Solo projects: various styles
Period: 1979-now
Creative source: own compositions
I started writing my own songs in 1979 and I never really stopped. Although there were certainly varying moments of inspiration, in the course of time many dozens of songs or nearly songs have emerged ...
My own compositions started with sound-on-sound recordings with a tape recorder. After purchasing a TEAC Portastudio I started with multi-track recording and my home studio was renamed "Twilight Studio". The following technological evolutions of the studio equipment have resulted in recordings of increasing quality ...
And due to the growing arsenal of musical instruments, more and more exotic sounds were added ...
Own studio compositions....
There are many challenges in working out and recording your own compositions independently, which involves creativity and gaining knowledge and skills from all kinds of aspects. On all fronts you have to deal with limitations and possible setbacks ...
This is how it starts with inspiration; there are songs that are automatically rounded off from idea to recording within a few days, but also songs that I have been ruminating for years before they really lead to satisfactory results. And sometimes there is simply no inspiration at all (the so-called "writers block"). Then you may also have to deal with rusty knowledge and/or technical problems when using recording equipment and software.
And not to forget, your own limitations on the many instruments that you will play during such a project. For example, I play all the instruments myself, with which I can work (sometimes to a limited extent), such as: guitar (electric & acoustic), bass guitar, sitar, electric sitar guitar, mandolin, ukulele, berimbau, synthesizers, other keyboards and sound modules, theremin , flute, pan flute, harmonica, jaw harp, didgeridoo, drums, various percussion instruments and vocals.
And besides that you also have to deal with sound design and recording technology ... The biggest question is always: when is something good enough and do you have to stop perfecting? All very time consuming, which means that a solo album can take years. But once it is finished, including artwork, then that is a beautiful tangible crowning of your own creativity and homework.
Impression of all songs and artwork from my solo CD "Passage at Twilight". I've played all instruments myself (with some guests on sax, organ and vocals) on these own compositions.
This album project was finished in 2001. Hopefully I can find the time to start and finish another album in the near future...