Influences: Duran Duran, Pet Shop Boys, Art of Noise, New Order, Radiohead, Wire, Kraftwerk, Super Furry Animals, Depeche Mode, Eurythmics, Soft Cell, David Bowie, the Postal Service, Gary Numan, Human League, Garbage, Tears For Fears
Hi! My name's Chris, but I record as 'Kiffa' (a lifelong family nickname)-- you can call me either.
I started writing and recording music in my bedroom as a teenager in the late '80s. Back then, never could I have imagined that anyone outside of my close circle of friends would ever hear any of it. Although the internet has changed that, I still approach making music in much the same way: I do it for myself, and I'm not trying to make it into anything more than a hobby. Because of this and other factors (e.g. laziness, financial limitations), my gear, as well as my knowledge of how to use it, is pretty limited-- but I'm still trying to make the most I can out of it.
If my wishy-washiness hasn't sent you running away yet, welcome, and enjoy the relatively lo-fi goodness.
He/him/his.
Update, 3/1/22: Well, it's about 3:30 AM on March 1st on the east coast, and while the site is still live, I'm going to bed-- so my FAWM is officially over! A week ago, I was laboring away to get my second song up, and I ended up finishing with four-- a huge victory for me, and maybe my best showing since my rookie year in 2008. I get in my own way a lot, so this really was significant.
I'll be around throughout March (or however long the site is up before it goes into hibernation) to listen to what I can. Congrats to everyone who ended up with more songs under their belt than they had on February 1st.
Update, 2/26/22: Currently unable to hook my instruments up to my computer, I've abandoned them altogether and used online resources to 'record' music again this year. Vocals had to be done with my phone. Not an ideal situation, but again... making the most of it, I hope.
#1 | Dinosaurs |
14 Feb 2022 |
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#2 | Survivor's Guilt |
11 Feb 2022 |
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#3 | Devil's Advocate |
7 Feb 2022 |
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#4 | Goodbye, FAWM |
11 Feb 2022 |
Good suggestion to change the title to "Black Friday" - thanks.
That is so cool that there was a challenge to all write songs to the same lyric, and that you were one of the people who wrote one and that there was a CD of it. And even that you're a little embarrassed by it now. I've made a little CD for my parents for the last three Christmases. The first one is all acapella, the second has me banging on a guitar and singing, the third is a combination of me singing to Band in a Box, and cowriters performing and singing on real instruments. I love the feeling that next year's will be even better. It gives me permission to go ahead and put stuff out there now, knowing it'll encourage me later to look back on it.
Thanks so much for coming up with that word economical for the lines in my Takeaway song. I notice now that when I pull up a lyric I wrote a couple years back, the first thing I want to do is start whacking away syllables that aren’t pulling their weight. I find I always have a rhythm spooling when I write, though often the same one for weeks or months. Next I’d like to explore having the regular rhythm for some lines then doing some that are much shorter or a little longer. I loved it that you said you could hear the rhythm im those words. Thank you. Reading through your set of influences made me remember how particular SoftCell, Tears for Fears, and Pet Shop Boys songs are still wandering my halls. I’m thinking for 50/90 I’ll make a list of 50 songs that have done that. Maybe 10 per decade or so.
A PSR-310 instrumental from 20 years ago for you (I don't use soundclick at all anymore, but even 15 years ago, well...) https://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=2495654 and the song immediately after it. Both are from the ill-fated The Internet Opera. Flying Tadpole, purveyor of one musical theatre/opera disaster after another...
Thx for you kind words on "hallelujah". It was fun to do.
Thanks for the listen and your kind words about "Disintegration". And, you're right, no need to doubt my commitment to Sparkle Motion. Lol
Thanks for visiting. The "reminds me of" comment is spot on. @majordanby 's reaction after hearing the instrumental was "I like to do something in the style of Thom Yorke"
Thanks so much for your comments on my songs. This year I did several skirmishes (including the cleaning prompt song) and really enjoyed them. I tried so hard this year to boldly go where I hadn't before-bluegrass, spoken word, the skirmishes, multitracking, challenges, key changes. I finally learned how to use the drum tracks a bit! I think I'm going to try 50/90 this summer to keep in contact with some like-minded folks-this is such a great environment.
Thanks for all those comments! Really nice to still be receiving them into March, and they reminded me to check out your last two as well. Definitely up for a collab next year! Or I'll be around 50/90 in the summer if that takes your fancy at all. I seem to have evolved from a February Album Writer into a February Collaborator in recent years and I think it's probably about time we came up with something together!
As a former South Shore resident, I applaud your limerick. It's so nice to see one crafted so well.
I just started the Maine forum today, but fun to see tha Mass crowd. Write on!
Thanks Kiffa - hope it goes well for you as well!
Totally waiting to hear this track now.. :D
Happy FAWM! Let's get the party started :-)
That Gang of Four story is crazy, haha
Hope you have a creative FAWM!
Hi! Sorry I missed the thread you started before I launched FAWMerick - but glad to see others share my enthusiasm for these silly little verses. :)