Silvia Ochoa's questions

Silvia Ochoa (SilviaO to ccMixters) has sent out a questionnaire to mixers of her excellent a capellas on ccMixter. I thought I would post my answers here. My mix of Nube was an ed-pick on the site a while ago, and Silvia recently performed my mix of Nunca Sabre live in Columbia.

Silvia Ochoa: How did you get to know CCmixter?

oldDog: Just browsing on the internet! At the time I was fairly new to digital ways of composing, and wanted to develop my skills.

SO: What kind of equipment (hardware and software) do you use? Is it all digital, or there are analog instruments as well?

OD: I do everything in Logic Pro, with a Mac Pro and a Fireface 400 interface. I do have a good Rode mic, but mostly on ccMixter I use pre-existing samples and virtual instruments. I also use a Yamaha S90ES Synth, and Dynaudio monitors.




SO: How do you work, do you upload originals or make mixes?

OD: I’m starting to do some songwriting and singing now for the first time, but up to now I’ve been remixing, mostly using complete a capellas, but also doing more experimental mixes, some of them instrumental.

SO: What do you like CCmixter the most?

OD: There’s a great sense of a creative, open attitude, so any style is OK and people often give helpful and supportive advice.

SO: What is your musical background?

OD: I’m a classical composer with a Cambridge degree and a PhD in composition - I’ve taught composition in several University colleges in London, and had pieces performed and broadcast here in the UK and all over the world.

SO: How long does it take for you to complete a mix?

OD: It varies from a couple of hours to several days.

SO: How much time do you spend on CCmixter weekly?

OD: Too much!

SO: Do you also work with commercial music? Do you make your living out of music?

OD: I’ve made a living as a composer, lecturer and editor - including writing contemporary classical music, and some educational and theatre music.

SO: Has any of your projects in CCmixter ever become a commercial project?

OD: Yes, I’ve had remixes on the CalendarSongs project, and an upcoming remix album of Shannon Hurley’s vocals.

SO: Why would you recommend CCmixter to other musicians?

OD: It’s a great way to learn about mixing, and about composing generally - and it’s good fun!

SO: Why did you choose Silvia´s a-capellas? What did draw your attention?

OD: Silvia has a great voice with a strong emotional feel. They have a gentle, intimate quality that I like.

SO: Do you understand the lyrics?

OD: Not very well!

ccMixter down the pub

A privilege and pleasure to meet the great Fourstones (Victor Stone) and his partner Cindy, along with Calendar Girl (Tamara, of the amazing Calendar Songs project - opposite Victor) in a very nice London pub, the Duke of York.

For those who don't know, Victor is the brains behind ccMixter, as well as a fine remixer.

You may notice a slight tilt to the picture - that's not the quaint olde English architecture, just the effect of a couple of pints on the photographer.

Shannon Hurley Remixes

I'm very pleased to say that my mix of Shannon Hurley's "Shame", which was ed-picked at ccMixter, will be appearing on a "proper" CD of remixes that she is bringing out very soon. She is planning a release party in LA on October 10th, with some live performances of the mixes.

You can hear "Shame" in the player above or here. And you can here more of the mixes at the Shannon Hurley Remixes page on MySpace here

Calendar Songs release party

A very enjoyable evening at the Arts theatre Club in London, where Tamara Barnett-Herrin aka Calendar Girl sang several of the tracks (including my mix of April) from the new Calendar Songs Volume 1.

It was also a pleasure to meet Loveshadow, the doyen of ccMixter (see pic - he's on the left, I'm on the right, of the wonderful Tamara).

I think the Calendar Songs project is a great example of what can be achieved with Creative Commons licensing - what makes the CD work so well is that it has plenty of variety between the styles of the different mixers, but they are all linked together by Tamara's songs.



Here are all the links you could ask for:
Calendar Songs
Calendar Songs Store
on iTunes
at Lastfm
on iLike