Praying & Singing & Drumming

It was kinda cool to post up that song the other day, but even cooler to get this response:

Subject: I just read your blog...

and I thought the lyrics were amazing. So, I listened to the music and thought it could use a bit more fill-in-type drums - just for fun.

Here's what I came up with.

http://www.ilovemyjournal.com/SingThisPrayerFull.mp3

Feel free to do whatever you want with it - or nothing at all. I just needed to play to this awesome song, and now I feel *MUCH* better.

Thanks again for sharing.

--Jason

I decided to leave the full link on there. I really like reading his "I Love My Journal" blog. He's got some real insights into the scriptures. Just don't look at his pictures if individuality scares you!

MRKH
Mark Hansen
http://markhansenmusic.com

The Songs of Zion

General Conference’s Greatest Hits
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, with Special Guests

Most of the time, when I’m in here reviewing musicians, and their CD’s and songs, I’m dealing with the indies, the edgier side of LDS music. Today, I’m talking about the Mo’ Tab. The is no musical group in all of LDS music that is more mainstream than they are. Their performances in the conferences twice a year set the bar, the standard, and the model for church choirs all over the world. They define what LDS worship music is. Ya can’ get mo’ mo’ mainstream than that!

Yet, I’m a big fan. I love to hear them sing. Their arrangements and execution are always incredible. There have been many years where, as inspiring and instructional as the talks are, the music has been more memorable and more impactful to me.

…And now, I can fill up my iPod (or whatever) with it!

At a page in the LDS.org website you can now download mp3’s (as well as other media) of the musical performances of the choir!

Some of my favorites: The reverent and tranquil rendition of “I Know that My Redeemer Lives” is amazing, as is “I Need Thee Every Hour”. The more rousing ones, like “Rejoice, The Lord is King”, are great, too. Some are more straightforward arrangements, some are more innovative.

A bit of a headsup, some of them, like “High On the Mountain Top” are covered with the announcer’s voice. I just deleted those when I listened.

It’s pretty exciting news, to me, a musician and ward choir director.


MRKH
Mark Hansen
http://markhansenmusic.com

The Songs Of Zion

Can Mark Rap?

From time to time here here in Mo’ Boy I’ve reviewed various LDS rappers. I’ve even lamented that there seems to be a lot more going on in LDS rap these days than there is in LDS rock.

Be that as it may, there’s one of these guys that I’ve actually had a chance to meet face to face on a number of occasions. That’s Clayton, AKA Arhythmatik. Great rapper, great guy.

At the fest, someone asked about that name. When I said it was his stage name, they asked, “What’s his real name: Social Studies?” We all got a good chuckle over that one. Of course, you’d have to spell it funny to make it work. Hmmm…

“Soshul Studeez” …?

Anyway, about a year ago, as I might have mentioned in one of my many blogs before, he and I started collaborating on a rock/rap hybrid tune called “Shine the Light”. The original intent was for me to create the basic track, and sing the chorus, and he would rap the verses. But after he sent me the first verse, he suggested I rap the second verse. I was hesitant, but he encouraged.

I felt totally out of place, but I gave it a shot anyway, and in the long run, I’m pretty pleased with myself. Anyway, after a lot of technical back and forth, with him adding something and then me adding something else, I’ve finally finished the rock mix of the tune! I’m so stoked. It’s available at my site, on the music page for free download.

Arhythmatik is also still working on a more hip-hop mix, and I can’t wait to hear that. Collaboration is so much fun!

MRKH
Mark Hansen
http://markhansenmusic.com

A New Song! "Too Late Smart"

When I was a little kid, I can remember my mom saying one of her sayings: “I’m too soon old and too late smart” whenever she did something that she thought was a big blunder. At the time I didn’t really get it. I thought all adults, especially my mom and dad, knew everything! They were the smartest, coolest people ever. If only the world would just listen to them, then it would be a great place to live.

Then I got to be a teenager. Suddenly my parents became total idiots. They had no idea what end was up. I was going to take the world by storm. I was going to make a difference! I was going to be the one that the world rallied around! The Lord had a very important mission for me.

It wasn’t until long after my mission, and well into my married life that I started to learn how fundamentally clueless I was (am). It was then that the wisdom of that saying started to sink in.

And now, many years later, as I look at my where my life is, sometimes I wonder what I’ve been doing all this time. And I wanna smack myself on the forehead like David Byrne and say, “Well… How did I get here?” At times like these I start to think of those times when I thought adults knew everything, and I start to think that now I’m too soon old, and too late smart.

I guess that’s a pretty normal thing for a guy to go through at my age.

Anyway, a long time ago, I wrote a song about it, and then about a year ago, revised it to reflect my newfound wisdom and acceptance of the drab and normal life my choices have brought me. My important save-the-world mission? I still don’t know what it was or is for sure. But raising my kids to be happy and faithful followers of the Lord is a daily challenge, and it’s the most important thing I can do right now. And I'm very grateful to have the help of my very, very patient and loving wife at my side.

So, anyway. Here’s the new song!

I like it a lot, actually. It’s a solid, driving rock tune, with a killer mix. Nuthin’ mellow about it! Check it out, and feel free to post your own comments and experiences!


MRKH
Mark Hansen
http://markhansenmusic.com

The Songs of Zion, Shameless Edition

Mark Hansen
"Lost and Found"


Hello, friends! I’ve worked hard and long getting my newest CD put together. The writing and production is some of the strongest stuff I’ve done to date! I’m really proud of it, and I’m proud to announce that it’s available!

Let me run down the tunes for you (the ones with links have samples available for download):

1. Turn it Up Matt 19:16-21 – This one’s a kickin’ rocker, opening up the set. It’s all about turning your life up a notch.
2. Dance With the Devil 2 Nephi 28:21-22 – We don’t pray to the devil, we don’t serve him, but sometimes we dance with him a little too much. This is a heavy tune about that moment when you decide to stop the dance.
3. Today and Yesterday Isaiah 1:18 – Another one from the “Lost” side, this one has a cool retro/contemporary feel to it.
4. I Will Sing This Prayer D&C 25:12 – This is a beautiful ballad that builds and grows.
5. Play the Cards Matt 25:14-23 – Everyone is dealt a hand of cards in the pre-existence. For good or bad, how we play those cards determines how well we live.
6. Where’s My Soul 1 Nephi 8:23 – Ever have those times where you just feel like you’re missing something? Where’d it go?
7. Torocagua Eph 2:12 – My mission was in Honduras, and I started in a little suburb of the capital called “Torocagua”. This song is a tribute to the place that changed my life.
8. Two Houses Matt 10:35 – A mother and a daughter can’t see eye to eye. A sad but memorable ballad
9. The Things I Do 2 Nephi 4:17-19 – Why do I do the things I do? And why do I do them over and over? And why do you still love me, even when I do them?
10. Rejoice 2 Nephi 2:25 – One from the “Found” side of things. This one’s a bouncy little rocker about how wonderful it is to be married to my wife.
11. How Beautiful Isaiah 52:7 – A big, powerful gospel ballad. “Your God Reigns!”

The CD can be purchased online for only $11.00 + $2.00 shipping. Or just click into markhansenmusic.com and go to the CDs link.

I want to thank all of my blogger friends for reading my blatherings and for supporting me so much in my efforts. You guys are the ones that really rock!

MRKH
Mark Hansen
http://markhansenmusic.com

The Songs of Zion, sort of...

New LDS Music Finder

I’ve recently become involved with an exciting new website called “yourldsneighborhood.com.” It’s primarily an advertising site for LDS-Member-oriented products and services, but it’s also got a lot of cool blogs, interviews, and other features.

One of the features that I’m particularly excited about is one called “The Jukebox.” This is a growing collection of indie LDS artists. As a visitor, you can login, listen to, rate, and comment on the songs listed there. This is exciting primarily because this is being spearheaded by Greg Hansen (no relation, unfortunately), who is a major player in the LDS music industry. His idea is that producers looking for songs and artists can come here and see/hear who and what is new and great. If the public comes in and rates the songs, they can check that as well and see if an artist or song already has some traction with potential buyers.

Plus, you get to hear and sample a lot of great music.

Now, unfortunately, this system is still in beta and so it’s a little clumsy to navigate. So, here’s how you do it.

1. Go to The Jukebox.
2. Click “Join the Jukebox”, and fill out the form. It’s free.
3. Login
4. When you’ve logged in, you’ll see some grey tabs across the top. Go to “Rate Music”. Then you can check on the ones that are already rated high, as well as do a search and see the whole list.
5. Click on a song title. If it doesn’t start playing immediately, click the play button on the player. Read the lyrics, the comments, etc…
6. Click the “Rate This Track” link in the upper right hand corner, and give it a rating.

Now this system will work better and better as more and more people use it. I’d love to encourage you, of course, to give my songs a good rating. Obviously, I’d like to promote myself. But keep in mind that the system is designed to give honest feedback to producers. So, if you don’t like a song you hear, either give it a bad rating, or, better IMHO, don’t comment at all.

Those that are running the jukebox are talking about making a compilation CD available with the songs that end up with the highest ratings, so, forgive my shameless plugs, but I’d sure appreciate it if you good folks gave me good ratings!

Also, I’m going to be going through and doing my own ratings of songs I hear, and I plan on reviewing, here in Mo’ Boy, some of the good tunes I hear. I’d also like to encourage you to go in and give them good ratings too, again, if you like them.

Most of all, just give the system a spin, and see how you like it.

For starters, here are a couple of recommendations:

“Tempted” by Julie Keyser

This one has a really cool minor key groove. It feels contemporary, almost R&B, like a girl group with a hot dance track behind it could really take it places. The current recording is really just a demo, however, so you have to listen with a bit of imagination. But the lyrics are strong and the melody’s hooky. It’s really great!

“Today and Yesterday” By Mark Hansen

Yeah, that’s me. Like I said, I’m not above shameless self-promotion. This is probably my favorite from the new CD “Lost and Found”. It’s got a hooky modern/retro groove and possibly the best mix and arrangement on the CD. Check it out!

MRKH
Mark Hansen
http://markhansenmusic.com

A Moment of Shameless Self-Promotion

Over the last few weeks, I've been working really hard on two creative projects. One involves my music, and one involves my game.

On the musical end, I'm very excited. I've completed the music for my next CD. I mentioned a few entries ago that it would be called, "Lost and Found", and that I would send a free copy to any blogger that wanted to review it with a linkback. I'm currently working on the cover graphics.

In the meantime, there's two cool additions to my website that I'd love to invite you all to check out. One is, I've released that last song! It's called "Rejoice", and you can get it for free download!

Another thing that I'm very excited about is that I've also found a cool site where I can upload sound samples and provide them to fans as ringtones! So, I cropped out a couple of hook riffs, and I put them up on the site. You can find them here or the link off my main page.

I'm very excited to hear any feedback about either of these two efforts!

On the game side, I've been doing a lot of work on the game itself, and there really isn't any visible new stuff yet. Still, those that have been following me for a while and know of my efforts and my commentaries about games in the LDS community might be interested in following along.

MRKH
Mark Hansen
http://markhansenmusic.com

Two Houses

It's been a long time comin'!

I just finished a preliminary mix of a new song, a big ballad called, "Two Houses". This is a sad tune about a mother and a daughter that don't speak to each other, even though they live less than a mile apart. It's based on a true situation that a friend of mine went through a number of years ago.

Actually, it was about five years ago that I completed writing the song, and it's taken me this long to record it. That's me, "Lightning Hansen"...

Anyway, here's the page where you can download it for free...

MRKH
Mark Hansen
http://markhansenmusic.com

The Death of the CD?

Some friends are discussing the impending demise of the CD as a music format, and that inspired this posting:

I’ve got a lot of thoughts regarding the end of the CD:

1. It is inevitable

Even though the final day is still fully a long way off, the format will eventually vanish. Music styles come and go, and in the same way, music formats, too. The CD was great while it lasted, and it will still last a while yet to come. But eventually, it will be replaced with something else.

2. The return of the single

As the CD dies out, I think labels and artists will begin to recognize the value in releasing fewer songs at a time. Rather than sink many multiple thousands of dollars into recording 15 new songs, half of which are filler anyway, the big labels will more likely invest less money into two or three songs, and release them one at a time.

Indies, already strapped for cash, will release the songs as they have them done, rather than sitting on them until a complete CD is finished. This strategy will make for a more consistent marketing effort.

As a result, more and more singles will be released and purchased, rather than full collections.

3. The final and complete death of album cover art

In the electronic world, the cover of the CD will be gone. Say what you will about little pictures appearing in my cell phone, the graphic representation of CD’s will die, possibly replaced by the graphic vision of the artist’s website. So, even though I long for the days of the great fold-out double albums in vinyl, I will bid it adieu.

4. Ease v Quality

No matter how good the original mix is, an mp3 played over tiny speakers stuffed into your ears will not sound as good as music played through a large, full-spectrum system. Most people are OK with that, and are choosing convenience and portability over the audio quality. As a result, more and more of the original mixes are being geared toward that listening environment, and the result is a more compressed, less dynamic mix.

5. The complete shifting of the music industry paradigm

In the past, new recording playback formats changed the way music was enjoyed, but didn’t really impact how it was created or delivered. With the looming death of the CD, we shift into an entirely new paradigm. No longer is music a tangible product. It is no longer a plastic thing we can hold in our hands. It is no longer ink on paper. It is now bits in a computer. And that means a total shift in the way it’s distributed. And that will make shifts in the way it’s created.

6. Someone will have to win the format war

Ultimately, someone will have to come out on top and become the standard format for downloadable music. I predict it will be the iTunes mp4 format. But someone could well jump up and surprise me. But people won’t stand very long for formats that won’t play in all their devices.

7. It opens up the field for indies, heaven help us.

For good or ill, this new paradigm opens up the field for indies with little or no financial backing. That means that there will be lots and lots more music available to the public. And when I say “lots”, I mean “Here comes the flood”. And that means that there will be lots more bad music than good. I’m fine with that. I say bring it all on. Someone will listen. The best music and the best promotions will ultimately come out on top.

8. People listen to more variety

Ever look at someone’s iPod? I’m constantly amazed. Back in my day, you were defined by your tunes and what you listened to. You didn’t cross over, or at least not much.

Now, I see songs from all styles being mixed in together. One song’s rap, the next one’s retro, the next one’s rock, and-whoops-here’s a show tune! People are enjoying things more and more of a wider variety.

Think of it. You can now carry in your pocket more music than you can physically listen to in a couple of weeks. That’s, like, your whole collection, dude. So, why not stack it full of every mood you have? Why not shuffle it and mix it up?

And if you really like one song an artist does, but not another, you don’t have to buy them both…

9. …

Who knows what’s really going to happen? We’re all just guessing, here, anyway. It’ll sure be an interesting ride, though. That’s the one thing I can guarantee!

MRKH
Mark Hansen
http://markhansenmusic.com