Sunday Post

'The Buskers' Bamboozle' strikes again, with three short instrumentals complete with warped vocals, gliding synths and 8-bit blips... It's electronic rock, only odder. 

'MUSIC BY CHANCE: TWO [EP]' is available from the usual haunts, tomorrow... More daily doodles, synesthesia paintings and dabblings with collage to be expected throughout next week as well. 

'Till then, happy thoughts,

- The Wormling

The Audio Bin

Everyone deserves a second chance, so why should be any different for audio? So much so that I'm setting up a collaborative project with a difference, 'The Audio Bin'. Inspired by Michael Landy's 'Art Bin', I'm wanting to give a second life to the sound recordings that you deemed not quite good enough. Those alternative takes that got thrown on the cutting room floor. The riff that never blossomed into a fully fledged song. The demo that got left behind after the studio recording was mastered.

I know, I'm going out on a limb here. It's a big ask asking for something that you're proud of, but asking for the things you're not... But wait, there's something I find very romantic about making something out of broken parts. It's the imperfections that we all react to, especially when it comes to music, so why not make music this way?

I also find the idea of recordings by different people, from different backgrounds, on different equipment, in different time-zones, all meeting together on a massive musical collage exciting. 

So this is my pledge. Dig your undesirable audio snippets and stems out of the trash and we'll make something new and provoking out of it, together.

Singers and vocalists: I want your off-cuts, your overdubs, vocal warm-ups, unfinished refrains, whaling, scatting, beat-boxing, humming... Christ even just you reading out your shopping list! I want it all, no matter how off-key, no matter how horse. Egos at the door, we're all friends here, so gimme, gimme, gimme!

Drummers and percussionists: I want your bruised and battered beats, no matter how out-of-time or rhythmically offensive, fill me up!

Instrumentalists: I want your dodgy chord progressions, riffs, solos, noodles... even just you practising scales on an out tune nylon string guitar... anything at all. 

Why stop at musical instruments? Why not throw some ambient sounds in there. Everything is, and can be an instrument these days. Your buzzing fridge, the traffic from your office window, the sound of your neighbours doing the nasty... well, maybe not the last one.

This is, and always will be a fun, none profit venture. And everyone who offers up their off-cuts will be  name-checked and in the loop of the creative process. It is a collaborative project after all. 

If you're in you can send your audio, no matter what quality, to either the new 'The Audio Bin' SoundCloud page, via email wouwouandthewormling@gmail.com, or through my Dropbox if you've  plenty to send. 

So what do you say, lets make music together.

Happy thoughts, 

- The Wormling

Sunday Post

Last summer I created methods to incorporate chance into creative writing, art and music. This post is all about the latter and how my latest release (MUSIC BY CHANCE: ONE [EP]) came to be. Needless to say the first bit of this post (The Buskers' Bamboozle) is quite dry, and unless you're planning to use it for your own musical endeavours (or you're interested in it), I suggest scrolling down the page until you get to the track-by-track overview of The Music.

THE BUSKERS' BAMBOOZLE

 {an elaborate creative randomiser, that utilises dice, coins, and hats to make creative decisions}

At this level of 'The Buskers' Bamboozle' all you'll need to join in is dice and a coin, as things remain relatively simple. More steps will be revealed with the release of the third EP, which introduces hats and multiple chord formulas to the 'Bamboozle'. 

This EP however is structured around simple major chords (1-3-5) and the second EP, simple minor chords (1-♭3-5), so there was no use for the hat to pick out the chord formula, as there was only one type of chord in play in both occasions.

TEMPO

Decided by rolling a dice four times. The first roll will specify the rough value of your tempo.

1 = 50-70BPM

2 = 80-100BPM

3 = 110-130BPM

4 = 140-160BPM

5 = 170-190BPM

6 = 200-230BPM

The next roll will then pin down the tempo in-between the three given values.

1 or 2: First value in the given tempo field (for example 50BPM)

3 or 4: Second value in the given tempo field (for example 60BPM)

5 or 6: Third value in the given tempo field (for example 70BPM)

To further the variety, roll twice again, then multiply the result given by the second roll.

So for example, if you roll a three on your first throw, then another three on your second, your tempo range is 120BPM. To add more variants then roll for a third and fourth time (let's say you get a 5 and a 6) and add them to your 120BPM resulting in: 131BPM... Long winded I know, but it gives chance leg room which is sort of the point.

TIME SIGNATURE

With dice:

1 = 2/4

2 = 3/4

3 = 4/4

4 = 5/4

5 = 6/8

6 = 7/8

NUMBER OF CHORDS

With dice:

1 = 2

2 = 3

3 = 4

4 = 5

5 = 6

6 = 7

ROOT OF CHORD

You need to make two rolls of the dice. The first gives you the rough value (so if you roll a three the root of your chord will be either a B or an F for example), and the second roll determines the group. You go through this process until you've established note values to all your chords:

GROUP A.

If the second dice result is between 1, 2 or 3.

1 = A

2 = B♭/A♯

3 = B

4 = C

5 = D♭/C♯

6 = D

GROUP B.

If the second dice result is between 4, 5 or 6.

1 = E♭/D♯

2 = E

3 = F

4 = G♭/F♯

5 = G

6 = A♭/G♯

FURTHER NOTES

Feel free to customise the lists and add/omit things. You may be a singer/songwriter and 220BPM may not suit, or you may fancy mixing up the time signatures so they're more math-rock. Just change it to suit your needs.

Also, for balanced results I never let the dice bounce off anything and I always throw it on the same surface (my art table). 

THE MUSIC

With musical chemistry all mapped out by the 'Bamboozle', I then spent several months toying around with the three tracks that make up the first 'MUSIC BY CHANCE [EP]'. 

The basic crafting of each of these tracks was pretty quick and painless. Things seemed to just fit... for a while at least. Nothing has caused me as much bother as...

0101: THE MOIST GO BETWEEN

RESULTS FROM THE BAMBOOZLE:

Chords: Major (1-3-5) only

Tempo: 118BPM

Time Signature: 4/4

No. of Chords: 6

Root of Chord: F, D♭/C♯, G♭/F♯, D, E, G

I was pleased. The chords seemed to fit okay, they weren't too orthodox, but they weren't too weird either. The perfect balance really. The first track that would spearhead my work with chance in music wasn't going to be too hard to pull off... or so I thought.

The bare bones of what you hear (drums and guitar) is pretty much from a few minutes work. I recorded  it quickly and let it sit for a while, coming back to it every once in a while, adding stuff here and there. When it finally came to making a finished morsel of music though, boy, it had me in tears.

I stumbled by trying to reference things that I liked. I wanted something full and orchestral sounding, like Frank Zappa's 'Peaches En Regalia'. Then I thought of going down a route more a kin to what Beck does, but it just didn't seem deep and colourful enough for either.

I left it for a while, went off and recorded a chance-free sound-alike 'King Skirmish', among others.

Eventually I think it all came together. The pressure of making something big sounding to kick this EP off with, sort-of became less of an issue. As soon as I relaxed, the track did too. I added the rest of the guitar and the bass. Now I don't mind it, I can see past its flaws.

0201: BREADSTICK BOY

RESULTS FROM THE BAMBOOZLE:

Chords: Major (1-3-5) only

Tempo: 126BPM

Time Signature: 7/8

No. of Chords: 5

Root of Chord: D, A♭/G♯, C, G♭/F♯, G

I knew that I wanted to continue the high energy of 'The Moist Go Between', but 7/8 time isn't something that I was all that familiar with. All I knew was if the rhythm was right I could get away with just about anything, so most of the crafting of this track was in the drums and percussion. It was the sounds I really struggled with. I eventually settled on a Casio Rapman patch for it's punch and a homemade kit comprising of percussive guitar sounds that I uninspiringly call 'Guitar Kit'.

I had no real plans for how the other parts of this track would sound. The main riff sounds a bit like Devo, but that's possibly the slap-back Memory Boy treatment on it. The other embellishments are one off recordings mixed together to make something coherent. The only thing that didn't make it on to this track was a bluesy-meaty sounding riff as it just seemed to throw everything else off. But I've saved it. It's in the bank for later.

0301: INVINCIBLE BARK

RESULTS FROM THE BAMBOOZLE:

Chords: Major (1-3-5) only

Tempo: 136BPM

Time Signature: 6/8

No. of Chords: 2

Root of Chord: D♭/C♯, C

The main riff is a sample of a zip (recorded using a contact microphone way back in 2010), which I oscillated by finely looping it on itself. And the vocal kit (renamed "Breathbox" by pretsels malone) is just that; a batch of samples of me breathing into my cassette dictaphone, chopped up and arranged to make something playable. After that it's just riffing on the D♭- C progression with various plug-ins, found sounds and keyboards.


CONCLUSION
I started working with chance to escape myself creatively, but I never wanted to lose the human element. I could've made it so that everything from the instruments I could use, to the length of silence between each note, to how dynamic I play each note was dictated by chance (John Cage), but that didn't interest me.

I left some headspace to be creative, making it more of an exercise than an out-and-out experiment on what music by chance would actually sound like. A way to push myself into a different way of thinking, that didn't involve the music theory that I have struggled to teach myself over the many years (although it has come in handy).

Anyway, I'd love to see other musicians tackle my 'Bamboozle' approach (that's if I've not bored you to death with this monstrously long post). I know it's not the most honest way to make music. It's a little anal if anything, but it's there for anyone who's up for the challenge.

Happy thoughts,

- The Wormling

Sunday Post

Music picked from hats, coin-flipped lino-prints and dice fated faces... it's been a long time coming, but it finally looks as if my work with chance is showing some signs of resolve. Starting with...

MUSIC BY CHANCE: ONE [EP] 

The first of 15 EP's of music written using my 'Buskers’ Bamboozle' method: an elaborate creative randomiser, that utilises dice, coins, and hats to make creative decisions. Meaning, everything from the chords, tempo, time-signature and even the track title have been picked using chance in some way or another.

Each EP is also themed around which chord formula can be used. For instance, this EP only paints with your run-of-the-mill major chords, so it's not sounding too messy just yet. But baring in mind that its brothers and sisters focus in on altered chords, restrictive bar length and another one of my chance methods  'The Furry Gamble'... I've basically created a recipe for musical mayhem.

'MUSIC BY CHANCE: ONE [EP]' will be "released" via SoundCloud and Bandcamp tomorrow, and I'll be going into indulgent depth about each track and the methods used in next weeks 'Sunday Post'.

PRINTS BY CHANCE

By working on a 6x6cm grid of 1cm squares and cutting each square according to the flip of a 50p coin (heads to leave the square and tails to cut out the square) the album artwork above was rustically realised on discounted art shop lino.

The plan was to do 45 of these simplistic lino prints, but at the moment I'm more interested in spending my creative playtime elsewhere. However, I may dig out the cutters for one last lino-print by chance to conclude the 'MUSIC BY CHANCE' series next year. Art related chance doesn't end with lino-prints though...

CONTINUOUS LINE - FACES PICKED BY CHANCE

Each one of the independently drawn features of these floating faces was chosen by dice; blurring the line between my recent work with continuous line and that of chance.

For instance the mouth picked for face one is mouth two because I rolled a two on the dice... and so on.

 

 

 

Of course, the method could be applied to almost anything. I've thought preparing a meal this way could be quite novel. My original idea was to create a collage using the dice, not far detached from the awkward faces above I suppose. Having a large collection of numbered cut-outs and attempting to compose something from what the dice chooses... something for another day perhaps.

Happy thoughts, 

- The Wormling

Sunday Post

It started with hands, but now my venture using one continuous line shifts to facial features, in an attempt to evolve my usual style of portrait and character design into something a little odder.

  

(A selection of hands drawn using one continuous line from the last few weeks)

 

By drawing the features separately it leaves the door open for a little horseplay in Photoshop, arranging it altogether to make my very own monster (as above). It also leaves the opportunity to add some of my work with chance into the mix. But I'm getting ahead of myself once again, there's many ears, eyes, noses and mouths to concentrate on before such tomfoolery begins.

Also, throughout next week I plan to finish the first of my music by chance, as well as a few lino prints and possibly one of the aleatoric stories... I'm getting ahead of myself again. So many things to do, so much fun to be had!

Anyway, happy thoughts,

- The Wormling

Resolutions

Traditionally the new year revolves around new beginnings and bettering yourself, and although I don't believe you need a specific date in the calendar to do either of these things it seems that for 'Wou-Wou...', the New Year does mean a fresh start.

I view my work over the last few months more as "building up my chops" than exploring or pushing myself creatively. The 'Daily Doodles' and 'Music Monthly's' have been creative stretches to keep me limber. But I fear that I have reached a point where I keep repeating myself, and aiming for the result instead of enjoying the process; the original essence of 'Wou-Wou & The Wormling'.

With this in mind, my resolution begins with learning new skills and techniques. Things like embroidery, painting, collage, sculpture and mark-making are way up there on the list. I've eased myself in with continuous line work (a welcome detachment from my usual figurative oddballs) which I'll be sharing over the month.

On top of this, I hope to reach some sort of resolve with my creative experiments involving chance. The first of my music by chance will be surfacing around the end of the month, as will the creative writing. And although the chancy music will keep coming way into 2016, I'm giving myself a loose ultimatum of three months to put everything else (chance) to bed, and move on to the other creative experiments and subjects I have lined up.

The usual 'Daily Doodles' and 'Music Monthly' commitments will remain throughout, as I feel it's still important to express, practice and grow in what feels familiar. And with any luck, everything new that I learn will compliment and become familiar in time. So who knows, this time next year I might be sewing nudies instead of sketching them!

Anyway, belated Happy New Year to you and happy thoughts, 

- The Wormling

P.S. - I've been playing catch-up on society6, adding a host of last years doodles to the roost. Meaning prints of 'Jack', 'Elysia', 'Robin' and many others are now available. I'm also in the process of setting up an Etsy shop to sell a selection of my originals. More details to come, soonish. 

Sunday Post

This week I decided enough is enough, it’s time to knuckle down, sit up straight, pull that finger out and wash it in hot soapy water. Cos things have gotten a little slack and stale around here, and so have I. 

I’ve set myself some goals. A little contrived maybe I know, but I’m coming to learn that in my current state of mind I’m more inclined to stare at my guitar instead of play it and chew a pencil instead of running it around a piece of A4. So something had to change, cos not being creative feels so very numbing.

At the beginning of the month I started my "daily doodling" which is slowly helping me and my pencil establish a better, more rounded relationship. And starting tomorrow I’m hoping to rekindle with music in a similar fashion, with ‘Music Monthly’ - a new experimental track using various found sounds, samples, stabs, beats, licks and homemade instruments every first Monday of the month.

Hang on, what about all that stuff to do with chance?...

It’s coming, but I’ve decided not to rush it, so I’ll be working on it regularly and methodically in the background until the new year is upon us. It’s around that time I see the first examples being ready to share. But with that said, I do plan to write a weekly ‘Sunday Post’, much like this one, sharing a little about the week I’ve had and what I've been working on. So I imagine that more light will be shed on my fumbles with chance then.

On top of monthly music and chance based creativity, I’ve also been busy smartening up my ‘Make It Ugly’ cat paintings and a small number of my doodled portraits ready to put up for sale on society6. The upload date is set for Saturday (and continuing most Saturday’s thereafter), but I’ll be sure to do a special post once something’s been added to my shop.

So to recap: new music coming tomorrow, with the first stock going into the ‘Wou-Wou & The Wormling’ society6 store Saturday, and updates of my chance experiments (along with everything else) every Sunday... lets see how long I can keep this up ‘ey!

Happy thoughts, 

- The Wormling

Q&A

I'm guessing you're here for the experimental Q&A? Well, take a seat and make yourself comfortable.

All I need you to do is answer the twenty questions below with as much panache as you can possibly muster. Once you've done that, you're done! Your answers will be kept safe until Wednesday 9th July, when the actual experiment will take place (the full details of which I'm keeping under my hat for now).

The more creative your answers are, the better the experiment will work. So don’t hold anything back; let your inner poet out. This is your excuse (like you need one) to be as vulgar, exuberant or as silly as you like. Even telling the truth doesn’t matter. There are no right or wrong answers, only your own interpretation of what they should be. And no one will be directly linked to their answers, so you really can say whatever you like.

Right then, ready? Lets begin.

Question Set A.) - (Using no more than a sentence for each) 

What do each one of these words represent to you?

Love:

Money:

Nature:

Sex:

Meat:

Home:

Friends:

Technology:

Nostalgia:

Question Set B.) - (Using no more than a sentence for each) 

Now for memories. You don’t have to be detailed, a vague description’ll do just fine...

Your First:

Your Happiest:

Your Saddest:

Your Proudest:

Your Most Vivid:

Your Dimmest:

Your Darkest:

Your Most Rose-Tinted:

Your Most Recent (that isn’t answering this question):

Question Set C.) - (In any order) 

List

Which three words do you find the most putrid?: 

Which three words make you giddy?:

So if you wish to take part, please send your answers to: ‘wouwouandthewormling@gmail.com’ or private message me via the ‘Wou-Wou..’ facebook page, before Monday 7th July.

Happy thoughts and many thanks,

- The Wormling