The Young Courtesan EP released!

I have officially released the Young Courtesan EP on my bandcamp page: http://drumchick.bandcamp.com/. I decided to only add two of the tracks out of all the ideas I uploaded because I felt that 'Wayward Spirit' aka funk track and 'Majestic Orchid' aka percussion 2, most suited the feeling I was trying to create for the album and complemented my idea of the life of a young courtesan.

Special thanks to the session musicians Joe McLaughlin, Jim Graham and Scott Atkins for transferring the ideas in my head, and on my midi keyboard, into great guitar riffs!

The Funk Track

Last night we added bass guitar, wrote guitar riffs for the breakdown section and added two solos on the guitar.

The verses are in the key of E minor and we used a lot of open notes and bends to create a funk sound. We used bar chords in the chorus to create a fuller sound, add more structure and a change from the Em scale and the bass guitar in the chorus follows the drums as opposed to the guitars to create a more powerful funk riff. In the bridge after the first chorus, the guitar is picked rather than strummed to break up the main riff and reduce repetition. The first solo at the end of the second verse was used to make the verse more interesting and create an effective build up into the second chorus. The breakdown section strips the song back to just the drums to allow the song to gradually build back up again and create a powerful last chorus.

I have uploaded the finished funk track so check it out!

Dissemination Plan

How I intend to promote my concept album, 'The Courtesan':

My blog has documented the development process I have went through from discussing musical themes and ideas to implementing them onto an instrument and creating a song which complements my original stimulus, 'The Courtesan (after Eisen)' by Vincent van Gogh. A collection of my ideas for the album are currently available to download on my Bandcamp Page http://drumchick.bandcamp.com/album/ideas-for-the-courtesan but the album will not be available until thursday 20th January 2011. The album will only be released digitally via the Bandcamp Page and will include a PDF booklet with artwork, the stimulus and a short description of each track. It will be promoted via Facebook and my own official website.

Developed track 2!

A while ago I posted ideas I had for track 2. The song consisted of bongos, shaker, bass & a miramba and only lasted about two mins, but over the weekend I was able to come up with some guitar parts and a developed bass line whilst bouncing some ideas off of the session musicians.

The start of the song is very happy and melodic sounding to complement the good side of being a Courtesan, beautiful gifts and high-class social events. The open notes help to create a sense of harmony and accentuate the mood. The first guitar solo is in the key of C major and the second guitar solo is in the key of C minor to bring in a more bluesy feel and highlight the contrasting, lonely side. The second solo helps to bring the song down and then the power chords on the distorted guitar lift it up again towards the end, adding an extra oomph and creating the high, happy feeling present at the start of the song. The blues scale keeps the second section in touch with the whole song.

I took the miramba part out because I felt that it no longer suited the feel of the song and I am going to re-write the bongo part today to make it more dramatic. I have posted the song with the guitar parts already and I will post the finished track later today!

Funk track

Over the weekend I had session musicians in to record some ideas I had on the guitar. I wanted the funk song to be very lively and rocking so we added some distorted guitars and a rhythm guitar to help build the song. There is a breakdown session towards the end (which is just drums at the moment) to strip the song down to a bare minimum and allow it to gradually build back up to the last chorus, adding tension and dramatic effect.

I have uploaded my original funk drum riff and another track with the guitars on it. We will be working on the song again tonight, adding bass guitar and recording the breakdown session.

I had the session musicians working all weekend!

Recording guitar parts for track 2

Recording guitar for the funk track.

Funk Track

Yesterday I wrote a funk drum riff which was mainly inspired by Funky Tonight by John Butler Trio.

To complement the bright colours and characteristics of my own painting of 'The Courtesan', I wanted to write a light-hearted, funky track. 'The Young Courtesan' track is quite sombre and subdued to express the dark side of being a Courtesan whereas the funk track, in contrast, will express the fun and exhilarating side.

Today I will be working with a guitarist & bassist to develop the funk track. I will post the finished track hopefully later today!