#rpmchallenge

[winack]

[barrymarino]

New music - 2026

made a new entry for rpmchallenge.com, a 5 song instrumental EP.

These instrumentals are simple ideas/grooves I started with on my phone; bored while traveling on planes and trains, post-dinner lounging in my arm chair or sometimes just hanging out in the bathroom. After some song/track arranging in the first week of February, I recorded the drums in my parent’s attic (when it was 10 degrees out - thanks Dad for setting up a space heater) and then finished up with bass/keys and percussion in my apartment in Rhode Island.

[radiofreealbemut]

[musical-blathering-idiot]

2024 RPM Challenge Day 1/29

The RPM Challenge is underway once again. Will I manage to post daily updates here? Probably not. Oh well.

Day one went really well. I managed to start four songs before I punched into work for the day. Three of them were multiple riffs/changes that I noodled out on guitar. The fourth was just a bass/drum groove that I worked out on my iPhone.

After work I added bass and drum parts (MIDI) and a song form to two of the three ideas that started on guitar. I started adding bass and drums to the third but was unable to finish.

And that is my wrap up for day one. I've already done a little work on day two.

[musical-blathering-idiot]

2024 RPM Challenge Day 0/29

I wrote this earlier today, a little before 4:00pm, I think.

The RPM Challenge starts in eight hours and 14 minutes. My goal is to write and record either 10 new songs or 35 minutes of music entirely during the month of February. Actually, I am going to shoot for 20 songs or 70 minutes because double albums are fun (looking at you, The White Album and you, The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway) so why not go for it? It’s almost time to start. 

Will I start at midnight tonight? Don’t be silly, I will start tomorrow morning. I am way too old and feeble to stay up until after midnight on a school night. What do you think I am, young?

[musical-blathering-idiot]

Somber

An album by Robert James

My 2023 RPM Challenge submission. I still have two songs to mix, but neither was going to make the cut anyway so I submitted the album to the RPM Challenge website.

This makes 12 consecutive successful RPM Challenges for me (after five consecutive failures).

My heart wasn't really in it this year after dealing with my mother's passing. I'm still really glad I got it done though. The songs aren't great, but the fact that they exist is.

[musical-blathering-idiot]

Making progress on the RPM Challenge today. My fingers are KILLING ME.

[musical-blathering-idiot]

Four Days to Go

Four days to go, counting today. I'm leaving for some car music in a few minutes. I just need to fill up my water bottle first.

I have four songs ready for vocals. I can get through them all this morning. I have four more songs that still need lyrics. I am considering the possibility of dropping three of them now. They all suck more than my sucky songs usually suck. Do I really want to expel energy necessary to finish them when I know I am not going to use them?

Vocals in the car this morning, then lots of lead guitars later in the day, and maybe a mix or two (or three) after that. Then do it all again tomorrow.

Sounds like a plan is forming. We'll see how it goes.