The "making" of NEVER DIE ALONE

[Sketch Tha Cataclysm]

Note: I write blogs like this (about the creation of art, etc.) as if there is loads of people out there that give a shit. As if I am writing it for a group of invisible most likely non-existent masses who are extremely curious about my projects. If that sounds self-deprecating, my apologies. You probably haven't been to any of the shows lately. LOL


Yesterday, I was watching the bonus features on the Synechdoche, New York DVD and there is a whole interview with the writer/director Charlie Kaufman (a rare rare thing!). He is a really interesting cat and arguably the best and most interesting screenwriter out there today. In the interview, he discusses working on Being John Malkovich, Human Nature, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Adaptation, and the debacle of Confessions of a Dangerous Mind. But the thing that really caught me was the point where he discussed Synechdoche, New York. He talks about wanting to make a piece of art that is so true that it includes everything you know at that point, but the next thing you do should include everything you know at THAT point. Which got me thinking about my perpetually unfinished second full length album, Never Die Alone.

Never Die Alone has been in the works for at least four years now. It is a concept album that could be referred to as a musical even (sort of but maybe not) about the evolution of an artist after a rough break-up that reminds him of other break-ups and his attempt to break the cycle his life has become. I have performed some of these songs in some form live for years now: "Alone", "Feathers", "Flat Tire", "Euphoria", "If", "Just East Of Woodbridge". The songs in the story (maybe I am letting out too much information here) come from various events that have happened in my life that were re-arranged to tell a story. The problem is. . . there is no ending. I am still here aquiring more knowledge, continuing on, and thus have no ending. The music itself gets more involved and complicated. Aspects of the narration get more in depth. With no ending it just goes on and on and on. Cue Quest song.

Shit I remember having an incredibly lengthy conversation with Deto pre-Rise of the Nomads tour in which I ran down the whole story scene by scene. Another conversation with Defnyshn at my birthday party in the end of 07 where I did the same. This shit is insane. The songs have mostly changed to where the lyrics are tighter and generally better. I know all of the musicians I would need to collaborate with to complete it. But as time passes my ending keeps changing. I just have to end it. It's time to end it.

This album is going to drop by september. That's it.

[Sketch Tha Cataclysm]

new computer should help with this

[Arjen Noordeman]

First of all, you have good taste in art. Allowing art with integrity–such as genuine as Kaufman's, gondry's– to inspire a hip-hop concept album is something that sets you apart from the pack in a very good way.

Secondly, I think your problem might be that you need to stop looking for an ending and see this record as one installment of an opus... even if there won't ever be a second installment. If you don't do that, the record can't be finished until your death, upon which event, there won't be anyone to finish it anyway. So the dilemma begs to dispense with the need for an ending altogether. Why not look for a cliffhanger instead?

From the sound of it, I think the world needs to hear what "Never die alone" is... today.

[alex]

it's about time!