Graeme's Wee Mad Mental Music Thread

[Graeme1988]

Also, my oldest niece has heard my music - my oldest sister played a few tracks from my SoundCloud the other day. One piece of music she heard being that most recent guitar riff I'd come up with. And... my niece couldnae be prouder of me. Though, I must admit, I was expecting her to be not all that impressed.

According to my sister, my oldest niece said: "Is that my uncle Graeme getting played on the radio?".

Though, she's not exactly wrong comparing SoundCloud to the radio. Apparently, she was smiling, happy, and in slight disbelief that that's me playing the guitar.

 

[Graeme1988]

This might just be me doubting myself, but I can't help feeling I should've signed up Repost Exchange sooner, y'know? Or am I just being a wee too harsh on myself for not doing that back in 2018?

 

[Graeme1988]

I'm not usually one for letting comments get to me on social media, but yesterday a particular one did.

I got messaged on SoundCloud by someone. Anyway, the message opens with praise for the production quality and saying how my music is great. Yet, in the next paragraph, they had the nerve to question whether my description of saying that I'm a one-man band was accurate. Despite pretty much dedicating a huge chunk of my life to playing a musical instrument - 18 years! And teaching myself the recording side of things within the space of roughly about 3 months, 4 years ago.

Because apparently, to them, given my high production quality, that must mean that one person couldn't be capable of making music by themselves? Writing, producing, recording and playing all the instruments. Mike Oldfield? Dave Grohl? Lenny Kravitz?

Ah know it shouldnae even bother me, but having my musical credibility - for a llack of better word - questioned in such a way has really got me wondering whether I should keep making music?

 

[lily]

you shouldn't let one person who questions you on your musical credibility stop you from your talent, it's a rough world out there, just tell the truth, ignore it and move on

 

[Graeme1988]

you shouldn't let one person who questions you on your musical credibility stop you from your talent, it's a rough world out there, just tell the truth, ignore it and move on

I know...

It just caught me off guard that someone could listen to my original instrumental music. Tell me how well I've produced and mixed it, and that they really like it; then in the breath asking me if I'm really composing and playing the music, implying that I don't.

I won't let it stop, though. It just got to me because, on top of that, the praise for my guitar ideas has been overwhelming. It feels weird getting comparisons to legendary, innovative guitarist like Eddie Van Halen; especially I don't think my guitar skills are anywhere close to his level in terms of technical ability.

My oldest sister says she believes I under estimate my musical abilities - which is probably true - but I've just never felt or had a big enough ego to embrace and brag about them.

Like, when I was taking group guitar lessons in my teens alongside a couple lads I went to the same secondary school as, I never walked into the room every week thinking: I'm the frickin' best! I mean, those lessons being more geared towards whatever you wanted to learn that week. If you want to learn a technique: you'd be taught it. A song by your favourite band? Just bring in the album, tell the tutor the track number and he'd listen to it, write out the guitar tablature and hand you it. Though, he'd show you how to play any parts that ya weren't sure about.

Though, I took some guitar lessons prior to finding the group lessons. My cousins attempted to teach me, as they took up playing acoustic guitars. I learnt a few chords but opted to switch to the electric guitar upon hearing and seeing the music video for Guns N' Roses - November Rain. That first guitar solo by Slash where he's standing out the church... Then his playing towards the end of the song:

Anyway, once I mastered how to play power chords by learning song by Nirvana, my guitar playing just went off different tangents. One week, I bring a Soundgarden album: learning a few songs off it. The next week I'd be asking to learn an Avril Lavigne song. A week later, I'd be wanting to learn some Rage Against the Machine songs. After I got done learning those, I switched to Metallica. And it went on like that, for 2 years, until I said I was getting bored of playing rhythm guitar and covers: I want learn how to play lead and write my own guitar riffs. But this never came to be in the group for whatever reason. I think it was due to my tutor being intimidated by the fact I was learning how to play other band's songs so quickly - like within 10 or 15 minutes after being handed the guitar tab of it. And lessons were an hour long...

 

[Graeme1988]

Self-doubt has crept its way back in... and I'm not sure how to best deal with these intrusive thoughts.

It's not that I doubt my abilities as such; more so that I kinda feel like the last few years have been a bit of a fluke. In that, I'm not as knowledgeable as my guitar playing would make me seem if that makes sense? And now I'm wondering if I should go back to taking lessons or not? Just to try and learn the stuff I never got taught during my group lessons as a teenager.

But on the other hand, I feel intimidated at the prospect of that: mainly because I've always felt intimidated by the music theory side of things. And can't improvise much outside of the odd riff idea here n' there. When comes to leads and guitar soloing, I'm clueless and inept.

 

[Graeme1988]

So, it's been awhile since ah posted. Here's a wee update for you's.

Remember how I mentioned a few months ago that ah got a couple of collaboration offers. Well... one o' them finally got back to me.

This lass...
https://soundcloud.com/moon-child-17

She's originally from Bulgaria, but now lives in the UK, down in Bristol.

Anyway, I reach oot tae her again as ah hud'nae heard owt from her after she'd left a comment on one of my guitar ideas, asking me if I want to collaborate. Ah, of course, said, aye. So, she got to me and explain she currently back in Bulgaria, staying with her mother. And, the reason I never heard from her after agreeing to the collab offer is because her laptop - and I quote: "exploded". And she hasn't been able to get a new one. Also, android app version of SoundCloud for the phone doesn't allow creators to send or reply to messages. So she could've replied to me sooner had phone version had the features that are available when SoundCloud is accessed via a computer.

We've agreed on exchange song ideas via Instagram. I just need to get an account set up, as I still huv'nae made one. And I hope that I can come with guitar riffs on par with this thing... as I'd really like for this collaboration to work out.
https://soundcloud.com/song-connery%2Fyet-another-guitar-riff-idea
Fuckin' hell ! Nae pressure !

Also, my oldest has recently suggested turning the storage room across the landing from my bedroom into a home recording setup. I've agreed to it, like. The next door neighbor's might not be too chuffed aboot it, though. Semi-detached house n' all. Not that I've informed them of these recent developments. But they'll find oot so enough, when electronic drum kit is fired up and reverb ladden snare hit rattles oot the 4.5" inch monitor speakers that I'll be mounting onto the wall.

Though ah do wish my sister had mentioned the recording studio conversion last year, when I told her my idea for putting my recording setup in a corner of my bedroom.

 

[Graeme1988]

So, update #2:

Bella and I have exchanged mobile phone numbers and started chatting about this potential song collaboration via WhatsApp.

I got a few things clarified as ah wus'nae sure if I was just contributing guitar and bass riffs, But, as she told over some voice memos, it turns oot that she'd rather that I wrote all the instrumental music and she will handle the lyrical and vocal melody side of thing. To save any issues with publishing side of things. Because, apparently, the more songwriting credits there are, the bigger a pain in the arse things are as far as the splitting of the money. Again: nae pressure, eh? Felt like a right knob, though, having to look up what she meant by 2nd alto. Ah should've remembered that from when I studying music during secondary school. Clearly, I've forgotten a lot since I dropped out...

Oh, I got an utterly adorable voice memo as well — which she sent after messaging me that my first name was a bit difficult for her to pronounce — where she pronounced my first name exactly as it is spelt. Which made me laugh.

So I replied by sending her this YouTube video...

She then messaged me back apologising and feeling bad about mispronouncing my first name. And I responded telling her there was no need, as my oldest step sister's been deliberately mispronouncing my first name as an in-joke for years. Based on the fact that everyone on our mother's side of the family has the same surname, spelt Graham. Yet I ended up with Graeme spelling variation of that name?

Though, the only thing that tops the whole mispronounciation of my first name for me, was a few years ago when my cousin told me that someone in her boyfriend's family thought that my last name was also Graham. Graeme Graham?

 

[Graeme1988]

Update #3:

F__k me! Ah wish I'd learnt tae juggle...

So, I've got a guitar riff idea I need to record, my sister wants to start progressing more with what I'm teaching her on bass and I've got a whole song to write for this collaboration.

Thankfully, regarding that, Belle has kindly left me yet more voice memos - quite a few in fact. To the point where I actually had to scroll back to start of our WhatsApp conversation, to see we'd only started talking yesterday afternoon. Yesterday? Ah feel I've talking with this lassie about this song collaboration for the past week.

Anyway, most of the voice memos were just her singing to give examples of styles she could sing in and asking me how I exactly I manage to write and produce my music by myself. Ah, the advancement of music technology. It's amazing whit ye cun do these days with a laptop, virtual instruments and some recording software.

As well asking me where I was from. Which got a text response of "Ahh Scottish. Nicee" when I messaged back: Scotland. Now I'm just hoping ma mum does'nae blab to the oldest sister, because she's the only one that knew, as she'd saw our some of SoundCloud messages. The last one being Belle saying we could discuss our song collaboration via WhatsApp in the meantime, until I got an Instagram account for my music set up.

Because I know my mother and oldest sister reactions are going to be ridiculously over the top.

My oldest sister: "Ooh... look here! Ah think she fancies ye, Graeme!"
Our mum: "Eh?! She does not!! Let me see"
My oldest sister: "Aye! He's gittin' embarrassed noo. Look it um... his face is aw red."
Me: "Nae wonder. The way you's are gan oan.."
My oldest sister: "Ha! Awww... she does fancy ya, doesn't she? Admit it!"
Me: "Probably. But, unfortunately, she's got a boyfriend. She telt me when we were discussing the song collaboration. So..."
My oldest sister: "So? Fuckin' git in there, man!"

Then, they'll through the voice memos and ma oldest sister'll go: "See! Telt ye..."

 

[Graeme1988]

Ah really need to just bite the bullet n' leave that WhatsApp voice memo.

 

[Graeme1988]

Ah really need to just bite the bullet n' leave that WhatsApp voice memo.

Oh fuck, l am really fuckin' nervous about leaving that voice memo for that singer now.

At around half past five this evening, she went and left me another WhatsApp voice memo. 3 and a half minutes of her just talking about Scotland. Definitely not what I expected when I got the notification, connect by Bluetooth earphones and hit play.

Anyway, ah wus just smiling listening to her go on about how Scottish folk tend to be more friendly than the English, which for part is true. Supporters of Scottish Nationalist Party, on other hand. Naw, better resist the temptation to mock that lot, they make it too easy.

I apologise for being racist, given that statement about how the Scots are more friendly than the English. But it's bloody true. And she lives down in Bristol... Though she's originally from Bulgaria.

Eh, what else did she say? Oh aye, that was it. The Scottish and the Irish are more honest, we don't have filter when it comes to saying what's on our minds. And she made an absolutely spot observation about how the weather always $h!#£ here in Scotland, which made me laugh because I immediately thought of this old Billy Connolly joke: "There's only 2 seasons in Scotland: winter and June".

Needless to say, ah feel really proud to be Scottish after listening to that voice message.

 

[Graeme1988]

I also now realise I can't allow my mother or oldest sister to see my WhatsApp back and forth conversation with Bella.

As well asking me where I was from. Which got a text response of "Ahh Scottish. Nicee" when I messaged back: Scotland. Now I'm just hoping ma mum does'nae blab to the oldest sister, because she's the only one that knew, as she'd saw our some of SoundCloud messages. The last one being Belle saying we could discuss our song collaboration via WhatsApp in the meantime, until I got an Instagram account for my music set up.

Because I know my mother and oldest sister reactions are going to be ridiculously over the top.

My oldest sister: "Ooh... look here! Ah think she fancies ye, Graeme!"
Our mum: "Eh?! She does not!! Let me see"
My oldest sister: "Aye! He's gittin' embarrassed noo. Look it um... his face is aw red."
Me: "Nae wonder. The way you's are gan oan.."
My oldest sister: "Ha! Awww... she does fancy ya, doesn't she? Admit it!"
Me: "Probably. But, unfortunately, she's got a boyfriend. She telt me when we were discussing the song collaboration. So..."
My oldest sister: "So? Fuckin' git in there, man!"

Then, they'll through the voice memos and ma oldest sister'll go: "See! Telt ye..."

Because the bit in my previous post here where I'm going on about how they'll react is exactly what'll happen. I can just hear my oldest sister going: "Ooh! What's these wi' the play button tae them? Hus she been leavin' ye voice messages? Let's hey a listen..."

 

[Graeme1988]

 

[Graeme1988]

 

[Graeme1988]

 

[lily]

Yes you have a purpose Graeme, you're a musician and people need your music, your friendship, you and a son and brother, etc and mostly, in my belief, you as a believer son and brother in Christ, a child of God, you as a Christian, sorry to add that but I had to

 

[PugofCrydee]

No... you are no son of a god...

You are a son of...Metal!

 

[Graeme1988]

Yes you have a purpose Graeme, you're a musician and people need your music, your friendship, you and a son and brother, etc and mostly, in my belief, you as a believer son and brother in Christ, a child of God, you as a Christian, sorry to add that but I had to

Thank you, lily.

No... you are no son of a god...

You are a son of...Metal!

Brilliant!

 

[Graeme1988]

Oh crap! Probably should've waited and got back to the fella after I was done with my current song collaborations.
But that's me, always being the first to go: "Aye, sure! Nae bother". Then realise what I just said "Yes" to, and slightly freak out over it.

Anyway... I got back in touch with another musician who left a comment on this track, asking to collaborate with me. Just asking: "Hey, it's been a while since I last heard from ya. So, eh, about that collaboration ye were on about a few months ago...". 'Cause, they seem pretty determined about it, judging by their comment.
https://soundcloud.com/song-connery%2Fyet-another-guitar-riff-idea
And they've just replied back to me a few hours with their email address and the words: "Let's get it cracking bru".

So, that's 3 songs, one of which is a re-write that's 98% done. Though had that singer came to me initially, it wouldn't have a needed a re-write. Just sayin'... Not that I brag about my musicality often, if at all. 3 songs, 2 collaborations, and my oldest sister wants to start making some progress in playing the bass? Jeez! I've got my work cut out for me...

 

[Graeme1988]

Oh crap! Probably should've waited and got back to the fella after I was done with my current song collaborations.
But that's me, always being the first to go: "Aye, sure! Nae bother". Then realise what I just said "Yes" to, and slightly freak out over it.

Anyway... I got back in touch with another musician who left a comment on this track, asking to collaborate with me. Just asking: "Hey, it's been a while since I last heard from ya. So, eh, about that collaboration ye were on about a few months ago...". 'Cause, they seem pretty determined about it, judging by their comment.
https://soundcloud.com/song-connery%2Fyet-another-guitar-riff-idea
And they've just replied back to me a few hours with their email address and the words: "Let's get it cracking bru".

Och! Ah guess I can let the 6 month gap between me accepting this collaboration request and the guy finally getting back to me to confirm he still wanted to work with me slide? I shouldn't really, but I'm going to.

Even though given how he more or less frickin' begged me to work with him, I'd have appreciated an immediate response back in January. Y'know, when I agreed to his request and asked how we were going to go about collaborating.

At least that singer I'm currently doing the song rewrite for gave me the options of WhatsApp or Instagram... and she told me why she hadn't gotten back to me a few months ago.

Sorry, just needed to vent about that. Ah don't like agreeing to something only to be left hanging, especially when I've got other stuff.