August 5, 2024

 

It looks like the much-awaited market may have started soon after my dim outlook regarding this matter, particularly for the next generation. I am already in losses- albeit my exposure is still limited as I have an inordinate amount of my investment in real estate. I somehow am not made for stock investing- whatever I touch turns to crap. I have tried different things- I have gone long in securities that are relatively simple like stocks, all the way to structured products and even alternatives like insurance-linked products. It does not matter. I always lose. While all sell-off is going on, I have instead spent a Sunday working on covering a Carpenter’s song on guitar and vocal. I liked what it sounded like, so I put some more effort into creating an entry for my channel. This is entry number 22-“Only Yesterday”- and somehow, while there are many ubiquitous Carpenters songs that everyone likes- this is the one song that stands out for me. Their biggest hits  ( Top of the World, Yesterday Once more –et al) are nice- in fact I had sung Top of the World as far back as in the 7^th grade in the music period- but I never found them mesmerisingly brilliant like this one. There are key changes, amazing voicings and harmonies, a melody for the ages- something altogether special. Ever since I have procured the Iphone-15, I think I am in a better position to do these quick recordings without any technological fanfare. The base camera and recording quality is already quite good. But of course, to take it to the next level on YouTube, one has to do multitrack recording on a Digital Audio Workstation software, and then take a video and blend it all together. That’s what the more pro youtubers do. That is a tremendous amount of work- and so far I have not found the motivation to go there. Maybe someday I will. Particularly when I try to put some original material out there.  This is not an area I have never investigated- it is just that I was never happy with the product. It did not seem to be that much better than the organic stuff I keep posting. Obviously, I was not doing something right- but I just couldn’t be bothered to delve deeper into this digital recording quagmire. There is an ocean to learn- lots of different techniques. After all, this used to be the job of a specialist. Now thanks to democratization of this technology, anyone with a laptop can have at it. What I have noticed though is that the courses and lessons offered to learn this stuff do not tell you the whole story. You almost need a professional producer to sit next to you on your laptop and show you how it is done. And I wont be surprised if this happens at some point, but for the moment, anyone wanting to monetise this skill (rightfully so) would expectedly stay away from such a course of action.

Musically, there is always a pipeline of things still to explore. One is a bollywood rock ballad called “ kaise hua”, which has been suggested by Ranajoy who plays keyboards. The idea is for me to sing and play acoustic guitar and then him to play and arrange all the instrumentation including beats. Will see how that sounds live- I have heard him play and he has a couple of monster Yamahas which he is very adept at programming and playing. Particularly plays electric guitar solos amazingly well on keys- they sound very real. So it will be an exploration into a more filled out sound than one with only an acoustic guitar or piano accompaniment. It is still not a full band, but this is more convenient.  The logistics of playing in a band are really disruptive and it only gets worse up until each member retires from their active job and responsibilities. Other than that, it all seems at times too much work for not much result- a bit like eating crabs. This is why I really like the acoustic guitar format. You can simply pick it up, play, sing and hit record on an iphone 15- and the result is not great, but it is more than passable to share amongst friends. High RoI, I feel. Even a keyboard or piano is lower RoI because you need to be static, situated somewhere and so on. Not enough flexibility. I could practice playing my guitar in a bedroom, study, living room – just about anywhere and while multi-tasking with a number of other activities- not the least of which is watching inane content on netflix, or indeed worse- a 50 Over One Day International Cricket Match.

Aside of the above venture, details of which are being discussed currently, is the project to arrange the Salil Chowdhury/hemanta tune “Runner”. This is a bengali classic that I have always loved and have always wanted to do something with. However, it was too long a tune to remain focussed on. So I have started and stopped in my quest of trying to create a contemporary arrangement. However recently, I finished putting chords to the entire piece on piano. Now I am ready to record on Garageband. But the just the thought of how much work this involves- given it is such a long piece- is creating inertia. It is an example of the most aimless of pursuits and falls in the face of the RoI argument I coughed up in the previous paragraph. However, I have not seen a good modern rendition of this song on youtube. I suspect that others have been equally lazy. I need to plan some time and get into it- doing a little bit everyday. If I focus, I think it can be pulled off within a week.

Even beyond this, I still have a plan to put down some of my own material. Having finished reading “ how music works” by David Byrne ( Talking Heads), I am nothing less than inspired. It has been just the read I needed to egg me on. And all of this, while it seems really worthless, seems like it means something to me- and somehow deep inside, I think it may all come together for some higher purpose. I do not see it now though. I am just ploughing on. Atleast it keeps me using my brain. Particularly the rule I have made for myself wherein I don’t like to use a lyric sheet when I perform. I force myself to learn the lyrics. It is getting progressively harder to memorise- but that is whole point. It is the only real intellectual exercise I do any more. I don’t play chess and I don’t want to.