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While still catching up with time, CTG presents a new AOTM: Cartlemmy! Cartlemmy is an active reviewer and, although not very active at the forums, a welcome part of our little community site. Cartlemmy produces almost every musicstyle that can come out of a computer and is known to host a small CTG-like site called SONGvsSONG.com.
Analysis: As a start, can you introduce yourself to us?
cartlemmy: I'm Josh AKA "CartLemmy", born in 1979 in the USA. When I was about 10 I used to tinker around with a music creation program for the Tandy 100hx. It had only 4 channels of audio (very similar to the sound capabilities of the Nintendo Entertainment System). That was probably the beginnings of my interest in music. I started playing my father's guitar at about the age of 14, and shortly after started writing my own music. I've only recently taken up writing electronic music.
Analysis: What do you do in your normal life? Do you have a girlfriend?
cartlemmy: Music is a huge part of my normal life too. I like singing and tinkering around on my guitar and going to see live bands. My profession is as a webdeveloper. On occasion I'll play some Quake 3 for fun. Yes, I have a girlfriend (Samantha), she's the best.
Analysis: What makes you feel happy to be alive? I suppose you've already named music and your girl, but why does that make you happy? Why are those special too you?
cartlemmy: I suppose nothing in particular makes me feel happy to be alive. Happiness comes in an unexpected moment, and it is hard to keep that moment or conjure it later. Just being happy with the moment is what I try to do, not worry about the future nor lament the past. Music does seem to bring those moments about, and so does my love.
Analysis: What are you trying to reach in your life? Is music your only ambition?
cartlemmy: I'm always struggling to keep in line with the important things in life. It is so easy to get caught up in futile efforts such as money and fame. I would like to live a comfortable life, but I don't want to sacrfice relationships with loved ones to do so.
I'd say music is an underlying force in my life, and no matter what I do it will always be there. I don't ever see making a living off of music, though if it ever happens I would be thrilled. I suppose my ambition in life is to bring happiness to as many people as possible, something that I fall short
of every day.
Analysis: Why do you consider money to be unimportant? Isnt money something that you need, if you want to bring happiness to others?
cartlemmy: I don't see money as unimportant, just excessive amounts of it- I don't really strive to be rich. Of course I like nice things just the same as anyone else.
Analysis: What are the things that you consider to be 'bad', when it comes to music?
cartlemmy: I suppose lack of originality is really the one thing that bothers me. I don't like listening to songs with similar sounds, but sometimes I hear a song that borrows the exact same chord progression/melodies/over all sound of another (i.e. Usher - Let it Burn/ Frankie K - How To Deal, Beatles - Obladi Oblada/Offspring - Get a Job, [verse of] Weezer - Hash Pipe/Gwen Stefani - What You Waiting For?) I don't mind borrowing some things, but some just take it too far.
I think everyone has their own tastes in music, so what's "good" or "bad" music? In my opinion, if people like your song it says something about the quality of that song. If one
person likes your song, then maybe even that is good enough. One thing I do consider "bad" in music is the way a lot of the huge record labels handle things. With technology the way it is today it is so easy to distibute your own music. Those records labels better watch it, or they are going to go belly up.
Analysis: How do you usually compose music?
cartlemmy: A lot of the time I will be playing around with a melody or a beat in my head while I am working or driving or something else. If it is interesting enough to remember I will put into Reason, or possibly just record it on my guitar. This will be an "idea track", later on I 'll listen to my idea tracks and if
I still like them I will tinker with them until they sound like a real song. I have hundreds of "idea tracks" on my computer that are complete crap, sometimes it is fun to go back and listen to them.
Analysis: What influence did CTG have on your music?
cartlemmy: Many of the members of CTG have helped reshape my songs into something better. CTG is an excellent community for that reason. The fact that you can get a higher rating after changing your song is pretty cool. Thanks eveyone at CTG!
Analysis: I heard that you are working on your own 'small' CTG. Can you explain us a little more about that site?
cartlemmy: Oh, SONGvsSONG? SONGvsSONG is similar to CTG in a few ways, but it is more my answer to GarageBand.com. I wanted to give people a free place to host their music, as well as non-biased charts. I don't suport deep-linking yet, but I would love to someday implement a way to allow users to host their CTG music on SONGvsSONG.
Analysis: I end the interview now, is there something you would like to say to the CTG members?
cartlemmy: Thanks to all of you for putting some great songs on here, and giving some great feedback! Now, go have some fun! |
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