While living in Los Feliz I couldn't write. Well, I could, but I couldn't record. The constant noise of Los Feliz Blvd., horny hipsters, in combination with cramped quarters suffocated any real creative process and any real chance of me putting sounds to bits and bytes. You see, the initial stages of writing both are extremely important for me. I rarely have an idea that's set in stone. Most of the creation comes from having a simple idea, recording it by adding and subtracting layers; molding a song and kneading it until it takes the form of a stuffed crust pizza, i.e. Ready for consumption.
When I recorded the Leviathan Blues LP, I recorded that at my parent's house, in my old bedroom. I was spoiled by the space and relative quiet, the comfort, the familiarity. When I was recording LB, I would get off work, go to my parent's house, record for a bit, then drive home to LA. It took a few months, and took a toll on me.
To compensate for the lack of space and noise issues, I bought a midi controller and tried to "compose" things in midi for awhile as it is much easier to lay down ideas. I was even thinking, and still mulling over the idea of making stock music. However, styles clashed and in the end, I just wasn't inspired.
After taking some time off from music I started to dabble in photography and guest post on my wife's blog. Since we moved into a house in the suburbs this past summer, I now have a "studio" that I can call my own.
Even though I was on a "break," I still have hundreds of ideas and melodies recorded on my phone, so I now might make those into songs, or I'll try to write new ones, which can either be teeth-pulling or as effortless as a blog post, or something.
