Sounds of Progress

This blog has moved

johnpenola@gmail.com (John Penola) — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 02:10:00 +0000

This blog is now located at http://johnpenola.blogspot.com/.
You will be automatically redirected in 30 seconds, or you may click here.

For feed subscribers, please update your feed subscriptions to
http://johnpenola.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default.

My Dogs Are Hungry 03-20-10

johnpenola@gmail.com (John Penola) — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 15:15:00 +0000

Here's a complete instrumental first draft of "My Dogs Are Hungry."

I'm interested to hear how all the party-style percussion works in the song once I try to put some vocals on top of this one.

My Dogs Are Hungry

johnpenola@gmail.com (John Penola) — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 22:11:00 +0000

For those of you who really thought that Maybe Bomb needed some more Latin percussion, here is a new one in progress.

Also, if you haven't been the Facebook page in a while, there are some sweet nuggets, including my West Gate remix and an updated version of "Five Minutes" (formally "Step Brothers"). Similarly, my brother just started a blog that shows infinite promise.

Infinite

johnpenola@gmail.com (John Penola) — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 20:53:00 +0000

I had every intention to come home and work on this instrumental demo more before I published it today, but, on the ride back home, I decided that doing so would take away from the original idea of the website, which I have been doing all too much of lately; I thought it would be better to let you listen to a version that I don't think is ready, so that you can hear it evolve.

What I think this song has working for it are the synth pads that go throughout the song. By combining a few, I came to a very full sound that fills the track without being overwhelming. I also really like the various bass/drum rhythms. The high "beepy" synth that pretty much just plays arpeggios is a nice background piece that gives a boost where it is without taking your attention from the overall track. I'm also a sucker for a heavily delayed and slightly distorted piano.

However, I'm unhappy with plenty more.

The dynamics aren't right, and the song seems to peak early without ever getting much quieter. It's too much. When everything is big, nothing is big. Also, the arrangement, specifically in regards to how the chord structures in the various sections work into and against each other, isn't there (And I've never been naturally good when working with or arranging chords... it's always been trial and error while praing for happy mistakes). The song is too long, or feels that way, because there is too much going on, too many parts smashed in there for the sake of having more parts.

I like the way I was able to use one of the sounds from "Event Horizon" to end the track. It may make an interesting transition into it. When it comes time for vocals, I think I'm going to try to create lyrics that would naturally lead into that song in the overall story of the album.

But who cares what I think? Listen for yourself.

Heartache

johnpenola@gmail.com (John Penola) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 02:21:00 +0000

Though I haven't really done any work on this track in months, I've been meaning to post it for some time.

It's divided into two sections: an electronic, downbeat part and a traditionally orchestrated overture.

For the first part, I've often found a heart beat at 120 beats per minute to be one of the most compelling rhythms to write around, especially when juxtaposed against heavily synthesized instruments.

The second half started as a simple string section that evolved into an overture for the album-to-be. Since so many of the songs are in the same key, I tried working them all together. I can barely claim to be a musician, let alone a composer, but see how many of melodies you can pick out if you're bored. Gold stars awarded to those who have been listening to enough Maybe Bomb to hear them all. What fun!

Happy New Year - Vocal Headlight Demo

johnpenola@gmail.com (John Penola) — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:04:00 +0000

Here's a New Year treat for you.

Headlight

johnpenola@gmail.com (John Penola) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 01:46:00 +0000

Believe it or not, I have been writing, but few things have been going anywhere (though I have been dabbling in some orchestral arrangements of finished tracks that have been more than entertaining). This new one is the first one that felt like Maybe Bomb in a while. It fell into place today when I doubled the bass part in the verse with the dirty synth. Tasty.

As for the title, I fixed my headlight twice recently. Like a man would.

Here's "Headlight."

Some Other Day 10-25-09

johnpenola@gmail.com (John Penola) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 01:03:00 +0000

Here's an updated demo of "Some Other Day."

Third Year demo

johnpenola@gmail.com (John Penola) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 03:04:00 +0000

Summer is officially over. Some may argue that I squandered the last few days by barely leaving the house, but I find it hard to argue with results.

Check out the new demo of "Third Year" here.

Pictures from Ireland

johnpenola@gmail.com (John Penola) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 15:04:00 +0000

(untitled pictures)

johnpenola@gmail.com (John Penola) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 16:40:00 +0000

Fingerprints In Sand > Another Day Away

johnpenola@gmail.com (John Penola) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:00:00 +0000

Lyrically, I ended up writing this song backwards. It was strange, because I knew that I wanted this to be a first track on the album, and so it needed to set up the themes and concepts I've been exploring in the other tracks (waking up to find that everyone in the world has continued to move on while you slept/the dreams you had while comatose), and I've never really had a purpose to any of the lyrics before. This is really closest I've come to intentional storytelling so far.

I rarely go into writing lyrics with such specific intent, usually allowing the words and messages to develop on their own by giving them no particular direction. For the last few days, I have really done little else besides work on them and the vocal part in general. But regardless of how I got there (or what else I have not done with my life in the process), I'm very happy with this one.

"Another Day Away" is now "Fingerprints In Sand." The title comes from an image that I absolutely loved from an otherwise forgettable poem that I wrote years ago. I'm glad I was able to redeem it by getting it in this song.

The latest demo of "Fingerprints In Sand" can be downloaded here. Play it loud.

(untitled pictures)

johnpenola@gmail.com (John Penola) — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:14:00 +0000

Another Day Away 2.0

johnpenola@gmail.com (John Penola) — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 20:13:00 +0000

I've been busy. I had my first experience scoring some music for an independent film, A Quantum Life, and have finished up some additional Maybe Bomb instrumental demos. I'm actually on a break from writing vocals to update.

Another Day Away has taken a very unexpected turn and is no longer (just) a quiet little piano piece. I really think that this one is going to be album/show opening material so long as the vocal arrangement holds up. As of now, it looks like it's going to lead into "Dotted Lines and Whispers."

Here it is. Hopefully, I'll be uploading a complete demo in the next few days.

Anther Day Away

johnpenola@gmail.com (John Penola) — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 01:11:00 +0000

This could work as a transition track.

It's definitely different than the other stuff I've been writing.

Update the Lyrical

johnpenola@gmail.com (John Penola) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 20:45:00 +0000

Maybe Bomb, in the live sense, is moving right along. Many technical difficulties were worked out at the last rehearsal. We're in the process of trying to iron out a live group. Any synth players out there interested?

Here's one that I've been working on. I'm hoping to get vocals done soon.

Here is Update the Lyrical.

Updated Demos on Facebook

johnpenola@gmail.com (John Penola) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 04:48:00 +0000

Not to abandon the blog, but I've found it more practical (and bandwidth friendly) to upload the updated demos to the Facebook page lately, rather than posting them here, so if you haven't checked it out, now would be a good time.

To the casual listeners, there is barely anything different when comparing the new demos to the ones I put up a few months ago. Even to the people that have been helping me out by really living with these tracks and giving constant feedback, there is still virtually nothing noticeable. However, I assure you, the mixes are really night and day if you are a musician or sound engineer; I levled out the bass, pumped up the vocals (whether or not that's a good idea is debatable), and generally tightened up the tracks and timing. There was a brief period (over Spring break?) when I was trying to get as much material out as possible. Now I'm cleaning up after myself after I invited you all into my messy musical home.

I've reposted "Dotted Lines and Whispers," "Sleight of Hand," and "Blink." Look for a fairly different "Event Horizon" in the next few days, along with a brand new track in progress.

In seemingly unrelated news, West Gate just released their first full length album, Daylight. It is in your best interest to investigate. They have a couple tasty tracks up on their brand new site.

Sleight of Hand

johnpenola@gmail.com (John Penola) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:07:00 +0000

An updated "Sleight of Hand" demo is up on the facebook page.

Check back there often in the next few days; I have a bunch of remixed and rearranged tracks that I'll be posting.

As always, let me know what you think.

In response to Soulpancake

johnpenola@gmail.com (John Penola) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:19:00 +0000

"How does music serve as a tool in your life - for healing or otherwise?"
(Continue the conversation here.)

Listening to music is modern and socially acceptable meditation.

When stuck in the mundane, whether it is driving to work, walking to class, or going for a jog, it has the ability to take us temporarily out of routine. It's sad to think, but there is much to the modern American life that could be done entirely involuntarily. However, I think that portable music players have really allowed people to take advantage of these situations, whether it is using that time genuinely listening to the notes being played or simply using the songs as a method of phasing out the rest of the world so we can focus a bit more and think.

Art

johnpenola@gmail.com (John Penola) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 04:31:00 +0000

"The irony of my work is that liquid is always ephemeral and changing, and I’m attempting to capture a ‘perfect’ frozen moment of something that is always in flux."

-Shinichi Maruyama

I found out about this artist through SoulPancake, the same site where I found the brilliant music of sound designer and composer Diego Stocco.

A film by Lernert Engelberts & Sander Plug

johnpenola@gmail.com (John Penola) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 03:34:00 +0000

This is one of the most strangely beautiful things I've ever seen. Make sure you have the sound turned on.

(untitled 6/14/09)

johnpenola@gmail.com (John Penola) — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 20:20:00 +0000

Some Other Day

johnpenola@gmail.com (John Penola) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 01:36:00 +0000

Here's the latest version of "Some Other Day."

I plan on leaving this one fairly simple, more of a piece to vibe with than one to sing along to. I like the fact that there are so few lines in it. I'm pretty positive that I won't be adding anymore lyrics, though I may dabble in extending the arrangement.

My brother had a great idea to use that the lyrics in this song as a motif throughout the album. They certainly fit the lyrical theme I'm going for, and I think it's a brilliant idea, so listen for "We'll find some other day/where home is not so far away/tomorrow's just a thought/until we leave today behind" in future songs.

I may start to work on some less uptempo tracks like this one more often. While I want people grooving at the shows, I want to have diversity amongst the repertoire.

Also, while this one is admittedly a demo, I think I'm going to end up leaving the heavy auto-tune on the final version. Sounding less human and more machine, I feel like the lyrics are given a colder, more matter-of-factness to them.

(untitled 5/31/09)

johnpenola@gmail.com (John Penola) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 01:20:00 +0000

Washington

johnpenola@gmail.com (John Penola) — Sat, 30 May 2009 02:57:00 +0000

The year is hedging towards the halfway marker and I still have a lot to do in regards to my New Year's resolution. But with the end of the Washington trip comes the end of the school year, and summer will leave me with lots of time to focus on finishing up more music. Recently I've been listening to a lot of older material (about a year or two left forgotten) and I've noticed that I'm in a much different place musically. In order for to get the album where I want, I'm going to need to come up with a lot more entirely original material. Exciting and daunting. The good news is that the lyrics and vocal melodies have been coming fairly easily lately, though in a strange twist of fate, the music remains elusive; where I used to be able to start up a few decent loops in a day, I'll now bang away at the keys with nothing to show for it.

While I try to come up with something new, here are some pictures that I liked from the trip. The architecture of the buildings amaze me every time. The National Cathedral is unbelievable.