Tag Archives: record

January 11, 2012 · 1:16 pm

More info on RPM Challenge 2012: press release

Again, I don’t have the new one yet, so this one from last year will have to suffice for now:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media contact: Dave Karlotski, info@rpmchallenge.com, 603-205-5144

RPM Challenge Celebrates 6th Anniversary

Creative music challenge turned international music phenomenon kicks off February 1, 2011

Portsmouth, N.H.— The RPM Challenge is simple, but has compelled more than 6,000 bands from all seven continents to join since 2006. Now, in time for the February 1 start date, musicians across the globe are signing up at www.rpmchallenge.com to participate in the 2011 challenge, and more are welcome.

The RPM Challenge itself is to record an album in 28 days, just because you can. That’s 10 songs or 35 minutes of original material, written and recorded during the month of February. To date, the challenge has resulted in the creation of an astonishing 30,000+ new songs. The music spans every genre imaginable—from electronic to experimental, from hip hop to heavy metal—and represents the work of all types of musicians: aspiring stars, working bands, hobbyists, students, and closet musicians.

The challenge begins February 1, but musicians who come aboard early are able to share their thoughts and trade ideas with an enthusiastic and tight-knit RPM community online. Once registered, participants can either create music in isolation if that’s their preference, or join the conversation to blog, add photos, participate in discussion groups and send messages to fellow RPMers during the challenge. Local scenes band together to lend a solo, an amp, or a little peer pressure as they help each other to the finish line.

The web site is the hub of the project, a tool for the musicians to connect and support each other. With thousands of musicians all working alongside each other, groups that might never come across each other in the regular world can meet, share ideas and collaborate through the site, bringing fresh perspectives and new insight into their own music.

Though the RPM (Record Production Month) Challenge is foremost a test of individual creativity and perseverance, the RPM community has become a vital part of the experience. Personal connections made during the event have endured long after February ends, giving musicians a group of like-minded people with whom to share their artistic life.

RPM Challenge began in February 2006 as a creative challenge for local bands in Portsmouth, N.H., where it was conceived by the local weekly newspaper The Wire in order to further the local music scene. It has since been adopted with similar local intensity by The Scope in St. John’s, Newfoundland, and The East Bay Express in Oakland, Calif. In 2007, the Wire opened the RPM Challenge to the international music community, where it was covered in popular blogs like Slashdot, in music Web sites like Pitchfork.com and on the National Public Radio show “All Things Considered,” with RPM bands featured on NPR’s “All Songs Considered.”

So this February, your option could be to hibernate, or you could choose to write a fistful of new material and get it recorded. From Anchorage, Alaska, to McMurdo Station in Antarctica, from London and Oslo to Tokyo, Aukland, Pretoria and Los Angeles, independent musicians from all genres and walks of life have come together with a common goal: to set aside any obstacles to producing music for the month of February, and to find themselves on March 1 each holding in their hands a new CD of their own original work that they would not have made otherwise.

Then, we celebrate! We’ll all join together for a global listening party on Saturday, March 26. Some parties happen in communities where RPMers get together and listen to each others tracks; others take part in the fun online, playing tracks and joining chats.

There is no fee to participate in the RPM Challenge. Bands must postmark their RPM 2011 CDs by March 1 to the RPM office at 10 Vaughan Mall, Suite 201, Portsmouth, N.H. 03801. For more information, to see the participating bands, listen to the online jukebox or to read the whole text of the challenge, go to www.rpmchallenge.com.

3 Comments

Filed under challenge, RPM Challenge

Tagged as album, February, music, press, press release, record, songs, writing

January 10, 2012 · 1:22 pm

Open Invite to Join the RPM Challenge 2012

Click for PDF (sorry I don't have one that says 2012 yet)

Dear bands, singer-songwriters & musicians alike,

Perhaps you have recently been mired in the drudgery of slogging through everyday life – work, bills, various and sundry other burdens. I understand. And I propose a solution. A moratorium on burdens, of sorts. I suggest that you join me in going to
http://www.rpmchallenge.com
and signing up for the RPM Challenge. The goal? To record an album in the month of February.

What’s that? You couldn’t possibly complete an album amid the many obligatory tasks on your plate? Trust me, you can. There is time. There is a way. Remember, it doesn’t have to be THE album, just AN album. An expression of you the artist, rather than you the worker bee. A chance to hit ‘Record’ and let the tape (hard drive?) roll until you have 10 songs or 35 minutes of previously unrealized musical genius ready and waiting to be shown to the world.

I know that recording an album in 28 days seems like a new burden, but I can assure that it is not. Instead, it’s an opportunity. An opportunity to let go for an hour or two (or eight or twelve – you have sick days, don’t you?) a day, to dive back into the essence of creation and to meet some equally crazy awesome (and often inspiring) people along the way. Write a blog entry, post in the forums, message people and beg for their assistance. Basically, do all the things you’ve been telling yourself you wish you had time to do. 28 days is just long enough.

Sincerely,

Mystie Chamberlin, Just Another Folk Singer

1 Comment

Filed under challenge, RPM Challenge, Uncategorized

Tagged as 2012, album, blog, crazy, February, record, RPM

February 1, 2011 · 2:00 pm

The RPM Challenge

Dear readers,

Since the weather, work, and freelance obligations are keeping me contained to the main island and mostly indoors, I am participating in the RPM Challenge this year (because I obviously needed more stress in my life). I would like the support of my online community and to also get out the word about the challenge so that others can join in. The Challenge has exploded from one town in 2006 to become the world’s largest global music experiment.

The idea behind the RPM Challenge seems simple: Record an album in 28 days, just because I can. That’s 10 songs or 35 minutes or original material recorded during the month of February. This is a challenge, not a contest—the only prize is getting the music community making some music together in February! We all win!

Thanks for all of your support.

Mystie
aka Just Another Folk Singer

Press Release: RPM Challenge 2011

Never Records: You are NOT listening!

Photo by The Merch Grrls

In November of 2007, I half-jokingly started a band, ThrowAway Grrls. I quietly harmonized and plunked the bass while my friend crooned and thrummed the guitar. Along with two other friends attempting percussion, we practiced for a few weeks in a desperate attempt swiftly to master our instruments for a premature show into which we had managed to charm our way. We were scheduled to open for a few tribute bands on a sold-out Saturday night at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City, but as soon as we walked into the upstairs club for our first sound-check, all our feet froze to the floor. We knew we were ill-prepared; we did not even know which amp was for the bass and which one was for the guitar. We only prepared four slap-dash songs, but with the help of a patient sound engineer, we persevered! Although, I must admit, for those 15-20 minutes, I wobbled like a gelatin dessert.

Around August of 2009, I grew frustrated with the constant, suffocating stage fright. Until then, I averaged a show or two per month. I spent hours with my head in my hands wondering what ways to overcome my cowardice. At the behest of an ex, I slammed one fist into the other palm and challenged myself to play 100 shows to remove forcibly the fear through repetition and experience. I did not give myself a deadline, because I was unsure of how to count a performance. However, I eventually decided to count any time I performed in front of a crowd of strangers, anything from an open mic to a proper show.

Beginning that September, I counted 15 prior performances. As much as I pep-talked myself to be non-nonchalant and reiterated that I did not care what others thought of my lack of technique, the thought of making a fool out of myself overwhelmed my convictions. Fortunately at that time, I re-read Writing Down The Bones: Freeing the Writer Within, which not only inspired me, but also helped me feel less inferior since I realized that I was no better or worse for trying than were my peers. By January 2010 I reached performance number 65, and throughout the month I played 25 more times including one of my personal favorites, an “in-store” performance at Never Records, a fake record store. Continue reading →

All of it was D.I.Y.

"View of a desk" iPhone Hipstamatic Print by Mystie Chamberlin, 01.09.11

Recently I had an epiphany. I wrote many of my own songs, but officially recorded only one original. For some reason, I imagined that the things suppressing my efforts included lack of money as well as a surplus of reliance on a producer’s lackadaisical schedule and his or her nonchalant attitude towards my craft-work. I never thought I could learn how to record myself.

Until recently I entrusted friends and acquaintances for the spontaneous capture of live footage. Then I invested, at a reasonable cost, in a handy, light weight Zoom recorder for which to chronicle new song ideas and live performances. David bought a mixer, microphone, and a pop screen. I already possessed a few faithful guitars and an enduring desire, He downloaded some free track recording software, and we prepared for lift off. At first we recorded a single track including vocals and acoustic guitar, but eventually we experimented with multi-track recording.

Enjoying the brisk breeze from the open window, I sat on the bed last Saturday morning and played the little, pink guy (i.e. little, pink guitar). I closed my eyes, and as I remembered the first song I composed in 2007, I let my fingers stroke and caress the bronze strings in its simple finger-picking technique in waltz time. I named it Goodnight Sweet. David suggested we record those old songs for prosperity. Continue reading →

Vacation

Hey everyone,

I’m taking some time of to write and record a little bit…and take a week out of the city for some rest and relaxation (I hope). I haven’t given up on 200 shows yet, but it’s time for a breather and some re-direction perhaps. Be back in a week or so.

xoxo,

Mystie