Saturday, November 22, 2008

the Forecast: A survey in my music projects.

Just wanted to jot all the musical projects I've been working on lately. Since those lasts posts in May, a lots been happening. Where do I start?

The Kenneth Ross Solo Album:
Never released it. Last spring/summer I ended up with 17 tracks compiling to nearly 50 minutes of music, which I planned to release May 8th, but initially postponed and eventually called off. Why? Well, I'm definitely proud of the music I produced for it, but the album was definitely energized by some stuff that I was going through. After thinking it over and discussing it with some friends that had heard the album, I decided the album was just too personal and too rushed to release to any sort of public. There are some singles and stuff that maybe I will re-vamp in the future, but it may become a series of my "lost tracks" that only a select few will have access too... Or anyone that manages to steal my external hard drive.

Green Street:
This past summer I did a lot of work with Max (Ren) and had a really great time working out/further developing a lot of the beats that were conceived over a year and a half ago. (The summer after their "Livin' on Green Street" release.) Crazy how time flies... We've got some great stuff in the lab and in the works. I feel like with every track we finish we really grow in every aspect of the music (the production, vocals and lyrics in particular). The latest public release we have is the "All I See" track featuring Oddisee. Just by listening to the "All I See" track and the "Old Music" track consecutively you can hear what I'm talking about with the developing production and songwriting.
Things have really been coming together for the group. Apparently projects with Nieve and John Gordon are in the works. But, I don't want to give away too much right now, I'll let you know as things come about.


The Chicago Scene
:
Since coming out to Northwestern for school, I've been meeting a lot of musicians in Chicago and trying to break into the scene. So far I've been working with this R&B cat Rotimi. Last week I got a band together and arranged his song "Rain", including a little mix up with Ginuwine's "My Pony". We played it at the African Student Association's Apollo night. Things went so well we decided why not keep the shit going, so now we're working on a big set for the Mayfest battle of the bands, where the winner gets to play @ Northwestern's largest music festival ("Dillo Day") in the spring on the same stage as the likes of Common, the Roots, Kanye West etc. So if you're in the area you definitely have to come out for that battle of the bands!
Other than that, I've been practicing a lot and playing in the Northwestern Jazz Orchestra and Jazz Combo. At least one of the bands rehearses for two hours every day, so I've been finding it really hard to get anything else done with so much time dedicated to rehearsal and practice.

rosskennethmusic:
I did decide not to release that solo album, but I haven't stopped making beats and songs. One of which is the "Chances pt.2" that I released in September. You can check it on my myspace. Lately I've been trying to get used to the new kinks as I switch over from Garageband to Logic Studio, but I have a feeling over winter break and such I'm going to do a lot of recording and writing. Lately I've been feeling like a storm of creativity is coming after a brief hiatus, sometimes ideas pop into my head and I jot them down but I just haven't had the time to actually sit down and formally arrange them. I've also been working out and really thinking about the kinds of sounds and vibes that I want to create in my music. I think that "Chances pt. 2" joint is really representative of the laid-back kind of sound that I hope to produce/develop upon in the future. But, my taste/influences change with the seasons so who knows what I'll be coming out with next. I'll definitely post my rough joints on here as I come up with them, so stay tuned.