Steve Ball

Sketch Box Packaging Ideas: Page One

I've had recent discussions with various friends and musicians about whether it is relevant, useful, or necessary to manufacture (music) CDs anymore now that the Music industry is 'officially dead' and the mainstream world is finally moving to digital distribution. 

My own belief is that there will still always be a significant place for physical artifacts to accompany music.  With that in mind, here is a raw first glimpse of a some multi-page sketches about possible packaging for the upcoming SB Sketch Box:

The ideas flying around range from predictable to edgy to wacky to ludicrous. I consider the one above to be rather predictable and not necessarily that practical.  

The insight driving most of my thinking: this process is about creating and completing a tangible artifact that reaches back and motivates and energizes the process itself.  I like the word artifact because it feels literal like a mash-up presenting art as a matter of fact.   

So, why CDs in 2008?  These still remain a tangible way for me to hand you an object that captures some of who I am and what I do without you having to get to know me or be there.   Another way of describing the purpose: it's a media-centric business card that shows you rather than telling you about my business.

If you read the fine print at the bottom, you'll also notice that I'm thinking about saving you time so you don't even have to rip anything -- why not include a data CD (or second session) that already has high-quality MP3s with embedded art and metadata so all you have to do is copy vs. rip?

More scans on the way over the next few days as we move from ideas to decisions.

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Song of the Day

Same as yesterday, except I've done a remix to fix the too loud-ish and slightly-out-of-tune electric guitars.  

Sketch Box - FINAL Remix on Jan 9th (8.2M MP3)

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Photo of the Day

Sofie heads out to Gymboree in her new Bunny Hat from Aunt Laura  

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Sketch Box (final)

Evening Work: Sketch Box - FINAL (8.2M MP3)

Cleaned-up the vocals and added some electric guitar colorization.  

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Photo of the Day

Sofie rocking her socks off

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Sketch Box (with drums)

Evening Work: Sketch Box with drums - (8.1M MP3)

The image from last night was a quick conceptual mock-up of one of three covers of the new upcoming 2008 Box Set: SB Sketch Box.  

This new image is the Songtile for this evolving Song Sketch.  Remaining: some lyrics and vocal clean up.  And perhaps a sparse electric counterpoint background melody. 

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Sketch Box

Evening Work: Sketch Box (8.1M MP3)

what you need will be received
what you fear will disappear
what you play will save your day
what you do will become you

sketch box is a vessel 
plucked from the air
each sketch is a missile
sent out with care
this change marks a message
encoded elements
poly-rhythmic phrases
essential elegance
shockwork knotwork clockwork
sent from an innocent
entrance silent centered
oozing in innocence

what you need will be received
what you fear will disappear

you won't be forgotten
not while you're here with me
words form from the bottom
hearts hold the memory 

hold the essence still
run up that hill
pay off the bill
do what you will
move fat fingers fast
blur out the lines
mess up the bed
unstick your head
move your eyes around
push to the red
follow that sound
fly off the ground
fall into a flow
let thinking go
help from above
hope from below
here

send up an antenna
searching and seeking pure
sound devoid of glamour
uncertain what we'll find here

each song with a purpose
searching the silences
underneath the surface
of sad serious circuses
where clowns cry underwater
in oceans of ecstasy
sketches are never perfect
but neither is destiny 

shout the essence out
tear up the will
kill what you know
blow it to hell 
wrestle out the words
mash up the rhymes
clean out the chords
unstick the times
push into the black
follow the moles
never look back
jump in the holes
fly into the flow
let judgment go
help from above
hope from below
here

this box is my mission
bringing together both
science and religion
under one higher oath 
practice making perfect
if perfect means practicing
being in the moment
with every line we sing

what you need will be received

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the Day After New Year's Day

Evening Work: the Day After New Year's Day (7.7M)  -- another guitar sketch, 100% improvised end to end, now waiting to become a song. 

 

Back mid-afternoon after an over-night Anniversary celebration at Salish lodge with the cutest of the cute.   Now happy to be home kicking off a month of domesticity. 

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Sofie's Song: New Year's Eve

Last Night of 2007, Evening Work: Sofie's Song - New Year's Eve (5.4M)

 

A reflection on my (our) best work of 2007.  And wishing a Happy New Year to friends and family around the globe.

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I spent most of the two hours it took to record this sketch end-to-end getting to know the quirks of ProTools 7.4 and very little of the time was actually spent playing the four guitar parts -- it poured out exactly as is, warts and all.

So, how to recap the most amazing year on record?  Close to 2am, not likely. 

So a review of today's highlight: it was great to see Sue, Jeff, and Reese on New Years Eve and nice to see them here at home rather than in their usual Maui backdrop. 

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Primary personal goal for January 2008: complete the Sketch Box.

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