marietueje.com

Image by Ralph Hogaboom: HQX Design 

What Is FAWM And Why It’s Important?

If you’ve never heard of February Album Writing Month before, there’s no better time to dip your toes into the mildy addictive  - music-making merry-go-round that takes place on the FAWM website. I wonder if, perhaps, in 20 years people will talk about FAWM in the same way they do about those who take an annual dip in the freezing waters of the North Sea, and annual cheese rollers. 

The challenge is to write 14 songs(1) during February, though the actual “challenge” is what you make of it. This year will be my sixth taking part in the challenge. Last year I finished completed just three songs, so this year I’m hoping to do better. Far more important than “winning”, is “succeeding”, that is, being excited by whatever I happen to produce, be it on my own or with collaborators. 

For me, there are no requisite tools to do the job, as long as you’re aware of the scope and boundaries of any limitations those tools imply. What I mean by this is, for instance, my second FAWM (2008), I had no recording space whatsoever, and was limited to an acoustic guitar and a portable recorder. In 2010, I decided to forgo using guitars. This year, there is a theme: Art Against Austerity. AAA, or Triple A, whatever. But what does it mean? Well, I’m not proposing art position itself against austerity (i.e the culture of austerity that’s gripping a lot of the West), but actually uses the concept and climate of austerity to reflect on possible meanings. At the very least, to create something positive out of austerity.

Tools can often be a barrier to creativity. This year I’ll be using mostly new ones, so I’ll see how things pan out. I have new MacBook Pro, Pro Tools 10 with the Complete Production Toolkit (which I probably won’t be using for FAWM), Logic Pro (which I probably will), an apogee Duet 2, an Avid Transport controller to get my head around. Plus, an assortment of noise-making implements!

FAWM resolution: I’m going to try really hard this year to hang out on the forums, give useful feedback and get stuck in.

* * *

(1) A far looser interpretation of song is now invoked, thanks to the greater diversity and evolution that has come from the competition’s success and growth over the years.