I had a great day today. I spent a good chunk of it writing down whats going on in my head at that moment. The things I have seen or have been moved by that I cannot shake off. I find it helps to get them on the page that was I can see what is going on.I can spread the words around and see if there is anything I can use….its a bit like lego really.

So, I did that  and then went for a run. Then back to work on the newly cluttered page of jumbled emotions and rhyme. Hmmm. A productive and enjoyable day was spent because I got some new ideas down and I aslo go to play with my new toys!

The set up

I have just recently purchased the M-Audio Keystation Mini 32. Its a plug in midi keyboard! I wanted something small and light enough to take with me travelling but “big” enough to play properly. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not going to performing any piano concertos on it anytime soon- but it is big enough to have a play around and record some ideas. Because I have the very small hands and fingers, it doesnt affect me too much. I can play it for a few hours and be content.

So for those of you who are interested, here’s the geekry:

• 32 low-profile, velocity-sensitive mini-keys deliver great feel in an ultra-portable design
• The perfect complement to your mobile studio—small enough to fit in a backpack
• Works with iPad (iPad Camera Connection Kit MC531ZM/A required)
• 4 assignable controls—three buttons and a knob—provide real-time control of your DAW and virtual instruments
• Selectable velocity curves—including one for drum programming—let you customise the keyboard sensitivity to your playing style
• Reassignable pitch bend and modulation controls
• Robust, high-quality build stands up to frequent, mobile use
• USB bus-powered and class compliant—just plug and play
• Multi-color, LED-lit buttons for use on stage or in dimly lit studios
• Includes easy-to-use software for playing and writing music
• Compatible with a variety of popular music creation software and virtual instruments
• Size: 16.46″ L x 4.13″ W x 0.78″ H (41.8×10.5×1.98 cm)
• Weight: .99lb (.45kg)

Phew, there we go! It’s a great little keyboard! I found this youtube video that was very helpful too.

Toy number two, isn’t so glamourous but necessary- a pop screen to cover my Blue Snowball Microphone. Nicknamed the “spit screen”, you can see why it lacks glamour. It works by reducing the harshness of the sound of “P’s” &  ”T’s” reducing the hiss giving it a more level sound. Basically its a sockThat is the Heidi summary of it any way. I’ve used it for the first time today and it does make a difference! It means I can get closer to the mic to create a more intimate and husky sound without the nasty sound effects!

Right, enough talk, time to eat! I’ll catch you later.

H

]]> http://heidifisher.com/2012/01/19/what-a-good-wednesday-that-was/feed/ 2 heidifisher 403864_10150587669790100_510735099_11330452_412285922_n maudio_keystationMini32 http://heidifisher.com/2012/01/18/cults-go-outside/ http://heidifisher.com/2012/01/18/cults-go-outside/#comments Wed, 18 Jan 2012 03:28:25 +0000 heidifisher http://heidifisher.com/?p=731 ]]> Love this song!

I have been doing this for so long. It is tiring but energising at times. If you’ve had a remarkably shit day at work the last thing you want is summon up the creative juices. Fortunately it works in the reverse too. I’ve had incredible weekend and evenings of writing and it energises you in your day job the following day.

All this to say this: this year, for the next few months especially I am in the unique and highly coveted position to be able to devote my entire time to write songs. I’m currently travelling with my husband in California so it makes for an even more inspired setting to write. This will continue when I return to my freezing homeland!

I wanted to share this with you for two reasons: to inspire you fellow dreamer to take the risk and grab the opportunities when they arise. Don’t be afraid, just take it one step at a time!
The second reason was to invite you to join in the fun! To ask you for your support, opinions, accountability & fist bumps (dude we’re State side now!)

So here begins the first day! Today I set up my new midi M-Audio keyboard (37 keys for easy travelling) More geekery on this later in the week! I went for a run to gather my thoughts and I wrote to you! A pretty great first day in my book! I’ll get back to you later in the week.

Well, *deep breath* let’s do it! You have to be in it to win it- 👊(yep, that’s another fist bump!)

H x

Out come the Christmas Songs, ahhh I love it! As soon as the calendar flicks from November to Dec 1st; on go the tunes.

Do you know the warm and comforting feeling you get when you spend Christmas with the ones you love? Well a good Christmas song is that! It’s the favourite warm scarf you pull out every year that never lets the cold Northerly breeze in. Ahh I bloody love Christmas! Scrooges stay in your dark untinselled corners please, we’ve got fairy lights on EVERYTHING here!

One of my most favourite Christmas songs is Fairytale of New York. I’d even hasen to say it’s probably one of the most pure and beautifully written songs I’ve ever heard! Written by  Jem Finer and Shane MacGowan from The Pogues. (50 points for the irish translation folks?) I don’t know about you but if I wrote that song I’d be so bloody proud, it’s a corker!

I am very fortunate to be married to a musical bargain hunter! He played me this version of Fairytale of New York by Christy Moore and WOW. Firstly the man is a songwriting marvel! Have a listen to some of his tracks.

Beautiful irish folk music + clever/cheeky lyrics = I am sold!

Anyone who can write a lyric and make “colonic irrigation” and “Botox & augmentation” work gets my respect! (Ballad of Ruby Walsh) Also check out “Dunne Store” & “Ride On” If you are a folk freak, you will love ol Christy.

Give this a listen, he has a bit of banter at the beginning but soon it kicks into the good stuff. If this song doesn’t make you melt like a snowman in a sun-bed then it sucks to be you!

Beautiful song, beautiful voice! Nice job Lana!

If you are from this side of the equator you will know that given the opportunity we pasty skins spend too much time in the sun to compensate for the 95% of the year we have to wear two pairs of socks and a thermal vest! So I have returned suitably tanned and happy and with some questions racing round my head as a result of a scooter outing to the coast.

Picture this: You are sat in the shade in a beach-side bar, the ocean stretching out and vanishing on the glowing horizon. Your hand is wrapped around a cold beer and the other swats away the erratic fly that keeps landing on your face. You have ordered the local delicacy as the sun induced headache combined with your second beer has made you hazy and brave.  You are sitting enjoying/regretting the company of  your holiday companion opposite you. And as you zone out into holiday bliss with the breeze just perfect you tune in to the song playing on the radio….

Ok. Stop here and insert the song you’d pair with this perfect scene…..I can guarantee that it will not be the song  playing now.

Invading your ears is Vanessa Carlton! She sings about a thousand miles with the jumpy little piano riff racing through your head and you think, “God, what a blast from the past” or “TURN IT OFF!! What the heck are they thinking?”  And so song follows song and the eclectic mix gets more surreal! Tina Charles “I Love to Love” follows Alicia’s Attic “I am, I Feel”

Now it’s not that all of these are songs are necessarily bad it’s just that they don’t fit into the glossy polished display class the music industry showcases these days. You won’t hear any of these songs on Radio One these days or classic Alanis Morissette ”Hand in My Pocket” or  ”Head over feet”  You just won’t.

From a songwriters point of view I thought this: I’d be so happy that ANYONE listened to my song and enjoy it. Even if it didn’t fit into the perky mainstream mould! In the eyes of this fickle industry nothing is long-term. I may write a song that is a one hit wonder. It would be enjoyed and overplayed for a time and one day it will be discarded and replaced by something more in keeping with trends. But as I was sitting there listening to “A Thousand Miles” I realised that Vanessa had done it! She has written a song that is fantastic and successful because people love it and want to hear it! So much that it was on repeat it seems in every bar, bank, supermarket and bus in the Nerja area. Radio plays are gold-dust! Plays per minute can be as high as £22.00! Check out the PRS for Musics current rates can be found here and for more information their website is http://www.prsformusic.com/

Now I am not sure how many Euros Vanessa will get per play but from the amount of prime radio play she was getting in Spain alone she must be accumulating a nice little sum.

It’s winning à la Sheen on two levels really! The artist wins and gets paid for their hard work and music wins! I know it sounds a little lame and cheesy but meehhhh whatever! I am discovering more and more that ideals alone are not be enough but it’s so satisfying when they win.

The main desire of the songwriter is not to be laughed at….well not just that! Ultimately we feel we have something important and special to share and we want to connect with someone. For someone to love it enough to put it on repeat is success!

I have a friend who I used to continually mock for his taste in music; you know who you are

He had (and should still HAS) great taste in music but there were some really BIZARRE “Eclectic” choices he loved which baffled me! But you know what, music is personal and what you love isn’t merely down to the mechanics of a song it’s down to the emotional connection.

It doesn’t matter if one branch of the music police rejects it. If it is a good song and you as the listener resonate with the artist then they have done their job well. Somewhere, someone will be listening.

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