Camp
It has been over a decade since the last time I packed my duffel bag, and headed to camp. Meals prepared, plenty of activities, and staying up too late for our own good, naughty naughty. Okay, I didn't really go to camp, but I went to a lodge an hour and a bit north of Winnipeg along with 8 other songwriters and a camp councilor. The idea was not all that clear when we arrived, what was to be accomplished and what we would be doing. But as everyone assembled in the main hall, individuals began sizing up their collaborators and poof, it began. The week consisted of forming three person groups writing an original song, and laying down a basic demo. Throughout the day groups were essentially forced into taking a couple breaks for lunch and dinner and returned to work until 1-2 in the morning. Go to sleep get up and repeat. It was awesome.
Numerous times throughout the week, people would comment "how refreshing to have no distractions, no part-time jobs, nothing to compete with the craft of song-writing." The exercise itself of writing with others wasn't as easy as we all thought either. Most of the group were solo writers (band or otherwise) and the week was a chance to flex new muscles and create more options and skills for the future.
My groups consisted of
DAY #1
Matt Peters (the Waking Eyes)
Mike Petkau (In the Sand Productions)
Day #2
Sandy Taronno (Quinzy)
Lloyd Peterson (Wonder Dog Studios)
Day #3
Jason Gordon (Davidport)
Derek Norton (Empire Recording)
Other than the late night chats about the business, the songs themselves turned out amazing! We all went a bit extreme with recording "basic" demos but what the hell. I'll post the songs when I get them, and you can tell me what you think. Sandy Lloyd and I even came up with a new band name The Meow Meows, who knows we may be on myspace before you know it.
So thanks to SAC and Manitoba Music, for hooking it all up, and to all of the fabulous artists who made last week one of the best weeks of my whole life.
JP on 08.24.09 @ 09:44 AM CST [link] [No Comments]