"Stop!! Think! Imagine! Paint! And If All Else Fails? RePaint"

Direction, Direction, Direction.. Where do we go, what do we do??? Well I think that when this happens, the best think to try and do first if just STOP everything that your doing. Now that you have stopped, let's focus on what it is that you were doing and what did you like and what did you not like about your last project workflow? And how can we be creative in a way that we do not continue to do things that we do not enjoy in our production processes moving forward. Then once you have figured this out, then let's start painting the canvas and see what we come up with. We may not come up with the best thing right off, but then again we might get lucky on the first try doing this new process. But if not, just wipe the canvas and let's repaint. In my past, things have always just got better once redone. So no fear there.

Fearless Painting,

- RF

"So We Meet Again Mr. Dragon"

Long time no talk, I am not sure who is reading this blog since I do not post anything often enough to keep people checking and I know that I need to be better at that. Right now, I have been busy in Production for a New Unnameable Social game title for Facebook that will be coming out in November, so be ready for that when that hits Facebook Live!

So what shall we talk about today... i think it is time for me to think about putting out an actual album full of brand new material that has never been heard before and of yes, a new approach, of course with the same ole "RF IN UR FACE" style that your used to. I have worked on other peoples projects for a long time, but now I think the time has come, or passed as I feel to actually release an album of my own on to iTunes and see how it does in a open market. If people like then that is great, if they do not like, then that is ok too. Opinions are lovely, but not always understanding to the project they are giving their opinion on. But that is why this is art. There is no right, there is no wrong, and that is what leads me to write most of my songs. Just for the f*#@ of it, because I can.. I say.

So, my question to you is "What have you been working on lately? Is it exciting? Is it a new sound? What's keeping you from putting our your own album if you write music for others....?

So 2011 is the year to be slain like a dragon, so pull our your sword and let's do this this peoples!

Year of the slain dragon,

- RF

"Meet Somebody New - Find A New Sound - Find A New HIT!!!!!!"

Finding yourself in need of inspiration? Then get out there and meet someone new. Maybe look for someone that is different than the normal artist you are looking for. This way in the process of learning about their vocal skills and wants as an artist, this will allow you to grow as well and once again bring something new to your arsenal of musical creation. Also, don't be afraid to look outside of the gendre of music that you are accustomed to listening to. You might just surprise yourself...

Expand the mind, Blow up the World!!

- RF

"Where Does The Time Go?..."

Can you believe that 2011 is already a 1/3 of the way over. Where in the world does the time go... So guess when your working and insanely busy, it is hard to realize how fast time is going by. If you are reading this then you have just checked in to see where in the hell I have been. Well, have been working for a company called Method Solutions in the Dallas/Fort Worth area as a Game Producer and Lead Sound Designer. Go figure that I am doing something with production. Gotta Love it. And to think about it, if I wasn't doing production, I am not sure what I would do. It definitely feels my creative needs.

Ok, this is it for now, but I will write again real soon.

- RF

"Dashing Through The Dough"

Christmas has come and gone once again and its time to reminisce again upon all the gear that we have purchased in 2010. Did you buy anything cool this year? How about Pro Tools finally getting their act together and opening up themselves to not having to use their hardware. I know for a lot of people,this was a dream come true from forever back. So I hope that this brings a lot more users back to Pro Tools, but also keeps people still continuing to use Apple's Logic as well. I know that I could not do what I do without the use of both of these great programs. So, did you get anything cool for Christmas gear wise? Share with me and tell me if there is something that I cannot live without.

Always ready to dash through some dough,

R Frederick

"Cleaning House"

Downgrading...

Sometimes things get a little crazy and overwhelming, but never be afraid to simplify and downgrade to seek back control of knowing what is going on. This also applies to your music, when a song starts getting to crazy. If it seems to be crazy, then fall back and take a second look at the song and simplify what is going on in the track. More than likely the message will come through clearer without the clutter and will not distract from the message of the song. Transparency through clarity. Also, it will help you in the future to build a track and not let it get to big without knowing why you need all the extra layers. If the layers have a purpose, then by all means, leave the layers, fore with those elements it would not make it the same.

Cleared out,

R. Frederick

"Full Steam Ahead Into The Tunnel"

Does it ever seem like the tunnel seems far ahead and that your never gonna get there? All I can say to that is to keep a chugging down the tracks and stay focused and you will eventually get where you want. Music is the same way, sometimes you know where you want to go, but we don't always know all the right steps in order to get there until we are almost there. But somehow, I can't say how it happens, but everything just seems to fall in line when it is time miraculously. So all I can say is to just keep pushing forward and do not hesitate with your movement forward into the future with your creativity.

Sincerely,

R Frederick

"Lyrics With The Right Emotion"

Well its been awhile since my last blog, so here is something to get this thing going once again. A few months back I met a gentlemen by the name of Glen that had gone through a fight with breast cancer with his Aunt. He had written a song called "I Bleed In Pink For You" and said that he would love to be able to get the song into the hands of Susan G. Komen Foundation for the Cure. So ironically my friend Tighe was actually in the process of working on a different project with Susan G. Komen, so when he heard this, he knew that this must of been a sign that day of this meeting. I later met up with the artist, Gunner Glen, and we sat down and listened to the music that he had been reciting the lyrics to, but it was just lacking the right emotion that he was wanting to convey. So we set out to write new music that would compliment the strong message in his words. Thus creating the emotional ride to let the message truelly sing. This just goes to show that without the right music, the words can not always live on their own with the wrong music.

With Growth,

R. Frederick

"Creating The Sound That Sets The Stage"

I love sound design cause it really makes me thing about how the sound is going to appeal to the person that is listening to it over and over and make the item its behind come to life. Without sound, the visual can be very boring. When I'm thinking about the sound I'm creating, I have to imagine how its going to play over and over again in the users head. Therefore, the process of creation really has to be done early on. This causes me to be in the mind set of "is this annoying?". Therefore its very important to think about the sounds you pick when making something that is going to be used by others. So just take your time and create a great project and not just something that is forgotten.

Explosion of the mind!

R. Frederick

"Pure Passion"

I love taking on new, challenging projects fore it allows me to let my internal creativity spawn out a little more and more with each. I really believe that research pays off. Its good to know what the competition is doing, so that you know what your either up against or to know how far you are ahead or behind of the different levels of production. Of course, I cannot think of anyone that would not want to be ahead and be doing things that are innovative and addicting. I can say that I feel blessed that I have a good ear for what I believe can become very catchy when put on the right track. Then once on that track, my blinders come on and its full steam ahead till the end of the project. You got to love it when there is passion behind what you do, sure does make it a lot easier to not call it work. :D

Excited,

R. Frederick

"Inspired By The Epic Music From Audio Machine"

Audio Machine.... Let me just say WOW!
I am more than amazed by the quality of the song writing and the quality of the music that is being produced by these guys. Doing everything from Avatar to the newest Star Trek release from JJ Abrams. If you have not checked them out, please visit their site today at www.audiomachine.com or search for them on You Tube. Amazing stuff, please enjoy and be inspired like I have been. If you listen to their music and let it guide you, I am thinking the result is going to be freaking EPIC!!

Inspired!

R. Frederick

"Where Is Hip Hop Going? Has Real Songwriting Been Thrown Away?"

So what is the deal with hip hop being thrown together with a bunch of premade loops and people thinking that their making music? Since when did you not need to know how to play an instrument in order to compose music. To a song writer like myself, this is frustrating cause people are just slapping stuff together and its 4 minutes of listening to a 2 to 4 measure loop over and over again. Dropping instruments in and out is not writing changes, its called muting tracks :|. If you do this, then I strongly urge you to make the music change when the chorus comes in and don't be afraid to make a bridge. Now sampling is totally different, there is a true art to sampling something and turning it into something of your own and then on top of that making something that is respectable. If you are going to make a new song and use a sample, I think there needs to be some sort of respect happening in the song in relation to the original production of the particular song that has been sampled. OK enough of the lack of creativity process in hip hop for now. Thanks for reading and share you thoughts with me.

Cheers!

R. Frederick

"Songwriting Through The SSL XDESK Mixer"

Usually I do not mess with sending my virtual instruments through the SSL XDESK when I am song writing, but today I decided to and just by running the sounds through individual channels on the mixer, it instantly made me hear these sounds differently. Therefore, it made me use them to paint my canvas in a whole different way. And the added benifit is that I am already that much closer to doing my mixdown with the SSL XDESK in the mix. Bottom line, this is a plus plus all the way around. If your reading this and love your music, buy an XDESK today. Its the best $3k you can spend for your studio!

Lost in the mix!

R. Frederick

"Gotta Be Startin Something"

Well just got out of the studio. Was in the dark for while before the lights came on and music actually started coming out of my fingers. But that is just the way that it goes sometimes when your wanting to be creative and it isn't just pouring right out. Started a new song that is going to be for the home page on my site. Hope to come back to it tomorrow (Monday) and revisit the idea and see if I still like it. You know how it goes, it may be total trash tomorrow. Stay tuned for the continuation.

The day has ended.

R.Frederick

"Sunday And A Song To Be Had?"

Ever wake up and you just can't stop thinking about getting in the studio for the day. This morning is one of those days. I have woke up early and am ready to turn everything on and start playing those ivory keys to see if there is something in me today or not. Hopefully there is to meet my excitement that I am feeling to write something new today. Stay tuned, I hope, ha ha.

R. Frederick

"Where Is This Thing Going?"

Ever wonder where your music is going or why your doing it? Hopefully first off your doing it for yourself, secondly I hope your enjoying do it at the same time. If your not enjoying it then it might not be the path for you to be going down. You never want it to feel like actual work if you don't have to. Do you know what I mean? With that being said, I have joined SoundCloud recently and its a great way to get your music out there for people to hear and not only that, its a great way for people to share their music back with you. Pretty incredible site if you ask me.

Thanks for reading my blog today!

R.Frederick