oh and forget the space monkeys -you should write a song about your relationship with Geof -that'd rock.]
+1 what Josh said. Geof deserves a song.
building off of Geoff's comment, i think you should write a song using the word "dammit." Give Drek Webb a run for his money in the "conroversial Christian artist" category.
And i second the vote for a song about space monkeys.
How about a song using the word 'spoon'? That'll take it up a notch.
More webground vocals.
Oh, and do the whole thing in a foreign language, like Chinese or Esperanto?
. . . and play the guitar left-handed
Perhaps a cover of "Xanadu"?
For some strange reason I'm expecting there to be a song about his pedal board.
I just threw Andy a bone of an idea. It's not a song about our relationship, though ... I don't think Ali is ready to hear that on a record. ;)
I just sent you some things. Looking forward to volume 2!
Sending some photos and stuff. Enjoy!
This will be fun. To piggy-back off of Peter G--I think Andy should play the spoons on the song about the spoon.
A mandolin must be used and played by YOU on at least two songs. And one cheesy loop from a drum machine.
Also, work in the word widget somewhere. It's my favorite.
How about an instrumental?
I sent you some ideas Andy.. I love Vol 1 - can't wait
Of course, (and I am serious) there is always the jam band-lo-fi-instumental-after surf-in a coffee shop- jam session to go to as well..
Andrew, just wanted to say that I have been so encouraged/inspired by "Swing Wide the Glimmering Gates." It is an incredibly beautiful song.
Taking up the lost art of secret songs you could have an instrumental of cheesy drum machines,spoons and a mandolin that feeds into a song about your relationship with Geof and how you went to the petting zoo and spoon feed the spacemonkeys and widgets. The catch is that the song would be in Chinese or Esperanto. Who knows how many might think it's some great balad about meaningful things. Or maybe the only English word would be Damnit so you get a rebel wrap.