I’ve read plenty about 7 piano sketches - and particularly enjoyed your piece here on the bigger picture. This is the first time I’ve listened to the album. To me, it’s the sound of someone getting acquainted with an unfamiliar instrument and I find myself appreciating its lo-fi naivety and playfulness. I’m embracing it as a liberating experience for player and listener, in a world of ultra polished products. I think I’m into it and a little surprised at the backlash. I say all this as an artist who records solely straight into the mic of my phone, and mixes on the same device - so, I fully understand the appeal of such a simple process. Opportunistically, after ‘7’ came out, I shared (free on Soundcloud) my own previously unreleased solo piano improvisations - recorded a couple of years ago in the first few days of getting some keys. I’m now quite proud of those raw recordings and glad to have put them out there - maybe Andre feels similarly toward his own work: a true release in every sense.
I love this take! I'm genuinely happy when people like music that I don't, so that's great that you're appreciating 7 Piano Sketches on that level -- as something kind of innocently exploratory. A friend of mine (who, like me, loved New Blue Sun) said that it felt like waiting for Santa Claus after Santa gave you the most magical gift, and this year he handed you a cigarette butt. She found it very upsetting. But THEN i showed her André's statement and she said that after reading that she could totally see why he released it -- because it was a snapshot of a moment when he felt free. I appreciate you weighing-in. I'll check out your Substack and your work on Bandcamp!
Thanks for responding, and sharing the story of your friend’s take on it - good that we can change our minds on these things. Also, thank you for checking out my stuff - unlike Andre I’m an unknown so expectations can be way down low. I’m a newcomer to your Substack but I’ll be exploring your previous posts, and the new, from here on in…
I just listened to your most recent full-length on Bandcamp (Treadwater Fury). Lots to say (no criticisms, just observations). Looking forward to hearing the rest...
Thank you, always grateful for observations (and criticism). I can send you some codes to one or two others if that’s ok? No obligation to then listen of course…
I'm happy to accept codes for as many releases as you're willing to send, thank you. My e-mail: feedbackdef@gmail.com
At this point, from what I can hear, your vision is already formed. The only criticism I would offer as an outsider is if I heard something that didn't align with the track you’re already on. It would be different if I were producing or collaborating, but honestly I didn’t hear anything to criticize or even question. I found the uniqueness of your approach quite refreshing -- I could hear what makes you YOU as an artist -- and I was very absorbed by the music both sonically and emotionally. If only Andre 3000 could’ve heard your latest before releasing those sketches, he’d have seen how it’s possible to make something fully realized with just an iPhone and creative mixing. So at this point I recommend that you avoid outside criticism and just commit to staying on the path your muse continues to guide you on. Which is not to say that like I said a producer or collaborator wouldn't have valuable insights, but nothing about the album I heard demands any kind of critique (at least to my ear).
For some context, here's something that's like a core dogma of mine:
I’ve read plenty about 7 piano sketches - and particularly enjoyed your piece here on the bigger picture. This is the first time I’ve listened to the album. To me, it’s the sound of someone getting acquainted with an unfamiliar instrument and I find myself appreciating its lo-fi naivety and playfulness. I’m embracing it as a liberating experience for player and listener, in a world of ultra polished products. I think I’m into it and a little surprised at the backlash. I say all this as an artist who records solely straight into the mic of my phone, and mixes on the same device - so, I fully understand the appeal of such a simple process. Opportunistically, after ‘7’ came out, I shared (free on Soundcloud) my own previously unreleased solo piano improvisations - recorded a couple of years ago in the first few days of getting some keys. I’m now quite proud of those raw recordings and glad to have put them out there - maybe Andre feels similarly toward his own work: a true release in every sense.
I love this take! I'm genuinely happy when people like music that I don't, so that's great that you're appreciating 7 Piano Sketches on that level -- as something kind of innocently exploratory. A friend of mine (who, like me, loved New Blue Sun) said that it felt like waiting for Santa Claus after Santa gave you the most magical gift, and this year he handed you a cigarette butt. She found it very upsetting. But THEN i showed her André's statement and she said that after reading that she could totally see why he released it -- because it was a snapshot of a moment when he felt free. I appreciate you weighing-in. I'll check out your Substack and your work on Bandcamp!
Thanks for responding, and sharing the story of your friend’s take on it - good that we can change our minds on these things. Also, thank you for checking out my stuff - unlike Andre I’m an unknown so expectations can be way down low. I’m a newcomer to your Substack but I’ll be exploring your previous posts, and the new, from here on in…
I just listened to your most recent full-length on Bandcamp (Treadwater Fury). Lots to say (no criticisms, just observations). Looking forward to hearing the rest...
Thank you. And I'm listening to your stuff on Bandcamp now...
Thank you, always grateful for observations (and criticism). I can send you some codes to one or two others if that’s ok? No obligation to then listen of course…
I'm happy to accept codes for as many releases as you're willing to send, thank you. My e-mail: feedbackdef@gmail.com
At this point, from what I can hear, your vision is already formed. The only criticism I would offer as an outsider is if I heard something that didn't align with the track you’re already on. It would be different if I were producing or collaborating, but honestly I didn’t hear anything to criticize or even question. I found the uniqueness of your approach quite refreshing -- I could hear what makes you YOU as an artist -- and I was very absorbed by the music both sonically and emotionally. If only Andre 3000 could’ve heard your latest before releasing those sketches, he’d have seen how it’s possible to make something fully realized with just an iPhone and creative mixing. So at this point I recommend that you avoid outside criticism and just commit to staying on the path your muse continues to guide you on. Which is not to say that like I said a producer or collaborator wouldn't have valuable insights, but nothing about the album I heard demands any kind of critique (at least to my ear).
For some context, here's something that's like a core dogma of mine:
https://open.substack.com/pub/feedbackdef/p/pt-1-of-2-artists-why-do-you-like
And here's the yin to the yang of that 1st post:
https://open.substack.com/pub/feedbackdef/p/artists-sometimes-need-to-be-saved