Jeremy Larson

Day One

This is my first trip overseas.  It has been quite the adventure so far...  I know that when you leave the States, you expect to leave certain luxuries, and a certain amount of comfort behind.  Yes this is true.

So day one... We arrived at a hotel and I began attempting to speak with the manager at the hotel.  He did not speak English, but the fact that he believed that he did complicated things a bit.  I was trying to show him the price for the room that we had found on-line, and figure out why we were being charged a higher rate than what was advertised.  After much confusion, he said something along the lines of, "It's up to me to charge as much or as little as I want!".  So we took the room.  The room was about the size of a large closet, with what appeared to be a two-way mirror covering one of the walls.  I went back up to the manager, and requested that we be switched to a different room.  After a little scuffle, he was gracious enough to do so for me.  The next room was slightly larger and had the two beds that I requested.  After inspecting the rest of the room, I went to grab a cup of water from the bathroom.  When I turned the faucet on, something- not water- but maybe more along the lines of... ummm... I don't know, "sludge" came out.  But the bed was comfortable, and I slept well.

Yes, you know that you must keep an open mind when traveling to a different country, but these are not the things that you would expect when you are still in the States the night before you fly out.  Believe it or not, this was all happening at a popular hotel in Kansas City by the airport.  After that experience, I couldn't possibly be disappointed with any accommodations elsewhere.  A couch sure sounds nice right about now.

I am now anxiously awaiting our flight into Rome.  I can not wait to meet the family that we will be staying with, and explore the city.  Thanks for reading!

Nine Things That Will Make Italy More Beautiful

It's been a busy week here.  It seems that it's been about a week since my last post... 

Elsie and I have been hard at work getting ready for our trip to Italy on Tuesday.  This is very exciting for me, since I've never been there.  I'm making it a personal goal to finish a new song before we leave on Tuesday.  I've been putting most of my musical efforts into some string arrangements for other people lately.  When I counted up all of the tracks that I've made in the last few weeks, I found that I had created over 150 tracks of strings and piano for other bands, and not a single one for my own music.  Although it's been refreshing to work on something different for a change, I'm pretty anxious to get back into writing original music.  I will try my best to find a way to post a little preview of the song I'm working on before we leave.

So, while I'm here, I figured I'd write out a little to do list of things to accomplish before I leave.  I'm hoping that by making some of these things public, it will further motivate me to actually get these things done.

1. Finish draft of strings for "band #1" (I'm keeping the names private until everything is completed)

    a.  Re-track low cello lines

    b.  Supplement new crescendo strings into the intro

    c.  Write new "more straight-forward" parts for second chorus and ending

    d.  Bounce down all tracks into basic stems, and send

2.  Finish "Song 2" for "Band #2".

    a. Remix completely

    b. Go through email list of revisions

3.  Add guitar, bass, and synth lines for "Band #3"

4.  Rewrite lyrics for my new song.

5.  Post clip of new song here!

6.  Interview with Austin for blog

7.  Pack

8.  Email soloed strings of song 1 for "Band #4"

9.  Contact "Producer #2" about file formats, and then send files

Though that list probably means nothing to the people reading here, it still helps to fulfill the initial purpose that this blog was created for; to give readers a glimpse into the workings of an independent musician, as well as keeping me on task.  If I can accomplish these 9 things before I leave, it will make the trip seem all the more beautiful.  I believe that should do it for now!  Thanks for reading and keeping me accountable. 

Jeremy

Current Events

More specifically, in my life.  I'm not brave enough to take on the economy, social activism, or politics.  Things have really been picking up here.  I seem to be finding a little niche in the music world writing and performing string arrangements for other bands.  Earlier this year I did some arrangements for some friends of mine that are in a band called MuteMath.  I should mention that they are still working on mixing their album, and there is still no guarantee that my arrangements will actually make the final cut.  Since then, I've actually been able to start working with three more well known bands (who will remain nameless for the time being).  It's a gratifying experience that combines creative freedom, with the benefit of expanding my writing into new areas.  I really like the idea of working behind the scenes for people that have a much larger audience than I have, and possibly larger than I ever will have.  I will make sure to keep you all updated and things are finalized. 

In other news, I played a short in-studio concert for the local FOX affiliate here in Springfield.  It actually aired this morning, and since I don't have a TV, I didn't get a chance to watch it.  However, I did find the video for it online.  You can watch it here .  There are two songs, to watch the second one, just click the link below the video. 

Tonight I will be playing at song live at the Mystery Hour here in town.  I've played there once before, and it's always a lot of fun.  Here is a video from a previous  performance there:

I guess that was two years ago...  Brandon Goodwin filmed it.  Speaking of talented friends that make me look way cooler than I actually am, I will need to do a post soon about all of my close friends that have worked tirelessly with me to make this whole business run.  They are people that I love, and I know you will love them too.  I know I'm a little off topic now, but I really am surrounded by some the most brilliant, talented people anyone could ever hope to work with.  More on that later.  Hope to see some of you tonight!  I believe it starts around 10:15.

Synecdoche New York

    Tonight's post loosely ties in with my first post.  I saw a movie this year that changed the course of my music forever.  It was written and directed by my favorite writer of all time, Charlie Kaufman.  His movies have become so much more to me than entertainment; they have become a conduit between me, and the musician I hope to be some day.  There is a great barrier between the two, but the wall seems much weaker after watching his movies.  It isn't that there are any great life lessons to be learned from the plot, per se, it is the way in which he adapts himself, and his work, into his work.  

     I'm a little afraid to go into too much detail about the plot of his latest movie, for fear that my interpretation may belittle the magic of his writing.  But I will do my best.  In short, the movie is about a man who is experiencing some sort of crisis in his life.  He is a writer and he is attempting to do something that no one has ever done before in the history of cinema.  He wants to make a film that accurately represents real life.  He leases out a building that is the size of an entire city, and within it, he builds his own "city".  Thousands of people are cast for different parts.  The thing that is different about this, is that each character is a lead in their own story; there are no extras.  Wow, this plot has already lost 80 percent of it's magic by me attempting to explain it.  I could never write movie reviews.  Let's try this instead, I will post the trailer here:

 

I remember leaving the theater feeling something like Charlie Kaufman might have been feeling when he decided to make this movie (and what the lead role was feeling in the movie, and the actor in the movie that plays the character of the lead role in the movie the lead role is making in the movie...)  The feeling of wanting to create something so big, that your imagination scarcely has enough space to hold it.  These are the ideas that frighten and excite me the most.  I drove home and started working on what I wanted to be the greatest achievement of my life.  A new beginning in music.  Much like in the movie, I felt that it may take me the next 17 years to create it; not knowing if there will ever even be an audience.  I don't know if I even care at this point.

In Studio Performance of "Goodnight"

Here is something I threw together tonight.  It took me most of the night to figure out how to use imovie...  My dear friend Anne came over and helped me finish it.  Hope you enjoy!

This was mainly a test to see if I can easily implament video into this blog.  It was a little more complicated than I thought, and I'm thankful that you all are being so patient while I'm getting the hang of it.  I just want to be able to make little live performances when the mood catches me just right.  I suppose I can go ahead and post another video that has a little more substance to it now.  In case you haven't seen anything we filmed at the Gillioz Theatre, I'll post a song from that concert:

It was filmed by my very talented friend Brandon Goodwin; the girl singing at the end is the lovely Tessa Huckaba.  This night was one of the most fulfilling nights of my life.  It was shot here in Springfield with all of my favorite local musicians.  I should probably go to bed soon.  If I can't sleep, I may return to post one more...

Studio Tour

On a lighter note...

     I thought I'd go ahead and post some pictures of my work space.  Elsie and I have a building on Commercial Street here in Springfield.

Main Room 

Steinway courtesy of Richard and Carter.  Thank you!!!

Elsie bought me this cello for Christmas.  Ever since, it has been the greatest source of inspiration for me.  Well, that and the piano.  Everyone is equal here...

Crumar DP-50, and an old Silvertone organ.

Bass Rhodes, borrowed from my good friend Chris.

Third snare from the top is a 1940's Leedy snare drum.  I found it at a thrift store for $10.  Probably my second favorite snare.  There are also some 60's Slingerland snares in there.

Amp on the left is a CMI amp from the 70's.  I guess Gibson merged with CMI for about two years and made this line of tube guitar amps.  It is called an "SG 212".

My favorite snare.  1950's Ludwig.  Oh, and yes, there is a drum room here as well, but I didn't get any usable shots of it.

70's TMS Studio Mixer.  I'm in love with this board.  Very rare, I've only found one other person that has ever used one of these.

Elsie

My girlfriend Elsie shares this beautiful building with me.  She recently opened up a store called Red Velvet Art.  Rather than try to explain her art, I thought I would post some pictures of this as well.  Her store is located in the front of the building.  Magical isn't it?

Yes, she created ALL of the designs for my merch store.  We will soon be moving all of my products into her online store .  Please go there and take a look!  Cutest online store you have ever seen.

Elsie not only designed most of the products in the store, she also took these pictures of the store.  I took the pictures of the studio, and she did an exceptional job of making them look presentable.  I am not a photographer, and I would hate for my lack of ability to reflect poorly on her.

This is where we spend most of our time; it really is a dream.  Thanks for reading!

Jeremy

Reason

    I've been having trouble sleeping lately.  That is the reason I have decided to create this personal blog.  When I am lying in bed, a whole cluster of thoughts seem to instantly bombard my brain, and I think that this may prove to be very therapeutic for me.  I am still in the process of figuring out how to actually use this site, and it may be a few days before I have it looking presentable.

     So...  Here I am awake, with about seven more hours to go before I will feel tired.  It may actually take me that long to formulate a coherent thought.

   

Being An Independent Musician

     Most of the time, I can't imagine anything greater than this.  I have been dreaming of the chance to do what I am doing, for most of my life.  I have a studio, a piano, and every tool that I need to create anything that my imagination can inspire.  In fact, I am at my studio right now, with a piano no more than five feet away from me.  I currently have no deadlines, no commitments, and no one to answer to.  My life is a giant blank canvas.  So what is the problem?  This is the problem...
     There are times (tonight, for instance) when I will sit down at the piano and stare at the keys.  I put my fingers in place, and a voice says, "no, not those, that is where you always start".  I move them into a second position, and the voice says "no, that is where everyone else starts".  I rest my hands back on my lap and try to erase this metal grid that music theory has taught me to live within.  
     I wonder if this is at all similar to what Schoenberg was feeling right before his dive into twelve tone music.  (Yes, I understand it is debatable whether or not it was actually him who "invented" it.)  The point being, there was a time in the 1920's where composers were starting to feel as if every tonal musical idea had already be used (and even reused) by the romantic composers and their predecessors.  They started creating music that was driven by patterns of numbers, rather than "traditional" tonal structures (loosely summarized).  I can certainly sympathize.
     Most parents truly believe that their children are the most talented, best looking, etc.  Most musicians probably truly believe that they are creating something new, unique, and special.  Most of us (musicians) are not, in reality.  This is a sad realization.  My goal must be to attempt to take something someone has heard hundreds of times, and make it feel fresh to their ears.  That is where I am stuck tonight; I have to find a way to make this Ab Eb Db progression sound new.  There is no record label to approve this; there are not millions of fans anxiously waiting to hear me do this.  It's just me and the piano and all of music history's great minds wondering what this generation is going to contribute to the infinite space of moving air that we call music. 

Disclaimers

I assume that I will need to throw in some of these for the lonely people who have nothing better to do but surf the web looking for people to argue with.

1. No, I am not comparing myself to Schoenberg or any of the other great composers, just relating to musicians who might feel some of the same things I am feeling.

2.  I don't check very carefully for spelling or grammar.

3.  No, not every blog post will be this "morose" in tone; I will post something happy and cheerful tomorrow, I promise!

In fact, tomorrow I will try to give a little virtual tour of my new studio.  Thanks for reading!

Jeremy