Re: How do you approach looping composition?

[Fsksync@aol.com]

Welcome, Cristian!

Of course, every composer approaches the act of composition differently; you seem to have the drive and will to discover and develop your own thing (these are the most important ingredients!)

I would say continue what you are doing- frustration is a great teacher. Try everything you can think of. Get yourself to the ultimate edge of frustration, then step back, take a break, do some deep breathing exercises in a quiet place, a park or  forest might be good... 8^) step back, surrender what you have been doing, and I'd bet that the Next Idea will appear, if you can still the mind enough to hear it.

Above all, remember that everything you need already exists inside you- outside inspirations and examples of others' success are only pointers to the infinite power that exists inside you at the deepest levels.

Also, adding a second looping device would probably take your mind into areas you wouldn't normally think of...

Stay with it!!!

Best,

Tim



In a message dated 10/6/03 9:18:20 AM Pacific Daylight Time, cristian@accord.it writes:

> Hello,
>
> It's my first post (even if I registered to the mailing list 5 months 
> ago), so I'd like to introduce myself:
>
> I'm a (non professional) bassist from Milan, Italy.
>
> In the last 9 years I played mostly blues and rock-blues, then I started 
> being interested in ambient dub after reading an article in Bass Player 
> magazine about Bill Laswell.
>
> At the same time I found loopers-delight, I appreciated the perfect mix 
> between the importance given to the conceptual aspects of looping and 
> the discussion about technical aspects.
>
> Looking for looping bassists I found Steve Lawson's incredible website 
> and this helped me to decide  to buy  an akay headrush  and trying to 
> become a looping bassist.
>
> My actual gear is:
>
> Basses:
> Fender Mexican Jazz Bass
> Laurus (an Italian Luthier) Stylist 4 string Bass
> '71 Gibson EB-2
> Washburn AB-20 defretted
>
> My effect chain is:
>
> Bass -> EBS BassIQ -> Tech21 Bass Compactor -> EBS Multidrive -> Akai 
> Headrush -> Rolls DI -> Behringer Mixer -> IBM Thinkpad (as recording 
> unit).
>
> I never used any looping device live, but the looping concept hit me so 
> hard I decided to give up my actual rock-blues band and concentrate on 
> the musical and conceptual aspects of looping.
>
> After this (long) presentation (I couldn't resist talking about myself 
> and my gear), this is my question:
>
> How do you approach looping composition? I'd like to create some 
> composition and a little repertoire, as I'd like to try some bass 
> looping busking.
>
> When I try to compose something, I start with some simple riff, then I 
> add some layer, but soon I've the impression of overplaying and messing 
> up everything.
>
> I think that I'm focusing too much on the looping paradigm, and I lose 
> the musical inspiration. Another disturbing thing is that I tend to 
> answer and react to the loops I create filling every silent part 
> producing a strong anxiety impression in what I play.
>
> I know composing is a very personal matter, but I hope to get some 
> suggestions from you experienced loopers.
>
> cristian