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Stages on Stages. How the music currently works.

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Cacophony of Sound and Dreadful Thought.
Photograph by Gray Summers.

When taking and then naming the above photograph, the image name came from the scenario. Two guys were standing on this strata pinnacle and jumping off and into a swirling dervish of water. The noise from the water was loud. Very loud. Thinking of yourself in that situation, and for fun, is a non existent in entertainment value in the Summers’ mind set. There is no room for a self inflicted adrenaline rush needed in my life.

Those two guys? Therapy? Or an adrenaline rush? Who knows! Maybe the water exploding around them was the reward for the chances taken.

Adrenaline is never a constant when writing songs. Okay! Adrenaline came way back when, when playing live gigs. In the 1970’s, when jumping on a stage and playing to an audience, the butterflies intertwined with the fight or flight response brought about with the onset of adrenaline hitting the blood system and flooding the heart. I went back to those days this morning when typing a little video text for the song Audience. When the song (written by myself) was played back then, it was pretty much a pop song with jangling energy. It was written in 1976.

Cut to 2026. 50 years on. A gentler vibe exists below borne from years of learning that it is far nicer on the heartstrings to experience flight, not fight.

AUDIENCE. A TRIAL SINGING EXERCISE INTO THE IPAD MICROPHONE TO CAPTURE ON THE SHURE MOTIV APP FILE.
THESE LITTLE TRY OUTS ARE FAIRLY USEFUL.
FIRSTLY TO SEE IF THE SONGS ARE WORTH FOLLOWING UP.
SECONDLY, TO SEE IF I CAN REACH THE NOTES STILL IF FROM THE PAST AND IF NOT, TO CHANGE THE SONG’S KEY.
THESE IPAD RECORDING ARE AS BASIC AS CAN BE.

Jangling energy has altered in Summersville to a gentler vibe. Thinking about songwriting stages and the layering of sound? Or the progression of songs as they reach a final mindful decision of ‘Yes! Happy with this’ state is a strange process. It also includes an ongoing visual consideration too. Little holistic captures that include the Summers’ naive tried out’s in other artistic mediums too.

Photography captures, printing, little watercolour paintings, typing lyrics or thoughts to add to a video are pretty basic. But they can offer a nice focused session where the outer world simply slips away. All that is left is ‘comfort land’. A place to sit and talk to my other self. Or produce two or more instrumental or vocal recording tracks to capture the playing or singing of additional little ideas that can interact with my musical ideas.

Where in the World and Pink Hearts experiments. Sound wise, this is the new direction. Simplicity of sound. Some percussion, a bit of instrumentation, an electric guitar simple melody or riff and vocal harmonies and call backs are the aim. And definitely no crazy experimentation inclusions anymore.

What happens to imagined Bass guitar lines that I want to add? Sometimes I sing them out because they were always an ever present requirement back when I was in bands. If I brought a song to the band, it was played on an acoustic guitar. Rather like what you can hear in these trial audios. Sometimes an electric guitar if a riff or specific rhythm was the intention.

In ‘Where in the World’ a bass line has been thought of. I sang it faster than the song, that is the current vibe of ‘gentle’, could handle. But the Bass notes verse melody can be easily adapted to fit. Also, songs intentions do steal from each other. The Bass line melody has actually become the chorus.

The intentional Bass guitar melody for ‘Where in the World’ above. I can easily adapt it to suit the slower and more gentle version in the video above.

My Hohner Les Paul L75 electric guitar is back today after being set up to play properly. Hopefully no more going out of tune on a regular basis half way through a song. It is back home in my youth town called Coventry. My brother will pick it up. So a few weeks will have to go by before I can travel to collect it. Once back, gentle guitar inclusions will be added too.

The gentleness that is ‘There She Goes’.

And so. Definitely no Cacophony of Sound and Dreadful Thought.

‘18 years was 50 years ago’. I can measure future time and age with this song. Currently 18 years was 52 years ago. Not quite as easy lyrically.

Of course, more visual captures to add to future video imagery will be required too. Definitely a need to up the game in this respect. I can’t stand still. Ideas are currently swimming around the brain in the form of ‘film-making skills’. Self learning this ideal is going to be the way to go again! I am my own worst critic unfortunately and even though people have fed back that the below video is pretty good regarding my black and white photographs inclusions……it has a distinct lack of holistic value. Nothing marries. An ever seeking mind is pretty tiresome at times. But……..

Time allowance to get things up and running and to hoped for finishing lines is pretty awesome presently. Retirement is so much fun.

November, the Stereo and You…..My Friend.

All photographs taken by Gray Summers on the Pentax LX SLR film camera.

The Work Horse of cameras. A beautiful iconic ownership.

I didn’t have black and white photographs that could relate with the lyrical content. So chose ones with the fragility of not quite there in close meaning. They were ‘oh so obviously’ a million miles away from sitting comfortably in juxtaposition. The future can bring about little scenario ideas that can be set up to sit alongside each line of lyric content with true meaning.

23 thoughts on “Stages on Stages. How the music currently works.”

    1. Thank you Stan. It’s called the Warts and All approach. I have been watching Get Back, the amazing three part film from Peter Jackson regarding The Beatles Let it Be developmental recordings and the live roof top playing results. Also, have been listening to the CD’s from both Marc Bolan/T. Rex living room test tapes and the Anthology CDs from The Beatles. All showing how songs come into shape.

      Luckily, because as you yourself do, I do all this on my own and can therefore capture all the stages. I don’t care one bit about my singing or playing qualities in truth. These are my older years now and it is fantastic to simply see music and songwriting as self therapy. Giving it my best, but not agonising over results. Songwriting is the aural version to my touch sense in journal writing with fountain pen the only go to choice. The ink in a fountain pen flows easily and resistance when writing is absent. Both music and script help to create calm and peacefulness.

      Cheers Stan. Your comments are always much appreciated. 🍁🍂

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      2. Thank you Stan. I suppose as musicians, we both must be pretty chilled characters. Music kind of does that when you let the melodies into your life. And soul.
        All the best Stan. Your words are much appreciated.

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  2. wow…that image “Cacophony of Sound and Dreadful Thought” – is stunning – before reading i looked and looked trying to figure out what it was lol …. and your title is so fitting – before your explanation and after too…

    and as interesting of an experience it sounds….me thinks the your ” gentler vibe ” sounds much better lol …

    Lol, we’re taking your word for it, Gray – retirement is so fun…

    🤍🙏

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    1. Made me smile Destiny. When I looked at the negative of the photograph after I developed the film, I was puzzled too. I had taken a fair few photographs that day. It did look strange when scanned the photo print to upload to Flickr photography site. The bluish colours arrived in the image after scanning and it was a black and white film. It has always had atmosphere, but I gave the paper print of the photograph away. Also, I no longer have a scanner, so cannot reproduce it now.

      I am enjoying the gentler vibe and am currently trying to write lots more lyrics. I could do with your prolific work rate Destiny. My inspirations are very far and few between at times. But they will suddenly be successful.

      And yes. Retirement is fun. A four mile walk today amongst the hillsides was fantastic…..but has left aching muscles! 😊

      Cheers Destiny. 🙏🏽

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      1. you’re doing great, Grey … quality over quantity… 😋
        lol, its winter coming here, and when thoughts are not moody then they’re frozen🤭… sunny days are the best …

        and see the generation shift here … we’re already moaning and groaning with those aches long before retirement and mind you – with no walking 🤦🏻‍♀️🙃lol…

        thank you, Gray … once again…the image is mysteriously stunning…🤍

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      2. Not Moody then they are Frozen is a great line Destiny. Can be used both poetically and lyrically. I have an aversion to bright sunshine. It brings about terrible headaches. Something to do with how my eyes cannot tolerate such brightness. We have been walking quite a bit recently. Spent two days over last weekend walking long distances with family. Maybe it is the collective of having a few sessions that has culminated in aching. If I ran too many miles when young, cramp and shin pain problems existed too. I have to admit, I am no exercise fan!

        Cheers Destiny. 🙏🏽🍁🍂

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      3. lol, i think i can wrap it around your image here , Gray😋 … some moody and some frozen…

        that also adds some insight (just my thoughts ) into your images …. they’re mostly black and white or bordering on darker shades…interesting.

        Sorry about the headaches…🤗
        i think un-sunlit days give me headaches lol… I’ll take your share of sunlight of your shoulders , Gray…🤭

        🤍🙏

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      4. One of my friends here on WordPress gets migraines with adverse weather conditions. And not bright sunshine either. So I imagine that ‘moody’ weather is responsible for them. I am very willing to give the sunshine experience over to you Destiny. 100%. Wales however is very much known for rain. That is why we are famous for having lush green and sumptuous hillsides and valleys.

        My good friend, an ex nurse colleague, is from Ghana. He has lived here in Wales for a number of years. A few decades. He always says he will take me to his homeland for a visit. It would be amazing. However, I believe it would be difficult due to the sunshine. I hardly ever go abroad to places like Spain, Greece, Italy, etc. because of this. Shame really. It is very limiting. But, indeed, the headaches are very debilitating and best avoided.

        Good theory regarding my colour choices. I never went out in full sun for photography. Always on lots of overcast days. Also. I used to take all my photographs with black and white film as I had a darkroom out back of the house years ago. So, all the camera work was in this darker medium. No vibrant colour. My iPad is used for the general photos for the blogs, hence brighter colour. So my life does have splashes of vibrancy. 😊

        Thank you Destiny. 🙏🏽🍁🍂 a few golden leaves for you from the Frail Autumnal vibe.

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      5. …lol, i would have told you to visit SA , Gray … but not in Summer… winter sounds more friendly for you…

        …and to your splashes of vibrancy, the muse awakens- (a wee bit moody still 🥴 but atleast a little coherent lol)

        those few golden leaves remind me that Autumn is on a frail vibe here as it prepares to leave…🍂🍂

        may i use “frail autumn” in a poem please? …with due credit to you.

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      6. Of course you can use Frail Autumn Destiny. If any words are in any of my blogs, then feel free to use them. Do not worry regards crediting to me. Your poetic mind always comes up with such ideas regularly. You have a gift of describing wonderfully.

        I have never travelled abroad really. On a few occasions only. So am no seeker to experience the vibrancy of what the World can offer. I do love the rural living qualities here. I may put up a short video I took yesterday of my surrounding countryside. Gives people here on WordPress some idea as to why I am happy here.

        Cheers Destiny. Wishing you a happy vibrancy in your life’s colourful choices. 😊🙏🏽🍁🍂

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  3. Very nice, Gray! The last recording is especially appealing. I’m glad you’ve managed to create so much beautiful music. (At first I was startled: Your photo “Cacophony of Sound and Dreadful Thought” looks very similar to a picture of mine that I am still working on.)

    Kind regards, f

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    1. Kind words regarding my music Friedrich. Thank you.

      Regarding the photograph? Your painting will have so much skill and thoughtful imput. This photograph is simply a look, click the shutter button and capture an interesting moment result. Strange juxtaposition, but fascinating to consider the why’s and wherefore’s of similar visual captures and of the small to large variety of effort required in life’s captures. I have many books by famous photographers and am fascinated how they can capture, in a split second, something so unique from the story of life. Everything falling into alignment at one given moment. I imagine it being similar to your last written piece regarding a painting’s light considerations. Visual captures and the importance of light and space. Ethereal and beautiful.

      Rather like music too. A totality of perfection in many considerations regarding sound capture. Hundreds of choices exist as to inclusions. I had a thought this morning. A piece of music first listened to can be so exquisitely and achingly beautiful, it moves you to tears. There are pieces of music I have listened to that have indeed done that. I now wonder if the artist or musician themselves have been moved so I intensely by their own work. Can they experience similar feelings emotionally from that which they produce. I certainly never have.

      I never used colour film at all when in the photography days. Always black and white. My lack of memory means that I forget if I scanned this Cacophony photograph in paper print or the negative form at that time. With the colour distortion on this photograph, it must have been the negative. I always developed my photograph prints on a matte vintage paper. Grade 4 or 5 for high contrast. So I cannot believe that colour would be manifested eerily through that scanning process. No image gloss to reflect light. A negative could create such reflections though.

      Regarding the music? I am no producer to getting decent sound quality. I am a technophobe too. Imagery for my videos could be improved massively. If decent filmed images were accompanying the sound, it would hopefully bring about a much needed totality to this project. However, it is so nice to be simply happy in retirement and just go with the flow.

      All the best Friedrich. I look forward to seeing your painting. That would be very interesting.

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      1. Thanks, Gray, you’re raising some interesting questions again, like “whether the artists or musicians themselves were so deeply moved by their work.” I think it’s a yes and a no. What we as “consumers” see or hear in a piece of music always has something to do with our time and our environment. Van Gogh is certainly an extreme example: it’s obvious that his own paintings triggered something within him. When crowds of people flock to an immersive exhibition today with 3D, light shows, and popcorn, many are also thrilled. Just different 🙂

        Poor sound quality? We live in a time where we overestimate the technical aspects far too much. Often, perfectly polished but ultimately meaningless rubbish comes out. A Mississippi John Hurt, on the other hand, reaches a level in his imperfection that you simply can’t achieve with all the studio possibilities. Enjoy your weekend!

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      2. Great points Friedrich. You are spot on re: the holistic collective of what is involved. Sometimes it is purely the art itself that can move you. For myself, it is mostly the links that certain art forms have when I am vulnerable emotionally. The end of the film Edward Scissorhands has massive emotional impact on me every time I see it. The visuals, the acting and the music. After my brother died at 20 years old, this one scene hit a raw spot. I cried.

        Ambience in our Art Centre is managed perfectly too. Sebastio Salgado, Bill Brandt, David Bailey are my favourite photographers. On seeing their photography at exhibitions, brought chills. I suppose it is being in the presence of such iconic imagery. I met David Bailey at the local Arts Centre and he was so nice. He was ambling about on his own. I said I was so sorry to bother him, and would just say ‘Hi’ and leave. But he was a real gentleman. He signed a book of his work that I had brought along to his exhibition. That can also be a huge factor in that it centres an experience of positivity too. Collectives and inclusions often build upon art that you witness. Aroma for myself is important too. I listened to a David Bowie album for the first time on bonfire night. The outside air was thick with fireworks smell and bonfire smoke. It wafted through my bedroom window. Every November 5th that album immediately comes to mind and the fact that I was young at that time brings a fondness. Unfortunately, no visual flashbacks though. Music is often linked to emotional times.

        And yes, perfection in AI is awful. I shall have to chase down A Mississippi John Hurt. I know nothing of this. I agree with you regards perfection. Or lack of. So many examples of music as a raw presentation can really hit the spot. Slade Alive is a wonderful album. Status Quo and their opening track on their live album called Junior’s Wailing brings back those times of watching them at live gigs countless times.

        Those were the days! Cheers Friedrich. Hope you have had a great weekend too. Oh! I now have my wonderful Hohner Les Paul L75 electric guitar back. I have just arrived back home from a 280 miles round trip today to pick it up. It is now playing perfectly after being ‘set up’. So I can record confidently with it now. Happy days.

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      4. Thank you Friedrich. My blog on this guitar gets lots of visits. Reading some threads out there, it is a much loved and admired guitar. Not expensive, but great quality. I bought it secondhand off a local guy. My wife is a treasure at finding these things out. Her Wholefood Shop has a plethora of customers with such amazingly diverse skills and interests. Machynlleth has a wonderful community. Vibrant beyond!

        I was playing the Hohner ‘off amp’ last night. Wow! It feels like a completely different guitar. I used it on the song Faded Walls knowing that it was going out of tune throughout the song. It may well have been out of tune before anyways. The guy who set up the guitar told my brother (who picked it up) that it was massively out with fretboard, intonation and octave problems wise. You can tell how well an electric guitar is made by the way it melodically resonates and note sustains off amp. The body work on this Hohner is beautiful. The strings’ sound tonality effortlessly ring out in longevity.

        When using GarageBand, you record each instrument on separate tracks. So it should be easy to open up a new guitar track and replay the central echoing sound to Faded Walls. If it works? I can then delete the original out of tune track. Maybe play some little overlay lead guitar melody too. I would love some elongated guitar notes like Robert Fripp produced on David Bowie’s song ‘Heroes’.

        My brother has a very nice Gibson Les Paul he bought as a present to himself on recent retirement. I played it yesterday when picking up my own guitar. Now that is a guitar to fully ‘rock on’ to. Marc Bolan owned one. His song, Twentieth Century Boy, has the best guitar sound of all time. My brother was lucky that he found the guy, John, who set up his guitar. Steve, my brother, was over the moon with his results. I’ve had guitar set up’s done over the years that leave a lot to be desired.

        Next up project wise? Some weird pencil, fountain pen and wash ink doodling for imagery inclusions to the songs. Then. Work out how to get the Yamaha DD65 electronic drum kit connected to the Mac M2 (spent hours the other day trying and failing!) and maybe upgrade from GarageBand to the Apple Logic Pro studio platform which professionals use for recording music. Anything to keep the brain moving in older age.

        Thank you for dropping by Friedrich. Much appreciated. .

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      5. Thanks for sharing these interesting experiences, Gray. It is great to hear how the quiet, natural moments of playing off-amp perfectly balance the technical side of recording. I am genuinely happy for you and wish you luck with your upcoming music projects.

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      9. Authenticity is something I am in awe of. Over decades and sitting in rooms with various musicians that have skills with emotional attachment, it is mesmerising listening and watching them. And sometimes you get to play alongside them too.

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