 Since end of July a lot has happend on my Music Journey up to October. All of the suddenly David Sivano came back from silence and with a awsome track up mine he had produced on that I call "Dance Dance". Before that I had been a depressed as I love music and his silence made me desperate. In the moment of a light depression I took a steep back. Thinking why am I so dependent? Why am I in such a hurry? What makes me happy? I then decided to not rush with my music but work on 10 songs in my summer vacation and create the full arrangements and then just polish and polish and enjoy being able to do everything from a-z initially although eventually collaborating as I am a firmer believer in that connections and collaboration is the way forward. Also, I decided I just wanted to enjoy building my craft and songs and sense if I did not feel comfertable to find a comfertable position in what ever I may be doing. Walking, eating, sitting whatever... In my vacation I worked on the teen tracks and after that I rotated among them to improve them. Songs I produced from a-z for a start I among other call "Lets Flow On", "Perfect World", "Take Take What you Want", "Be Normal" and "Take Away Food". David Sivano was suddenly back. I took a step back and thought about it. I suggested that I worked on my own tracks and could share them for pimp up when I felt ready but that we in the meantime worked on tracks where he sends me draft compositions to feel, get idea to the story / conflict and then write songs and record vocal melodies and then send it to David Sivano and then ping pong. That gave new tracks that I call "Loving what is", "They All said it" and "Tonight We are all together". In addition, I came up with what I think is the best approach for our collab for the future that I call the Wave and C^2 approach. The key is that I am connected with me, that we connect together and to the track and that we collaborate in a wave form to keep it fresh. The Wave means similar to a wave to work as a wave moving close to and away from the shore. The one way is making full draft arrangement and then having them pimped up by David Sivano. The other way is having David Sivano send a draft composition and then feel the track and a story and then write a text and create vocal melodies. Send it to David Sivano and as always ping pong. As the wave Sham shifts between these two approaches with David from track to track to keep it fresh. I am really exited about the Wave & C^2 approach I came up with in modes of temporary darkness when feeling of stray from what I love. In addition, I continue to work on my vocal and song writing skills. And in fact today 09102017 is a year ago that David Sivano and I started to collaborate and take a music development journey together! I am looking forward to look back in a year in reflection. Wauw the last year has been an insane development journey and there is still so much more to learn and enjoy and to work hard on. I wish everybody can experience the same development journey with what ever may be their poetic path in life. Hugs Sham
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A lot has happened on my artistic journey since my last blog. Basically I am more personally grounded and to some extend artistically reborn or perhaps rebooted.. CAN THE BLIND LEARN TO SEE? When I came back from CEBU working on the first music video. I after buying a piano to practice vocals started taking singing lessons with Cipa Møller Pape and Louise Julie Bisgaard Vase found via www.musikundervisning.dk. This has been an eye opener in terms of how blind, death and unconnected you can be with music and still love it! It has been shocking, learning full and humbling experience. Still I tried to follow the shadows and practices music techniques and ear training, while constantly creating new songs..  MORE MUSIC VIDEOS IN THE MIX Since the last music videos, I had written the song text for among other two news songs that I also wanted music videos for. A song first called Let me See your Heels but changed to Let me see your to make the intention ambiguous. I have written it like a modern King Lear story but instead of a king and his three daughters we are following a guy and three girls at a disco. The song was produced with with David Jörgen Sivelind. Another song then came out of watching terrorist attacks in the Media. Without thinking I wrote a song I first called Suicide Bomber. A song produced with David too. However, I later changed the title to Suicide Attack considering how the first title may be received and any risk that may follow that. However, I still want the song developed and shared as my hope is that the song when released may make a small contribution as a medium for a broader and more open discussion on terrorisms and suicide attacks. The more open we are the better we can secure well defined boundaries so we exclude when justified and without creating unwarranted segregation.” Compared to the previous videos I wanted the story telling to reach another level compared to the last videos. So, I wrote the draft scripts for both music videos really thinking about what is the “crank shaft” of the stories. Then Piero Vergara and Raymond Humphries-Erickson wrote a script based on that that I was very content with. Taking ownership makes a difference and inspires collaborators to another level was my experiences. So, on my next Holliday back in March I went to CEBU on the Philippines again to shoot Let Me See your And Suicide Attack with an outstanding local crew and cast. Also, worked on with the songs with David Jörgen Sivelind (David Sivano). I won’t say more about the vides now. Only that they are great. I am proud of the work that the crew and cast did, including two kids that I meet in a local studio who did it fantastic. I asked their dad the day before the shoot and they were up for it and it would help complement an idea of an indirect hint at a Suicide Attack loop. Let’s see if that point comes out when the video is out. Nonetheless the kids did a really good job. While, the script writing and shooting went well as well as the first rough cuts went well. I suddenly did not hear anything from the video editors. So, I took control. Bought and quickly learned myself to finalize the videos based on rough cuts I had received. When challenges come it gives rise for new learnings… I am happy that this happened as it gives me a better understanding of the process and tools and the hard work required but also that some things are minor are sold as big things as excuses...   FINDING MY VOICE AND MYSELF Before going to CEBU to work on the two latest music videos David Jörgen Sivelind (David Sivano) started to drop out communication wise. However, before that and some periods after I worked very intensively with him, which really helped accelerate my motivation and learnings. However, the sudden long periods of communication fall out gave rise to two new explorations. Relating to the first communication fall out I instead of creating melodies on guitar or based on logic pro x loops or awesome composition input from David, I started to “program” complete song chord progressions and melodies based on clear overviews with emphasis on ensuring melodic freshness throughout new numbers. David is a great producer but melody wise there is a gap from my taste, so it gave me the chance to follow that need of mine as a create instead of just director and vocal melody creator based on guitar, loops or base composition provided... Relating to the second communication fall out I decided several things. One was to change my ambition, pace and Collab approach. I decided instead of hunting progressions and learnings that would lead to a Grammy with David. I just wanted to enjoy sensing sitting on my chair or standing at the mic when making or practicing music. Also, just to create art for my satisfaction of that moment. I was not sure what I had been chasing… so a small down period changed into big life realizations for me... grateful for that opportunity. I decided that my life should just be about feeling good now and not a chase tomorrow. That instead of using most of my spare time for music to also engage and give attention spending time to grow into relationship. After a long relationship, I up till now apparently needed to shield myself with diving into music and some tango dancing. Now I felt relieved and a need to seek outwards again. Still I love music and will continue the journey. I also decided to base the “voice” moving forwards on how I sang on a song I wrote called Pendulum, which is produced with David. The song is about being stuck in the middle. A feeling I had and honestly expressed with a very relaxed and honest text and present voice. So instead of trying different things, I decided to find back to that state of mind and body posture and vocal for future recordings… I am happy about that track produced with David and the motivation and learning boost that was released from the Collab with David. Who knows we may be making more tracks in the future. In the meantime, I will continue the journey and take more time and responsibility for the complete artistic process and outcomes…  FROM MUSICAL TIME SHARING TO HOME COOKING Now I also, decided that I should not leave a significant share of the composition work up to a co-produce upfront. So, I decided to take charge of the whole process from song writing, creating the related chord and melody progressions and building the whole arrangement, initial mixing and then go for automated mastering. Also, instead of spitting out track after track to just work on 10 tracks and keep coming back to them over a year. Refining, perfecting and then get crowed reviews and then perhaps collaborating on a very finished product instead of rushing and not doing a good work. I will give it good time for this 100% homemade tracks project. I already have more than 10 tracks produced with David on “stock” to release. Including 5 music videos. Covering also a reedit I did on the music video material for my song Party Angel, that I asked Vega for a reedit of. So, in the next period up to 10 songs but the 10 next songs will be worked on as chicken laying on eggs. I will just enjoy the journey. Then perhaps working with producers with a much more finished product covering a strong initial arrangement or taking full ownership from a-z dependent upon the number and circumstances and then see. I am open but I initially want to make full productions home cookings from a-z. Obviously, I will Seek music production inspiration and keep practicing vocals so I can start to see more of the world of music. As mentioned, started taking singing lessons with Cipa Møller Pape and Louise Julie Bisgaard Vase has been an eye opener in terms of how blind, death and unconnected you can be with music and still love it. It has been shocking, learning full and humbling experience. But because I love it I will keep on trying follow the shadows and practices music techniques and ear training, while constantly creating new songs. I JUST THREW IT SINGE AWAY JUST RELEASED By the way check out “I just threw it away” just released today on among other Itunes, Spotify and Tidal. Also released as music video on youtube! https://youtu.be/ASTy7V29G7A :0)  I will share my personal and musical explorations and reconnections ongoing. Feel free to join the journey :0) Kind and musical regards and hugs. Sham
SHAM GABR - MY NEW BLOG ABOUT MY MUSIC JOURNEY! :0)   Later this year I will be launcing five new songs with amazing music videos that I am extremely proud of.I cant wait to share these and give cudos to the Crew and cast that did an truely amazign job! It took me a lot of effots to get to the level that the five songs will express and still I have so much to learn. I would like to share my journey so far and ahead and I hope you will follow along... My musical path started Back in December 1999. I woke up and started to write what I though was a song. I tried to sleep several times during the process but it keept disturbing my sleep. The month after I bought my first guitar and called a song teacher. After coulpe of minutes the song teacher said "you have you own expression" but it will be good to start all over :0) Summer 2000 I had writen more than 30 songs. So, I though it would be a good idea to play a concert. I went with the guitar on my back to a bar. I must have looked convincing because they said yes without hearing my music. I then played a concert for 80 people. The bar owner was happy because there was a lot of people but in the middle of the set I could sense the crowd called for somthing different. In desperation perhaps I asked for 3 key Words and improvised a song on the spot. The crowd went crazy! I keept on writing songs and practing the guitar and decided to pursue a Phd in Business Administration as the flexibility would allow me to keep improving my song-Writing on the side. I set the goal to practice minimum a hour every day and see if I could get a record deal at the end of my PhD. I am a dreamer baby! :0)  Me when I started writing music back in 2000. Its clear I am a Dreamer :0) I got my PhD in Business Administration but no record deal. I had send demos to all the big record labels but all kindly declined my wonderfull offer. No Wonder! That is considering my skill level at that time. I am a dreamer but I also works hard. I kept on writing songs and playing a bit but Work life took over. I still produced several songs with different producers. When I listen to these today I am surprissed how bad they sound. But I kept on because I could not help. Its my mission in life! Work life took more and more over. However, after a split with a outstanding girl friend that I was together with more than 5.5 years I in the middle of 2014 decided to dedicate my sparetime to create the great songs I dreamt about in the past. I knew I could do it. Again, I simply feel its my Mission in life. I recorded a hand full of songs in 2015 with Christian Wulff a Danish Producer. We among other produced my Heritage a very personal Development song. A great learning experience. To learn even more I also started to Work with a top producer from Prague in the beginning of 2016. I learned a lot from that both it was not the right collaboration for me. Furthermore, I also started to Work with another Producer Christoffer Høyer in 2016 to continue the learnings. Also, a very learningfull experience. I also started to integrate my singing more and more into my every day life. That Means when ever I went somewhere with my car I practiced singing and during work breaks the same etc. I thought instead of separting activities the key is to integrate them when possible! August 2016 I attended the Vocal Insitutes One Week Singing course. It showed me how much there still was to learn but also provided techniques and clear approaches to pursue. In addition, it also confirmed that my improvisional skills are second to none. Vocals and music theory was another story.. I also developed my first two music videos in 2016 ("So Cold" and "Alone"). I even edited the first version of "So Cold" giving me a basic undertanding of how much there goes into making a gret video. I then have Marek from Prauge help me edit the Alone video with a much better result. He has an truely awsome spirit and is a true artist him self. However, things really took off when I aquired my own Little home studio and producer tools end of August and just started exploring sining based on different backing tracks. I found that changing the backing track could change a song from awful to good and even great! Some times we perform at a very low level because the "backing track" does not support bringing out the best in us. That was a very big discovery for me. However, things took even more off (Like a rocket) when I in October 2016 out of the blue i started to Work with David Sivano! He Co-Produced some numbers for me that I had started on in my Little home studie and with my producer tools. Our communication was brilliant and his Work too! This despite we only communicated via Mail and Viper as he lives in CEBU on the Phillipines!  To the left David Sivano and me to the right... David helped me to have a third music video ("My Heritage) edited based on my own footage I had made with my Iphone! The editor was Piero Vergara and he did an amazing job! So I asked David about the possibility to have music videos made from script, production with cast and crew to editing. Based on the conversation I booked flights tickets in October for between December 23-5th Januar. During that time I with a crew and cast worked on the production of 5 music videos. Also, David and I finalized the songs for the music videos. I also wrote 12 songs during that my visit to CEBU and David and I started to record a couple of the songs. We had the best time in the studio! It was a bliss!  David and me In the House of Indies Studio In CEBU.. Some shoots from behind the scene of the Music Videos to come ... While I was in CEBU I told David I would write minimum a song per week in 2017 to harnesh my song writing skills. He also recommended me to buy a Piano too and practice my vocals. I studied my own song texts and those of the greats and 14th January I had already reached my year target. Its insane but 14th January I had written 52 Song texts! And with the last to weeks of 2016 I had written 64 song texts. I was so inspirred from everything and really went Deep into a exploration and writing mode constantly looping back and forth to my text, content and the structures of my best songs and songs structures by the greatest of all time. Loved it! When I came back from CEBU I by based on the recommendation from David also bough by first piano and I have practiced every day since. I can already sense differences in my way of singing and listening to music. Before I always heard the vocals in the foreground and not so much the clariy of the "tones" behind. Now I am actively listning for the music behind the vocals and sensing the natural boundaries for singing within that... Love that too!  My music Goals for 2017. Minimum 52 Songs (DONE), improved vocals (In Progress) and music theory understanding (In Progress), able to play the chords freely from the Circle of Fifths (In prgress), producing 20-40 songs together with David Sivano (In Progress) and to initiate the NeXT music videos.
Thats all for now. Looking forward to update you on the Journey ahead and I hope you will follow along... Warm Regards and musical Hugs. Sham |
AuthorE&R´s Sham Gabr with roots in Egypt, Finland and Denmark is an outstanding artist to improvise a song based on a few key words and to create coherent music with intensity and nerve that drags you in.. Archives
October 2017
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