#avasolomon

[futuremusicmoguls]

Farewell

I got home tonight and had a mini panic attack that i had missed my bus up to nyc... and then it really hit me that it was really over and i should probably write this:( 

First off I want to say, thank you to every single one of you, you all inspire me every day to keep working on music. I launched NXTWAVE tonight, and it’s because of the talent all of you have, and the realization that, one, you all deserve and NEED to be heard, and two, there are so many people out there who don’t see music as a viable option, but from everything I have learned, experienced, and observed in these last fourteen weeks, if you put your mind to it anything is achievable. I cannot wait to continue to work with everyone here and continue to see everything you guys do. I can’t wait to work with all of you on the summer showcase! (btw more info coming out about that in the next week!) I love all of you so much!!

To the TAs: thank you for everything, I truly learned so much about production, being in a studio, and just overall leadership, you all are so talented and I was able to learn so much from all of you and I will be forever grateful

To Nicole: thank you so much for the support you have given me all the way through. Every little project I had begun you gave me the encouragement and support to expand upon it and throughout all of this you have helped me build a confidence (and workflow!!) and now I am many more steps in the right direction in creating anything in any DAW! Thank you for being an incredible mentor and teaching me so much about, not only the production side of things, but overall music bc that's what this is all about. I hope I get the opportunity DJ with you in the future:))

To Marat: Thank you so much for listening and helping me organize my ideas. The amount I learned about the industry is insane, i didn’t even know there was this much to know! and i’m still doing additional research based off topics we learned every day:)) I appreciate all the support you have given me through all of fmm and especially towards the end, with being willing to listen to all of my crazy business ideas! You have been an amazing mentor throughout this whole experience and I am so thankful for your support!

again thank you to each and every one of you for making this the best experience of my life and making me really feel like I belong with all of you and in music. I love you all so much, and though it’s the end of fmm, it’s just the beginning of our journey together

[futuremusicmoguls]

[futuremusicmoguls]

writing hw

Alex Lacamoire is one of the most important people in musical theater today. 

Whilst working alongside musical genius, Lin Manuel Miranda, he arranged the music for both In the Heights and Hamilton. Both these two musicals received the Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album. Both are phenomenal musicals, but Hamilton, in particular, took a new approach on musical theater by incorporating rap and hip-hop into the traditional classical style most older shows hold. Drawing inspiration from Miranda’s vision, Lacamoire integrated current styles of music effortlessly into traditional Broadway by layering the new instruments with classic orchestral to get a modern touch, without straying too far from tradition. For example, one of the songs in Hamilton, “Your Obedient Servant”, there is an interlude where a DJ scratches as a vocal transition. Lacamoire effectively uses methods like these, accompanied by orchestral instruments in order to create a beat steady and rhythmic enough to rap over. 

In addition to the two shows he worked on with Miranda, he also arranged the music for another Grammy winner, Dear Evan Hansen, a show about life as a teenager in the present-day. This show takes place in the modern day and Lacamoire does a fantastic job of capturing twenty-first-century style through the use of instrumentation heard in pop music. 

While his work on Broadway has been remarkable, Lacamoire has also participated as an Executive Music Producer for the movie The Greatest Showman. In this role, he oversaw the music for this unique on-screen musical. 

The many projects Lacamoire has worked to develop have created an impact, and have been recognized by the industry and his peers by numerous awards. From evoking emotion to inspiring young people, he has helped to spread important messages, with a wide variety of topics from the importance of history to mental health, he has been able to piece the music together in an attention-grabbing way that explicitly communicates the central idea through the music.

[futuremusicmoguls]

songwriting homework

2.22.18

ava solomon

format: verse one, pre-chorus one, chorus, post-chorus, verse two, pre-chorus two, chorus, post-chorus, bridge, chorus, outro

song information/credits:

writers: caleb frank shapiro, nirob islam, robert ziff resnick, & sarah hjellstrom

producer: rob resnick

performers: timeflies (caleb shapiro) & shy martin

album: too much - ep

arrangement notes:

verses

- all

gated reverb snare on the 2 & 4, which pushes the tempo

synth playing repetitive chords

- one

all male vocals, singer 1

- two

story format, almost a conversation between singer 1 & 2

pre-chorus 1

- all

bassline more prominent

- one

all male vocals, singer 1

- two

all female vocals, singer 2

chorus

- all

background softens to draw attention to lyric and melody

cuts drums and bass for the first half

bring back a regular snare/clap for build up

brings in alternate vocals for harmonies

- one

primarily male with female harmonies

- two

primarily female with male harmonies

post-chorus

drop with repeated line “feel it in my body” from chorus

harmonies from singer 1&2

bridge

repetition of pre-chorus 1 with heavy effect (flanger?) over the voice

very short, only 4 measures

ends with a pan to the right which softens it to allow for the chorus re-entrance to seem bigger

outro

instrumental

muting effect (pulling out the high end, opposite of compressor) over vocals, repeats/ emphasizes line about raincoats (title)

lyrical notes:

repetition

“and all I’ve been thinking about”

“feel it in my body”

melody

very repetitive so it is easier for the listener to catch on and sing along

stays in a relatively normal range, so easier to sing along

conversational vocals

sounds more casual

more ”relatable” for the listener

opinion of song: i really like the conversational format, it makes it a lot more interesting to listen to and makes the song progress, though it focuses on one night

key songwriting notes:

switches point of view within verses

a lot of repetition

fun feel throughout, especially in drop

[futuremusicmoguls]

Hey! My name is Ava Solomon. I live in Bethesda, Maryland, where I am a sophomore at Walter Johnson HS. I’ve been a DJ for a little over six years, and have started to focus on writing, production, and becoming an instrumentalist, (teaching myself guitar, ukulele, piano, drums, and attempting saxophone) in the last year or so.

I found Chelsea Cutler when I was on my search to find female producers. She didn’t begin making music until late high school, but has worked hard to advance in the industry while still in school. This song, Wake Up, is one of her first originals, and personally one of my favorite of her songs.

I’m so excited to meet everyone on Saturday!!