Waltz with Me

Today's listening - "I Got A" - Nicolas Jaar.

1,2,3 - 1,2,3....

We all know a good waltz when we hear one don't we? In the last blog I mentioned writing (more germinating at the moment) a piece inspired by a TV show I saw. It was written in one of those golden moments, at 3am - when I really should have been in bed.

But when it comes, you bow to it.


The piece is a cute, twee, major chord piece of Americana which would slot into a cult movie as easily as black coffee and cherry pie. Unintentionally, it's in 3/4 time - ie. it's a waltz. It's important to distinguish that it's in 3/4, and not 6/8....it is definitely a waltz.

Now, this didn't strike me as strange at the time. It is what it is - it's nice - I'll use it for something - it sounds good on a solo piano - can I go to bed now? But upon reflection I had to concede, that's it's the first piece of music I've written which isn't 4/4. Why is this? Why is there a drought of pieces in irregular meter? It's almost as if musicians are afraid of it - or regard it as something dirty.

It's too hard. The listener won't accept it. It's unfamiliar.


Nothing could be further from the truth. When I realised I'd written my first non 4/4 piece, I felt another shoot in bloom as a musician, another string to my bow, another bullet in my armoury. Some notes and observances then...on a waltz.

A waltz, in my opinion, is one - or t'other. It's either a delightfully joyful experience, or it's mournful, aching and cold. There is no in between. I'll illustrate this - watch this video. You'll know it - and you will let your inside sway from side to side as you listen to it. 1,2,3 - 1,2,3....

"The Blue Danube" - Johann Strauss

Pretty isn't it? There's something about this piece of music that just warms you from the inside out, and certainly - the meter of it helps that along. It gives it a jaunt, a spring to its heel. This is a wonderful, timeless illustration of the waltz. Another wonderful illustration of the waltz, will leave you on the dark side of the moon - howling. Watch this for shading in the extreme - again, it's a waltz. 1,2,3 - 1,2,3....

"Open Heart Zoo" - Martin Grech

Oh, hello. Was staring at my boots there.
See what I mean? Howling. The meter makes it metronomic - intense and inevitable, the futility of a soul waiting to be broken. Both achingly beautiful and both - waltzes.

Never been a music theorist. Never been a theorist of any kind really. I work and live with what feels good. At 3am when I wrote that piece of music, 3/4 felt good.

And I hope it will continue to do so for some time.


'In the midst of winter, I finally learned that there was, in me
An invincible summer.'


- Thomas Carlyle

www.soundcloud.com/amartaproject

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Stargazing...Pearldiving.

Today's listening - Frequent Traveller - 'East Croydon'

Hello. Thought it was about time to update you a little bit on the actual innards of this blog, namely - me being an electronic musician and producer.

Let me clarify the grammar. I am NOT electronic. My music is.

As it's my blog, and it's 'my name above the door' so to speak, I reserve the right to wiffle on about anything I want. (What kind of pants have you got on? Now? Really?? Kinky.) But as such I did set it up to tell the adorati about my music, so maybe an update on that would be nice, yeah?

Days switch between creative flow and creative dam. At the moment, happy to report, that it's flowing.


Yesterday, a prime example. Two new tracks born, and a piano piece written at 3am after being inspired by a documentary on More4 ('Catfish' - watch it) Rolled into bed at 6am feeling quite pleased with myself....love days like this....why can't every day be like this?


Today, much cutting and pasting arranging a brass section for one of the tracks I started yesterday, lessons learnt. Musically? NuDisco. Eighties synths, Weekender groove with a Deadmaus kick. Sch-weet.

Other lurking in the background with their hands in the air saying "Me next, me next!" - more floor based grooves, some funk, plenty of chillout - a sparkle of electro and breakbeat. My children are beautiful.

Amarta.


There does seem to be a light at the end of the tunnel. I am increasing more confident an album will be born soon. About fucking time. How it will sound I don't know - there is enough variation for three albums, but not enough music for three albums - and to be honest I'm not sure how much work one album is going to be at the moment, let alone three. Stick 'em in the bank eh?

Spring is my favourite time of the year. The air smells of life, and days are so much more welcoming and energetic. There is EVERY chance I have been infused.

I've also bought a telescope. Geek.

Through all of my inner struggle with the norm, and as hard as days are - relentless, unforgiving, hurtful - I am SURE I shall look back on these pearldiving days and regard them as the best days of my life.

Salut.

www.souncloud.com/amartaproject

www.listn.to/AmartaProject