Just sgned up at Nightlife post...we'll see how well it does. Anyone use them before?
Nightlifepost.com - Member Profile - Jon Gerler
The daily musings and observations of Carrboro, NC's own DJ FM - producer, musician, EDM DJ, and graphic designer.
Showing posts with label Raleigh. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Raleigh. Show all posts
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
REVOLUTION Raleigh...
I'm so proud to be a part of this event.
http://goodnightraleigh.com/2010/12/return-of-the-rave-revolution-raleigh/
I'm also thankful, given everything I've been through/put myself through/put everyone ELSE through over the lats year and a half....
Onward and upward, one day at a time...
http://goodnightraleigh.com/2010/12/return-of-the-rave-revolution-raleigh/
I'm also thankful, given everything I've been through/put myself through/put everyone ELSE through over the lats year and a half....
Onward and upward, one day at a time...
Saturday, March 15, 2008
"Breakup" turns ten!
My first CD, the "breakup" EP turns 10 years old this month.
I started writing tracks for it back in 1996 (I was 22). Actually, the first track I wrote for it (but did not know it at the time), was "Valley." I had written it late summer of 1994 (about a failed relationship, what else?), and it saw many incarnations before the one that finally appeared on "breakup." The next 3 tracks, "Baranquilla," "Dreamstate" and "Escape" were written on an old Yamaha 8-track cassette recorder which my friend and former bandmate Chris Wimberley lent to me. The bass line and drum track for "Proton Girl" were composed on a Tascam 4-track cassette recorder and Boss DR-660 Drum Machine about the same time.
I actually entered the studio (Osceola Studios in Raleigh) to begin recording "breakup" in 1997. I traded freelance graphic design work for studio time with my old friend and producer Tom Mohbat, of Bad Dog Productions. Back then, hard disk editing systems were extremely expensive and unavailable to the average home audio producer (by contrast, now, every Mac comes standard with Garageband). So we recorded all the songs on "breakup" to Alesis ADAT Tape. Tom would sit at the board mixing on the fly while I would loop and sequence MIDI parts in Mark of the Unicorn’s Performer software on an old Mac Performa (!)
Then I had to have the CD mastered and pressed, but my studio time ran over budget. I had fallen behind on rent by about 3 months, and was essentially eating nothing but popcorn and whatever leftovers my roommate didn’t want. Between money my ex-girlfriend loaned me and a gift from my Dad, i was able to dig myself out of the hole, master and press the CDs. They were mastered at The Kitchen in Chapel Hill by Brent Lambert, who at the time was running his studio out of his home. I recall taking the finished CD home with me and listening to it over and over. I doubt I will feel that way - that newness, that sense of accomplishment - about anything I record ever again. No matter how much better the writing may be.
During this time I was working in computer services at the Kinko’s in Cary, and became friends with one of the 3rd shift managers, one Jody Barnes...who ultimately designed the cover artwork. He was also the one who suggested that taking up DJ-ing might be a good idea ;)
Then one day in April 1998, I came home to find 9 boxes sitting in my living room. In those boxes were 1,000 copies of my CD. I recall asking out loud, "what the hell do I do with all these?"...
...and I have spent the last 10 years answering that question.
Along the way I’ve had many successes and seen "breakup" (and subsequent recordings) go places I never thought they would. I have also seen failure after failure, been cheated, ignored, lied to, swindled, and ostracized, by colleagues, industry types, even close friends (or at the very least, acquaintances), and then been patted on the back by those very same people as if nothing had happened. But in the end, highs and lows, good and bad, it has all been worth it.
And I think I may have even learned a thing or two along the way:
1) At some point, you *will* want to give up. Don’t.
2) Be prepared to spend a LOT of money up-front. Be prepared to NOT break even for several years, if at all. Then be prepared to do it again.
3) Don’t assume people will simply know about what you’re doing because you think you’re talented. Tell people about who you are and what you do, in any and every way you can. If you don’t, no one will come to your shows save for your girlfriend, your roommate, a few friends, one or two random co-workers and your MOM (and even they’ll get sick of it after awhile.)
4) There is good business, and there is bad business. Very rarely are they isolated from one another, and more often than not, one can be mistaken for (or even disguised as) the other.
Thanks to all the DJs, producers, promoters, record store owners, friends (both internet and in-person), family, and colleagues who have stuck by me through thick and thin and encouraged me along the way. I succeed only because of you.
Ten years before "breakup" I was barely a freshman in high school, who had just picked up his first acoustic guitar. Ten years has now passed since "breakup". I can hardly wait to see what the next ten will bring.
With great thankfulness and humility,
JG.
I started writing tracks for it back in 1996 (I was 22). Actually, the first track I wrote for it (but did not know it at the time), was "Valley." I had written it late summer of 1994 (about a failed relationship, what else?), and it saw many incarnations before the one that finally appeared on "breakup." The next 3 tracks, "Baranquilla," "Dreamstate" and "Escape" were written on an old Yamaha 8-track cassette recorder which my friend and former bandmate Chris Wimberley lent to me. The bass line and drum track for "Proton Girl" were composed on a Tascam 4-track cassette recorder and Boss DR-660 Drum Machine about the same time.
I actually entered the studio (Osceola Studios in Raleigh) to begin recording "breakup" in 1997. I traded freelance graphic design work for studio time with my old friend and producer Tom Mohbat, of Bad Dog Productions. Back then, hard disk editing systems were extremely expensive and unavailable to the average home audio producer (by contrast, now, every Mac comes standard with Garageband). So we recorded all the songs on "breakup" to Alesis ADAT Tape. Tom would sit at the board mixing on the fly while I would loop and sequence MIDI parts in Mark of the Unicorn’s Performer software on an old Mac Performa (!)
Then I had to have the CD mastered and pressed, but my studio time ran over budget. I had fallen behind on rent by about 3 months, and was essentially eating nothing but popcorn and whatever leftovers my roommate didn’t want. Between money my ex-girlfriend loaned me and a gift from my Dad, i was able to dig myself out of the hole, master and press the CDs. They were mastered at The Kitchen in Chapel Hill by Brent Lambert, who at the time was running his studio out of his home. I recall taking the finished CD home with me and listening to it over and over. I doubt I will feel that way - that newness, that sense of accomplishment - about anything I record ever again. No matter how much better the writing may be.
During this time I was working in computer services at the Kinko’s in Cary, and became friends with one of the 3rd shift managers, one Jody Barnes...who ultimately designed the cover artwork. He was also the one who suggested that taking up DJ-ing might be a good idea ;)
Then one day in April 1998, I came home to find 9 boxes sitting in my living room. In those boxes were 1,000 copies of my CD. I recall asking out loud, "what the hell do I do with all these?"...
...and I have spent the last 10 years answering that question.
Along the way I’ve had many successes and seen "breakup" (and subsequent recordings) go places I never thought they would. I have also seen failure after failure, been cheated, ignored, lied to, swindled, and ostracized, by colleagues, industry types, even close friends (or at the very least, acquaintances), and then been patted on the back by those very same people as if nothing had happened. But in the end, highs and lows, good and bad, it has all been worth it.
And I think I may have even learned a thing or two along the way:
1) At some point, you *will* want to give up. Don’t.
2) Be prepared to spend a LOT of money up-front. Be prepared to NOT break even for several years, if at all. Then be prepared to do it again.
3) Don’t assume people will simply know about what you’re doing because you think you’re talented. Tell people about who you are and what you do, in any and every way you can. If you don’t, no one will come to your shows save for your girlfriend, your roommate, a few friends, one or two random co-workers and your MOM (and even they’ll get sick of it after awhile.)
4) There is good business, and there is bad business. Very rarely are they isolated from one another, and more often than not, one can be mistaken for (or even disguised as) the other.
Thanks to all the DJs, producers, promoters, record store owners, friends (both internet and in-person), family, and colleagues who have stuck by me through thick and thin and encouraged me along the way. I succeed only because of you.
Ten years before "breakup" I was barely a freshman in high school, who had just picked up his first acoustic guitar. Ten years has now passed since "breakup". I can hardly wait to see what the next ten will bring.
With great thankfulness and humility,
JG.
Labels:
Ambient,
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Deadmau5,
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DJ mix,
download,
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EDM,
electronic music,
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itunes,
live music,
Mark of the Unicorn,
MOTU,
Raleigh,
rave,
SoundCloud,
techno,
thankful
Friday, March 2, 2007
Left Outlet.
This past week I made a very difficult decision to leave Left Outlet.
Ultimately, I think it will be in the best interests of the band, and myself. Tim, Roger and Drew are some of the most talented musicians I have worked with, and I wish them well collectively as a band, and as individuals.
While the band was actively gigging, I had been turning down DJ appearances. I plan to start actively playing out again whenever, and wherever I can. It begins this Friday with my new residency at April & George's on South Glenwood Avenure in Raleigh. I will keep everyone posted.
Thanks again from the bottom of my heart to everyone who has supported me over the years.
Jon G. (DJ FM)
P.S. A re-iteration (07/12/07): I am *no longer* playing with the band, nor am I remixing their material. *I am still doing remixes for local artists if interested.* I know L.O. are still actively playing shows - check their myspace page for updates.
Ultimately, I think it will be in the best interests of the band, and myself. Tim, Roger and Drew are some of the most talented musicians I have worked with, and I wish them well collectively as a band, and as individuals.
While the band was actively gigging, I had been turning down DJ appearances. I plan to start actively playing out again whenever, and wherever I can. It begins this Friday with my new residency at April & George's on South Glenwood Avenure in Raleigh. I will keep everyone posted.
Thanks again from the bottom of my heart to everyone who has supported me over the years.
Jon G. (DJ FM)
P.S. A re-iteration (07/12/07): I am *no longer* playing with the band, nor am I remixing their material. *I am still doing remixes for local artists if interested.* I know L.O. are still actively playing shows - check their myspace page for updates.
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