I found this little video surprisingly moving... and I'm still not sure why.?
Maybe it's the fact that New York is so full of diversity and people's interesting stories that I'm anxious to get there and participate in the culturally stimulating movement. Or maybe it's the cool videography/music combo on the streets of NYC. Whatever it is, it's cool.
For whatever it's worth, check out this video and make of it what you will. Where would you wake up tomorrow if you could wake up anywhere?
Fifty People, One Question: Brooklyn from Fifty People, One Question on Vimeo.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Asics Origami
Origami In the Pursuit of Perfection from MABONA ORIGAMI on Vimeo.
Aesthetically stunning & awe-inspiring all at once. For the first time in my life I sincerely wish I owned a pair of Asics. God bless the power of advertising. I love how simple the concept is; it's all about telling a story and playing with the emotions of the consumer. Well done, Asics.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
John Mayer on "Conscious Composition"
I've been following John Mayer's "Battle Studies" blog, covering the process of recording his new album. Fascinating stuff–it's the future of recording music. Stars coming down to the level of the consumer. Atta boy, John.
So, as an advertising person I'm always in the process of looking for ideas. How to be creative, how to get a great idea, etc. It can be extremely frustrating! I really like Mr. Mayer's twist on things–he calls it "Conscious Composition". Of course he's relating it to making music, but I think it can be tweaked and applied to the creative process in general. The moral of the story: the creative process is hard!
JOHN ON CONSCIOUS COMPOSITION
One of the focal points of my approach to songwriting these days is something I've come to refer to as "conscious composition".
Conscious composition is composing not only chord changes, say for instance a 4-chord progression in a pop or rock setting, but also thoughtfully writing the lyrics and melody line above it. It's the exact opposite of "get in a room and jam." Sure, I could pull together a drummer, a bass player, an organ and a trio of background singers, but without the time spent investigating lyrics, ideas, note selection, etc, all I'm going to have (at best) is a groove that underscores nothing but very basic ideas. Even if I'm able to turn it into something sophisticated, that's still because I was thinking back on a past moment in my songwriting that was fully conscious, except I'll remember it as having come up with it "on the spot"... When there aren't enough of these conscious moments of songwriting to draw from, the creative energy of making music is lost.
Even going into the studio with a guitar and a microphone and singing and strumming until I get something worthwhile isn't conscious enough, because my mind still knows that there's somebody engineering the recording session and my performance brain will take over and make sure I don't sing or play anything embarrassing. The work has to be done alone and ahead of time.
Undoing self-consciousness and bridging into creative consciousness has been and still is a very daunting process. There's nothing new about the template; guy puts everything he has into making music, music rewards guy with everything he has, guy forgets how to make music like he used to. But there is a way to use all that music has given me to dig even deeper than I have before. I'm glad that I've had as many years playing guitar under my belt as I did before I became successful, and I'm glad I have the resources to do whatever it takes to stay focused in that place I know so well.
It's easier to end the day early and go to dinner, but it gets nothing accomplished in the way of answering the question "and why are you taking up space here on Earth again?"
I'm not saying I won't someday go through musical menopause, it's just not going to happen yet. It's being a conscious composer that's going to keep me relevant, and it's refraining from believing that I can jam for 2 months and make a record that's going to return the favor that success has given to me.
So, as an advertising person I'm always in the process of looking for ideas. How to be creative, how to get a great idea, etc. It can be extremely frustrating! I really like Mr. Mayer's twist on things–he calls it "Conscious Composition". Of course he's relating it to making music, but I think it can be tweaked and applied to the creative process in general. The moral of the story: the creative process is hard!
JOHN ON CONSCIOUS COMPOSITION
One of the focal points of my approach to songwriting these days is something I've come to refer to as "conscious composition".
Conscious composition is composing not only chord changes, say for instance a 4-chord progression in a pop or rock setting, but also thoughtfully writing the lyrics and melody line above it. It's the exact opposite of "get in a room and jam." Sure, I could pull together a drummer, a bass player, an organ and a trio of background singers, but without the time spent investigating lyrics, ideas, note selection, etc, all I'm going to have (at best) is a groove that underscores nothing but very basic ideas. Even if I'm able to turn it into something sophisticated, that's still because I was thinking back on a past moment in my songwriting that was fully conscious, except I'll remember it as having come up with it "on the spot"... When there aren't enough of these conscious moments of songwriting to draw from, the creative energy of making music is lost.
Even going into the studio with a guitar and a microphone and singing and strumming until I get something worthwhile isn't conscious enough, because my mind still knows that there's somebody engineering the recording session and my performance brain will take over and make sure I don't sing or play anything embarrassing. The work has to be done alone and ahead of time.
Undoing self-consciousness and bridging into creative consciousness has been and still is a very daunting process. There's nothing new about the template; guy puts everything he has into making music, music rewards guy with everything he has, guy forgets how to make music like he used to. But there is a way to use all that music has given me to dig even deeper than I have before. I'm glad that I've had as many years playing guitar under my belt as I did before I became successful, and I'm glad I have the resources to do whatever it takes to stay focused in that place I know so well.
It's easier to end the day early and go to dinner, but it gets nothing accomplished in the way of answering the question "and why are you taking up space here on Earth again?"
I'm not saying I won't someday go through musical menopause, it's just not going to happen yet. It's being a conscious composer that's going to keep me relevant, and it's refraining from believing that I can jam for 2 months and make a record that's going to return the favor that success has given to me.
Friday, March 6, 2009
VW: Advertising Legacy
From "Think Small" til now, Volkswagen are advertising geniuses.
Here's a few of my favorite TV spots from the last 15 years or so.
Da da da
Synchronocity
Pink moon
Night drive
Beautiful work
Here's a few of my favorite TV spots from the last 15 years or so.
Da da da
Synchronocity
Pink moon
Night drive
Beautiful work
Thursday, March 5, 2009
UTAH TAP
I'm so proud to have been a part of this awesome movement to provide children around the world with clean drinking water.
Mad props to everyone (not me) who put their blood, sweat & tears into making this TV spot a reality. Proud to have been associated with you and this project!
Utah Tap TV Spot from Mike Morris on Vimeo.
(courtesy of Mike Morris - www.blog.morriscreate.com)
Mad props to everyone (not me) who put their blood, sweat & tears into making this TV spot a reality. Proud to have been associated with you and this project!
Utah Tap TV Spot from Mike Morris on Vimeo.
(courtesy of Mike Morris - www.blog.morriscreate.com)
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