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BlackBerry for Rock Stars
Posted by: The Source on Jul 21, 2010
My personal BlackBerry is the Curve 8520 model. Currently I am reviewing the BlackBerry Bold 9700 aka the Bold 2. With both of them equipped with the new track pad instead of the track ball we have seen on previous models, the biggest difference for me is the key pads. On the 8520 they sit more individually than on the 9700. So moving from the one phone to the other took a day to get used to.
Now let me talk to you about the features I use the most.
Champagne dreams and caviar wishes
A few years ago I was the front man for a band called Susan Goliath. With work taking up most of our time we started to get less time for shows and put everything on hold.
Recently we got together for a few beers and realised that our time has opened up and we are in a position again to start working on something. The biggest change between then and now is the fact that we have become more technologically equipped and do not rely on practise rooms and studios to achieve the goals we have set ourselves.
I have a full studio suite on my PC for recording and mastering, my whole guitar rig has digital components to interface and well as expansion for the bassist. Our drummer got himself two different types of digital drum sets making him more mobile. So currently we aren’t as restrained as we used to be.
We started talking about the direction we wanted to take and all felt that we are going to play around with Afrikaans music. We dubbed this the Stander Projek. We basically believe that most Afrikaans music is crap and pretentious and that if we could apply the same energy we had in Susan Goliath, we could produce something different.
Writing songs on the go
A big part of this project relies on my ability to write songs. My structure has always been to write down little verses and choruses on pieces of paper and later combine it on an A4 pad.
The biggest problem for me was that when I finally got back home I couldn’t remember the tune that goes with the lyrics. Sometimes I couldn’t find a piece of paper and the lyrics that sounded perfect became lost to me.
This is where the BlackBerry became a tool that I cherish.
There are a few functions I use now in my process:
a) the MemoPad
b) the Voice Notes Recorder
In the MemoPad I write all my songs. I have completed songs there, half written ones and some are just just single liners that will either become full songs or be used in others... if the fit.
The Voice Notes Recorder is mainly used for when I am in the car and I have a song idea that I need to pin down. I would do a rough vocal track track as a demo just to remind myself of the tune and listen to it when I am back home with a guitar. I normally do not use those songs as potential “hits”.
In my mind the songs that I remember are the catchy ones and that is what really sells a song. Nevertheless, it is good to know that I have the tools to record ideas that could turn into something workable down the line.
Play me a song Mr Piano Man
Recording demo’s have become much easier in the digital age. Normally I would have listened to the music at home or during practise sessions and then work on structure changes.
With the BlackBerry media functionalities I now simply transfer demo to the phone and listen to them whilst driving. It is also a great tool to practise vocals on. Previously I only practised the vocal parts of the songs when in practise sessions. Now that I have my music on the go I have more time to work on voice clarity and strength.
Promoting the album socially
I firmly believe that the traditional ways of marketing your music has taken a backseat to the digitally social marketing trends we see lately.
When we finally start marketing our final product we will be using Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and blogging. Currently the BlackBerry has all the tools needed for access to those platforms. There are probably some other I haven’t found yet but the fact is that you can promote yourself on the go.
On the various social platforms I am following and interacting with people like Chris Daughtry (BlackBerry owner), Per Gessle of Roxette, Darren Hayes (ex-Savage Garden), Farryl Purkiss, Merseystate and a host of record company A&R guys. What all of them have in common is that they are promoting and sharing music at the fraction of the cost.
There is so much power in the palm of your hand that it is almost scary.
Crossing the T’s and dotting the I’s
Where this might sound like blatant pimping of the BlackBerry I need to tell you that I do not really care. I support them and will always promote tools that work for me.
As a song writer I have found a tool that works for me. It is speedy, convenient and combined into one package. The only thing left now is to make songs and hope other people like them as much as we do...
So far the feedback is good on the demo’s... will be posting them soon.
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