Bring The Noise!

Have you ever filled a pan partially with water, while cooking, and then hit the side of it just to hear the cool noise that it makes? Then you sir, (or madam) are a songwriter! I personally haven't heard it in a song yet, but anyone, with a bit of creativity, can integrate cool noises such as this into a song! One of my favorite examples of such creativity is toward the end of the song "Hang Me Out To Dry" by the Coldwar Kids. That creaking noise that you hear as the song nears the end, is actually a fishing pole, being reeled in reverse. I always thought that was pretty brilliant.

When I write songs, I find it helpful to go about with a trigger in th back of my mind. I don't know how else to explain it. Just keeping an ear open for different sounds. It's something that I believe people do, (or can do if you don't already) subconsciously.

Kind of like when you see a squirrel, standing around. They can't stand still for more than a second without looking over their shoulder, and thinking to themselves "What's that!" as though a leaf falling from a tree could kill them instantly. That's where my ADD, (which is a completely made up disorder by the way) gives me an advantage. I think millions of (adults such as my self) have ADD, but for the most part, it simply goes undiagnosed. I use it to my advantage, and consider myself a "jack of all trades, master of none."

Anyway, I'm getting off subject. The point is, when you hear something unique, do whatever you have to do, to recognize it. Harness it if you will. Whether you have your tape recorder on you, or not, make a mental note. And if it's a noise you haven't recorded, and couldn't possibly replicate exactly, simply do your best, untill you are satisfied. As long as you can come close to replicating what's in your head, I have a feeling people will connect with your song.

Sometimes, if you have a jumble of noises on your tape recorder, you can use a number of different computer aplications, or recording software, to combine them into one noise. I wouldn't always recomend this, because it takes away from the spontaneity. However, it's never bad to do anything in moderation. It's like a seasoning for a chef, a little pepper goes a long way, but if you over do it, it could make your food inedible, and to much salt can kill you! You don't want to kill your listeners, do you?!

Also, if you have too many weird noises, it might make your song hard, if not impossible to play live. It's fine if you have a synthesizer, or something you can play the noise back on if it's just one or two odd sounds. This could give your song that signature sound that connects with people on a deep personal level. And that's what songwriting is really all about, isn't it?! But if you have to have a tape playing in the background while you sing, like the Backstreet Boys or something, that just makes you kinda lame, doesn't it? I mean unless you're a really talented singer, and you're looking for that kind of pop audience, in which case you should just hire a professional to write your songs for you, and you have no business reading blogs like this! So, keep your ears open, and until next time, remember to bring the noise!

Scott Ian!