About this project
(One side note to start - at the end of the video description you can hear someone knocking. I called in a favor from my friend, Opportunity. Yeah.)
My seminal formative and wasted years were in the 80s, listening to such oh-so not acoustic bands such as the Post-Punkers (Joy Division/New Order, The Cure), the New-Wavers (OMD, Yaz, Depeche Mode, Erasure, The Pet Shop Boys), the proto-Alternatives (The Smiths, The Pixies, Camper Van Beethoven), and so-on. But my "formal" musical education was in band clarinet, jazz saxophone and classical guitar. When Worlds Collide. What can bring all of this together? The steel strung guitar, pick your ilk. http://www.youtube.com/user/Jahnli is chock full of my attempts to cover everything I loved, yet how to bring it all together, or strike out on my own?
So for the past two years I've been part of the http://RPMChallenge.com community, which encourages musical artists of all stripes to record an album of 10 songs or 35 minutes, all original content, all within the month of February. Below is an example, Afterimage, the first song off my first album, The Balcony Uprising:
I am proud of the two albums that I created as a result, which can be found at http://Jahn.Bandcamp.com, but I also realized a few basic truths:
1) Canned drum loops and synth samples don't cut it for the music I make.
2) My strong suit is my guitar playing, with vocals being a far second.
3) I can't mix my way out of a wet paper sack.
I started really connecting with the concept of going a different direction by the last track of my last album, Common Ground on the second album Beyond the Pale:
So for February 2012, it's time to be more bold, more ambitious. Drive this album with my strengths in guitar, cull all the processed spam out, and sing from the heart as best I can. The third time's the charm!
By the end of the month, I'll have enough raw sound to hand over to someone who knows what they're doing. After a pro mixing treatment by Mixing and Mastering Online, the album will be spun out beautifully by a vinyl mastering service, United Test Pressing, as well as having digital downloads and CDs made available, most likely by ye olde chestnut, CD Baby. The hardest part will be holding back until February!
FAQ
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Funding Unsuccessful
This project reached the deadline without achieving its funding goal on January 2.
Pledge $1 or more Pledge $1 or more
Heartfelt thanks for your support will be your eternal reward. Or you could just be bribing me to give my Shiba Inu pup one extra pat on the head in March. Consider it done.
Pledge $10 or more Pledge $10 or more
In addition to the previous reward, let's get that album out and about. From mastering to your computer, this pledge will result in a permanent reminder of your excitement over this project via a digital download. I'm excited too!
Pledge $25 or more Pledge $25 or more
In addition to the previous rewards, let's fire up the Discman and fold some paper. I'll print out some sheet music from the album, and put my origami skills to the test to create a slammin' Space Cargoship for your delight. I'll sign the ship and send a signed physical copy of the CD to you as well! I already have a feeling that the Cargoship will warp its way onto the album cover somehow...Engage Wave Motion Engine!
Pledge $50 or more Pledge $50 or more
In addition to the previous rewards, let's get Retro. This album will be sent to you via a record - yes, a free test pressing courtesy of United Record Pressing! These donators will also get a Surprise Cargo in the Space Cargoship Origami! I'm thinking Ultex picks I'll use to record the album as an example...
Pledge $100 or more Pledge $100 or more
In addition to the previous rewards, time to get the gratitude and recognition you so richly deserve. I will thank you by name in the liner notes for the album, and a nice shout-out in a dedicated YouTube vid upon completion of the album. If there are a slew of you, I'll probably write a bit of a Name Game tune and perform it in the thank you vid!
Pledge $250 or more Pledge $250 or more
In addition to the previous rewards, time to get virtually famous. I'll namedrop you or your loved one or your slightly irritating one in an intro to a YouTube cover of a song of your choice. Uh, within reason - if you ask me to bust out some Mozart, I'll probably play "Farmer in the Dell" and end it with "Hi-Ho the Merry-O, Mozart in the Dell!" Feel free to check out my Jahnli YouTube channel for an idea of my comfort zone - but feel free to wander left of center from that of course.
Pledge $500 or more Pledge $500 or more
In addition to the previous awards with the exception of those with pledge limits, time to inspire. Since this album will be written from scratch in the month of February, you have until January 31st to help me with some song ideas! Up to half the album can be driven by your inspiration, and can be a crucial part of sculpting its identity. Like a musical collaboration, forsooth! In fact, in the liner notes, that song will be written as Dedicated To or Inspired By, your choice! Feel free to pledge multiple times at this level, if you have more than one song idea you'd like to see put down for posterity!
Pledge $750 or more Pledge $750 or more
In addition to the previous awards with the exception of those with pledge limits, time to take home the mojo. I know for a fact that I'll be using my Schecter Hellcat VI Baritone on the album. Take it home after the sessions are done, your choice. Yes, even if you live halfway across the world, I'll get your guitar to you. You deserve it! I'll include a little thank you card, and a description of which tracks used your new guitar to good effect. Pay it forward and keep the music alive!
Pledge $750 or more Pledge $750 or more
In addition to the previous awards with the exception of those with pledge limits, time to take home the ultimate mojo maker. The 1967 Gretsch Folk Acoustic in my intro vid will be all yours after the recording session is done! Everything that I mentioned will be done for the Hellcat will be done for the Gretsch. Treat this killer beater with care, it's a trooper!
Project By
Connected as James Ahn
Grew up loving Miles and Coltrane, and admiring Take Five. Got into guitar gently via the Indigo Girls and 10,000 Maniacs and Tracy Chapman. Got into the guitar roughly via The Smiths, Joy Division, The Pixies, The Cure and Elvis Costello. Danced like a fool to New Order, OMD, Erasure and Depeche Mode. Put it all away for a decade, and now it's time to gumbo it all back up.
