I'm spamming my own blog? who gives a shit.

For some reason, right now I am way into bonobo. This music is not abrasive. My heart doesnt have to clench to listen to it. It is smooth. Nothing is gritty. That voice is calm, like I am. I dont have to listen to the words or comprehend them, the voice is enough for me to feel calm. It does not force me to "groove" like some music does. I am able to be, wherever I am, I can be there. (That saxophone is awesome).

Usually at this point in the night, I would be very worried about finishing all of my work in time for class tomorrow and finishing it properly. I am not. I am still able to finish work and do it well, but I am not scared.

Musical Politics

It is very strange when people remove something from its context, however, I can see how a piece of music could be on the fence in terms of political correctness when it uses lyrics such as Lincoln's presidential addresses. In some cases, political readings seem almost welcomed by composers and artists. Artists can title works in a shocking way when the art itself really has no other sign of a political message. What this does is get people thinking politically, when really they could experience the piece as it was made and not politically charged. Perhaps the piece was made politically charged, in which case I'm ok with titles that bring it up. But politics for the sake of shock value are not smart. The extreme example would be punk music. As Marx and Engels point out, the message of punk music is definitely against corporate and governing classes. Strange that punk music caters itself to a younger audience than that of the working class, but as an example it illustrates the relationships adeptly. However, in this day and age we run into problems which punk also exemplifies. When listeners think of punk whenever they are asked, "what music is anti establishment?" this can be exploited. What was once anti-establishment and sub-culture is now being marketed by, well, an establishment. Now concerning the questions of the survey, I believe that music, without text, can convey political truths if the audience is open to it and/or is bringing political energy into the piece. Concert hall music with political texts are somewhat isolated. The minute you step into a concert hall and experience music, you have disconnected from the world wherein the political message lies. Much like a movie or art gallery experience. Again, if the audience is open to receiving the message, they will carry it back into the world with them. Composers have no responsibility to do anything for anybody. They make music, end of story. Sadly, who you get your money from definitely affects peoples' art. It should if you want it to or is important to the work and/or the cycle of corporate beneficiary thinking and art making. Therefore, it then goes against the idea that composers make music for the sake of making music and are now responsible for a certain turnaround in either their audience or their financial supporters. Other than that, where you get your money from should not affect your artistic practice, otherwise you have been put under establishment just as punk was.

Experimental music brings up political questions in different ways than pop music does. It is not that one brings up politics and the other does not, it is the idea that they are both addressing politics in either, different ways, or different hemispheres of thought. With the growing power of the internet, composers can capitalize on pop music communication while retaining their own style. The main point is that they are still making their music. They can distribute it any way they please as long as it is genuine. Pop music is a valid communicative vehicle, so is an instant message or an email, a gathering of people or a cab driver. If you are actively trying to communicate your music to others, there will eventually become a time where people learn that it is communicating to them just as pop music is if not more so and more passionately.

Kong - Bonobo

This song says to me, "feel what you're feeling. Its ok to be where you're at." Sometimes we feel that its not ok to feel how we're feeling, that it is somehow not what we're "supposed" to feel. Theres not a Chicago Manual of Emotions on what situations you're supposed to act one way or during what time you should feel this way. Fuck it man. I'm Me, and you're You. You're the same person you were when you were 2 years old. Ever look at a picture of yourself when you were that young and think, "wow I've changed so much" ? well part of that is true...but really you havnt changed a bit! You're still that kid. Its just underneath your image of yourself now. I always forget that I'm still that brave, adventurous kid that I was when I was young. Why cant he come out more often? So many things about the world keep him inside. Fuck those things. Be responsible when you need to, but let yourself out of yourself every once in a while. Go dip your toes in the sand and be amazed at how it feels. Explore the sand. Dig in it. Throw it. Build with it. It is not sand. It is something that feels like this, can do this if I throw it, is warm, and is near the ocean. Details dont matter. It is about YOU with IT. Not Mark on the beach of some dirty ass lake in chicago, HELL NO. It is what you're doing now. It is you in the moment with it. Give yourself credit for experiencing it again. "I buried my feet in the sand, I'm glad I did that." No monetary or intellectual gain from it? You're thinking too hard already. Think with your heart, not with your head. Theres a person over there. Thats incredible. I am here, and they, are there. You are both here, together. Smile at them; you are smiling at yourself.

The space for The Strain

Mark Rothko

Blockhead - The Strain

I have a long night ahead of me including reading, reading responses, and overall lack of sleep. That piano is cheerful and wants me to be as well. That singing, reminds me of times to come and good times already passed. The trumpet mimics my lack of sleep, floating through an organized emptiness. I sometimes worry, that I am running, and running, and running, and I'm not getting anywhere. This voice exists in a vastness and what she's saying, suddenly doesnt apply to me. I am allowed to float among the music now. Doctors performing surgery is a hilarious affair at this point. Thank you blockhead.

Shows in Chicago.

I'm looking for a few shows around Chicago to enter Small works. If anybody knows about any, post a comment.

Transfers from this week and last.

4-11-11

4-11-11

4-11-11

4-11-11 (incomplete)

4-4-11

4-4-11

4-4-11

4-4-11

None of these are done in the computer. These are all pretty small. But its really nice to see them on the computer. They take on a different identity. Some of them are a little more yellow than in actuality, which is disappointing. Oh well. This makes me want to work on larger pieces of board, however I havnt perfected my process yet even on these small pieces. The transferring is kind of hard even on these small boards when I use larger images that cover the majority of the board. I'll have to keep working with that technique.