Composing and writing and collaborating

I was reading on threads about somebody using their lyrics with AI to create music. I am not about to get in to the debate about AI music, rather what I am curious about is why if your were a lyricist you would not team up with a composer to work with?
When I first started recording I belonged to a couple of songwriting organisations and one function of them was to connect lyric writes with composers and arrangers’ and so forth. I might get a lyric in written form or perhaps a cassette with the words spoken or occasionally something which sound like demonic howling at midnight distantly across the Yorkshire Moors (please note other moors and desolate regions are available, see terms an conditions 😉). Often these collaborative efforts came to naught, but some time’s the cross fertilisation of human interaction allowed a seed to blossom that might be nurtured into a full blown healthy song, able to grow tall in the wind and the rain and withstand the bleaching searing rays of the sun. Anyways whatever.
Of course this was very far from instant gratification. You open the post and there was a lyric sheet or two or three in there. Sometimes scrawled, sometimes neat cursive or typed on one of those new fangled word processors. Then you had a think, then eventually you found something you liked and fooled around on the guitar or the piano and scribble down an accompaniment and made some sort of demo. Then you posted it to them, and maybe they liked it or not and then….
Some made on to Cds and Mp3s. a lot of people used to sell cds via mail order that were in fanzines and magazines and you would make you own artwork and print your own labels. Some indie record shops and outlets would sell the for you too if you were lucky. A very different world. It all took months. No algorithms to chase then of course.

Another thought:

I have been using the net since about 1995 I think. In those days you needed to have some idea of what you were doing…. Built my first website around 1997. Watching people repost rubbish was always a thing of course as the first forums and early social networks came into being. But what I find funny and tragic is the number of people that think they can control what happens to anything (Videos, photos, music or written content) in someway. When you post something on a website basically you set it free as it can be copied edited or passed of as somebody’s else’s work. That’s a risk particularly with photos and music. But I still see people posting stuff that looks like its written by a 5 year old using what they might think was legalise saying they dont give permission for their image/work to be used. Well actually you did when you posted it. look at the T&Cs you signed up with at your social media accounts. But notwithstanding anything you make public on the net can be copied, redistributed or altered. If that bothers you don’t use social media just create your own personal website or blog but even if you do that I wish you the best of luck in trying to control what happens to your content if you actually want it seen by others.

I met someone I hope will become a new friend recently and was surprised at how much we did have in common after we talked. That was pleasantly uplifting though I did up get a bit over caffeinated.

Happy Lughnasadh and a Merry August too

Happy Lughnasadh, Lughnasa or Lúnasa (for those that do )is a Gaelic festival marking the beginning of the harvest season. Historically, it was widely observed throughout Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man. Traditionally, it is held on 1 August, or about halfway between the summer solstice and autumn equinox.

Hello August I wonder what you will bring? It’s a bit cooler today at least. I had a band rehearsal yesterday and it did leave me a bit fatigued I have to confess. I have been beavering away on a new piece of music as well that I just finished recording. Its a sort of world fusion instrumental for want of a better description. It’s called ‘Come the Rain’ which I admit is maybe a tad optimistic

A tad more introspection again this week in general it must be confessed. Way too much thinking but I have managed to do a few things music project wise so that’s good. The heat is problematic though. Some days are pretty warm but livable and others are just total shut down ones to be honest. It looks like next week will be much the same again too though the heat is a little lower on average.

I had a fun gig with Orchard at bands in the park at St Neots. A lovely audience and nice weather. Unfortunately I managed to trip up and injure a finger but I got through it OK. It a bit swollen and painful now though so I amy be out of action for a few days I suspect. next gig is two weeks so hopefully it will mend. Pleasure and pain indeed.
So just a short one today as the actress said to the bishop…

Stay safe and go well people.

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And Yet Still Nothing Is Revealed

I am in band/trio (lovely people but due to all sorts’ of reasons but ) they rarely gig and also part of Jon Bickleys Invisible Folk Club Band but it leaves me with a lot of spare time. I do spend a lot of time writing and learning new stuff and recording but Its incredibly isolating. I am not good at socialising with people I don’t know and find solo performances a bit hard going so I don’t feel comfortable doing open mics though I have done in the and even done a few solo gigs. They went down well enough but I found it a real strain. I prefer being in some sort of ensemble

Over the past 2 or 3 years I have been trying to find to some local musicians near to Bedford to work on with on projects or form a band of some sort or even impromptu music hookups. I did do a few things with the Also Rans early on, but I am not an Irish Folkie so it’s not really my thing and I dropped out. They are great and lovely people though.

So I have tried advertising in websites and notice boards on and off over the last 2 or 3 years. Not a heavy commitment time wise but just people that don’t require me to be doing 60 to a 100 mile round trips for rehearsals and so forth. Sadly this has got me zero responses. I am used to working with people in ensembles and over about 25 years or so both in rock/folk/country and world music. All my old contacts were based around most of southern England but in particular London and Essex plus the south coast. However they were people that like myself in those days basically only did paid gigs as it was our job. So whilst I am still in touch with many of them they are not people that have the time or resources to spend on zero income musical projects.

What puzzles me is this: I have been responding to online music ads and always include a decent mini-bio I and give phone number and email and social media details. Sadly no responses. Not even a ‘No Thanks’. Why put an ad up then not respond? I always respond to messages/phone calls even if its only to say that I don’t think I would be a good fit for what they want.

Either that or I have:

BTW I have discussed on chat with other musicians I know, Many who are pro or semi pro and/or retired some of whom have seen me play live as well as well knowing my recorded works and the general reaction from them is basically puzzlement?

1 Fallen past the event horizon of a black hole
2I have actually died and am in limbo
3 The world I perceive actually doesn’t exist and I am
in fact immersed in a virtual reality simulation

It’s the total lack of responses that I find odd.

I did also consider that it might be an issue due to me being transgender, but over the past 25 years as a working musician that’s never really been a problem except on a maybe 2 occasions out of about 4500 gigs. I also thought maybe it’s an age thing too? I have realised my only real defence against my existential angst is a daft sense of humour right now. I seriously thought about signing up with quakers. I have a void to fill. You might call it spiritual perhaps. I realised that I don’t have any non-transactional relationships other than my sister and one other friend. Everybody else wants me for something and vice versa It’s hard when you don’t do small talk easily though..

I reckon I am not that scary really and honestly I don’t bite and I won’t eat you.


“If music be the food of love, play on;
Give me excess of it, that, surfeiting,
The appetite may sicken, and so die.
That strain again! it had a dying fall:
O, it came o’er my ear like the sweet sound,
That breathes upon a bank of violets,
Stealing and giving odour! Enough; no more:
‘Tis not so sweet now as it was before.
O spirit of love! how quick and fresh art thou,
That, notwithstanding thy capacity
Receiveth as the sea, nought enters there,
Of what validity and pitch soe’er,
But falls into abatement and low price,
Even in a minute: so full of shapes is fancy
That it alone is high fantastical.”
― William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night

Old Will had a way with words indeed.