The first QotD, 2009

[rone rivendale]

DRC: Today is not only New Year's Day but also my Dads B-Day.

QotD: What are you musical goals for 2009? This includes both in SF and outside of it.

My goal for 2009 is to be in at least 10 SF's. And not all at once, but through out the year. I did 9 in '08 but half of those were in a row.
Also I'm about halfway thru my 3rd soundclick album, which is way behind schedule. I put out my 2nd one about 6 months after my 1st. It will be 6 months come the 22nd of January. So my goal there is to finish this album AND put out a 4th soundclick album before the end of the year (preferbly around July/August).

Your turn!

[Paco Del Stinko]

I'd love to be able to do all the fights in the year, as well as Nur Ein, SF!LIVE!, collabs, GOM, etc. FAWM would be fun, in theory, but the year I did that and all the other stuff (RPM, AAD, SF!), all in one month, it really left me feeling creatively tapped for months afterwards. So, perhaps I'll just remain SongFight!centric. Biiiig hug, peoples!

[jast]

QotD: another AAD. Perhaps I'll think about one of the longer challenges, i.e. FAWM or 50/90, but I'm not really considering it yet. Also, lots of songs for SF. In general, I guess I'll try to experiment more, musically. Finding people to make music together with would be awesome too, I guess.

[roymond]

QotD: spending more than 2 hours on a song (like today), which allows it to develop into the roymond sound that has been missing all 2008. And spending more than 2 hours on many more songs, SF and otherwise. Looking forward to February. Also, playing live on a regular basis. There's change on the wind and I hope to ride it.

[Dust]

QotD: I want to finish an album by March and finally get my stuff off of the ground. I've seriously been sitting on my ass about doing that for way too long, and I think I could make a name for myself if I stick to my guns. Even if that name is Barfknecht. :p

It'll be interesting to see if the Montreal music scene is as receptive of an audience as people say it is.

- dust

[Niveous]

QotD:

-New Niveous album
-Write FAWM album
-Various collaborations (you know who you are)
-Finish the NPCA
-Run a successful and less drama-filled Nur Ein
-Appear in at least 10 Songfights in some capacity
-Perform live at least once during the year
-Play bass on a song

[Teplin]

I'm still getting used to this new state of being... what was the word again... pro-duk-tive?

I'd like to enter as many Songfights as I can. It's working for me so far, so hopefully I can keep it up and be in on most, if not all.

I'd also really like to do a bit of collaborating. At least once this year, I want to do something on someone's song, or have someone do something on mine. Even if it's just something minor, like getting Steve Durand to rip a short sax solo for me. That would be sweet.

I definitely want to figure out how to be just as productive writing and recording songs on my own, apart from the boost I get from songfight. If I could get enough songs together under one project name to actually complete an album this year, that would be a major milestone.

[Reist]

FAWM
AAD
Finish my current albums. But that probably will take a few years.

But yeah, I always want to do an AAD, but it takes a lot of effort.

[Henrietta]

Today I'm cleaning out my computer/junk room and setting it up for music. What's the female version of a man-cave? I'm making one of those for songwriting. I was gonna guess 'lady cave', but urbandictionary.com says that means something totally different.

Music goals 2009:
Enter 20+ songfights
Learn 20+ covers
Record an ep of childrens songs

[Billy's Little Trip]

QOTD: Pick 14 songs I've done here at SF and re-record, mix, master and make an album that I can be proud of. Then if it's good enough that someone would actually pay money for it, give the proceeds to charities that I know aren't thieves, that actually help the needy.

[jast]

QOTD: Pick 14 songs I've done here at SF and re-record, mix, master and make an album that I can be proud of. Then if it's good enough that someone would actually pay money for it, give the proceeds to charities that I know aren't thieves, that actually help the needy.

I almost never buy albums. I won't promise outright to buy yours since so far there were a couple of songs from you that I didn't really like much... but put "Stomach For It" on there and you'll have two arguments for my buying the album; first an awesome song and second that I believe very strongly in people who believe in changing the world.

I'm still getting used to this new state of being... what was the word again... pro-duk-tive?

The word was something like that, yeah... pro-duck-tive perhaps?

I'd also really like to do a bit of collaborating. At least once this year, I want to do something on someone's song, or have someone do something on mine. Even if it's just something minor, like getting Steve Durand to rip a short sax solo for me. That would be sweet.

I would like to add the same. I'll be happy to contribute vocals to pretty much anything (if you can stand them). As for getting someone else's input... I tend to write songs with what's available, so I'd have to think about that beforehand. Though, of course, I believe in having everyone be part of the creative process. Oh well, let's see what happens.

I definitely want to figure out how to be just as productive writing and recording songs on my own, apart from the boost I get from songfight. If I could get enough songs together under one project name to actually complete an album this year, that would be a major milestone.

I think the productivity boost is made up of (some of) the following components: deadline, the fact that you know you get decent feedback, sharing with people who can fully appreciate your work and, last but definitely not least, the fact that this community is full of people who actually get things done. Group behaviour bleeds off on people who join the group.
So, feel free to brainstorm music-making processes that include the same elements, and try them out.

[Albatross]

Maybe I'll enter a regular fight as a solo artist, which I still have never done.

[Chadderandom]

QotD: I'd like to finish the murder ballad album I started a year and a half ago, somewhat inspired by Chris Benoit. Although, it might be long enough to be an album already, since its 35 minutes, but its only 4 songs. All of which were recorded in a month and once the momentum stopped, I couldn't really get back up for it, even though I've got plenty of ideas. I'm just not sure how far I want to take it because a thing like that could lead you too far over the top in the ridiculous department and some of the ideas I have are potentially too far over, so its really going to take some effort to not kill its seriousness.

I mean, once you start edging towards overkill its hard to stop and instead of something dark, you just have something silly on your hands and you might as well turn it into a comedy album.

I'd also like to do another AAD, since it felt like I created something special that was seemingly better than most things I've done due to not having time to over-think things and ruin it by over-producing it. But, on the other hand, it was really draining and it felt like by the last song, I was going to go insane from not being able to stop laughing during takes. The feeling of satisfaction though was pretty great and it'd be nice to know whether it was just a fluke or I really could pull something like that off again.

I'll probably do FAWM and if I do 50/90, I definitely want to be more dedicated it to it, regardless of whatevers happening in life to possibly distract me from it, but if I feel its not going to happen, I might as well not even sign up for it again. Though it was the reason I did an AAD, to try to make up for my pathetic effort in the 50/90, so maybe I'll sign up for it in the hopes that I'd get some more last minute crunch time awesomeness out of it.

And, of course, more songfights. Possibly making something that could be enjoyed by more than the "lol, avant-garde masterpiece" crowd but I have a personal aesthetic and I guess it lends itself to that, so what can I do.

drc: I feel pukey and miserable today and I was just invited to go somewhere later because apparently there's, like, a new year celebration or something, which is what I thought last night was supposed to be. Maybe that was a celebration of last year. But whatever, I don't want to celebrate this year because, so far, this year feels like crap.

[Ross]

Here.

DRC - WAtching more Twilight zone with the fam. It's fun watching my 8-year-old react to them for the first time.

QOTD:
1. Finish a CD I am working on - mostly older songs I need to finally give an official recorded justice to. I am part way through this and hopefully on a bit of a roll.
2. Play live more - my only live performance this year was at a songfight presents show.
3. I have an idea for FAWM.
4. Make more songs for my science songs thing.
5. Win a fight or two.

[slats]

Hope to continue to be more of a help than a liablity to Jk Chrvt. My days are numbered.

As for me, I think I'll be sticking with this SF thing. I have a lot of cobwebs to clear still, all while figuring out all this wacky digital recording stuff, but so far it's been good. I agree with Ross's #5 above, it'd certainly be cool to win one of these. Maybe I should get better, first.

I'm seriously thinking FAWM, even though five or six songs a year would've previously been considered a pretty productive period for me. That 50/90 thing is out of the question, though. Winter sucks. I've got no problem bundling up with a guitar and computer in February. Come summer, I gots better things to do.

I can probably expect to buy a bunch of stuff, too. Logic Express or Studio (I can't decide) will most likely be next. And I need a new bass.

[fluffy]

qotd: finally finish foodsexsleep, participate in more fights this year than last year (not hard as I only did one in 2008, gah)

[Paco Del Stinko]

Lot's of stuff mentioned by people here that I'd love to hear. Also in 2009: I'd love to hear an improved Wages come back, and where in the hell has Klownhole been? Yeah, I know people come and go and some just go, but I needs me some 'hole!

[Reist]

I'd love to hear an improved Wages come back

For sure - he wrote some great stuff.

[The Weakest Suit]

QOTD: my main musical goal for 2009 is to write and record less music than last year. i hope to do FAWM. i hope not to do 50/90. i'll still probably do songfight and enter a lot of acoustic live takes. i've also been thinking of putting together a live set and recording a song or two that i really take some time on (every song i've done for the last two years has been under either a FAWM, songfight, or 50/90 deadline). after writing 100 songs last year, i really don't feel like i have much more to say about anything.

[The Weakest Suit]

I'd love to hear an improved Wages come back

For sure - he wrote some great stuff.

i have a copy of his fawm stuff from last year. it's pretty good stuff.
i think he has a lot of songs in the tuneflow.com archive.
that might be worth checking out.

I'm seriously thinking FAWM, even though five or six songs a year would've previously been considered a pretty productive period for me. That 50/90 thing is out of the question, though.

fawm definitely gets you in a groove, but after completing 50/90 i found that i really got creative about a month and a half in up until the last week. much more creative than fawm. after fawm and 50/90 though, i felt completely drained of any creativity. go listen to my march or october songfight entries to see what i mean. ironically, last year, the month before fawm gave four of my best songfight entries ever: Mr. Sandwich, Cute Boots, They Control The Weather, and Mobile Home House Party.

[Billy's Little Trip]

I'd love to hear an improved Wages come back

For sure - he wrote some great stuff.

Funny, I just had one of those "Wages was tagged in a new picture" announcement things on myspace yesterday and checked out his latest stuff.

[slats]

...ironically, last year, the month before fawm gave four of my best songfight entries ever: Mr. Sandwich, Cute Boots, They Control The Weather, and Mobile Home House Party.

That's interesting. I'm having an internal battle. I'm trying to decide if I should write more this month to start getting into a FAWM-like groove, or start saving these little tidbits up in an effort to have some material available to write from come 0001 02/01/09. I'll probably make no decision at all and just keep plodding along at my current pace, though, I suspect.