Issue #08 — Unique Snowflake Edition

I’m an Argentinian composer. I also studied piano and conducting. Sometimes I have the chance to play and conduct my works.

My studio setup is very simple. Consists only of a Yamaha Clavinova electric piano plugged into my computer, at home. I can record directly what I play or make a further processing if I use any notation program.

This “Folka 21” is part of a set of several pieces with a certain “folk” character, which I improvised freely on my Clavinova and recorded on my computer. I had no intention of showing them at first, but then I thought I’d be good to do it.

I love improvising. I do it in live concerts with a duration of about an hour. But it’s also how I start composing. In this case “Folka 21” was not written, so it’s an original improvisation. I found in Ramen Music a wonderful possibility to show this music.

I am twenty-years-old, I come from Maine, and have been writing (or trying to write) songs since middle school. My musicianship stands in the shadows of many, many people whom I’ve met and who have inspired me over the years. I wouldn’t be anywhere without them, my friends, family, pets, or my bicycle.

As you’ll notice, this song is split into two sections, Just and Machines. Just was written first, and though I considered writing lyrics over it, the guitar riff seemed to function well by itself. My dad actually wrote the cello line.

Machines came about when I was playing Just with my roommate, who was on piano, and our friend who had brought over a mandolin. The lyrics just came out, seeing as I was having a hard time getting someone’s attention at the time.

I think the internet is doing wonders for musicians by allowing so many to coexist and coordinate with each other. The phenomenon of self-promoting musicians has changed the way people hear about new music, and subsequently, the direction that popular music takes. Although more often, it seems that marketability still outweighs artisanship. In any case, I’m glad to have a platform, as I’m sure my fellow music makers are. Play on!

We record and mix all of our stuff in our home studios. When working with other people, we swap files online. I’ve never met the majority of my collaborators (I’ve never met Paul).

I had Paul’s music sitting on my hard drive. I loved the fragility of it. Paul releases his tunes as Wildgeas Music on alonetone, and we’d been wanting to work together for some time. The lyrics and music seemed to come together perfectly.

A friend of mine said he could see maple leaves falling from the trees through his window. I loved the image, and have always wanted to write an autumnal song. I adore autumn - and it’s always more magical for me because of the return of Jupiter to our evening skies. I’m an amateur astronomer, and often use planets as metaphors in my song-writing. For this song, I drew on my cynicism about people wishing on Jupiter, believing it to be a bright star.

I was born Paul Lennon, I had to play music. Everyone expected it. I picked up my first toy instruments when I was 5 years old. I cut my rock and roll teeth playing the New York City showroom circuit.

My parents, like their parents, are performers— my mother is a singer-songwriter (actually, she sings back-up for me on this track). I grew up surrounded by musical instruments but never took a music lesson. About 7 years ago, I bought myself a synth and a cello and started experimenting and I was hooked.

I’ve lived in Berlin for 7 years, but I’m Australian. I tend to write songs about human relationships in 3/4 time.

Most of my songwriting seems to be an exercise in finding a way to characterise moments of ambiguity. I think its important to be honest, especially when its uncomfortable - somehow the most moving melodies come from this feeling.

Songs are a fascinating art form. I still don’t understand how it is that humans can be so affected by something made of sound. Made of nothing tangible.

This is a story about a mysanthropic depressive who can barely leave the house. People are strange and confusing. My favourite line from this song is, “they clutch their faith as their only defense / against / the void”.

So far, I’m really happy with the songs - I’ve spent the past year exploring different ideas about singing, and the results seem to be quite interesting.