Archive for the ‘Thinking (almost deep)’ Category

Born on Mardi Gras day (and new music too)

Posted: February 9, 2017 in In the studio, Music, News, Thinking (almost deep)
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When I visit a fellow musician’s studio, I’m sometimes surprised and scared by the strict, almost military tidiness where any trace of life seems to have been removed.
My musical environment is full of heteroclite objects that have, at first thought, no close relation to music at all. Well, I assume they have, like it or not.

One may ask (and some daring visitors do) why the hell I need a モヤっとボール on my keyboard, if an old chopstick on my sheet-music stand has really the power to make me play at a higher level and if my old Hello Kitty pick truly makes me a better guitarist. And the answer is invariably yes. Yes, a chopstick, a Kitty pick and a モヤっとボール, if they don’t necessary replace hours of practice in terms of virtuosity (something that’s stranger to me anyway), surely have the power to shake the magma of my inspiration and lead me to produce something more exciting, dangerous and slightly more outrageous than if I had been forced to create in a clean, white and neat room.

モヤっとボール

Those rock-star’s little helpers also include the fluffy chair, the warm strong black coffee or the 70° shot of absinth, the old outdated heavy wooden synthesizer bought during my high-school days, the bass guitar strings coming directly from Ôita-city or the painting of Breughel (well, it’s a copy) facing me every time I sit.

Some rude pals come and say “Hey Snowcat, you collect so much stuff. Why don’t you collect experiences instead? Uh?”

Because the stuff that I collect is an experience in itself. Amen.

I love stuff that is soaked in history, memories and obscure meanings. Practical people see it as stuff, things that waste useful space, while I see and feel it as a connection with something bigger. And I love it.

Mardi Gras

Actually, I was born on Mardi Gras day. Yes, I guess it’s (a part of) the explanation.
Objects quickly pass from the status of mere stuff to the more responsible one of gris-gris, or lucky charm. Which explains why I need them around. They connect me. They bring me luck and inspiration, since they came from strong experiences. Gris-gris, not stuff.

Yellow & Pink Voodoo Dolls

I was born on Mardi Gras day, and that very moment influenced dramatically whatever happened since that day. And mostly for the best.
I can’t explain better than in music. I asked my gris-gris to take me somewhere once again, and two songs came straight out of it.

May you live the experience as strongly as I did. Listen to the single in streaming and if you want to own it, buy it through CD Baby or Bandcamp (more expensive but the complete artwork is offered as present). And in a matter of days it will spread its evil spells on Amazon, Spotify, iTunes, Deezer and other music online supermarkets. Welcome to Mardi Gras Station!
G.S.

ps: the single features hallucinated contributions of Sébastien Bournier from Sousbock and Renato Ronchetti from Cinnamon Lilly.

LINKS:

http://cdbaby.com/cd/gillessnowcat2

https://gillessnowcat.bandcamp.com/album/mardi-gras-station

 

Let’s hack! (message from Gilles Snowcat)

Posted: June 5, 2015 in Advertising & artwork, Music, Philosophy, Thinking (almost deep)
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We can always count on Kittyちゃん to raise a revolutionDear friends, fans, passing smiles and enemies,

I want to try something new with you.

Every now and then, we hear moaning musicians complaining about the piracy, illegal downloads of their precious creations and lecture daring fans.

However, isn’t it well-known in show biz that “It’s not a problem if 20,000 people have illegally downloaded your new album; it’s a problem if they HAVEN’T!”

On the other hand, some artists naively think that everything should be for free, shared without receiving anything in return. They usually end up bitter, playing “The Final Countdown” in any cover-band they’ve just joined, hoping to revive their long-lost dream. Sad.

So why not trying something new and more creative? Do you want to experiment something fresh with me? Would you like to be part of something unique in show-biz with your favorite old Cat?

Here’s what I suggest. You will… hack my music.

“ …” (deafening silence of the crowd)

Whattt?! Hack your work, dear Snowcat?

Yes, you name it. But not exactly the way you might imagine.

Take a deep breath. Let’s go?

Firstly, I kindly but firmly invite you to enjoy “Continental Breakfast”, freshly released from a warm bed, spreading energizing fumes of hot coffee after a night to remember –I leave that one to your imagination.

coupleinbed

After all, my love songs after dark have the right to see the morning after…

“Continental Breakfast” is here: https://www.reverbnation.com/gillessnowcat , the first song on the list.

Listen to it. Once, twice, one million times. And if your tells you that you like it, buy it. Simply and without fuss. (click on the “$2.99” link and follow the instructions, credit card or PayPal)

As easy as 1-2-3.

Then ? Then here starts your hacker job. Give the song away to 10 of your friends or enemies or whoever you like or hate enough to think they deserve to receive the song.

Send the mp3 file and tell them about the link https://www.reverbnation.com/gillessnowcat and ask them to do the same action, with another song of course. They buy it and send to 10 of their contacts. And so on.

The goal here is to create a kind of dynamic, to spread my love songs after dark beyond their usual night bar universe. Let’s bring love to breakfast. Let’s test, experiment, try, spread and live!

Now, if for any mysterious reason you don’t feel like “Continental Breakfast” is the most appropriate to share with your inner circle, nothing prevents you to use the same tactic with any other record of mine. The choice is huge: http://gilles-snowcat.com/gilles-snowcat-shop-engl.html

I wrote you a rather long letter. I’m grateful, not only for reading till here, but also for contributing to an experience that would prove that music business is not evil. Isn’t the best collaboration between art and business made possible by creativity? I do believe.

Let me know your friends’ reactions, your deep opinion and enjoy that rare opportunity of having a breakfast in bed with Gilles Snowcat. 🙂

Take care and enjoy a meaningful & joyful life

Gilles Snowcat

雪猫ジル ~~~~ Gilles Snowcat  :  怠惰なタレント  ~~~~  ゴロゴロ・音楽家

Donation, OK, but what about your ears?

Posted: January 11, 2013 in Business / money, Thinking (almost deep)
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Happy 25th, Awaken

“Oh so Awaken turned 25 ? That’s such a good news dude”, said that lad who quickly added “so man I’m gonna make a donation to you. But I don’t see any PayPal basket, how can I ever give you tips? I want to give you 50 USD dude”.

Nice he was, therefore I assumed he was a fan. We talked for a few minutes and to fulfill my desperate ego, I asked him what were his favorite of my ‘umble yet ‘eavy work.

“Dunno much, I just have that old cd of yours [fyi: it was “Party In Lyceum’s Toilets”] but for your recent work, I’ve just heard some tunes while streaming around.”

Not upset yet curious, I wanted to know why he never thought of buying the new stuff that is, pardon my arrogance, ways better than the old stuff:

“Ouch dude that costs bucks to buy!”

He looked sincere –even a second hand cars seller couldn’t have faked that well- and taking a big breath (and a sip of good booze) I asked him to do the math with me. And I think it might be worth sharing, since some of you have come with the topic of ‘how can I make a donation to Awaken?’

1000 yen

I appreciate any donation, this goes without saying. It can be 1 euro (or USD or yen or whatever) or 1000.000, any coin and paper will do. No artist would ever go ahead without having money to spend and money doesn’t come from the trees. It can be money or and old synthesizer, guitar strings or even a bottle of Jack Daniel’s, that will always be useful one way or another.

Now let’s do that holy math. You have 50 USD to donate and you haven’t bought any new album lately? Doesn’t it ring a bell on you? Yeah, that 50 USD bill could be easily invested into buying the Awaken or my solo stuff and that wouldn’t hurt anyone.

The generous friend (everyone’s a friend when they show their chips) argued quite smartly, so not to lose face:
“If I buy for 50 USD of your music, how much will you really get after the retailers, the middle men and copyright society will have taken their part? Not much dude. So I’d rather give you that money fully.”

Well, he’s right of course. But he’s wrong at the same time. Feeding the middle men is the name of the game. I have nothing against. That’s how music business is, and if you don’t want it that way, just quit or leave your art for free.
So yes, I still think that when you want to donate some bucks to yours truly, the best way is still to buy the music. I may get less money for myself, but you contribute to keep me in the circuit and allow me to get the exposition I work for. And hey, you get some good shit for your ears!

乾杯!
G.S. (aka “dude”)

PS: just an example of what you can get with the 50 bucks (for your convenience, the price is rounded in this example):

Mokomoko Collection –album-: 8 USD
Legs & Liquor –dub single-: 1 USD
I Could Live In An Airplane –dub single-: 2 USD
Yanagigaura –maxi single-: 3 USD
How Many ‘L’ Were In Your Name –maxi single-: 3 USD
This Mouth –EP-: 9 USD
Áo Dài Màu Hồng –single- : 4 USD
Beppu Nights –EP-: 7 USD
Chú Mèo Ngủ Quên –single-: 3 USD
Farewell To The Pulsar –demo EP-: 7 USD

Total: 47 USD –and amongst other good news, you can get a fix here.

No, this is not a blog. 餅は餅屋 !

Posted: July 3, 2012 in Thinking (almost deep)
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Bored of the geeks? Yes. Bored.

The Night Cats Lounge used to be a ahem… blog. Well, I must honestly admit that I was as bored to write as you were to read the bullshit I laboriously vomited every now and then.

I felt impellent to write, like when locked in an elevator and you think you’re forced to say anything about the weather to your unfortunate and unexpected audience.

Truth is, I loathe that exercise. I’m not a journalist thus why should I walk on a field already congested by talented lads? The topics I tried to share are already covered by gifted writers, sharp and smart world’s observers. Instead of wasting my time (and yours), I’ll share the good stuff with you. Written by others.

You can say that practice makes better, well yes but I don’t like the blog thing, really. Yes I could write great articles if I wanted to put some effort on it. But… I don’t want. All that geek fashion just bores me to death.

Yes the business people keep on pushing musicians to write blogs as a promotional tool. As a sad result, most of them are just babbling about a dull private life that no one cares about –except their friends.
Is it why the internet has been created? To tell the world “I have a new apartment and dumped my girlfriend”, to show an ugly picture of a family dinner with the sisters, the in-laws and the brand new swimming pool? Wow nice… glad for your apartment, sorry for your girlfriend -you’ll find another one and you’ll post boring pictures of you and her holding hands in the swimming pool, until the day you dump her too, which’ll leave you time for another family gathering and that time you’ll be the one to clean the swimming pool. Pics awaited by your geek friends.

In Japan, there’s a perfect saying to illustrate the situation: 餅は餅屋。(Mochi wa mochi ya) It means: leave it to the specialists. (literally: for rice cakes there’s the rice cake shop)
Leave me with my piano, my microphone and I’ll give you my best. I leave you with the computer and I expect some great thoughts from you. Deal?

乾杯！

G.S.