This could either be totally awesome or totally suck...

[EightLeggedOedipus]

Hey dudes and dudettes, I want to make an album with you. Here's the deal...

It's all about ten (that arbitrary number of fingers that is the basis of Roman numbering systems). So here's the idea...

Ten personalities
Ten songs
Ten roles
Ten voices
Ten directors*
Ten themes
Ten titles

I know I'm going way out on a limb, but I think there's enough talented and creative people in this community to really make this buzz. Of course the ten titles would be songfight titles. But beyond that, it would be a strange community approach. For each song, there will be ten instruments. There will be ten themes that appear throughout the album (decided beforehand). Each song will have a "director" - the person who decides direction, gives feedback, and has veto power, but does not write or perform.

Ultimately, I really want to take these ten songs and have a real silver CD pressed and distribute 100 to each participant and we'll split the costs. I think it could be hot!!

Am I crazy? Crazy enough? Don't PM - Post!

(* - yes I know conductor or producer are music terms, and director is a film term. But I am imagining the director would be more responsible for the overall outcome than either of those two music terms connote)

[Leaf]

I 'll do something on it... I think... as in I'm interested... if time permits, blah blah.


YES. you are crazy. That's why it's gonna work!!!




..or peter off into nothingness...

[Eric Y.]

Am I crazy?

entirely. if this gets off the ground, i'd volunteer to contribute something (but i don't direct well).

[thehipcola]

Crazy and cool... I'm in.

[Middlemarch]

Count (get it?) me in.

I take direction well.

[j$]

Glorious mess? Count me in ....

j$

[Plat]

Count me too! Metrically crazy.

Can you expand on what the "ten roles" means, and who is responsible for the mixdowns?

[EightLeggedOedipus]

Count me too! Metrically crazy.

Can you expand on what the "ten roles" means, and who is responsible for the mixdowns?

OK, so here's how I envision an example song

Here's an example of ten roles:

1. Director
2. Lyricist + concept
3. Keys + tempo
4. Turntables
5. Backup vocals
6. Lead vocals
7. Rhthym tracks
8. Arranging
9. Mixing
10. Post-processing effects

Now the director would be in charge of deciding these roles for each song, and the ten instruments, and the order things will be done. Of course, the director would also decide which instruments will be used, even though it might be differnet from the "roles"...

A. Analog synth pad (Role 3)
B. Distorted brass synth (Role 3)
C. Honky Tonk Piano (Role 3)
D. Sample from jazz record on turntable (Role 4)
E. Sample from children's record on turntable (Role 4)
F. Backing vocal in faux child's voice (Role 5)
G. Lead vocal (Role 6)
H. Electronic drum kit (Role 7)
I. Live bass through chorus pedal (Role 7)
J. Mic'ed hand drum (Role 7)

Of course (as I'm making this up as I go along) we would need to start with both an inventory of skills, instruments, likes, dislikes and abilities. And an establishment of the schedule of directors, liekly timeframes / conflicts / commitments.

It might take a few weeks before the first song is even attempted. We'd need to have an online meeting method (perhaps IRC) for discussing all the fixings for each track. I will probably set up FTP accounts specifically for this project when people are into it.

Anyway, I'm glad to see people are interested. Keep it coming.

[Bjam]

Sounds cool. I'm in.

[Middlemarch]

Count me too! Metrically crazy.

Can you expand on what the "ten roles" means, and who is responsible for the mixdowns?

OK, so here's how I envision an example song

Here's an example of ten roles:

1. Director
2. Lyricist + concept
3. Keys + tempo
4. Turntables
5. Backup vocals
6. Lead vocals
7. Rhthym tracks
8. Arranging
9. Mixing
10. Post-processing effects

Now the director would be in charge of deciding these roles for each song, and the ten instruments, and the order things will be done. Of course, the director would also decide which instruments will be used, even though it might be differnet from the "roles"...

A. Analog synth pad (Role 3)
B. Distorted brass synth (Role 3)
C. Honky Tonk Piano (Role 3)
D. Sample from jazz record on turntable (Role 4)
E. Sample from children's record on turntable (Role 4)
F. Backing vocal in faux child's voice (Role 5)
G. Lead vocal (Role 6)
H. Electronic drum kit (Role 7)
I. Live bass through chorus pedal (Role 7)
J. Mic'ed hand drum (Role 7)

Of course (as I'm making this up as I go along) we would need to start with both an inventory of skills, instruments, likes, dislikes and abilities. And an establishment of the schedule of directors, liekly timeframes / conflicts / commitments.

It might take a few weeks before the first song is even attempted. We'd need to have an online meeting method (perhaps IRC) for discussing all the fixings for each track. I will probably set up FTP accounts specifically for this project when people are into it.

Anyway, I'm glad to see people are interested. Keep it coming.

Wow. Sounds challenging, but fun. Hope it works out.

So, would you choose 10 directors, then they choose who they want to work with, say, from a list of willing participants?

[Reist]

This could be sweet ... I don't know if I'd be able to fit into any of these positions, but if I could find a way to actually help that'd be really fun.

[Eric Y.]

may i suggest spreading the assignments out a little more than a broad "rhythm tracks"?

[EightLeggedOedipus]

may i suggest spreading the assignments out a little more than a broad "rhythm tracks"?

That would be up to each director, and his decision would be based on each participants' abilities, and time constraints. I imagine most tracks would have a separate drummer and bassist.

Although another approach entirely could be to have chorus musicians and verse musicians (each separate), or three or four movements. This is probably going to be CRAZY.

[starfinger]

i'm interested!

[HeuristicsInc]

I might have missed it, but were you planning on having the same 10 people on all the songs (with perhaps different roles on different songs) or different 10s?
-bill

[catch]

This sounds complicated, but totally rad.

[deshead]

I'm interested in this too, 8LO

Here's an example of ten roles:

Heh, that reads like the process we use when writing Gert songs (albeit with 6 roles instead of 10.) If our experience is anything to go by, this would probably run smoother if the director and "concept" roles are filled by the same person. Collaborative songs come together much more quickly when all the contributors have a fleshed-out song structure to work against.

[EightLeggedOedipus]

the director and "concept" roles are filled by the same person.

Very glad to hear from you, Des. Waking Up In August is pretty cool. I especially liek the song about the bar (#10?).

Anyway, I shoudl have been more clear. The director is defintiely responsible for the song concept, as well as planning, scheduling, and follow-up. If Gert is an example, then I think this project would be more on the awesome side than the suck side.

Also, I had envisioned it being the same ten persons for all ten songs, although perhaps "understudies" would be a good analogy for bringing in other folks who might not have the means to work on all ten tracks, or to fill that many roles.

[Caravan Ray]

I don't understand this at all - but I'd be happy to participate.
Give me a shout if you need me

[HeuristicsInc]

ok then, i could probably be an understudy but not an official-10-member (if you're interested).
-bill

[Reist]

I'd probably be a better understudy than anything else. If you need me, pm me. If you don't, I'll just cheer you on and buy a cd.

[Middlemarch]

ok then, i could probably be an understudy but not an official-10-member (if you're interested).
-bill

Yeah, seeing as how it would be the same 10 people, I don't think I'd have the time for a major commitment, but like Bill, would be into being an understudy of sorts, playing 'minor' roles on a few songs.

Just curious: why not expand beyond 10 core players, inviting as many players as possible? I know getting 100 players would be near impossible, but it seems that the more, the merrier. Just a thought.