Well, here we are again.
I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to do this project again. When I did this experiment in 2011 it turned out to be one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done musically, and year after year I have thought about reviving it.
So why now?
To put it simply, I needed to. While I have stayed active in the local music scene playing with numerous bands and recording projects, my output for my own music has slowed to a crawl. I’m not sure how it happened, or why for that matter, but I found myself playing fewer shows, writing fewer songs and putting other music ahead of my own. Aside from some short-film soundtracks and writing for the Bonnett House debut, I have not completed a song since 2013!
So this project means a lot to me. I’m hoping to find my feet again, work some muscles that haven’t been used in some time and ultimately, find a part of me that I lost along the way. I invite you to join me.
So, if you’re reading this, THANK YOU! I feel so grateful to have an audience. I won’t let you down.
Now onto January’s song….
They say the hardest part of doing anything creative is starting, and I fully expected January’s submission to be a struggle. I’m happy to say, it wasn’t. In fact, it might be the easiest song I’ve ever written. I’m gonna chalk that up to time, luck, and a backlog of ideas roaming around in my head. Also, I didn’t write this song as I typically would, sitting on my bed with an acoustic guitar. This song was born out of loops, samples and messing around with a synthesizer that my friend Adam Kierstead gave me (thanks Adam!).
The Night Is Long, The Morning Is Coming was recorded on the same Boss BR-532 that I used for the entirety of the 2011 project. I sampled a drum track and an ambient electric guitar part before finding a melody with my Yamaha CS2X synth. I recorded an acoustic guitar part using my Avalon AS200CE in a modified tuning of C G C G C C, and added some counter-melodies with my Realistic Concertmate 500 (essentially a Casio SK-1). Some textures were added with my Roland R5 and a Korg Monotron before bringing the song to my good pal Adam Kierstead, who played a complimentary bassline and two wonderful electric guitar parts. I finished it off with a melodica and a little vocal help from a rented Boss VE-20 (thanks for the harmonies Long & McQuade). As always, this song was mixed by my good friend Sean Boyer (this project is as much yours as it is mine).
Lyrically this song was inspired by the death of someone in my neighbourhood, or at least I think it was. I was struck by the dichotomy of the police cars, firetrucks and ambulances set against what was a sunny spring-like day. How something so tragic could happen on such a beautiful day didn’t make sense to me. I didn’t know the man well but somehow he left a hole. Hopefully you’ll take your own meaning from the words.
Without further delay, I present to you January’s submission:
The Night Is Long, The Morning is Coming
(to download, right click and select “save as”)
*This song contains samples from When I Get My Hands On You by The New Basement Tapes and Spiderwebs by Bonnett House.
Note: This song is also available in both .WAV and FLAC formats. If you’d like a copy in either format, please write to clintoncca@gmail.com