tag:terrygomes.com,2005:/blogs/blog?p=1
Blog
2022-05-15T01:13:05-07:00
terrygomes.com
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tag:terrygomes.com,2005:Post/5993125
2017-12-05T16:00:00-08:00
2019-12-24T16:48:14-08:00
Do You Know Who You Sound Like?
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: medium;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/392125/4bc2e494f116feb17c059773db1d1225e952d64b/original/jorge-renan.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MTk3eDE4MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="183" width="197" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/392125/0c12ab4051fc26ea39a086ab9e2d13c1b4d37f78/original/cairbia.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MTk3eDE4NCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="184" width="197" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/392125/f04195b230383648352f189185a9129bc67c3d93/original/sandpebbles.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MTkzeDE4NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="185" width="193" /><br><br>Yesterday, I picked up the files for The Tropical Dream from my mastering engineer. We were speaking about some of the promotional work I’ve been completing and he remarked that he didn’t know anyone else doing what I was doing musically. I know that I certainly haven’t paved any new musical ground but I’m also aware that I am, in many ways, flying solo. There are people that write instrumental jazz, orchestral music, prog rock, bluegrass and more. But I don’t know anyone writing the sort of instrumental world/tropical fusion I find myself creating. The more I thought about it, I realized that over time, I believe, I have found my own voice. More and more people tell me that my music sounds like me. I don’t receive as many comparisons to other artists as I used to, even though I have many influences (a handful of personally significant albums are pictured). For me, this is a great thing and one of the hardest things to achieve if you are not singing—to be told you sound like you.<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/392125/816d98d2917dd1eb6cbd0aa24da29d4d724922a5/original/love-it-to-death.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MTk2eDE4NCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="184" width="196" /><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: medium;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/392125/af88ec35843ec99a081f7da719a3594dda3bf4c8/original/breezin.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MTk4eDE4MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="183" width="198" /></span><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/392125/c4765a02afee0a97a9150eba238deb8c49b8fc1f/original/aja.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MTk4eDE4MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="183" width="198" /></span><br> </p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: medium;">However, writing and releasing music that doesn’t easily fit into pre-defined categories and that is far from the mainstream, has its pros and cons. Here are a few as I see them:</span></p>
<p><strong><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: medium;">Pros</span></strong></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: medium;">-doing something unique is very rewarding</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: medium;">-less competition compared to singer/songwriters and pop/rock artists</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: medium;">-I’m proud that I’m doing a small part in bringing back instrumental music</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: medium;">-I feel a great deal of freedom in what I create</span></p>
<p><strong> <span style="font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: medium;">Cons</span></strong></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: medium;">-limits how many reviewers/radio people you can approach</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: medium;">-instrumental music is harder for some to embrace</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: medium;">-seen by some as more of a background than a foreground</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: medium;">I can live with both sides. At this point in my musical life, I’m fairly satisfied with where I am and I’m proud of what I’ve created with this new album. The only dilemma I face after its release and subsequent promotion is, what will come next? Even I do not know the answer to this question...yet. </span></p>
<p> </p>
terrygomes.com
tag:terrygomes.com,2005:Post/5993124
2017-11-28T16:00:00-08:00
2022-05-15T01:13:05-07:00
Inspiration: AKA Where Do They Come From?
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: medium;">Composers are often asked what inspires them. I thought this week’s blog might be a good time to ask myself this question.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: medium;">Here are some of my <em>known</em> sources of inspiration:</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: medium;">1.) <strong>Memories</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: medium;">This is a strong one. My memories can be recent, from long ago or even ones I anticipate creating in the future. They might be moments from family, childhood, school days, vacations, walks in nature, old conversations, humorous situations, and other events. The one good thing about memories is that they are easy to tap into. You just need to find one that creates a strong enough impulse to help you “discover” some new music in the air. The tune, “Bye for Now” on my upcoming album came from a combination of memories of leaving to go home after a vacation. We all know that feeling. <br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/392125/9d4c46caff3c53177fb5fdf3de9873d30205c439/original/plane-flying-away.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjA0eDM0NiJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="346" width="604" /></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: medium;">2.) <strong>Imagination</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: medium;">This is something that occurs naturally for me. I find it easy to imagine scenarios, places, and events. I believe this ability was fostered when I was young. Being an only child, I often had a lot of time on my hands. As a result, it was not hard to imagine. This ability has come in very handy when writing my music as I try to make my pieces as visual as possible. “A Little Jungle Walk” from my upcoming album is one I had to imagine as I’ve never been in a jungle before!<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/392125/b30105715a5f8f1407b43a44a647e1e75aa0af5f/original/jungle-scene.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjA0eDMxNSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="315" width="604" /></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: medium;">3.) <strong>Films & TV</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: medium;">We can all remember moments in a film or television production that have resonated with us. With so many characters, situations, and settings to choose from, they provide a wealth of musical inspiration. And they can be absurd. My older tune “If It Walks Like a Duck”, came from the vintage TV series, The Partridge Family. I heard that line in the context of the show, and was instantly inspired to write that piece. It was just a one-off thing.<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/392125/4bc290ab0286100eba181ad388348a8540f8ae3f/original/pf.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjA0eDI0MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="243" width="604" /></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: medium;">4.) <strong>Mystery Inspiration</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: medium;">On occasion, I will have musical ideas that come unexpectedly. They just happen and I have no idea what inspired them. Maybe they are just God-given. The tune, “Clear Skies Ahead” from my upcoming album happened this way. I just sat down at a keyboard and out came the melody.<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/392125/0d7f25768afc9bcfab675726bc2f69b6d22dd038/original/csa.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjA0eDIwNyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="207" width="604" /></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: medium;">I usually know when it’s time for me to write. I don’t push it though and I don’t have a daily regimen. I might go a long time without writing a thing. However, during that time I am frequently <em>thinking</em> about music and being inspired. It’s largely a subconscious process but I know it is happening and that I am stockpiling ideas. It’s similar to the long ago tradition of saving pennies in piggy bank. Eventually you have to break it open. When that day comes, you just hope it will be worthwhile.<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/392125/11f2828f7eaa76907645feac902b1f3addee5580/original/piggy-bank.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjA0eDM3NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="375" width="604" /></span></p>
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terrygomes.com
tag:terrygomes.com,2005:Post/5993123
2017-11-15T16:00:00-08:00
2019-12-05T08:08:36-08:00
Video Killed the Radio Star…and Nearly Killed Me
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Back in early 2017, I had a problem. I needed to come up with a video that I could use to promote, The Tropical Dream. I already had the idea of using a winter scene with photos of me “dreaming” or expressing the emotions I felt about each piece on the album. Unfortunately my photographers would not be available until March—a time when the snow is usually melting. Well, here are some trivial facts about the video that are sure to enlighten! </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">*I searched for almost a month to settle on the right chair—finally decided on the Genuine Beach Bum Chair because of the brilliant colours <br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/392125/d5b6b4c36d75c731d3378344aa8ad58b1c55e06b/original/bbc-small.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjEweDMxNyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="317" width="610" /><br><br>*finding cheap, wireless headphones was a real challenge—ended up getting a $4 wired pair from Salvation Army and cutting off the cable! <br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/392125/d3d3562d87b0b180b13ea09ce94d839e7569fe49/original/headphones.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjE1eDM4NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="385" width="615" /><br><br>*my wife and I did an initial “faux” shoot at Mud Lake in Ottawa to see if the concept would work <br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/392125/cd963ac129e25031455668eecbf1599f58d1f856/original/faux-shoot-1.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NTk2eDQxNSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="415" width="596" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/392125/d36e6c53fc74f5f4eb7054dcc0dc27b6659efe70/original/faux-shoot-2.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NTk2eDM4NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="385" width="596" /><br><br>*we had an early thaw in March and not much snow remained—I prayed for one more snowfall but time was running out </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">*thankfully, the snow came back and we were able to get it done on March 21, 2017, at Britannia Beach in Ottawa </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">*the temperature that day was a comfortable 0 degrees Celsius </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">*walking scenes were no problem—sitting down and getting up were painful because of my back injury—watch the initial scene of me sitting down before I put on headphones—I’m in a lot of pain but you’d never know it, thanks to my great acting chops ;)<br></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">*in a moment of pain and delirium I did my best Hamlet Soliloquy to a coconut <br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/392125/107042239a4025e823d96f5385636b358a6031a8/original/hamlet-soliloquy.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjA0eDQwMCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="400" width="604" /><br><br>*camera angles were carefully chosen (most of the time) to avoid lamp-posts, park benches and other people <br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/392125/b33691d531b0e8df48a5230ff01aaaa9fb0bd57f/original/lamppost.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjE4eDQxOCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="418" width="618" /><br></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">*a few weeks after the shoot there was severe flooding in the area—geese and fish now swam in the area where I sat!<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/392125/8b8868892527e3a79f5847f0e3231cf5a2780130/original/britannia-beach.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjIyeDQyNiJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="426" width="622" /><br></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">*I settled on a slideshow format with stock photos from Unsplash (great site, by the way) because of costs—my budget was already blown on the music! </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">*with limited skills & budget but a whole lot of determination, <span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">it took me about 3 weeks to edit and put the video together</span><br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/392125/5e35ec97e78bbb8fc421ce2718bc23c24a8b4bf5/original/wwm-1.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjIzeDM1MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="353" width="623" /><br></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Thanks for watching and sharing it! </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B20zZZ-HD8g">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B20zZZ-HD8g</a></span><br> <br><br></span></p>
terrygomes.com
tag:terrygomes.com,2005:Post/5993122
2017-11-06T16:00:00-08:00
2020-02-05T14:09:27-08:00
To My Fans…I Mean, Listeners
<p><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Fan or fanatic</span> “a person who is enthusiastically devoted to somebody or some thing”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Listener</span> “a person who listens in an attentive manner”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva; font-size: medium;">After making a more concentrated effort to connect with music industry people on Twitter, I’m often seeing references to music “fans”. There is no shortage of businesses telling you how to build a fan base, reward your fans and engage with them. To be honest, I’ve never thought in terms of fans. It feels very foreign to me. I’ve always viewed them as the definition above suggests. Instead, I prefer the term, listeners. I see a listener as someone who would focus more on the musical details and craft and less on image, clothing, hair and accessories. Though I know all of you can’t take your eyes off my gorgeous, new silver locks, my craft is composing music. And as far as music goes, I am truly a fan of no one. I am a listener. There are a great many people that I highly respect and admire (living and dead), for their abilities and creations in the world of music. Maybe these recent occurrences will help to illustrate:</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva; font-size: medium;"><strong>Example A</strong><br><br>Walking in a local park last week with my purple cap, I was taken aback by the shouts of “Gah-omes!” “Gah-omes!”.<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/392125/5fded0c365c35736faf401cb381c5bbb4a4d27d9/original/fans.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjA2eDM4NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="385" width="606" /></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva; font-size: medium;"><strong>Example B</strong><br><br>Another person sent me this pic of her chilling out with my EP, The Sand in My Shoes, anxiously awaiting my new album, The Tropical Dream.<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/392125/9261b74638cfc67db7cc5a76151e8575d243538f/original/serious-listener.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjA1eDQzMCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="430" width="605" /></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva; font-size: medium;">Personally, I would much rather interact with Example B. This is how I think of all of you. Some of you have been with me a long time and I’m thankful for your continued presence. I know that one of you (thanks, J!), even uses my music to help children in school with visualization. It’s amazing what she tells me they “see” after hearing some of my work! It’s also very gratifying.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva; font-size: medium;">So, thank you for being great listeners. And the next time we meet, please do not scream to get my attention. </span></p>
<p> </p>
terrygomes.com
tag:terrygomes.com,2005:Post/5993121
2017-10-31T17:00:00-07:00
2017-10-31T04:26:29-07:00
Saying it with Music Alone
<p><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/392125/2e6013c3be30fd200af6bd601b2e9981d1ce742d/original/pink-tele.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjE0eDIzOSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="239" width="614" /><br><br>Back around 2010, I reached a point of saturation. I was so bored of being one of the multitudes of singer/songwriters and pop/rock acts that I needed a change. I did write some songs I am proud of and I did have fun “playing” with words as this paranoia quote illustrates: <br><br>“I don’t always hear what you say when you say it, <br>it’s what you don’t say I always hear.”</span><br><br><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <strong>(What You Don’t Say © 2009 Terry Gomes)</strong></span> <br></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">However, I decided I needed to go back to my first love—instrumental music. It was the first music I heard as a child and it was what I was writing when I studied composition. Now, by this I wasn’t thinking of improvised jazz, piano drones with birds tweeting in the background, contemporary orchestral music or EDM. I had no interest in any of them. Instead, I wanted to write concise, memorable pieces that had a sense of direction. I wanted them to be carefully written, not winged off the cuff. Much the way many of “wigged” composers approached their craft. I also knew that the type of audience that would or could appreciate it, would change. <br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/392125/8cff6d57cc7afad35f6b6888a0e4e247ff217b6d/original/a-little-jungle-walk-terry-gomes.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjE5eDIwNiJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="206" width="619" /><br><br>I initially experimented with other genres, some of which are not easily categorized. I referred to them as cinematic as their influences often came from TV and movie scores. However, my earliest musical predilections tended to veer towards Latin, Caribbean and Smooth jazz. I eventually settled into what I call evocative “tropical” music for want of a better term. It’s a big enough umbrella to include fusions of a wide variety of styles/genres into something simply reminiscent of a warm climate. This is where I am today. <br></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">What I do will never be immensely popular. Then again, I've never aspired to be a commercial writer. So far, it’s worked out very well and I haven’t missed lyric writing. I’m happy to be doing my small part in bringing back instrumental music to the foreground. Would I ever go back to lyric writing? I don’t know. However, I don’t see any point in closing a door that’s not letting in a draft.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
terrygomes.com
tag:terrygomes.com,2005:Post/5993120
2017-10-22T17:00:00-07:00
2019-12-05T08:08:35-08:00
I Know Where This is Going
<p><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/392125/92eeae0cc9123161fa5016c358c6baaca1d6705d/original/fall-1.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjE3eDQyMCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="420" width="617" /><br><br>At this time of year in Canada, I’m reminded of the beauty of the fall season. This period of change has been written about, sung about, photographed, painted and rendered in so many artistic forms. Even back when I was writing songs, I wrote, “A Pile of Leaves” from my album “Loose Ends”. It detailed the memories of jumping into mounds of leaves from a high perch. It was something so vivid. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">What makes the autumn so entrancing, I think, is its brevity. As Canadians, we enjoy it for a brief period because we know what’s coming next. Now, I know some people love the winter season. They wholeheartedly embrace it and take part in every conceivable activity that the powdery stuff allows. For me, it represents a dormancy or hibernation. It’s a great time for composing music and I always find it productive, more than any other time of the year. It’s a time when I enjoy looking out the window and then looking inwards. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">This is why my new album, The Tropical Dream, has such resonance for me, and hopefully for you too. It is escapist and evocative. Many of us enjoy dreaming about getting away when the snow flies—and the warmer, the better. As I approach the culmination of this project and revel in the autumn, I feel secure in knowing that I’m more or less prepared for the impending winter. Are you? If not, be sure to watch my video for The Tropical Dream. It just might shield you from the cold.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/392125/b2b84cb1910e9e292b9e1f472a3d1ee6b9cac7f2/original/fall-2.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjA5eDM5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="395" width="609" /></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif; font-size: medium;"></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
terrygomes.com
tag:terrygomes.com,2005:Post/5993119
2017-09-27T17:00:00-07:00
2017-10-04T03:49:02-07:00
Tropical Adventures and The Purple Balloons
<p><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/392125/e64b00a708b2ad041aaa7126ae09e7255dfd03fe/original/terry-2.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6Mzg0eDM4NiJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="386" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="384" /><br>As a child, I travelled quite a bit to the Caribbean and to Florida with my family. I have great memories of those trips as it always seemed like an exciting adventure. I was fascinated by marine life and having the opportunity to go snorkelling in the ocean was an amazing experience. I also soaked in the music, especially from places like Barbados and Nassau. In addition, I enjoyed the sandy beaches, making sandcastles, eating tropical fruits and taking in a very different atmosphere than the one I knew growing up in Toronto, Canada. Oh, and how could I forget about popping those purple balloons on the beach? More about this later. <br></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">One piece on my new album called “Sand Buckets”, is whimsical and nostalgic and strives to encapsulate my memories of those trips and especially of being a child there. Played on piano and acoustic guitar, it’s gentle and in 6/8 time. I don’t know what you will think of it when you hear it, but it is like a time machine for me. The beauty of instrumental music is that you can bring your own personal experiences to it. You’re given a framework but the details and memories that you put into that frame are all your own. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Setting aside my piece and idyllic tropical memories, I also have an unusual memory from some of those trips. I recall being in Miami Beach and seeing all of these dead, purple, balloon-like things on the shore. They were everywhere! I soon found out that they were called Portuguese Man O’ Wars. My Dad taught me to bury them in the sand with my shoes and jump on the sand to “pop” them. Little did we know how dangerous these things were—even when they are dead. The fact that they were covering the beach obviously meant that they were in the water as well. And we swam in the ocean A LOT. To understand how lucky I was, do an online search about them if you are curious—yikes! </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Ah, memories…<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/392125/0c323bc64273414b301097473951a4ce01b6ca72/original/portuguese-man-o-war.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NTMzeDM2OSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="369" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="533" /></span></p>
terrygomes.com
tag:terrygomes.com,2005:Post/5993116
2017-09-06T17:00:00-07:00
2017-10-04T03:48:07-07:00
It usually is a Tropical Dream…
<p><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/392125/113d2cfb83db386973cb39a699f17d42a69e3bc0/original/palm-trees-evening-sunset.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjE0eDQyMCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="420" width="614" /></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Even though my musical focus is to evoke a tropical oasis where things are idyllic and peaceful, recent and occurring events have reminded me of just how vulnerable these places can be. I’m amazed by the sheer will of those who reside in the Caribbean, southern US and other tropical areas that sometimes experience severe weather. Despite natural disasters, they always seem to find a way to rebuild, restore and resume their way of life. It’s remarkable, really.</span><br><br>My parents and family members were and are, such people. They were born in what used to be known as British Guiana. Since achieving independence from England in 1966 it is now simply called, Guyana. Their values, culture and traditions were a blend of British, West Indian, East Indian and Portuguese. It’s an interesting mix to be sure. Above all, they were tough and often fearless in confronting daily challenges. I guess when you grow up in an area where challenges can be frequent and intense, resilience becomes a way of life.<br><br>As tourists to tropical areas, we don’t often think of or see what it took to make these places habitable. We tend to focus only on the “Paradise Skies”. But that’s okay. That’s what a vacation to the tropics is for. You’re there to enjoy all that it has to offer and absorb its beauty for a brief time. Many of us dream of this very thing as soon as the snow begins to fall.<br><br>I know as I continue to move forward with my new album, I will think and pray for those who will be struggling over the next year or more to rebuild their lives. I also hope that there will be a minimal loss of life. Although it will take a lot of financial resources and many other forms of assistance, the one thing these people likely won’t need is encouragement to move forward. Their unfailing spirit will do that.<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/392125/f24cfde049b528c9242f4bd38dfa7dd757963aba/original/palm-tree-sky.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjE0eDM3NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="375" width="614" /></span></p>
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terrygomes.com
tag:terrygomes.com,2005:Post/5993115
2017-08-27T17:00:00-07:00
2017-10-04T03:47:44-07:00
Atmosphere and Nothing to Sing Here
<p><span style="font-size: medium; font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/392125/eabf79eed2be0a444db972afa85245ece91ca075/original/tropical-market-fruits-pineapple.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjIyeDQ0NyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="447" width="622" /></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium; font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">Market Rush. This is the title of a piece on my upcoming album. It was never intended to be a tune you would walk away humming. There are other pieces on the album that clearly aim for that. The function of this piece was simply to create an atmosphere. If you’ve even been to a tropical market or any other marketplace, it’s usually filled with many people, lots of noise and a sense of controlled chaos. This is what I wanted to capture.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium; font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">I decided early on when writing this to see if I could convey this feeling using only four different notes (C, D, G, A). I followed through on this objective. Every part of the piece—melody, harmony, and bass line—only uses these four notes in various configurations. This was to give it some feeling of consonant familiarity as it is only one note less than a pentatonic scale--which your ears know well! <br><br>To create the more exotic feeling of being in a foreign and bustling environment, the meter (or beat count) is in 6. But it’s not the familiar division of 6 into two groups of 3. It’s divided into 4 and 2 which is not as commonly used. <br><br>So, in technical terms, this is how I tried to combine the familiar and the unfamiliar to experience the tropical market. But truthfully, it’s probably too much math to worry about. You’ll just have to take a listen when it’s closer to my release date. As you do so, let your mind quickly browse the vendor’s wares, the tropical fruits and vegetables, and maybe do a little bartering for a keepsake to remind you of your vacation. But do so quickly. There is more to dream ahead!<br> <br></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: medium; font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/392125/aa35295f1abff9d8211c1a889f48b5d70a1e9389/original/winter-snow-tropical-drink-terry-gomes.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjE3eDQyNiJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="426" width="617" /></span></p>
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terrygomes.com
tag:terrygomes.com,2005:Post/5993114
2017-08-14T17:00:00-07:00
2020-12-23T11:36:11-08:00
Tropical Vacations--Turning Weather into Music
<p><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">When you take a tropical vacation, you take a calculated risk regarding the weather you will experience. Even with advanced forecasts, things can change quickly. With my upcoming album, The Tropical Dream, I felt that it was important to experience some rain and the inevitable joy when skies clear and the sun comes bursting forth. I wanted reflect the good and the bad, hopefully making the good stand out by comparison. For this reason, the two pieces mentioned below sit side by side on my album.<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/392125/d0b472b3de7f71a8bac20d0f35b58ba90791fdb0/original/raindrops.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjAyeDMyNCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="324" width="602" /><br><strong><br>“A Day of Rain”</strong> <br></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">*written first between the two</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">*inspired by a dreary day in Ottawa</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">*it’s a laidback bossa nova</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">*imagined looking out on a veranda at pools of aquamarine raindrops</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">*used harmonies and breaks to suggest ebbs/flows of rainfall and (mild) storms—no hurricanes!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">*this piece was written quickly--not always the case<br><br><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/392125/39da714d2dacce81bed76695e84e862047e1c868/original/ocean-surf.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjA4eDI3NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="275" width="608" /></span><br><br><strong>“Clear Skies Ahead”</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">*a lively and exuberant melody</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">*it came from sitting at a keyboard and wondering if any ideas would come!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">*I knew instantly that I wanted a trumpet to play the lead</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">*I call it a Ska-Cha--guitar plays an offbeat ska rhythm while the rest of the instruments are laying down a more or less, straight cha-cha.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">*definite Herb Alpert vibe to it--he was an early influence thanks to my Dad</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br>I hope you’ll enjoy experiencing both tunes when The Tropical Dream lifts off in January! <br></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Fair winds.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Terry</span></p>
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terrygomes.com
tag:terrygomes.com,2005:Post/5993113
2017-07-10T17:00:00-07:00
2020-02-06T14:23:37-08:00
Musical Risk-Taking from the Captain's Chair
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/392125/4c99306c530aebcbbbc98dfa9eb846746c0d9a97/original/captain.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjIweDM4NyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="387" width="620" /></span><br><br><span style="font-size: medium;">After visiting the wonderful Star Trek Tour in Ticonderoga, NY this summer and taking my place in the Captain’s chair, I realized that risk-taking and discovery has always been a part of my musical approach. The risks have not been on a grand scale like the Starship Enterprise, but I have consciously tried to do something new on each project I write. At times this has engaged listeners. At other times it has distanced them. With my new album, “The Tropical Dream” coming in January, I’ve been reflecting on what risks I have taken this time around. Here are some of them: </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;">*it is my first (loosely structured), concept album</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;">*it has more varied instrumentation (piano, steel drums, harp, cello, etc…)</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;">*I worked with a variety of new people</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;">*tried recording most of my parts in advance before tracking others</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;">*tried remote recording with people in different cities </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;">My most significant risk was creating the music around a concept. Musically conveying a tropical vacation was very clear in my mind and I followed it through from beginning to end. Although loosely structured, how many artists today create concept albums? There doesn’t seem to be many. This was a risk, for sure. Its outcome is still to be determined. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Trying out new instrumentation in my arrangements was rewarding risk. It required some studying and consultation. To assist me, I reached out to several people who have refined skills on a particular instrument. While there are exceptions, I have had better results with people who know their instrument well and have “lived” it as opposed to multi-instrumentalists. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;">One other interesting area of risk I tried was working remotely with others. With some instruments, there were no local players with the skills to pull off what I wanted. Consequently, I had to search outside of my city. It was more cost effective to have people play to my existing track and send in their work in via Dropbox. This, of course, is a big risk! I’ve learned that you have to be very specific with what you want, communicate clearly and then relax and trust that the people you’ve hired will give you their best. On this project, I’ve been very fortunate. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;">At least in musical terms, there is an immense satisfaction with taking risks, no matter how small. They may not always yield exactly what you had hoped for, but the exploration and discoveries along the way make it all worthwhile.<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/392125/2a906849e2eee0c11e826eb018a97709c62b99aa/original/pensive-captain.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjEweDQ1MSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="451" width="610" /></span></p>
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terrygomes.com
tag:terrygomes.com,2005:Post/5993112
2017-06-18T17:00:00-07:00
2017-10-04T03:46:35-07:00
Hugo, Martha and My Quest for a South American Harp!
<p><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">The album was called, “Caribia”. I recall hearing it at a very early age and loving it. It wasn’t until much later in life that I discovered the main instrument used on it was a Venezuelan Harp. It was played by Hugo Blanco and he was also the composer of most of the music on the album. I also loved looking at that cover as a child… <br><br><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/392125/ca069fa304faa7f739d1a0410d5530732a121030/original/caribia.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MzAweDI5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="293" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></span><br>When I got deeper into writing my upcoming album, “The Tropical Dream”, I knew that I wanted to write one piece featuring harp, like Hugo Blanco. Easier said than done! I soon discovered that finding a traditional harpist from South America was not going to be happening in Ottawa. I didn’t want an orchestral harpist. I wanted someone who had lived that music and learned to play that particular kind of harp. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">I decided to try out LinkedIn. I found a lady who lived in Toronto but grew up in Uruguay and had been playing Paraguayan Harp since she was a young girl. Perfect! I listened to some of her wonderful playing and reached out to her. We then had an interesting and enjoyable two hour conversation! I think we both felt a mutual respect for each other’s work and we agreed that we would collaborate on my piece. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Despite quite a few setbacks and delays on both sides (including a burned finger she suffered while making caramel!), the recording session for her harp recently took place in Toronto, engineered by her friend, Kiki Martinez. Her performance was recorded there and sent back to my engineer to place into the track with all of the other instruments. What you will eventually hear is the beautiful result. Great work, Martha!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/392125/426a16ad27c08c446b3168455b440cabfeb3f804/original/martha-3.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NTczeDQzNyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="437" width="573" /></span></span></p>
terrygomes.com
tag:terrygomes.com,2005:Post/5993111
2017-06-02T17:00:00-07:00
2017-10-22T23:17:35-07:00
How a Cat Appeared on My Upcoming Album!
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<p><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><em>For Mimi</em><br><br><br><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/392125/0f73d99f97f51b9e9a4f7d1604c75738ed2c53bf/original/img-20151016-080006.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NDU2eDQwMCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="400" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="456" /><br></em><br>I’ve never been known as a “cat person”. I’ve actually gone out of my way to say that I do not like cats at all even though I had been living with a cat for 17 years. But, I always thought of it as my wife’s cat. Well, the ravages of time eventually caught up with Mimi and it was clear that she had to be put down in order to avoid needless suffering. This happened on May 16, 2016. Much to my great surprise, I was very upset by her passing. She had often been a source of annoyance and frustration for me but when she was gone, I did mourn her. I never thought I would have that reaction for a cat, but I did.<br><br>A good friend of ours kindly offered her garden to bury Mimi beside some of her departed cats. So, we buried her and later on spent quite a while looking over old photos and videos taken over the 17 year period. We even visited the exact location where my wife found Mimi many years before. It was a sad time.<br><br>The vet gave us a plaster paw-print of hers taken before she went to sleep and a copy of the “Rainbow Bridge” poem. The poem describes the elation experienced when you rejoin your beloved pet after you pass on. I didn’t know what to think about the poem’s meaning but it certainly did stay with me. Meanwhile, I was busy recording demos for my new "Tropical" album. I started wondering how I could immortalize Mimi in one of the pieces. I thought it would make my wife happy and also be a nice tribute. The difficulty was that most people don’t equate a tropical paradise with cats. Birds? Yes. Fish? Of course. But cats??<br><br>Around this time, I was composing the ending piece on my album. It is called, “Bye for Now”. It represents the conclusion of a vacation but also suggests a return. The title, music, arrangement and Mimi’s death all blended together in mind. At last I thought of a way for her to be on my album. Shortly before she passed, my wife recorded hours of her purring into a small recording device. The quality was rather poor and there was lots of background noise. I listened to the purring and selected what I thought was the strongest snippet with the least amount of noise. In the song, she is heard at the beginning and at the end. It seemed fitting to blend her voice with that of the ocean. I liked the effect a lot. To other ears, it might sound like humming or a percussion instrument but it is in fact the voice of Mimi. She is also listed in the musician credits as having provided, “Vocalizations”. <br><br>Now there will be a permanent archive of the cat I never thought that I liked. I’m still not a cat person per se, but in retrospect, Mimi was a great one.<br><br><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/392125/867b25a96a9ac2df76a0344093a3fd282ed5944f/original/j.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjAxeDM3OSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="379" width="601" /></span><br></span><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p>
terrygomes.com
tag:terrygomes.com,2005:Post/5993118
2017-05-29T17:00:00-07:00
2017-10-22T23:16:36-07:00
The Start of a New Album (Reality Becomes a Dream)
<p><span style="font-size: medium; font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">It was late September, 2015. I had that exhilarating feeling I get when I’m ready to begin writing new music. Then, it happened. After running up a long flight of stairs, I felt a twinge in the back of one of my legs. No problem, I thought. But the next morning I dropped to the floor in horrendous pain. After four hours of waiting for the pain to pass, I had my wife call for an ambulance. At the hospital, I was given some tests, pain killers and sent home. I thought that was the end of it. I didn’t realize it would take over two years of physio and exercises to enjoy being active again. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium; font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">I learned that I had a hamstring injury and a back sprain. I used a cane to walk for the first few days. Playing guitar would be 2 ½ months away. I found hope in an unwanted, four-octave keyboard that I took home from school when I retired from teaching. I was able to sit at this keyboard for brief stretches. Thus began my new album, “The Tropical Dream”. I ended up writing nine pieces on this keyboard and three others on guitar when I could play again. It was a new and exciting change for me!<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/392125/d473a7adc0d644f56fb2ee0067b5b55be619e093/original/keyboard.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjIweDI3NCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="274" width="620" /><br> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium; font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">I worked throughout the rest of the fall and the winter. I frequently looked out the window at the falling snow and felt a sense of despair, but also a deep joy about the music I was creating. Eventually I began dreaming about escaping to a tropical paradise. I knew that this was a common wish for many people who live in a cold climate. I gradually discovered that I was loosely outlining a vacation, with my instrumental compositions guiding the journey. The destination was not important, but it had to be somewhere warm. Each piece became a little vignette. I began describing the music as “tropical”. I fused musical genres from the Caribbean through to South America with my own musical “voice”. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium; font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">Typically, I would write all of the arrangements and create demos at home, including my guitar parts. Later in the process, I would redo them all in a studio. However, due to my situation, I decided to use most of the guitar parts I was recording as the final parts for my album. They had a sense of urgency to them that I didn’t believe I could recapture. I just wasn’t sure if the method would work. I would be building a layer cake with my parts being the first layer. Unorthodox, for sure. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium; font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">By late spring, I thought I had a solid album. I spent the summer tweaking things a bit more. The rest of the work involved project planning, organizing recording sessions and overseeing performances. Despite many hurdles and delays, it came together very nicely. As of this writing, it is mostly in the mixing stage. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium; font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">I’m certain that many of you who live through cold winter seasons, chase "The Tropical Dream". What you will hear is mine. I hope, in some ways, you can make it yours too. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium; font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">Happy Landings.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif;"> Terry</span><br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/392125/2930c222dbca9c356bede7bd25fd6372a701e35b/original/dsc-2115.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjA1eDQyMCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="420" width="605" /></span></p>
terrygomes.com