Hi folks.
I don’t know if it’s possible to make music any more that you hear and say, “Oh that’s weird. I’m not sure if I like it, but I can’t stop listening to it”. That’s like my new mission, I think. My other new podcast (Sound of Picture) is great exercise for the weird part. (though it’s not that weird, really). Having a lot of fun and hoping you are too. This is a jam for those who don’t jive to the vibey stuff:
Totally P Bear.
Hello friends,
Please turn your attention to a completely new music outlet for me:
Sound of Picture Podcast (iTunes - click subscribe)
The simple idea of Sound of Picture is to pair an original short composition with an original photograph in the hope that they enhance each other. The second idea is that this will inspire people to make their own pairings with this music (in animations, YouTube videos, podcasts, films, slideshows, and so forth.)
Sound of Picture posts may be more experimental, atmospheric, abstract, brief, and simple than the tunes that I have made for the Modern Music Grower podcast. Nonetheless, I think you will find they make a satisfying, if different, playlist. If you like what you hear, I beg of you to leave a comment on iTunes, so it doesn’t look so sparse up in there.
I previously reported that there are only 5 more songs to go til I get to the ‘finish line’ for my Modern Music Grower podcast goal. Lots of people have asked if I’m retiring after that and I’ve thought of various options. In all honesty I can’t imagine not making new P Bear songs in a similar mold. So, yes, the show will go on, but the frequency of updates is completely without guarantee (as it has been for a wee bit now)
Lastly, I did my first phone interview. Basically I just ramble, and the audio quality does a pretty good job of masking my voice, but if you’re curious you can listen in at dailysplice.com
truly,
p bear
‘allo folks.
Just got back from the This American Life Live via Satellite show. I’m absolutely thrilled to have my music associated with the top shelf creative work of Ira Glass and all the staff and contributors at the show. I’ve been a fan for a decade now, and it’s almost like a fairy tale to me to have Ira crediting me by (code)name. So, by request here is a list of songs that were used in the pre-show quiz thing, and under Ira’s commentary:
Squirell Commotion
Climbing The Mountain
Airliner
Raccoon Family Robinson
1-800-Podbear
Streetbeat Heat
Yip Yop
Elephants On Parade
Assmack
Wednesday Night Flever (sic)
Huah
Zoot Suit
Sweet n’ Sour Sanich
Niagara Falls In A Raft
Depeche Mold
Kitty In The Window
You can navigate to long samples of these and 100+ more tunes in the sidebar over there.
My best advice (without being too much of a salesbear, if you’ll forgive the quick pitch) is to just order the box set if you feel like you can afford it, and like what you heard. It’s cheaper than iTunes ($3 an album) and it’s a nice compact keepsake chock full of delightful songs that work in the background and front. Good for the car, work, for cleaning the house, for home slideshows and movies, and more. If you’re not flush with 30 bones, or want to try before you buy, head on over to iTunes and download a few songs by subscribing to my podcast!
And if you’re up for it, feel free to leave a comment! OK.
-p bear over and out.
Just a few announcements.
1. One of my fave vlogs, Rocketboom, recently used one like half a dozen of my tunes as a soundbeds for their recent episodes. That Joanne is a charmer. Have a look.
2. I’ve just heard that P Bear songs are confirmed for the first four episodes of This American Life Season Two. They will be having a theatrical premiere in several cities. Here’s a trailer
3. HUSH Records will not only be releasing The End –the final installment from P Bear for the box set collection–but the box set itself in stores on June 24th. That’s the cover up yonder.
4. I’m counting down to posted song #149 as my finish line. (Adding the seven songs from The End brings the total to that magic 156. [52 weeks x 3 songs a week = 156]) That leaves only five more after today! (Sorry if some of you thought “Drunken Bees” was kind of a dud. I thought it was funny.)
ps. Keep in touch with me via the mailing list signup o’er there to your right.
Silliness today.
ps. Hey, be a dear and sign up for my mailing list over there. I’m going away soon and I want to keep in touch.
This is my favorite song on the new Radiohead album, so when they released the song parts for remixing I couldn’t resist. Clever of them to make you buy them. I just worked with the vocal. I think Radiohead called it “Nude” because it was originally a rocker arrangement and when they stripped it down, they found it to be prettier that way. That’s complete conjecture, of course.
But it’s interesting that they chose this song for a remix contest, because, to me at least, it’s fairly resistant to your standard dancefloor remix treatment.
As per usual, I decided not to mess it up much. I don’t care for slice and dice vocals and beat-centric remixes. So I stuck with the arrangement cues from the album and just tried to add layers and texture without making it cluttered. That’s what I liked in the first part: all the space around Thom Yorke’s voice.
A curious & cute song to inspire your weekend planning.
-p bear
Ahoy!
A simple cruiser for you to start the week. Come on Spring!
-p bear
