Night Beats Release New 7″
Last month we hit you with a new track called “Behind the Green Door” from our pal Danny Lee Blackwell under his recording moniker Night Beats. Well today the track sees a full release as part of a limited 7″ vinyl pressing from Suicide Squeeze. Both the original song previously shared, and a new version are streamable on Bandcamp with purchase options for both digital and for the exclusive vinyl release. But wait, there’s more! Danny was also kind enough to offer some insight into his creative process and how this track came about. Hit the jump for his words, which just might offer you some personal inspiration.
Statement from Danny. Thanks again my man!
I was given the chance to share some words on creativity.
Smoke ring. Peach pit, Mountain valley. Mother’s hands.
I challenge you to re-read the last set of words and put it to a rhythm. Repeat it 3 times. After you find your rhythm, hum the first melody that comes to your head. Repeat 3 times. Notice how the meaning of the words can change. If you find any appreciation or joy from this few second long thought experiment, you, my friend, are capable of creativity.
Our senses are intertwined and we are made of stardust. Inviting yourself to see what you want, out of nothing, proves our ability to cross dimensions. If you want, you can use your visual understanding of the world in a musical way, the same vice versa.
A sense that a few musicians I know have developed, is observing that you have the ability to write something “bad” right now. So do it. Or do you just think you would if you tried? So try. If it does, in fact, suck, then have no fear(!) because you are in charge of anyone else ever hearing/seeing it. Alot of musicians I know blame the world or themselves for songs they haven’t even written yet, if you can imagine. So write it down, sing it, play it, be your own judge or bring in friends. Get to the root of your problem, some are self teachers others aren’t, try both. I know that my albums are better when I have a set of songs I can choose from, not a quota or maximum.
Stringing concepts together and creating overarching stories, patterns, themes is what some call concept albums, but I just call them albums. I’ve never heard an album without a concept.
Tomorrow night I will be performing music from my past, present and future with friends I’ve made throughout the years. I will be able to share in the creative energy of others while eating ice cream and playing catch up. The creative people around me helped deliver this moment, for them I’m grateful. I may turn this moment of self reflection into a song after all..you may just hear some lines about a “smoke ring..drifting, peach pit..falling, into tomorrow”, on a cool mid-spring night in Lockhart, Texas.