Network: Audio Sculpted Through Alliance

Author

Damien Shane Moffitt, Bard CollegeFollow

Date of Submission

Spring 2016

Academic Programs and Concentrations

Music

Project Advisor 1

James Bagwell

Project Advisor 2

Thurman Barker

Abstract/Artist's Statement

Network is a compilation of my work, collected from some of my collaborations where I represent the diversity and chaos of my musical career.

In the first half of this double album I explore drumming along to a dear friend’s (Leach) music, trying to add a little bit more of a live flavor. What made this more of a challenge was that I would not be able to record with an actual drum set that semester. I had to improvise and set up an electronic drum kit inside of a friend’s house. Jack Moulton was that friend. He also acted as my engineer for this experimental process, as well as for the majority of Network. While I was disappointed to not use real drums, or have studio access, I am proud of the result that came from the improvisation that was needed to create the recording of Leach’s music on Network, pt. 1. No recording studio, no real drums, just using all that was available to the best of our ability. The ShitKill recordings on Network, pt. 1 were songs that we had been working on for a while, and the opportunity to utilize the Bard College recording studio for the first time provided a certain set of challenges, but provided better focus for where we wanted our music to go.

The second half of Network really shines for me. It opens with six completely original compositions written by Daniel Risdon and myself. Being more familiar with the studio is evidenced in these recordings. I also got to realize my dream of recording live instruments with Leach in a commercial recording studio. Jack and I went to “Room 17” in Brooklyn, NY and added a plethora of new instrumentation to Leach’s pop anthems. These songs are now bigger, brighter, and warmer. I added live drums, bass, guitar, and percussion to these songs and I think they make for a much more human / engaging experience. I am very proud of this collaboration.

Working on Network this year has been an exciting opportunity for me to explore and expand my musical interests and abilities. It feels like a great launch towards my future as a musician.

For more visit: https://dsmsp.bandcamp.com/.

Access Agreement

Open Access

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Moffitt, Damien Shane, "Network: Audio Sculpted Through Alliance" (2016). Senior Projects Spring 2016. 333.
https://digitalcommons.bard.edu/senproj_s2016/333