After touching down in Amsterdam, I straight away began experimenting with the software on my phone to see what sort of results I could get. I think I started out with a bit too much enthusiasm though and I wasn’t till I got to Berlin a week later that I actually started to get a bit inspired about writing and using my surroundings for inspiration (sometimes quite literally as you’ll find out later).
Once I actually started to come up with some material that I might like to record I was able to get a bit excited about what might be possible with just an Iphone and a guitar. I had a song that I’d improvised in Amsterdam and I added some Backing Vocals (BV’s) to the track in Berlin. I was in a friends flat and experimented with different styles of singing and placing the phone in different locations while I was recording (as you would do with mic placement with conventional recording equipment) what I found however was the portablibity definitely has it’s advantages. When you feel inspired or get an idea eg. what about recording in this stairwell? or what about recording in this Bathroom?, all you have to do is take your phone out of your pocket, plug in your headphones and boom. you’re away. instant recording studio.
The things you have to consider when doing this is that there is no going back. ie. if you record where there’s a lot of reverb. you’re stuck with it. Personally I actually prefer this kind of recording because it means that you are producing as you record. and it means that you are constantly keeping your mix in mind. Now we all know that the mix can change on the day but I have to say that this feels like really ground breaking stuff. and I think that we [musicians] are finally living in a place where we can work anywhere and capture a thought, a moment of inspiration right there and then when it actually happens.
Finally I will just add that as I write this I’m actually sitting in the dining car on a train from Dresden bound for Prague so it is difficult to be anything but inspired on this journey.
signing off till Switzerland
Kent Eastwood.