He's Running...Can He Get Away? (From AutoTune That Is...)

So I was working on a vocal track the other day and opening up AutoTune. For those of you who aren't familiar with AutoTune, the short story is that 95% of the records you hear now (and virtually all commercial records) have utilized AutoTune since the late '90s. Essentially, it fine tunes vocals to be more "in tune" without multiple retakes...the computer just fixes the pitches. It sounds easy, but takes a bit of skill to actually do well. AutoTune done quickly and without thought gives you a very distinct sound that is typically associated with electronic/dance music (Cher's "(Do You) Believe (In Life After Love?)" is an example of what is essentially really bad AutoTuning). When done well, you don't even notice it. AutoTune has allowed a swarm of teen-stars (Hilary Duff, Lindsay Lohan, Jump5, etc.) to become recording phenomenons. Regardless, in most cases, AutoTune is part of a standard set of processes done in the recording process. If you're really interested, click here to read all about Antares AutoTune.

Back to my story: I was ready to start tuning my vocal tracks and then I thought, "I am an $80k music graduate...I can sing in tune." So I shutdown the AutoTune and proceeded to re-record the vocal tracks if needed and went for good takes as opposed to getting the lyrics right with a general correctness for the melody. I have to say I'm very happy so far. I've sworn off AutoTune on this project and am finding myself searching for more expression and putting myself back into the shoes I was in when these songs were written. A few months ago, a small NYC dance radio station played one of my ballads in the middle of their "four-to-the-floor" bump and grind music. The song was "Since You and Me" from the "Live From LaDue Auditorium" CD and the DJ prefaced the song by saying, "Before I play this next song, I want to say that we usually think of dance as upbeat music, but I think dance music is music that makes you feel something, and this guy definitely makes you feel something...here's Rod Kim with 'Since You and Me'." I've returned to that theory and aside from any genres, I want to make a record "that makes you feel something." In these new tunes, you'll hear some real honesty. I will admit that I have a reputation for writing songs with vast ranges in pitch, but I believe in working for that as well. In place of AutoTuning like I would normally for any other artist, I'm doing everything else, eating healthy, keeping hydrated, not drinking acidic liquids too much, and most importantly: running like a madman. Since I wasn't one of those people born with vocal cords of steel, I just have to condition my respiratory system and strengthen myself overall to improve my range and breath control. I know it sounds a bit extreme, but how far would a real artist go to make a good record right? So I've been running 6 days a week after work, rain, shine, sleet or snow and I can tell things are improving. Thanks to the Nike+ iPod add-on, running isn't as cruel as it normally is.

Aside from recording and the related events, I have been listening to some AMAZING new music. The first big find was Amy Winehouse. A few months ago I stumbled upon a single track called "You Know I'm No Good" and was floored. Last week, her full-length released in the US and I am THOROUGHLY impressed. This girl is from another era of music. Her debut record Frank" was awful, but this new one, "Back to Black" is stunning. She not only has some incredibly nostalgic vocals, she wrote every song on the record and played most of the guitar work. Go to http://www.amywinehouse.com/ and check her our right now! The other record I've been stuck on is Aqualung's "Memory Man". It's just a really quirky, atmospheric record. I like listening to it while I'm driving at night.

In the film side, I was ecstatic a couple weeks ago when Borat released on DVD. That movie made me split my side in the theater while watching it and did all over again at home. The movie is definitely not for everyone, but the humor is pushed so far and so ridiculous that you'd have to be an idiot to not see it as a joke. So if you're ready for anything (believe me ANYTHING) to happen and are ready for a laugh, go check out that movie!

Well, 'nuff for now, thanks for tuning in,
-Rod

We All Could Learn A Lot From Sparta...

So, as did millions of others did this last Friday, I went to see the epic new film, "300." This movie is based on the Frank Miller graphic novel of the same name which is based on the movie "The 300 Spartans" that was based on the historical story of the Battle of Thermopylae between the Spartans and Persians. I have to say I am guilty of enjoying every bit of its campiness, comic book logic, historical inaccuracies, and over-the-top gore. The important part was kept in tact, the principles in which people and societies believe in being upheld until the death. I've almost always been of the theology that principle is more important than actions or details...because truly strong principles will bear genuine actions and details. So is the case of "300." I won't give away the story, though most of you know it, but the world would definitely be a better place if people led more by example and less about words. Granted I'm not saying that we should throw away sickly newborns or purposely murder the weak (also the case in "300"), but if one has to choose to live on their knees or die standing, I would hope they choose to die standing so that those after them may rise as well and change the world.

I went to the movie with my co-worker, Nick and his brother Chris. This was the last weekend before Chris left for 4 months at the Delaware State Police Academy (no fun sound effects here, just a boot camp.) So this was part of his last hoorah in a while. Even before knowing Chris, I had an unspoken respect for law enforcement, military and teachers. I say "unspoken" because up until a couple years ago I had assumed this was a generally universal understanding. Was I wrong or what? I know there are bad cops, some real screwball military staff and some really really awful teachers, but as a whole, these are some of the most admirable occupations one could take. I never understood the disrespect for a cop doing his job if I did something wrong. With very few exceptions, I have never had difficulty with a police officer if I was doing something warranting them interacting with me. In general, as long as I remained calm and didn't freak out or make a fool of myself, they returned a (sometimes stern) but civil behavior. Once I was in a car accident and it was totally my fault. The cop put everything on me and I couldn't argue. The process went very smoothly over the next few weeks as paper work was being done and fines were paid. On a few occasions I was mistakenly accused of wrong doing, but since I hadn't done anything wrong, I didn't worry about it and the officers corrected their mistakes in the wash and apologized for my time. In all actuality, the periodic bumps with the law ease my mind a little knowing that those guys are running around doing their job. I know there are a lot of people who complain about racial profiling and how unfair it is...well, I have two major opinions about that: a.) if it's about getting pulled over in a car, when someone is speeding or driving erratically, rarely can you make out the ethnicity of the driver, you just see the swerving car going 100mph in a 25mph school zone. b.) i get "randomly" flagged at airports every single time I fly to get luggage hand checked and frisked because I'm Asian, and to some, am close enough to middle-eastern ethnicity to be a potential terrorist. Sure, it's a pretty big inconvenience trying to get to where I'm going, and I may not agree with the method of determining potential "dangerous peoples" but I don't argue- this is what they practice and no one is forcing me to go to the airport, I could drive or take a train. If you're overly concerned about your ethnic appearance getting you stopped on the road, weigh the good with the bad and consider not driving...if you're doing something illegal and that's why you're worried, well that is a completely different situation from race, isn't it? And once again, it makes me feel better know that people like you are getting caught even if it means I have to spend 2 minutes at a traffic check point.

As for the military, I'm not a huge supporter of the war, but I do support the troops now that they are out there. Because of them and people like them before, I am able to live in the U.S. and live my life...I cannot thank anyone enough for that.

Teachers...this one really gets me. I have been fortunate to have really great teachers growing up and professors in higher education. And though I understand that on a personal level you may not get along, but a student can at least be civil in a classroom. These people mold and nurture the future generations...why is there such a lack of respect for them? I remember being in college and I was randomly chosen to be a part of a focus group where various persons (students, staff, administration, parents, etc.) would be queried about various campus topics. One of those topics was the consideration of raising tuition. Although no one, especially parents and students, were very happy to hear about that, I did stand up and say that I wouldn't have any problem with the increase in tuition if it meant that our professors would get better salaries. I was never given an answer on that, but I meant what I said. Those professors had given so much to me in knowledge and experience that all the money in the world could not repay them. I am (just as much in character as in intellect) who I am today largely because of them.

Anyways, enough of my ranting about the shortcomings of the world...in other news, I am getting closer and closer to finishing the new album. I recorded the scratch tracks for another new tune the other night and am really stoked! Anyway, hopefully this will be coming to all of you soon enough!

G'day friends,
-Rod

Stranger Than Fiction

So I just sent off my first scratch tracks to their secret session player(s) to get tracked. I am so psyched...the writing is phasing into tracking.

Speaking of being psyched, "Stranger Than Fiction" just came out on DVD this week and I was so excited! I know there were a lot of people that didn't like it, but I am certain it is because they went into it expecting a really goofy Will Ferrell film like "Taladega Nights" or "Anchorman". This film is great, mostly because it points out what I have told people for years: that everyday things make life a great story. It spent almost the entire movie riding lines of comedy and drama and I loved it. So if you haven't already, check it out, but don't expect "I WANNA GO FAST! I WANNA GO FAST!" This is Will in a different plane of his talent.

For the past week, all I have been listening to is the Motion Picture Score to the film "The Fountain". The movie will hurt your head because it is 100% abstract art, but the music is absolutely genius. The strings, the piano, you can feel the pain, hurt, joy and everything in every note...it is amazing. My favorite track is "First Snow" although "Together We Will Live Forever" is awesome too, all if it is great. I know this isn't everyone's cup of tea, but if you're into good music and you like a good string quartet like me, this should be added to your collection.

Anyway, time for bed...g'night all,

-Rod

Go Rod...Get A Record Made...Now For Real Real...Not For Play Play...

So I've watched way too much "Drawn Together" and Foxxy Love's character always cracks me up.

Anyway, though I made this official on MySpace just recently, faithful blog readers (all four of you) here have known for weeks (technically years) that my new project is under way. It's in the heat of the writing stages right now and the outlook is good. I'm 7 of 10 songs into writing the project and the final 3 look like they are well underway. I'm not worried about writing more songs to debate over including because this specific project is telling an overall story arch and I know exactly what I want to say. After the 10 are written they will go through much development and deliberation to make sure that, in my eyes at least, the stars have aligned. Who knows how long that will take, but at least there's been more progress in the last 2 weeks than there have been in the last 2 years. After that, recording, recording, recording...and then more recording...and then there's the actual mastering and release project...it'll be a long road, but at least now I'm on it.

Though I am keeping all the details about this under wraps until the unveiling, I will say this: none of the songs from "Live From LaDue Auditorium" will be present. I love those songs and will perform them until the day I die and perhaps, after this current project, revist them in the studio so they aren't left in the bootleg realm. For now, they don't fit where I am now and they don't work well into this story. I think many indies get in a rut of constantly relying on and revisiting their previous material that they never grow and I definately want to grow. Maybe few will find the new material better than the previous, but honestly, there's only so long in your life you can moan about the same ex-girlfriend and what it felt like the day it all fell apart. Some of the new material will probably not seem far from that until you dig into the overall story, but it's not about the same people and I definately don't want to risk anyone mistaking it for anything but a new life far past where I was at "Live From LaDue".

Aside from spending countless hours composing and writing, I've been preparing to make a trip out to Scotland in July...there's a wedding and a small group of friends are going out there for a week to be part of it. What still never ceases to amaze is how certain organizations can tag on various fees, associate it with some seemingly related words and add the word "fee" or "tax" at the end and skim another few hundred dollars off of an already expensive airfare! Tell me, what exactly does a "US Passenger Facility Tax" do for me? And why the heck is there a "Fuel Surcharge"? Isn't that what the ticket is supposed to be for? At least in part?

Oh well, they can tax me all they want...someday when they're in hell, that "Fuel Surcharge" will do them well...

G'day,
-Rod