In order to continue working while we look for our dream drummer, we have begun using a great drum program, and we have to admit, it really works. Our songwriting approach varies. So, having access to a tool that gives us another option for creative exploration is a lot of fun.
Sometimes, a melody just pops into someone's head, and we build upon it. Other times, we start with a chord progression that needs some fleshing out. Frequently, we start with a bass line. A good, interesting bass line is a fundamental foundation for the feel of the rest of the song. A powerful bass line invites a multitude of chord progressions. Chord progressions give rise to melodies, and melodies seem to have this mysterious, parthenogenetic quality. One begets another, and no one is quite sure how it happened, because there was only one in the beginning... Ultimately, however, it is the percussion, the drumming, the rhythm, that is the framework that can make or break a song. If you're a musician, and you've spent some time with a keyboard or organ with multiple drum tracks programmed into it, you've had a chance to hear how profoundly a different rhythm changes the feel of a song.
Now that we have the ability to craft our own rhythms, we're free to explore beyond pre-programmed beat standards. While there is no substitute for a highly talented human drummer, and we really want to stress that- great drummers cannot be replaced by machines- having a means to give your music a spine when you're deep in the writing process really helps with bringing your vision to life. Some of our best material was written over an established rhythm.
We look forward to the day when we have another creative partner to add their ideas to the petri dish. In the meantime, we have the chance to develop what we want to hear so that our future drummer has a guide to our percussive aesthetic, and we also get to continue to play shows before we find that perfect fit.
