Hendrix is one of those musicians whom I never wanted to like. His drug taking, the reckless, out of control image of his guitar playing, the general ridiculousness of the groupie and stoned wannabe scene that took advantage of his unwillingness to say no. Classic vampire syndrome.
Which is to say, I fell hard. Thanks to the prep work of my teenage years, I have a firm grounding in all the bootlegs that were widely available circa 1990. I have discovered enough new Hendrix on Youtube in recent weeks to keep my musical imagination firing on all cylinders. Live shows and studio sketches and electric church symphonies that take my breath away. Chasing the Sun is really nothing like Hendrix but even a casual fan will detect a few influences in "UFOs and Labyrinths."
In between jamming with the tribal players at Lokal and dance-playing wth DJ Tong at Exit, I have been working on a couple songs that I find fresh and exciting. The first You Got to Make This Better (Or We'll All Be Deader) I have jammed extensively with Omar and ---, who have a little stand in front of the inexcusable Hennan Corp. appropriation of paradise construction site at front beach Boracay. It is really an uplifting message song that hearkens to 1960s folk, Hawaiian ukulele music, Bobby McFerrin, and 4 Non Blondes.*
Then there is this kind of collage thing that draws together three or four little hummed chant and ballad things I came up with, combined with a little acoustic riff that I found in a 10 minute echo drenched jam Hendrix did with Mitch Mitchell on table taps and hand claps. This could be pretty sonically sophisticated, like a multi-movement song. Let's see if the vision translates to John and Paolo at Alchemy, who have the skills to put it together instrumentally.
Leaving Boracay tomorrow for Dumaguete, via Bacolod. Oh yeah, I'll try to get up Ari Park 1.27 before I leave. It is getting interesting to me again. Whenever I feel frustrated by the general lack of recognition and compensation for what I believe is original art, I remind myself that art itself is the process. Endurance is the grace to persevere.
*I will not put out the rough, spontaneous versions of the song up for years––at least until after the polished studio version is released. I've decided that in a world of instant sharing, there is mystique in holding back.
Which is to say, I fell hard. Thanks to the prep work of my teenage years, I have a firm grounding in all the bootlegs that were widely available circa 1990. I have discovered enough new Hendrix on Youtube in recent weeks to keep my musical imagination firing on all cylinders. Live shows and studio sketches and electric church symphonies that take my breath away. Chasing the Sun is really nothing like Hendrix but even a casual fan will detect a few influences in "UFOs and Labyrinths."
In between jamming with the tribal players at Lokal and dance-playing wth DJ Tong at Exit, I have been working on a couple songs that I find fresh and exciting. The first You Got to Make This Better (Or We'll All Be Deader) I have jammed extensively with Omar and ---, who have a little stand in front of the inexcusable Hennan Corp. appropriation of paradise construction site at front beach Boracay. It is really an uplifting message song that hearkens to 1960s folk, Hawaiian ukulele music, Bobby McFerrin, and 4 Non Blondes.*
Then there is this kind of collage thing that draws together three or four little hummed chant and ballad things I came up with, combined with a little acoustic riff that I found in a 10 minute echo drenched jam Hendrix did with Mitch Mitchell on table taps and hand claps. This could be pretty sonically sophisticated, like a multi-movement song. Let's see if the vision translates to John and Paolo at Alchemy, who have the skills to put it together instrumentally.
Leaving Boracay tomorrow for Dumaguete, via Bacolod. Oh yeah, I'll try to get up Ari Park 1.27 before I leave. It is getting interesting to me again. Whenever I feel frustrated by the general lack of recognition and compensation for what I believe is original art, I remind myself that art itself is the process. Endurance is the grace to persevere.
*I will not put out the rough, spontaneous versions of the song up for years––at least until after the polished studio version is released. I've decided that in a world of instant sharing, there is mystique in holding back.
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