Dan Hewins: The Deck

This is one that has been in the works for a long time now. Back in the middle of August, I went to the space to record a lot of samples. I got samples of the acoustic guitar playing a bunch of different chords at different volumes (loud/quiet) and different lengths (long/short). I did the same for a clean electric guitar as well as a distorted electric guitar. Then I got single notes from the electric guitar. Then I got my voice singing Aaaah, Eeeee, and Ooooh (short and long). Then I had them and I didn't do anything with them until tonight.

This is the first of (hopefully) a bunch of things stitched together from these samples. This one's a bit wacky but just go with it. Maybe another in the future will be kinder to your senses.

MAYBE NOT! Who knows?

Samplemania Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The Ten of Diamonds was made last week, just before the first snow of the year here in Brooklyn. But the mood is right and since I mixed it tonight, I'll call it First Snow.

The first snow, as any of you on the Eastern Seaboard already know, was a big one. It's the most snow I've seen in the city in quite a long time.

This is another of the instrumental acoustic guitar pieces. Enjoy!

First Snow Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The Nine of Diamonds is essentially a Neem song. The Neem, my band back 10 years ago in St. Louis, wrote a bunch of State Songs (before John Linnell) and we got through only about eight or nine, seven of which we recorded. (New Jersey is lost forever.)

So this song is about South Carolina. I got some facts from the internet and from my brain and went for it.

I sincerely hope you enjoy... South Carolina.

South Carolina Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The Eight of Diamonds is a little ditty.

Down Below, Up High, In The Middle Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The five of diamonds is an instrumental piece made with a drum machine, guitars, and a keyboard.

I'm moving on!

Five of Diamonds: Moving On Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

It's been a tough late-summer. I've been out of commission for most of August and September. But! I fully intend to come back from the dark territory and regain control of this beast called The Deck.

The latest installment was made on September 29. It's called Bosch Loopers, which means runners of woods in Dutch. I'm reading Gotham, the history of New York (until 1898) and I found it in there. It somehow seems appropriate. Or maybe it just sounds good to me.

Bosch Loopers (Runners of Woods) Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Here it is, I made it to the halfway point. I've basically stayed on schedule, only posting songs 1-2 days late but mostly not late at all. I've created 26 songs where only a small few (2) are not really songs, but ambient soundscapes or some kind of whatnot. Not that there is anything wrong with that anyway, it's just that they are not exactly "written" or "songs."

This one is "written" and it is also a "song." I summoned my best 60's sunshine folk pop to try to brighten my day. I think I got there somewhat. I learned the effects of the D-Major 7 chord from John Mathias back in college and I've never put it to use until today. I also think it may be the opening chord (and rhythm) to Pink Floyd's "Dogs" (which is on Animals, an awesome album).

Anyway, this song is a tribute to "half" and the fact that I am halfway done with this whole thing. Half and half. Bring me the halfling. Halved bagel. Halva. Goodbye.

Half Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

That's how you act, that's what you get. What did you expect?

This is another African-flavored ditty. I think it's fun to add the drums and percussion to tracks like this.

That's How You Act, That's What You Get Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

I'm skipping ahead to the King of Clubs because there is a king in this song. I'll come back to the Jack and Queen in the next two weeks.

This song started with some of the lyrics then I just built upon them as I went. I got to a point where I thought of a short story that I read in college by Gabriel Garcia Marquez called "A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings." I remembered the title a little differently last Monday when I was working on this though, hence the title of the song. When I found the story in my old book I realized the difference. In any case, the story by Marquez and the story in this song bear very little resemblance except for the Old Man within.

I thought about Michael Zapruder's songs when working on this one.

A Very Old Man With Very Large Wings Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The last day of May has come and gone. And with its passing comes this piece of ambient fun. I used four guitar amps and a bunch of pedals to create this.

Keep your eyes and ears peeled later this week when I'll post another version using the same setup. In part 2, instead of a guitar I used a synth.

End of May, Part 1 (guitar) Play Now | Play in Popup | Download