The Music

Too much music in the charts today, just isn't enjoyable to listen to.

I try to write songs that are pleasant to listen to. I aim to write catchy melodies and good beats, such that every album track is of single quality. Of course, I don't know if that's what I achieve!

I listen back to some of the earlier work on my first album and cringe. At the time the songs may have been OK, but as my techniques, writing and mind have developed, I think the overall standard has improved.

My best works are definately the spontaneous ones, such as Miriloo on the first album and Keep Yourself on the second. Other songs were written more purposefully to complete an album, although I have rejected some tracks that didn't make the grade.

How Do You Do It?

When people hear one of my CDs I'm often asked how I do it, so below is the process in full:

1. I have to write the songs - this is done usually while playing my guitar or keyboard piano. Often listening to the final song you can still tell which of these to instruments the song originated from. When at Uni I only have my guitar to hand, so when I get home I often write at the keyboard to make a change. Many songs start from a chord sequence and I sing a melody on top, although in my head each time I run through it I'm thinking of harmonies, and other instrument parts. Occasionally I start with a melody or a riff.

2. Record the MIDI tracks - Until I got a MIDI keyboard, half way through the second album, I had to do this note by note, out of real-time. I usually start with the drum pattern (which I copy and paste after writing a few bars, and add fills later) and then think about a bass line (which I try to make as varied and guitar like as I can). I then do the rest of the midi tracks one by one such as piano, organ, strings, brass, percussion etc.

3. Record the audio tracks. I mic up my guitar amp and record the guitar tracks, using repeated parts if possible to save on hard-disk space. Any other audio parts such as harmonica or clapping is done at this point. I then record the vocal parts separately. The harmonies are either spontaneous or worked out on the keyboard. The recording so far is mixed down onto tape, so I can sing against the vocal parts I've already done, while recording.

4. I then mix down onto my brothers' computer initially creating a wave file, which is then encoded to an MP3, This is when I set all the levels and stereo balance.

Its as easy as that!