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Furry Musicians Newsletter Issue Number 82 - 27/03/19
6 years ago
Fortnightly Furry Musicians Newsletter!
Issue 82 - 27th March 2019
>>>Previous Newsletter<<<
Hello everyone!
Today's topic: Making music in a band / group vs. being a solo artist.
How many of you are playing in a band or have been in one in the past?
With the vast majority of FA music uploads being solo projects, I've been wondering: Why exactly do you write music by yourself?
I imagine, perhaps some of you can't be part of a band for one reason or another. Perhaps you don't have the necessary equipment, perhaps there aren't many (or any) bands near you.
Or you just don't have the time.
Another reason may be, that you're not all that interested in a band to begin with.
Personally, I found out that I actually prefer working on my own projects my myself. I like a good jam session with other musicians every now and then, but I don't think I'm going to be part of another more or less serious band project anytime soon. I've been actively playing in bands for more than ten years, but most were either cover bands or they broke up at some point.
Now I mostly write music alone and find that quite fulfilling, too. Of course the fact that you have to do everything by yourself can also be considered a downside. But then again - no creative differences! You can just do whatever you want.
Now, for a quick look at...
The Marketplace
New Community Releases
Albums
No new Albums in this issue!
Singles and EPs
Vrabo has released their new EP "Uloga" on Bandcamp.
>>>Download here!<<<
Airbomb707 has released their new Single "Holographic Ribbons" on Bandcamp.
>>>Download here!<<<
The Back Page
So: What are your experiences with bands or making music with other people?
And is there any specific reason that you write your own music? I'm curious.
Thank you for checking out this issue of the Furry Musicians Newsletter - and a jelly good day to you!
If you'd like something featured in the newsletter or have any questions, drop either me ( 
Scared_Jellyfish ) or the FA Musicians page a note with details or drop a shout on the FA Musicians page!
Next Newsletter out on 10/04/2019
Vrabo
Airbomb707
Scared_Jellyfish
But, its more fun working together on a song. I have a good friend which from time to time comes over and we work on tracks together.
ITs alot less frustraitng since we have different approaches and ideas for a part and when things come together its mostly pretty brilliant and extremly fun.
I also love that, sitting down with someone and tossing ideas back and forth. I remembered how much fun that was a few years ago when I did a show with my friend Kavus Torabi. We'd worked out a set of songs for the show by sending little demos back and forth, but once I arrived at his place in London for rehearsals I was just messing about playing some of my other songs he'd never heard, and he'd immediately jump in with some cool part I never would have thought of, which in turn would inspire something else and take it to a whole different place.
But you're definitely right about writing music being a lot more fun with at least one other person. The different influences someone else can bring in are what keeps things really interesting in the long run. It can be kinda difficult to get out of your comfort zone and keeps things fresh all the time.
13th April at Clapham Library: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-pe.....ts-59278217745
14th April at Cafe Oto: https://www.cafeoto.co.uk/events/pe.....egvad-quintet/
… I'll be the one with the tail :)
I play with some bands but I'll just talk about my solo material here:
I live in a pretty remote corner of S. France, putting a band together would be pretty impossible. If I lived in a large urban area where there many musicians relatively close by, and interested in and capable of playing the stuff, I'd probably do it on occasion. I did manage to put a band together in 2008 and did a week-long tour in the USA, but I see that as a very early step in where I've got to these days.
The thing is, I love doing everything myself on my albums, and I REALLY LOVE doing solo shows and tours, so I actually don't want a band for that! I'm very happy on my own, not to mention the added complexities of lodging, food, and travel for a full band. I could never have done all the solo tours I've done in the past few years except for the fact that it's just me on the road. So easy.
I get my being-a-member-of-a-band kicks these days from the Peter Blegvad Quintet. That thrill of playing with a bunch of great musicians and knocking ideas back and forth is so important for my musical life too.
I even think a few of them blocked me. Some have really been.. not kind.
If DAWs could grasp the reigns of the Internet to create a real time collaboration work space for multiple users simultaneously (Like an MMO video game), music production could be...
1. a better learning experience for beginners
2. a hub where musicians can create sound with tools they don't have the money to buy
3. a means for combining different productions styles, mixing styles, genres etc. to create new and exciting styles
4. a social environment for musicians converse and interact with in a field that they're comfortable in.
5. an easy and quick way to produce music, organize label artists, create groups, collaborate, and share techniques
Just a dream of mine, probably won't come true in my lifetime