Otto Matta

I know how you feel. From about 1998 to 2005 I only finished one or two things myself (I started writing in 1988). Because at some point it stopped going well I actually gave up on music and took on painting instead. I finished lots of paintings and even made significant chunks of money from them. All my paintings were based on and inspired by music. I did a whole series inspired largely by tech trance that took almost a year to finish, if you can believe it, and when they were exhibited they changed people's views on their own art (in a good way). Once in a while, maybe two or three times a year, I'd dig out my music equipment, set it up, and hope to make something. After a few hours of struggle it was always the same thing: "Why the fuck did I just do that to myself again?" And then at the end of 2005, through a mix of accident, boredom and curiosity, I discovered Fruity Loops, and it changed my whole world. All of a sudden I was able to express, with relative ease, what I'd been trying to express for the last 15+ years with both music and painting. I didn't know diddly about VSTi or production or mastering or EQ, but it sounded okay to me at the time (it doesn't now). And it also helped me realize that what I'd been telling myself for so many years - that I simply wasn't musically talented and that one's equipment shouldn't make any difference to the thrust of one's creativity, and that a real artist should be able to make something great with a paperclip and a rubber band like MacGyver - was dead wrong. The simple fact of the matter was that I was dreadfully limited by my equipment (basically a Korg workstation with 16-track sequencer and two on-board effects). The bedroom in my one-bedroom apartment is still set up as a painting studio, and I never use it, sadly. So in early 2006 I saved up, got myself a fast computer and Reason, and started the long hike up the mountain. Learning all that technical stuff is a process that doesn't occur in one day. I personally despise having to know all that stuff when all I want to do is make pretty music, but I've been absorbing and incorporating it over time. By allowing oneself a bit of patience with it (and forgiving oneself the billion mistakes), I find the process is less painful, and before you know it you're doing some highly - and properly - technical things that simply wouldn't have occurred a year before. Making the leap from Reason to Cubase recently was also a huge milestone, because it's simply more professional and broadly-based software. But again, it's a process that requires time, patience, at least moderate effort, and especially interest. I feel like I've still only begun climbing the mountain, but what's cool is that once in a while you reach a new level from which the view is decidedly more awesome than the last. Anyway, no one can convince you that making music is necessarily something you should be doing, but it seems like you have some desire. It's definitely a one-step-at-a-time sort of dealio.

He told me he's been trying to contact Anubis [sic] without response.

Yeah, but you've been working and successful in the same genre, more or less, haven't you? And it's not the biggest genre ever, and was especially tiny back in the day.

I think that's weird that he wouldn't know who you are, Colin, or who OOOD is. It's like they've been making music on some different plane or something. Both of you guys go way back. Strange.

Yeah, that Otto Mata dude is a total pain in my ass. He's not nearly as funny or clever as he likes to think he is. And he really needs to get a life.

I don't. But he is able to PM me. He's complaining that he's unable to post. Is he a ba[nne]d guy?

Take Mr. Average Guy out and it's a cool cover. AAAAAAHAHAHAHA! Tropical terror? Cool font, cool image, bad combination.

Anyone know why taoist can't post?

Yeah, man, there's something so weird that happens when music is shared for the first time. On the bright side it helps me hear the flaws I'd been overlooking. On the dark side I often question the music itself, and will even go back in and change things around to suit what I think are the reactions of the listener. I'm getting better at it, though, at not changing my initial work. It's a confidence issue, it seems.

Pavel, King of Pop. I think you need to come to terms with your pop-ness. Your response will say everything anyone needs to know regarding this your real musical identity...

I don't find that trippy at all. That Trold cover is cool. I also like Rotwang's Vertigo (?) cover.

I think it's generally a good idea not to tie oneself down to one genre when a combination of genres can be so interesting. But I suppose that is always based on the passions of the writer. If someone is completely obsessed with Psytrance, for example, then that person wants only to work within that genre. Which I suppose is fine too, but I'm probably not going to like the music as much as, say, some PsyDubstep or something. Well, not entirely random, just a place for us all to chat casually about all that other stuff that isn't worth a full topic. Yep, me too. Although it's not so much that I'm distracted during the day, but more that I'm simply not inspired during the day. I suppose if I had a dark, cave-like studio with no windows, with cool lamps and stuff, I figure I could work during the day. Me too. They're our babies, right? Lots of emotion involved. Not quite up there with Kennedy assassination, moon landing, 9/11 type stuff, but up there nonetheless. I tend to be happy from the moment a track starts taking form and I realize it will be my next completed track (I can only focus on one at a time, unlike many people). And although I'm happy when it's done, I immediately descend into post-partem depression that lasts for a few weeks until I can get a new one going. What sucks about this is that I know my happiness is based on creativity, yet I also know I require long breaks in between projects to recharge. Double-edged sword. That sounds like fun. I got really excited a year ago about the idea of getting a PDA and a full sequencer for it (I forget the name of the good one - it's shareware) so that one can create anywhere in nature relatively easily. I've been getting in the habit of acquiring some MJ only after a project is complete, to celebrate. If I have it, I smoke it, no matter how much it is, which means that if I have it I'm not creating. It's not a bad system: three weeks creating, three weeks escaping, three weeks creating, three weeks escaping...

I've been thinking it would be nice to have a thread where music people can talk about the whole music making thing in general. Other topics can be so specific. Let's see where it goes. DJs welcome. I'll start. When I'm making music I generally go in bursts of between 10 minutes and a few hours, averaging maybe 30 minutes or so, in between which I like to have an interesting movie going or something else that's fun to distract my attention. And then, oddly, if someone starts playing an instrument in the movie, or maybe puts on a record or CD, I absolutely have to get back to my project for a little while. I don't know, I suppose it's nice to have some alternative media going in my bubble zone, but that doesn't interfere with the process (I don't incorporate any of it). I also find that drinking a bit while doing it helps my process, and I think that's because it lubricates my inhibitions. It can be a tad scary to experiment sometimes when I think I might destroy what I've accomplished. I absolutely can't create while high, though, at least nothing important - tweaking, maybe. I almost always regret it if I do.

I mean that if it were a country it would have all citizens and no leaders. In which case it's not repetetive, but rather not dynamic enough in its hierarchy of parts/layers. In my opinion.

I'd probably choose sliced bread over them, but I would really, really love to hear an album from them.

Again, Towelie, I think you have a knack for music, and I look forward to hearing it develop. I like the sounds you use, the detail work, the layering and the progression. What I yearn for is something that dominates what to my ears is mainly background. Something needs to happen, in my opinion, that is the leader to all the followers. And maybe the leader has an adviser or two at his side.

The Flying Scorpions track is hot. No comment on the rest. :drama:

But the real REAL question is, does it matter?

Dude, she's soooo your type. You two would never sleep with so much gear in the world.

It's cool. I like that sort of beat/bass combo too, although it's hard to find in quantity and quality. I could've used a little more lead melody on top of all the rhythm, texture and sound effects. Thanks!

Is this an official recommendation? What kind of music is it?

*chuckle*

I think this is a good place for your weird-ass topic. I'm not so much into the older women thing, but there is something sexy about a woman who can manipulate some gear, for sure, even if it's only turntables and a mixer. And a new term was born: gear-goggles Heh.

Radio Massacre International - Emissaries It's pretty cool if you like 70s electronic space music (although these guys are contemporary) with some guitar. I never quite got into the whole Tangerine Dream sort of thing, so it's not rocking my socks.

Have any friends in Florida or Nevada?