Videos I made for Higher Hz covering the basics of Songwriting, Composing, and Mixing. There are a lot of other videos on the Higher Hz YouTube as well, mostly product reviews, but with a lot of training embedded. Songwriting: Basics of Harmony - music theory https://youtu.be/01Tm2sGeIbI Article: What are chord progressions? Music theory simplified (higherhz.com) … Continue reading Songwriting Basics in Very Practical Terms
Who Do I Serve?
Most people offering services try to be everything to everybody all the time. I do not. I know that there are people who I can serve really well. I also know there are people with whom I am not a good fit. If it impresses/offends you that I used the word "whom" that is probably … Continue reading Who Do I Serve?
Heart at Sea
Heart at Sea is New Age Sleep Music. Therefore please play it softly and don't go expecting drums, rousing choruses, or MIDI orchestras hammering away. The progression of tracks is deliberately set to help allow for a more restful state. Perhaps don't operate machinery - I only say that to cover myself as in no … Continue reading Heart at Sea
The Eternal Eternity of Mechanism
The Eternal Eternity of Mechanism was very much a case of art imitating life. The story started as a generic man vs machine thing but it morphed into being a lot more personal. I was thinking about how much music has become trapped within the grid of fear, as expressed through an obsession with making … Continue reading The Eternal Eternity of Mechanism
Midsummer Night Dancers
Midsummer Night Dancers was completed just as I released Beauty of the Darkness which circumstances had held up. I didn't want to put the albums out on top of each other, but such is how things worked out. Midsummer Night Dancers alt cover I wanted a Victorian-style painting for the cover to portray the undertone … Continue reading Midsummer Night Dancers
Beauty of the Darkness
Beauty of the Darkness is an album that sat on my drive for over four months as I waited on something that in the end did not happen. I have to assume that the album itself was not ready. Life is like a box of frogs or somesuch. I went on and did "Melting Machine" … Continue reading Beauty of the Darkness
Asking for a Mentor
I have been approached several times in the last few months by musicians asking me to be a Mentor for their music & career. I should be flattered. I am not because in every case the approach has been insulting. Before anyone says "why don't you write a positive How To articleinstead of being all … Continue reading Asking for a Mentor
Best Albums – you probably don’t know
Every few months there is some sort of list of Best Albums. We have become obsessed with the idea of The Best as being this thing that if we get it, we are set. Here I am going to present some albums that will never likely be on any of these lists despite being very … Continue reading Best Albums – you probably don’t know
Why if you are trying to Mix It Yourself, you are probably doing it wrong
The definition of a broken mix is: A mix that does not help people to get into the Scene & Story of your Song Day after day I see people deciding to mix their own songs & albums. Commonly the reasons given are around price and the "importance" of the project. I understand, I do. … Continue reading Why if you are trying to Mix It Yourself, you are probably doing it wrong
Criticism is your Friend – the role of criticism in teaching
The Overture from Pigdom Come I gave some well-structured and well-intended professional advice recently in a place where people claim they are reaching for success in their music. The person had done some decent work but they had also done two things that while kinda ok today, would damage their chances of success down the … Continue reading Criticism is your Friend – the role of criticism in teaching