tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38059852036240295302024-03-13T11:05:10.656-07:0050 Songs in 50 Weeks - Music BlogI am challenging myself to record 50 songs in a 50 weeks. Each Monday, a new songs will be posted for your enjoyment/critique, with the hopes that your input will help me decide how to change the songs and which ones to put on the album.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12652222405343903969noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3805985203624029530.post-74794537085307907832012-12-20T12:28:00.000-08:002017-02-22T20:53:33.179-08:00The End of the LineThanks for following along with this crazy project of mine. You can download this entire collection of songs for free over at <a href="http://jakehaws.bandcamp.com/album/50-songs-in-50-weeks" target="_blank">Bandcamp</a>. Follow the rest of my music projects including my podcast and blog over at <a href="http://jakehaws.com/">jakehaws.com</a>.<br />
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<iframe style="border: 0; width: 350px; height: 786px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1286344323/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=de270f/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="http://jakehaws.bandcamp.com/album/50-songs-in-50-weeks">50 Songs in 50 Weeks by Jake Haws</a></iframe>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12652222405343903969noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3805985203624029530.post-83614449371182358822012-12-19T22:28:00.000-08:002017-02-07T20:32:12.389-08:00Song #50: EthanThis is it! The last song! It's been a lot of hard work but I've had a lot of fun putting these songs together. I hope you've enjoyed listening.<br />
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For this last one, I decided to finished a song I'd been kicking around the last year or so. I had the guitar part, the melody, and a few lines figured out but the rest of the words just weren't coming together. I took some inspiration from my 1 year old son, Ethan. These last few weeks, I've had to play mr. mom because my wife started a job. It's been nice to spend more time with my two kids but it seems like they are growing up so quickly. I already wrote a song for Zoe ("Baby Girl" with Adding Machines) so this is Ethan's song and my way of letting him know I always want to be a part of his life.</div>
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<iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1286344323/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=de270f/tracklist=false/artwork=small/track=2311268203/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="http://jakehaws.bandcamp.com/album/50-songs-in-50-weeks">50 Songs in 50 Weeks by Jake Haws</a></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12652222405343903969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3805985203624029530.post-9139060807730019982012-12-17T22:01:00.001-08:002017-02-07T20:33:22.618-08:00Song #49: Autumn LeavesThis song is for all the parents who lost children in the Newtown Connecticut elementary school shooting. When I heard about it on the news, I was in shock and horror. How could anybody do anything like that? I went home, hugged my children and hoped nothing like that would ever happen to them.<br />
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I started writing the piano part for this when I was a missionary in New Canaan, Connecticut (about 35 miles from Newtown). Connecticut is gorgeous in the fall so I was able to come up the title "Autumn Leaves" along with a few other lines. The song took on a new meaning after the shooting. I finished the words and recorded it tonight. The lyrics talk about the seasons passing and a parent never really able to get through the grief of losing a child. They question God and if there is any justice in the world. Then, the departed child visits the parent in a dream, comforting them and letting them know they in a better place, that the love they share continues and they will be reunited. I hope this song will bring comfort to a few people.<br />
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<iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1286344323/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=de270f/tracklist=false/artwork=small/track=1304367843/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="http://jakehaws.bandcamp.com/album/50-songs-in-50-weeks">50 Songs in 50 Weeks by Jake Haws</a></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12652222405343903969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3805985203624029530.post-84620259590186954072012-12-15T16:35:00.001-08:002017-02-07T20:35:36.313-08:00Song #48: Get OutThis is a rootsy folk rock song in the vein of Wilco. I've been a fan of there's for years and one of my favorite tunes there's is "Via Chicago". My song is probably a little more straight forward than's "Via Chicago" but I still think of it as an influence.<br />
The song is about an abusive relationship where the wife has had enough and kicks her husband out. When he later comes back for revenge, she pulls out a shot gun and nearly blows his head off. I played all the instruments, which include an acoustic guitar, 2 electric rhythm guitar tracks (plus another electric guitar for the solo), bass, vocal, and drums (recorded with 2 mics). Hope you like it.<br />
<iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1286344323/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=de270f/tracklist=false/artwork=small/track=3584560517/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="http://jakehaws.bandcamp.com/album/50-songs-in-50-weeks">50 Songs in 50 Weeks by Jake Haws</a></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12652222405343903969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3805985203624029530.post-42336724395696260692012-12-15T16:11:00.002-08:002017-02-07T20:36:18.529-08:00Song #47: I TryThis is a song I wrote back around Junior High. I was going for the sound of the Beatles "You've Got To Hide Your Love Away." It's about learning to care about people.<br />
<iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1286344323/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=de270f/tracklist=false/artwork=small/track=1355056000/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="http://jakehaws.bandcamp.com/album/50-songs-in-50-weeks">50 Songs in 50 Weeks by Jake Haws</a></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12652222405343903969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3805985203624029530.post-18442523005783652302012-12-10T20:45:00.001-08:002017-02-07T20:37:21.141-08:00Song #46: You Don't MindI wrote this in a practice room during my last year in the music program at BYU (2008). I was in a Cold War Kids phase at the time so I tried to write something that sounded like "We Used to Vacation," including the tempo slow down parts. It also has some influence from the Sara Bareilles tune <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qi7Yh16dA0w">"Love Song."</a>
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The song is about a conversation between a world traveler (extreme extrovert) and a hermit (extreme introvert). Basically, the the traveler is trying to help the hermit work out the courage to come out of their shell and see the world. Sort of a metaphor I guess but try not to think too long about it too hard.<br />
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This was a beast to record. As with the rest of these 50 songs, I played all the instruments. The tempo changes meant I couldn't really use a click track so I ended up recording the piano part first, then trying to add everything else on top of it. I took several takes of each part (along with some editing) to get the timing close enough to use. I'm proud of the guitar solo. I think it's pretty rocking.
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<iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1286344323/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=de270f/tracklist=false/artwork=small/track=2405607246/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="http://jakehaws.bandcamp.com/album/50-songs-in-50-weeks">50 Songs in 50 Weeks by Jake Haws</a></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12652222405343903969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3805985203624029530.post-47923401911443414522012-12-10T20:29:00.001-08:002017-02-07T20:38:06.119-08:00Song #45: What Am I To Do With YouThis is the 4th song I ever wrote (back when I was 15). It's super cheesy and I'm embarrassed by it but I thought I would get it out there anyway, zits and all. The sound copies Jack Johnson.<br />
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<iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1286344323/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=de270f/tracklist=false/artwork=small/track=562283947/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="http://jakehaws.bandcamp.com/album/50-songs-in-50-weeks">50 Songs in 50 Weeks by Jake Haws</a></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12652222405343903969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3805985203624029530.post-53108739146267321442012-12-10T20:26:00.000-08:002017-02-22T20:44:45.911-08:00Song #44: The Way I FeelThis is a fun upbeat song that sat unfinished for a while. I think it sort of has a Beatles/Elliott Smith vibe with a garage rock twist. It's a bit sloppy with the drums but I think I like it that way.<br />
<iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1286344323/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=de270f/tracklist=false/artwork=small/track=725211045/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="http://jakehaws.bandcamp.com/album/50-songs-in-50-weeks">50 Songs in 50 Weeks by Jake Haws</a></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12652222405343903969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3805985203624029530.post-76855555801931548822012-12-10T20:21:00.002-08:002017-02-22T20:44:17.416-08:00Song #43: Come Back and StayThis is an oldie. One of my first. I'm not really sure who is sounds like. Maybe 90s post-alternative? Or that song from the Wedding Singer when Adam Sandler goes off about his ex-girlfriend? Recording the last few lines, I broke a guitar string but I decided to keep it in. That's how rock and roll I am.<br />
<iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1286344323/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=de270f/tracklist=false/artwork=small/track=4261529756/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="http://jakehaws.bandcamp.com/album/50-songs-in-50-weeks">50 Songs in 50 Weeks by Jake Haws</a></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12652222405343903969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3805985203624029530.post-13907368240880962402012-12-01T23:55:00.001-08:002017-02-22T20:43:29.763-08:00Song #42: Bright SideI wrote this one around my freshman of college. Originally, I it was written on an acoustic guitar and I had something more along the lines of early Coldplay. When it came to record this, I started trying different things with the piano and drum machine and ended up with something closer to electronica/dub-step along the lines of Thom Yorke's "The Eraser" or James Blake.
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The instruments for the recording are a keyboard part (with delay and reverb added), two vocal tracks, a keyboard synth (with phaser added), 5 Ebow guitar tracks put together to make up the chords (with distortion, reverb, and delay added), and an electric guitar part for the solo section. I think it turned out way cool! I love this one!
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<iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1286344323/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=de270f/tracklist=false/artwork=small/track=2316794726/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="http://jakehaws.bandcamp.com/album/50-songs-in-50-weeks">50 Songs in 50 Weeks by Jake Haws</a></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12652222405343903969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3805985203624029530.post-49240285566986774332012-12-01T23:33:00.006-08:002017-02-22T20:42:59.820-08:00Song #41: Sunny RainThis is an oldie I had written back when I was about 15. I was going for something like the Jimi Hendrix version of "All Along the Watchtower." I had since written it off as a throw away song. When I was going through my notebook deciding what to record, I played it played it more along the lines of Cat Power's version of "Satisfaction" and liked it better.
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The instrumentation is pretty sparse: just a voice and an electric guitar.
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<iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1286344323/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=de270f/tracklist=false/artwork=small/track=1538737471/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="http://jakehaws.bandcamp.com/album/50-songs-in-50-weeks">50 Songs in 50 Weeks by Jake Haws</a></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12652222405343903969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3805985203624029530.post-22047983306821120452012-11-13T21:27:00.000-08:002017-02-22T20:41:33.321-08:00Song #40: Speak My MindAnother oldie from around the sophomore year of high school. I had the piano line in the place of the chorus with the intention of eventually writing something there but I decided I like the idea of having an "instrumental" chorus. At the time I wrote it, I was going for something along the lines of Radiohead's "Karma Police."
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When it came time to record it (about 15 years later) my thoughts for production were more in the line of Menomena's "E. Is Stable"
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To record the drums, I did each part of the drum separately for a few bars each(kick, snare hit, snare roll, closed hi-hat, open hi-hat, ride cymbal, crash cymbal and floor tom). I then looped and layered the tracks, adding delay until I got a sound I liked. The sound sort of reminds me of a drum corp. I also have three tracks of guitar with an ebow played at octaves so that it sounds like a synthesizer. Finally, I put distortion on the vocals, added acoustic guitar, and bass. I think it's one of my better efforts. What are your thoughts?
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12652222405343903969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3805985203624029530.post-51760686861576700362012-11-05T21:13:00.000-08:002017-02-22T20:40:57.956-08:00Song #39: Talk About LoveThis one is a little ditty I wrote my sophomore year of high school. It's in the vein of 90s acoustic pop/rock, namely Hootie and the Blowfish. Not my best song but still an ok tune that I felt was worth documenting.<br />
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<iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1286344323/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=de270f/tracklist=false/artwork=small/track=1415248277/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="http://jakehaws.bandcamp.com/album/50-songs-in-50-weeks">50 Songs in 50 Weeks by Jake Haws</a></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12652222405343903969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3805985203624029530.post-5740252017485146972012-10-29T20:17:00.000-07:002017-02-22T20:40:25.897-08:00Song #38: The OptimistThis one is inspired by the beatlesque rootsy-guitar sound of Elliott Smith's album, Figure 8, and in particular the songs "Stupidity Tries" and "Pretty Mary K."
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The arrangement is fairly straight forward: one vocal, one acoustic guitar, two electric guitar, bass and drums. I don't usually have very many guitar solos in my songs but this one seemed appropriate.
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<iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1286344323/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=de270f/tracklist=false/artwork=small/track=817874363/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="http://jakehaws.bandcamp.com/album/50-songs-in-50-weeks">50 Songs in 50 Weeks by Jake Haws</a></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12652222405343903969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3805985203624029530.post-37011793465405056902012-10-23T21:31:00.002-07:002017-02-22T20:39:50.538-08:00Song #37: Hanging By A ThreadThis is a oldie that sat half written for a several years. All I had were the first two lines. I finally got around to finishing it by adding a few more lines, a bridge and an ending. The arrangement is a cross between something Coldplay would do and Death Cab For Cutie's "Transatlanticism."
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This arrangement includes acoustic guitar, several electric tracks done direct with no amp (including 2 tracks where I did "volume swells"), drums, bass, and several vocal tracks sung at different octaves and occasionally staggered. It gets pretty epic at the end. What do you think?
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<iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1286344323/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=de270f/tracklist=false/artwork=small/track=2743136439/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="http://jakehaws.bandcamp.com/album/50-songs-in-50-weeks">50 Songs in 50 Weeks by Jake Haws</a></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12652222405343903969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3805985203624029530.post-45401332809130816472012-10-15T20:37:00.000-07:002017-02-22T20:39:19.004-08:00Song #36: Lounging AroundThis week's tune is in the style of bossa nova! It's inspired from probably one of the most famous bossa nova tunes, as well as a jazz band standard (and elevator music), "The Girl From Ipanema" by Astrud Gilberto and Stan Getz.
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I used the my small keyboard to get a bossa nova drum machine beat and added maracas, a jembe, and a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guiro">guiro</a> to round out the percussion. I found a cheezy organ sound on the keyboard, which helps with the elevator music atmosphere. Towards the end of the song, I layered on harmonies (at one point, there are 10 vocal tracks). I'm happy with the result. It's the first song I've done like this.<br />
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<iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1286344323/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=de270f/tracklist=false/artwork=small/track=2405811561/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="http://jakehaws.bandcamp.com/album/50-songs-in-50-weeks">50 Songs in 50 Weeks by Jake Haws</a></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12652222405343903969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3805985203624029530.post-40248838659472896122012-10-08T21:01:00.000-07:002017-02-22T20:38:46.239-08:00Song #35: Red DressThis week's tune is inspired by the Black Heart Procession's "It's A Crime I Never Told You About The Diamonds In Your Eyes." <br />
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I attempted the same waltzy piano feel and swing. The drums were recorded in my basement with two mics. It's not the greatest tone but I think it works for the song. There are actually two piano parts: one that's a little lower playing mostly the chords and another playing more a lead part and little higher. I think it helps fill it out. Lyrically, the song is about getting tied up with deceptive women. Enjoy.
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<iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1286344323/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=de270f/tracklist=false/artwork=small/track=2615093793/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="http://jakehaws.bandcamp.com/album/50-songs-in-50-weeks">50 Songs in 50 Weeks by Jake Haws</a></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12652222405343903969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3805985203624029530.post-45025900786857230732012-10-02T19:48:00.001-07:002017-02-22T20:38:16.415-08:00Song #34: RemindersI wrote this song very late at night several years back. In order to keep from waking my roommates, I had to play and sing very softly, which dictated the direction of the song. The inspiration was Nirvana's "Something In The Way."<br />
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The instruments are an acoustic guitar, voice, and one electric guitar with an ebow. It felt like it dragged a little so I programmed a kick drum into the song, which totally changes the feel of it. It think it makes the song come across a little more like <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhLHvA0fYo8">TaughtMe</a> (acoustic guitar with a driving kick drum).<br />
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<iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1286344323/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=de270f/tracklist=false/artwork=small/track=1239873387/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="http://jakehaws.bandcamp.com/album/50-songs-in-50-weeks">50 Songs in 50 Weeks by Jake Haws</a></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12652222405343903969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3805985203624029530.post-66092480669656285632012-09-26T21:51:00.000-07:002017-02-22T20:37:48.274-08:00Song #33: Not AloudThe sound of this one is inspired from the bands Low (particularly the song "Over the Ocean") and Red House Painters. I would definitely call it minimalist approach (or "slow-core," as it is often cited). The elements of this sound that I emulated: soft clean electric guitar strums, use of brushes and ride cymbal on the drums, whispery vocals with a second voice an octave higher, and a hypnotic repetitive beat and bass line. <br />
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This is one of the slowest and longest songs I've done. With the drummer in my band leaving his set at my house recently, I had access to a drum set for the first time in a while. When I had my studio at Muse, I would usually use 7-10 mics to record a drum set. Since now I'm only using an MBox Mini, I can only record two tracks at a time so it was a bit of challenge to get a good sound with just an a mic overhead and one on the kick but I think it works for this song. I used the Ebow on the guitar to add more texture, which is becoming my trademark sound these days. It ended up being 8 different Ebow tracks! I also added a minimal piano line. Hopefully it's not too long. Thoughts?<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12652222405343903969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3805985203624029530.post-52196915172914611082012-09-25T12:37:00.002-07:002017-02-22T20:37:17.216-08:00Song #32: Based On A True StoryThis song is influenced by the Radiohead album, "The Bends" and in particular, the songs "High and Dry" and "Bulletproof... I Wish I Was." My goal was to create the same type of atmosphere with the acoustic guitar strumming and a soft pick electric guitar part. I added a "flange" effect to the guitar to give is a washy sound.
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<iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1286344323/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=de270f/tracklist=false/artwork=small/track=2007923515/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="http://jakehaws.bandcamp.com/album/50-songs-in-50-weeks">50 Songs in 50 Weeks by Jake Haws</a></iframe> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12652222405343903969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3805985203624029530.post-67735019063207299372012-09-17T19:00:00.000-07:002017-02-22T20:36:40.995-08:00Song #31: Night SkyAnother oldie written during high school. At the time, I was digging the mandolin sounds on R.E.M.'s "Losing My Religion." It was kind of surprising to look back and think that a song with a mandolin was such a big radio hit in the era of grunge. As I set out to write it, I didn't have a mandolin so I tried to approximate that sound by playing my guitar with the capo on the 4th fret.<br />
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When it came time to record this, I was planning on having the mandolin (which I now have) replace the acoustic guitar (or at least play the main lead part) but it wasn't sounding right, so instead I had the mandolin play a simple part to supplement the two acoustic guitar tracks. I added one vocal track, two tamborines tracks, and a shaker and thought it felt like it was done. Does it need something else?
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<iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1286344323/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=de270f/tracklist=false/artwork=small/track=2870802157/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="http://jakehaws.bandcamp.com/album/50-songs-in-50-weeks">50 Songs in 50 Weeks by Jake Haws</a></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12652222405343903969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3805985203624029530.post-49203905594745504052012-09-14T22:06:00.000-07:002017-02-22T20:36:10.344-08:00Song #30: InvisibleI wrote this song in 2003 while I was a missionary in New York City. I was volunteering weekly at the Bronx VA Hospital and I got to be friends with one of the patients. I showed up one week to find out he had passed away. I wrote this song shortly after on one of my days off on the church piano. It's about memories, death and the connection between this life and the next. The style of the piano line and melancholy lyrics are influenced from Ben Fold Five's "Brick" and the drum machine and strings sound are influenced by Coldplay's "Paradise."
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This recording features four tracks of ebow guitar, a drum machine, tamborine, three tracks of synth strings, a glass jar hit with a spoon and three tracks of keyboards played at different octaves. This is one of my favorite songs so I took a lot of time to get the production right and I think it turned out great!
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<iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1286344323/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=de270f/tracklist=false/artwork=small/track=609256882/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="http://jakehaws.bandcamp.com/album/50-songs-in-50-weeks">50 Songs in 50 Weeks by Jake Haws</a></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12652222405343903969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3805985203624029530.post-91838975165834112042012-08-27T20:26:00.003-07:002017-02-22T20:35:36.851-08:00Song #29: You Only Live A DayThis one is another oldie written when I was around 15 years old. The feel I was going for was R.E.M. and I think I achieved that with the guitar part, which mimics Peter Buck's picking style. I used the keyboard for the drum sounds, which aren't great but I think they work. What do you think of the song?
<iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1286344323/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=de270f/tracklist=false/artwork=small/track=2464690375/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="http://jakehaws.bandcamp.com/album/50-songs-in-50-weeks">50 Songs in 50 Weeks by Jake Haws</a></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12652222405343903969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3805985203624029530.post-10512110850646121362012-08-27T20:19:00.001-07:002017-02-22T20:34:58.752-08:00Song #28: Friday NightThis is one of my first songs written back when I was about 14. It's about a time when I went to a school dance and the girl I went with ignored me the whole time (write what you know, right?). The chords kind of rip off the Alanis Morissette song "Head Over Feet." Honestly, I'm a little embarrassed by it cause it's kind of corny song but I felt like it should still be documented to capture some of early songwriting.
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I decided to just keep the production sparse and just do an acoustic guitar and a single vocal.
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<iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1286344323/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=de270f/tracklist=false/artwork=small/track=2084455965/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="http://jakehaws.bandcamp.com/album/50-songs-in-50-weeks">50 Songs in 50 Weeks by Jake Haws</a></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12652222405343903969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3805985203624029530.post-15905534669569563962012-08-10T08:57:00.002-07:002017-02-22T20:34:29.351-08:00Song #27: Descent Into MadnessAnother old tune written back in high school. At the time, I was heavily into the band <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunny_Day_Real_Estate">Sunny Day Real Estate</a>. This song in particular is influenced by the sound and atmosphere of "Grendel." It's probably one of my darkest and heaviest tunes.
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Without having at drum set handy, I used drum machines so it would put the genre at "Industrial Emo" (maybe?). I did all the guitars direct (no amplifier) then doctored them up after the fact. There are 4 tracks of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebow">Ebow</a> guitar drones, which altogether make up the chords I am playing and sound something like an organ combined with feedback and strings. It's becoming a trick I've used in several recordings lately. I put distortion on the vocals and put the threshold on the compressors so low that they make a "static" sound during the parts where I am not singing. I played with these static moments by looping them in reverse and adding strange sounding effects to them. I think it gives a real sinister and creepy feel fitting for the song.
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<iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1286344323/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=de270f/tracklist=false/artwork=small/track=1069595966/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="http://jakehaws.bandcamp.com/album/50-songs-in-50-weeks">50 Songs in 50 Weeks by Jake Haws</a></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12652222405343903969noreply@blogger.com0