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daswesen's mystical ramblings
StoreTags: minimal, zen, whatever
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I wrote in that 2008 thread that december provided me with some deep insights. Basically it started with some kind of "epiphany", just like, getting how minimal techno works in a timeframe of about 1 second. I was all about distinct musical elements before, and then suddenly I understoodit was kind of all about the loop and the groove. It sounds so stupid when I say it like this, but that was really the core of the insight.
I had another momentary revelation like this, also in regard to music, I think it was around march last year, where while playing bass I suddenly got what "grooving" was all about. Now this also sounds kind of stupid, but it had a very profound effect on my playing, on my musicality. It's really like from this instant on, I learnt without efforts how to keep the tempo, how to lock into a groove, to know what was being meant with "more laidback, more upfront, bit less hectic, etc...". It definitely did involve (and does involve, I'm still pretty bad) a lot of practice, but it was focused practice.
The same thing happened with that minimal techno thing. I started doing loops that suddenly started to sound good. Still have to work, still have to try out things and learn, but the core concept that's waiting to bloom is there. It's now slightly getting to the point where after 3 weeks of trying to get the style down, I'm starting to bring back my own musical ideas (the wesen sound) into it.
For some mp3 example, this is the patterns i did 2 days ago (distorted sound, sorry), the first pattern being very wesenesque i think:
link
This minimal techno insight also led me to getting very much into turkish, african and indian music, suddenly being able to follow a lot of it that was just mumbojumbo before.
Now onto the mystical part, putting that much more effort into minimal elements, tweaking some subliminal sounding hihat pattern for hours, got me interested into zen, and while just really starting out with more intense meditation, I see that this will lead me into a pretty new world. I have a very very very chatty mind and have a lot of trouble shutting it down, but I think I will see an evolution in both my mindset and my music going from lots of elements and chaos to something stripped down and focused and then slowly getting back to my natural melodic and sound chaos, but this time with more control and focus, and thus with a real message and impact. Basically, being confident in my musical elements. That's what someone told me on another music baord, that I don't have to be afraid of my music, that it stands up on its own, and that's a thing I definitely have to tackle.
Am I coming over as a rambling lunatic, or did you people have similar experiences? Sometimes I think I'm touching on something, and then the next I'm "is this the early onset of schizophrenia?" lol  | |
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12/29/07
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tylth
i just recently started meditating too, i set a timer to 20mins, za-zen in the sun and focus on the patterns on the inside of my eyelids. i also use earplugs to seal off the outside. that works pretty fine for me. reconsidering my intense relationship with maria johanna was also a good idea, she just occupied too much space inside my mind.
looking forward to your new minimal pieces wesen
12/29/07
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soft
Yeah, I'm interested in your minimal stuff too. I've also been working on some stuff like that recently.
That link is dead BTW....and have you got any more links to the minimal shit whilst you are at it? Even just a couple of bars?
I love epiphanies!! Especially the musical kind. I had one just last night actually. Mine was about arranging.
12/29/07
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daswesen
soft: so what was your insight about?
The link should work I think? Looks like the server is down. We'll see.
Here is another one, on the same server: link
12/29/07
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soft
yeah must be down... link is still borked.
It was about the different types of music I'm doing ATM ... and how they require a totally different approach to the arrangements.
I've always approached making (especially arranging) EM from a dance/techno point of view... but sometimes EM suits being written in more of a 2-3 minute pop structure rather than a 5 min+ techno arrangement .... which was something i was always drawn into doing for some reason... i dont think very many tunes ive ever done are under 4 mins.
I just kinda thought about different styles and things for a minute or so and BAM! I suddenly had this new approach to creating/arranging music.
Sounds kinda dumb but thats what happened
I like this bit too "I don't have to be afraid of my music" .... I'm gonna write that down.
Also, I've started writing short notes in a little book about these musical trains of thought/ideas i have, in the hope that it will encourage me to implement them better.
12/29/07
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daswesen
Hah soft, I had exactly that arrangement thoughts, just the other way round
12/29/07
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bla
make some 1 step techno
12/30/07
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daswesen
soft: mp3s should be working now
12/30/07
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subset
I think the deepest insights always 'sound kinda dumb' when we attempt to explain them, because words fail. But the music should and will speak for itself, and your newfound clarity of thought should translate into purposeful action (I think you already said that it has, with your more focused/purposeful practice).
I liked reading this blog, and I look forward to hearing more of your music.
12/31/07
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antfactor
Things like groove and 'feel' are shifty topics (pun intended). I've often made whole arrangements of drum patterns straight-up then gone back and added different grooves which totally changed the attitude/feel of the track. Sometimes one works better than another. I recently realized how easy it is to make something sound 'tribal' by adding syncopated bongos, shakers and latin/african percussion. Obvious, perhaps - but I'd just never consciously considered it before. The hardest tutonic techno goes tribal in moments with one or two additional patterns overlaid. Pretty hilarious, I thought.
01/01/08
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soft
those tunes are sick dude!!
really good stuff. are they machinedrum?
01/01/08
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daswesen
thanks soft, it's all just tries, it's nord and machinedrum at the moment, but i'm not really happy with the nord tuff, it still sounds too raw. I'm getting a kaospad which i think will help me a lot smoothing everything out.
01/17/08
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thehydrax
hmm yeah the thing about Zen... Zen is a great thing to get into when making music, especially techno. And since a key focus of Zen, and Buddhism in general, is being present in each and every moment, your insight is a good one. Look at loops as things that exist only in each moment. There is only this moment and so use it, just live in it. When you worry about your music, if you are afraid of it, or you think it's no good or it's really good then you're not a part of it, you've moved away from it. Zen teaches you to become the music or the painting or whatever it is you do, with no attachment to cloud you. Setting up judgements removes you from what you are doing & the true nature of the exercise is gone. But these are all just words. To gain the focus you need, you have to meditate. A few minutes on the cushion several times a day works wonders. Start & end each day with Zazen if you can & don't be discouraged if your mind won't stay still. Bring yourself back to the present when you start to wander off. You learn patience and you learn above all to let go. If you want to quiet the mind and have clarity then do Zazen, or Vipassana, and approach it without any conditions.
Good luck
01/17/08
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daswesen
thx thehydrax, I did that for some time, now slackign off a bit again, but I immediately felt the difference.
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