Monday 18 Jun 2018, 2:34pm
Hello,
I'm a 30yo bloke living in Leeds, weighing up the prospect of trying to form a band around a pre-existing project.
The project started in 2005, and to date has something like 12 albums and a slew of singles and EP's. The genre has shifted constantly, although recent and preferred styles tend to be experimental, prog, piano rock, moody, sometimes a bit electronic, or theatric (also some soundtracks to indie projects). Honestly, it's a bit hard to explain in a condensed format for an ad, but basically it's a project that always evolves, challenges, and is never happy to stay still.
For something tangible, here is an unmixed track for a planned upcoming album, primarily piano rock: https://soundcloud.com/bishmanrock/want-of-will-unmastered/s-glWsG
And here is the last full album, a concept album, which is more standard rock than most of the other releases: https://bishmanrock.bandcamp.com/album/devil-road
EDIT: Now that I'm home, here's an example of a slightly more electronic moodier track: https://soundcloud.com/bishmanrock/the-man-who-burned-the-lake-unmixed-partial-demo. All the session vocals are still on hence the multi-tracking, but eventually they'll be mixed down to single track.
If you're interested feel free to message me and I'd be happy to give you a history lesson, but I'll save your misery in this ad.
Basically, this project has always been studio based, with a constantly rotating mixture of musicians and collaborators. Although I've been the one constant I don't see it as a solo project, partially because I don't like the ego that brings, but partially because it's a project that is defined by whoever is working on it at the time. However, due to its studio based nature it's never been able to get to the stage, partially due to the array of instruments. I'm now exploring if I can change that. It's important for me to note here - I'm simply exploring the notion and looking for people who think this may be of interest to them. If it can't be pulled off to a standard that I think a paying audience deserve, we'll just go back to being studio based and continue as we were.
I'm open to ideas and suggestions, based on who (if anyone!) comes forward with interest. Given enough band members, an entire band makeup could happen.
Assuming there aren't enough people involved (I stress that strings, brass, sax, etc. all gets used in tracks, so this is likely), I've played with the idea of a backing track. To a lot of people that's a colossal red flag - and I'd normally agree - but I think there's a level it can be done to tastefully. As long as minor instruments are only used this way, I think it can be pulled off.
In addition, and given the nature of the band, I thought having a visual element might fit in well, perhaps projected onto a screen (blame God is an Astronaut for the idea). I'm not sure how well this'd work in practice, or how much it'd restrict certain venues. If it worked, the visuals can then be combined by the backing track above (which can also implement sound effects, not just music), to which the band can then play in front of. I'm thinking the gig may be one continuous medley, rather than tracks with gaps.
As I said, I'm open to ideas, and conscious the idea isn't exactly an easy one to get off the ground. I'm just experimenting to see what works right now. If you're interested let me know and we'll throw stuff at the wall and see what works and what needs to be binned.
A little about me: I'm a professional living and working in the Leeds area, I work in Service Management and Projects, which helps me keep a bit of a level head when planning albums from start to finish.
I've previously toured the UK, playing about 80 gigs in my time. In contrast to the above, most of these were in metal or powerviolence bands.
I'm pretty happy with my life, I'm not interested in trying to quit my job and "make it big". I'm doing this because I want to, and I don't need a bigger reason than that.
Let's have a chat and figure out if this idea has any weight.
EDIT: I realise I didn't list any influences. Just listen to Roger Waters, that'll do.