Task 7: Mode Bending

Here is my attempt at the Mode-Bending Task. I decided to change modes of expression by writing a song about my experience cutting firewood. VERY rough, so please forgive my mistakes. I like to flesh out songs as much as possible with samples etc. I may finish this song and make a proper mix eventually. Here are the lyrics:

Chainsaw Song

I’m going on out to cut some trees

Trying to keep warm in the Northwest Territories

I’ve got my saws and I’ve got my truck

And with a whole lot of work and a little bit of luck

I’m going to bring the wood home and stack it up right

Keep my baby warm in the wintertime

I’m going to heat my house  by the work of my hands

Getting closer and closer and closer to the land

I sharpen my chain and I tighten my bar

I fill it with gas and prime it up to start

I never forget my PPE

I want to stay safe and I want to stay free

I’m going to bring the wood home and stack it up right

Keep my baby warm in the wintertime

I’m going to heat my house  by the work of my hands

Getting closer and closer and closer to the land

Cutting wood makes you humble, cutting wood makes you strong

If there’s a bear in the forest you’d better get yourself gone

By the strength of my back and the work of my hands

I’ll get this job done as fast as I can

I’m going to bring the wood home and stack it up right

Keep my baby warm in the wintertime

I’m going to heat my house  by the work of my hands

Getting closer and closer and closer to the land

I feel like the song serves the same purpose as the original task, in terms of introducing me to the class. I thought it was pretty fun creating something original (and a little bit silly) for this course. I actually struggle to write and this task gave me purpose and direction!

Here’s a picture of my home studio. I built the sound treatments myself and placed them at the first point of reflection. The racking in front of me is new ($40 in 2×4’s rather than $600 from Long & Mcquade.

The acoustic guitar part was recorded through a pair of Fostex small diaphragm condenser microphones. My vocals were recorded into a Shure Beta 58. All of these microphones were tracked through an ART Pro MPA II Mic Preamp and an ART Pro VLA Compressor, into my RME Fireface 800. The Hammond organ was a software sample from within Logic triggered by my piano. I recorded the bass guitar direct into the Fireface 800 as well. Monitoring is through my Presonus ERIS monitors and Grado SR325 headphones. I used a Gibson J-45 for the guitar part, an Epiphone EB-0 for my bass.