Mac's podcast ep 03 is out :)

[Mac of BIOnighT]

MAC'S PODCAST ep 03 - October 2013

In this third podcast episode I talk about my next album "Fabric," about the importance my record covers have for me and the collaboration with my uncle, mountain choirs, and Alpini (an Italian military corps); I also explain some of my techniques and I talk about the importance of creativity in music, all arts and life.
Enjoy!

http://macofbionight.bandcamp.com/al...3-october-2013

[Thought Experiment]

Been looking forward to this, I'm downloading it now to listen to on my way home from work

[Mac of BIOnighT]

Thanks - hope it won't make you fall asleep while driving ;-P

[Thought Experiment]

It's okay, I'll be riding a bus - the roads are much safer that way (in fact, that's true whether or not I'm listening to my MP3 player) :cantlook:

[Mac of BIOnighT]

Yeah, I know what you mean - the roads are a lot more dangerous when I'm driving ;-)

[Thought Experiment]

Well it didn't disappoint - entertaining and educational. I was hooked from the opening choon - Mac, are you sure you're not from Sheffield? Either way, you have that sound nailed...I listened to it and thought 'I really must do something uptempo soon'.

And those Mountain choirs are amazing - I had no idea they even existed, or the Alpini. What a great story, what a moving song - even though my Italian only stretches far enough to read a menu, the emotions still come through. My fellow bus passengers must've wondered what the hell I was listening to, chuckling one minute, choking back tears the next...

I agree totally with your thoughts on creativity, and your story about the sound creation for your track 'Weaving' was technically interesting, but enlightening too. I like the idea that someone who's never played an instrument can still create a piece of music, but maybe it's a little too easy to just put the construction kit together and that's why there are so many decent-sounding but vacuous tracks out there. There's no substitute for imagination, and there's no way it can be packaged and sold on.

Anyway, enough blather from me - I really enjoyed your podcast, and I'm already looking forward to the next one :D

[Mac of BIOnighT]

Well it didn't disappoint - entertaining and educational

Wow, thank you, extremely kind of you

I was hooked from the opening choon - Mac, are you sure you're not from Sheffield? Either way, you have that sound nailed...

Definitely from Luino... But I have a tangerine dream concert held in Sheffield, does that count? ;-P By the way, I wouldn't have recorded that opening track if it hadn't been for my uncle - our original project is to go someplace or other together, he takes photos and I compose a track right there. When we went to that factory, though, the owner stuck to me all the time and kept talking and talking and talking, so I couldn't compose anything. I was very disappointed :( Then my uncle convinced me to record a track using my memory, focusing on what little I had been able to enjoy of the place (his way of convincing me was "Now you record a track or I'll break your a**" - that's pretty convincing). The one thing I had been able to "feel" for a few minutes was the beautiful ceiling of the factory (this http://www.flickr.com/photos/macofbi...57634018685838 ), so I wrote the song based on that

I listened to it and thought 'I really must do something uptempo soon'.

I'd love to hear something like that from you, even your ambient is so positive!

And those Mountain choirs are amazing - I had no idea they even existed, or the Alpini.

Yes, they are a great tradition, and it's even more amazing considering they are not professionals and do it for free. The problem, unfortunately, is the same as with every other tradition: will enough young people join in to keep it alive?
As to Alpini, their trademark is their typical hat https://www.google.it/search?q=cappe...w=1173&bih=798 which makes them instantly recognizable by everyone...

What a great story, what a moving song - even though my Italian only stretches far enough to read a menu, the emotions still come through. My fellow bus passengers must've wondered what the hell I was listening to, chuckling one minute, choking back tears the next...

I'm really glad you liked it, it's such a beautiful song....
(and anyway, a menu can be very moving as well, all you have to do is look at the prices and tears will start rolling down your cheeks...)

Thank you again, I really appreciate your listening and taking the time to comment

[Thought Experiment]

Hey - my pleasure

...

I was hooked from the opening choon - Mac, are you sure you're not from Sheffield? Either way, you have that sound nailed...

Definitely from Luino... But I have a tangerine dream concert held in Sheffield, does that count? ;-P ...

I think that plus the track itself entitles you to honorary citizenship :D

That photo of the factory ceiling is incredible, so are the other pictures in that set. My wife's a very keen photographer, I'll pass the link on to her, I know she'll appreciate the skill. BTW, does your uncle hire himself out? There are times I could use one of his 'pep talks' - sometimes the threat of violence is just the encouragement one needs...

Wow - there's a lot of hats in that capello link

All the best,
Mike

[Mac of BIOnighT]

I think that plus the track itself entitles you to honorary citizenship

Great! Can I run for mayor, too?

That photo of the factory ceiling is incredible, so are the other pictures in that set. My wife's a very keen photographer, I'll pass the link on to her

Thank you :o Give her the link to the set itself, then http://www.flickr.com/photos/macofbi...7634018685838/ there are probably too many pics there, and some of them are kind of old (I only started about a year ago). Does she have any pics somewhere where I can see them?

BTW, does your uncle hire himself out? There are times I could use one of his 'pep talks' - sometimes the threat of violence is just the encouragement one needs...

Aha ha, I can ask him ;-P

Wow - there's a lot of hats in that capello link

Yep, their hat went through several changes along the decades...

[Thought Experiment]

Great! Can I run for mayor, too?
...

If you really want to...but as far as I can see the only upside to being mayor is the Chain of Office - essential HipHop fashion accessory :D

Now there's a thought - what's a good 'look' for the ambient musician? Should we wear clothing that is as ignorable as it is visually engaging? Hmmm :hmmm:

[windspace]

Now there's a thought - what's a good 'look' for the ambient musician? Should we wear clothing that is as ignorable as it is visually engaging? Hmmm :hmmm:

:D

[Mac of BIOnighT]

Now there's a thought - what's a good 'look' for the ambient musician? Should we wear clothing that is as ignorable as it is visually engaging? Hmmm :hmmm:

:D Brilliant!!

[Thought Experiment]

...

That photo of the factory ceiling is incredible, so are the other pictures in that set. My wife's a very keen photographer, I'll pass the link on to her

Thank you :o Give her the link to the set itself, then http://www.flickr.com/photos/macofbi...7634018685838/ there are probably too many pics there, and some of them are kind of old (I only started about a year ago). Does she have any pics somewhere where I can see them?
...

Sure, here you go:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pahobson

I've passed your link over to her - with a bit of luck, if she gets engrossed looking at your photos tonight I might be able to steal some studio time for myself ;)
Cheers,
Mike

[windspace]

I finally got to listen through this new podcast. They just keep getting better! I really enjoyed the music and the interesting glimpse into mountain culture in the Italian Alps. Thanks for sharing with us!

[Mac of BIOnighT]

Sure, here you go:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pahobson

Wow, she's good! O__O

with a bit of luck, if she gets engrossed looking at your photos tonight I might be able to steal some studio time for myself

The problem with women is that you can't distract them with porn ;-P