Well, unlike some, I have a wide taste in music and like Blues, Metal; Jazz: Rock; Folk; Classical... just forget the rap crap.  Anyhow, John, I am totally impressed with your music and think you have a great voice.  I do believe you could make it and carve out a successful career if you were to venture into the recording business as a serious contender.  Having said that, I believe that you would benefit greatly if you could line up a bassist, drummer and keyboardist to broaden the overall sound. 

Now I'm not saying you're not good, quite the opposite, in fact, but your voice would be enhanced even more with the right backing group.  Yes, I know, it's easier said than done, but it is something to consider as you move forward.  The other thing, have you ever considered doing the local club circuit to you?   It'd be great exposure and a way of promoting your music to a wider audience.  Just think, that's how the Beatles started... doing underground clubs around Liverpool... as a 4 piece... and look at where it took them.

Anyhow, all the best with it.

That's your cue Doc!

Thanks starkers, appreciate the kind words... as far as the direction we want to go, its not playing live, we'll be happy to put an album together and a website maybe, youtube, myspace etc.. and try to distribute that way.

I \ We actually play all the music you hear, play drums, bass, and synth, keyboard.... its just not shown here. The music here is from a prerecorded project we have been working on, so all the work involved isn't shown in the video. Mostly what we use are "virtual instruments", played on a Midi keyboard.

Heres an example.. for the drums, we use Superior Drummer.. http://www.toontrack.com/products.asp?item=30

were both 40 plus, not likely were gonna be going on tour anytime soon, and finding other musicians, that u gel with, that have similar tastes in music, are reliable, and arent drunk or addicts, well, it's not easy..

Credit where credit is due... you have a great singing voice and it should be heard.  Okay, so you're not looking toward a live music career, which I think is sad, I'm sure there'd be a lot of people who would love to hear you sing, but that's your decision and I can understand where you're coming from.

Like I said, getting other musicians to play and gel as a group is easier said than done, as you alluded to, so just keep on doing what you're doing and enjoy the buzz of creation.  And this is coming from somebody who can't play at thing... can't sing fer nuts, either... but I sure as heck know what I like, and your rendition of Glycerine is something else.  I really like that, and "Hard to Be Me"... both are pleasant to the ear and very easy to listen to.

Yes, I knew that you played everything between you, and what you do is great, it's just that my preference, I suppose, was always to see and hear the individual musicians playing as a band. I grew up with that in the 60's and really loved that earthy feel of a live band.  Yup, I'm stuck in a time warp in that way, but I still appreciate the kind of music you are doing, probably because it's based in what I'm familiar with, just more modern with newer instruments and techniques.

Nah, to get into that now you'd be 90 before you could retire... just look at Mick Jagger and the 'boys', approaching their 70's and still getting up on stage because the fans want it.   I was thinking something more intimate.  If you were to do live performances, I was thinking more along the lines of club dates where the atmosphere is more cozy and casual, and your audience isn't chanting so loud as to drown the music in a dull roar.  A friend of mine only ever did club dates, he reckoned the smaller venues suited him better and turned down several offers of touring the country with various bands.

Besides, at 40 something you don't want to be just starting out with the groupies, sex, drugs and alcohol.  Sure Mick and Keith did it at your age... but they had 20 something years of training to withstand the rigors of it all.

Thanks for ur in depth replies mate, interesting to hear your takes on stuff, will always keep in mind. I like the idea of the smaller venues, Jacksonville, Florida isnt exactly the music capital of the world unfortunately.

I'm deep into making a full composite video of this song, using all the footage we took, I'm using Sony Vegas to do it... i gotta say, its some learning curve...

... but getting there  

That is so coool. I really enjoyed your video.  Way to go vStyler and your b-inlaw.     

That's okay, mate, music is a subject close to my heart and I could discuss it all day if time permitted.  As I said, my musical tastes are wide and varied and encompass just about everything, including Shirley Bassey and Doris Day, etc, so it's pretty easy to get immersed in conversation about something that captures me.

Brisbane isn't exactly the music capital of the world, either, but Darrell still has a complete club schedule that gives him just one day a week off.  He's a one-man band who plays guitar, harmonica and sax, with bass and percussion provided via his synthesizer/keyboard.  His music is largely country, country rock, but he also does 60's and 70's rock ballads as well... and pretty well, too.  Okay, 6 nights a week might be too hectic for you and your brother-in-law, but you set how many nights you want to work and make yourselves unavailable for the rest.  Darrell will not work Mondays, that's his day off, no exceptions.

The thing is, Darrell does not do videos or CD's... well he does hand out some CD's to family, friends and regulars at his shows, but he reckons he has all the work he can handle and does not want to over-promote himself so that he loses his only day off.  So yeah, you have to evaluate how far you want to take it and set a workload you can both manage without burning out and/or neglecting the rest of your lives... like skinning, for example. 

Video is essential these days to getting your music out there, so the learning curve will be well worth it.  However, you'll no sooner master one thing and another idea, method, technique presents itself and the learning curve continues... a bit like life, really... you never stop learning.

Anyhow, John, all the best with it and keep aspiring.

Hey there John !   Spiffy stuff you have got going there ... Pretty damn respectable, mate .. 

As an ex-professional musician I still keep my hand in so to speak , and nowadays I do a lot of session work , and backing tracks and arrangements for 

those that want 'em .. ! 

I was wondering  .. what software are you using for your sequences /music ? 

I'm using Logic Express on my mac , with all of it's samplers and stuff , as well as the Korg Digital Legacy synths , which are full-blown VSTs of the M1, Wavestation , Poly6 , MS20 , and the MonoPoly ,also the MDE-X effects  ; my Master keyboard is a Yamaha Clavinova , with a bucketload of great , wonderful sounds ... 

If you are using similar music software , then maybe it would be interesting to do summat together ? I am not sure even if different systems are compatable ..,

Logic Express is quite fussy with what it works with ..  midi is the usual way ....... , and for exact copies of sounds , usually a .wav helps ....  ...

It would be an interesting learning curve , that's for sure ....  

Drop me a PM , buddy .. It would be a pile of fun to do summat for ya ! ( tho' G-D knows how long it would take !! ) To give you an idea of what the Clavinova sounds like ... nip over to the July Desktop thread ... and reply 17 !! 

Kind regards ....

Mike 

ps Your Video above doesnt work for me ... Just thought I would let you know ...

which version Mike?...

Hi Syd ! G'day !  

... Logic Express 9.1.4 (1700.2) ... 32 bit .. ( needed to be 32 bit so that I can run my Korg Synths on it ...)

thanks Mike.... 

WOW!!!  holly cow vStyler you are so talented. when you make it big remember me as a huge fan, and I will have to buy me self your first album  and yes I would have too get it autographed  then I can say I know you personally

Seriously though , you're music is awesome and I do love it. I wish you well

Sorry, i deleted the other version.... here is an updated video i have been working on for a couple of weeks.

Its still not finished tho!

Mike, will get back with u on ur questions. Cheers.

http://youtu.be/-URyWQt3zPk

I would have embedded it but it doesnt seem to work.

please watch at 720p !  or at least at 480.

Thanks everyone !

Look forward to your reply , bud ! ... Really cool song there BTW..  Interesting Intro too ! 

PS I have just been jamming along to your "Get it On " Using a screaming Hammond Organ .... with rotating stereo leslie FX ....   

video is not playing for me??? can I get a link?

nevermind got it

Thx Shauna, skinit !, i hope to finish the video soon and have my "world premiere"

didn't quite 'hit' the mark there mate... 

Hey Mike, sorry for the late reply... anyway, as far as what I use.. an M-audio Keystudio, and all software synths, drums, keys etc.. You name it, i have it.

I have a nice Firewire Audio interface... a Focusrite Pro24 DSP, that I paid 400 bucks for but it went tits up on me shortly after my warranty ran out so I'm stuck using an internal Creative Audigy ASIO card for a while

I mostly work thru headphones but have a solid pair of 270W Behringer Studio monitors.

At last check im nearing 2TB of sample driven instruments and samples, the samples are mooostly drums and percussion, Acoustic and Electronic.

Mostly what I use is Superior Drummer for drums, Omnisphere and Kontakt for most other instruments, except bass, where I am partial to using Trilian for.

Maybe the next time im stuck for a nice melody, you can help me out, I'll give you a shout!

Oh and for a DAW, I use Ableton Live 8.2.2... couldn't live without it!

Video editing, I have been using Sony Vegas 10

New tracks we are working on  ..

(in between skinning)

http://soundcloud.com/vstyler/sister-sister

http://soundcloud.com/vstyler/dreadlock-vanity