"Behind Midwest Storefronts" -Lotus

There are moments in life when you hear a song for the first time and it just floors you. Some songs are so powerful and well composed that hearing them in the right moment and place can change your life.

The third night at All Good Music Festival 2012 was a Saturday and Lotus was the late night set, scheduled to play till 2am. We were somewhat tired from the last few days with minimal sleep so we decided to take a spot on the hill and lay back to watch Lotus. They began pretty upbeat with dancier grooves at first so we just kind of watched the crowd, stage, and all the crazy lights in the valley below us. If you have ever been to a music festival at night then you know exactly what I mean when I say that the ground was alive, glowing with light and energy.

As I laid there on the hill that night I began thinking about my life and the people close to me. I found myself just observing everything around me and really appreciating life. While looking up at what was a perfectly clear night with millions of stars blinking overhead, the band calmed down from their high tempo grooves with "Behind Midwest Storefronts." The effect that the song had on that valley and hillside was amazing, because it was truly the perfect song at that specific time. You could see guys holding their girlfriends/ wives and others hypnotised by the music with tears rolling down their faces. The song personally hit me like a wave, making me feel so happy and sad all at once. I will remember it forever because of the profound effect it had on me and my perspective. Thank you Lotus and All Good!

Album Version



"Hajimemashite" by Umphrey's McGee

First song post!

I had to start this off right with one of my favorite songs by my favorite band. This is "Hajimemashite" by Umphrey's McGee. These guys form an incredible band like no other. They focus heavily on improvisation, breaking off into completely improvised sections during their live shows. Each band member has some form of classical training in music while some even graduated with bachelor's degrees in musical composition and performance.

"Hajimemashite" is a very uplifting song set firmly in the key of E major. This song begins slowly with just an acoustic guitar. However, it quickly builds into long sustained, soaring melodies and harmonies. As great as the music is, the words are just as good. The lyrics seem to suggest a transitional period in ones life:

"I didn't know things were supposed to be this way. I wasn't told of this before."

"I once was dropped among this crowd."

"It's alright was all I heard. It will blow away"

"It's fading fast. How could we make this last."

"All things must pass I guess- I didn't know."

The band never nailed down a real meaning to these lyrics. However, the word Hajimemashite (Japanese) is used to introduce yourself to someone for the first time. Could this song be about a struggling relationship? Or maybe about the introduction to the real world and a slow exit from our youth? Either way, these lyrics can touch home with anyone and apply to any sort of transitional period where the future seems uncertain, the past fades from our minds, and we question the world around us. I hope you enjoy it as much as I still do!

 

Studio Version

Live Version: Summer Camp Music Festival 2011

Thanks for reading/ listening! Much more to come!

Blog Introduction & Some of My Own Music

"Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent."

-Victor Hugo, French Poet

There are many reasons for why we listen to music. We choose certain artists, songs, genres to listen to depending on our various moods. High tempo hip-hop reflects an energetic attitude while a slow ballad usually reflects a somber mood. The state of our emotions at any certain time can be accompanied by a certain piece of music. Think about movies and TV shows. What would those shows or movies be like without music? You might not think about it, but the music that accompanies each scene provides emotional cues to make the audience feel a particular way. Suspenseful music is used continuously through-out the rising action and climax of all horror/thriller movies. Alternatively, beautiful orchestra movements are heard often through-out emotional dramas. It can be said that it is our music that shapes our emotions and our emotions that shape our music.

My intent is to post at least one song a day (hopefully) that expresses how I feel at that particular time on that particular day. I will write about why I chose the song and why I like it. As a musician, I generally express myself through my playing. Sometimes a song can say a lot more about a person than any words can describe. Here are a few of my own original songs:

• "So Funked Up" is an upbeat song with a funky jazz feel. The song was inspired by the song "The Dynamo of Volition" by Jason Mraz. This song is played in B minor which can sound very sad when played a certain way, but the structure and tempo of these two songs add an upbeat, fun sound.

• Alternatively, "The Prelude" is an original song that sounds very slow and somber. This is an example of another song played in a minor key that sounds significantly different. A prelude can be defined as a short instrumental composition, free in form and resembling an improvisation. It is also defined as a piece preceding a more important movement. Just like winter resolves to spring, this song resolves to another song of mine.

• "Ourea" is a soaring instrumental piece in the key of E major. Songs in E Major almost always inspire positive emotions (joy, hope, excitement, etc...). Ourea is defined as the goddess of mountains. I wrote this song after a hike in the woods behind my parents house. It is a reflection of the inspiration I found out in nature on what was a very beautiful day during the summertime.

• Lastly, "Follow the Leader" is a jam I've been playing around with recently. This song structure changes from a major key to a minor key many times through-out the piece. Inspiration for this song came from listening to bands such as The Grateful Dead, String Cheese Incident, etc... I was also inspired by All Good Music Festival which is shown in the video. Overall, this song has an upbeat, positive feel.

 

So that is some of my music. The following posts will contain songs from artists that inspire me daily. Enjoy!