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How to Write a Song Influenced by Postrock/Postmetal Sensitivities

February 26, 2024

This ought to have simply been a “here’s how I write my music” post, but I decided to shift the focus a bit. So this became a “how to write a song” post. And since my music is influenced by postrock/postmetal sensitivities, the weight will naturally be on that.

Perhaps you are not interested in music composition. Maybe you don’t feel that learning how to write a song (of any genre) is useful to you. Or perhaps you play music but not postrock/postemetal. Is there something still interesting in this post for you?

I’d say yes, this post is still something you should read.

The reason? Because creativity is holistic. By learning how other artists work – even if they talk about something you aren’t directly interested in – you acquire useful experiences. Essentially, you can understand a little bit better how creativity works.

And of course, if you are a musician – especially a postrock/postmetal one – then this creativity insight is even more direct.

As a clarification before we begin, this post is not technical in nature. There are, I’m sure, many guides on the internet on which chords to use, or which riffs to focus on to make postrock/postmetal songs. I’m sure there are even more suggestions on what equipment to use. My focus is on creativity.

How to write a song - image of a guitar and bass
I just use this bass and this guitar to make music (plus free software). They’re humble, cheap, do the job just fine. Equipment doesn’t matter; ideas do
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Misunderstanding a Song – for Twenty Years

January 29, 2024

Certain art forms are easier to “misunderstand” than others. That is, it’s easier for any kind of authorial intention to become something entirely different in the eyes (or ears) of the audience at a social level. Music and poetry are particularly susceptible to this, because of their abstractness. Misunderstanding a song is indeed hilariously likely, as today’s story should indicate.

Of course, the word “misunderstanding” is a little bit misleading: It is the role of art to be misunderstood. As I’ve stated before, to the extent artists have a social responsibility, that is to produce works that are interpretatively fluid.

Indeed, the story I have to share with you today is a marvelous example of a piece of art that escapes the confines – and control – of an entire society with hilarious consequences.

misunderstanding a song - image of a bass guitar
Song lyrics, if they are written competently, are not straightforward. They are highly symbolic and thus easily “misunderstood”. I’d say that misunderstanding a song is a key factor of its artistic capabilities
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Ophelia’s Secret: Agency and Conceptual Cohesion in Art

August 7, 2023

The title seems very opaque and ambiguous, I’m sure (welcome to my world). “Ophelia’s secret? What secret? Ophelia who?” I hear you ask. “And what on earth do you mean by ‘agency and conceptual cohesion’?”

First things first: With apologies to non-fictional Ophelias (and any secret they might have) out there, there is only one Ophelia: Shakespeare’s Ophelia.

Ophelia is a character in William Shakespeare’s drama Hamlet (1599-1601). She is a young noblewoman of Denmark, the daughter of Polonius, sister of Laertes and potential wife of Prince Hamlet, who, due to Hamlet’s actions, ends up in a state of madness that ultimately leads to her drowning.

Wikipedia

So, what is Ophelia’s secret, and what does it have to do with agency and cohesion in art? To explore thisLike hell! Rather, I first began composing the album and then, along the way, I discovered the lessons., I composed a music album titled Ophelia’s Secret.

Ophelia's Secret album art
Album cover of Ophelia’s Secret, designed with the help of Bing Image Creator
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