Influences: Good music of all genres! FAWM.
I am a song lover of all genres, but especially enjoy wordplay and clever tuneplay in all forms. While any musical genre is possible... I'd guess a disproportionate number of tracks will likely be acoustic guitar + voice or even just multitracked voice.
The whole "metal foot" thing refers to a metal plate permanently inserted in my one foot after a particularly awkward fall which broke a bone in my foot into three pieces. Ouch. But that was 20 years ago now...
FAWM 2016 - 36 songs (Winter Sports -18 songs)
FAWM 2017 - 78 songs (Alphabet of Adjectives - 26 songs)
FAWM 2018 - 76 songs (Exploding Teacups - 9 songs)
FAWM 2019 - 69 songs ("metalfoot sings the periodic table" -14 songs)
FAWM 2020 - 82 songs (periodic table, another 14 or so)
For FAWM 2021 I'm continuing the "Metalfoot Sings The Periodic Table" project. Manitoba is currently in full lockdown from COVID so until that changes, there'll be a lot of at-home-time... but I'll try not to write too many songs.
Also, my awesome and amazing wife, @kellyk, has declared her intention to do a full 14-song collab album with me in February 2021 so maybe the periodic table will take a bit of a back seat...It sounds like the @metalfootlings (my kids, whose account I'll be curating and running) also want give this another go this year. So that should be fun for them and me both.
Instruments likely to be misused in FAWM 2021:
- Seagull M4 "Merlin"
- Vangoa Mandolin (with electric pickup... could be fun!)
- Simon and Patrick Mahogany Pro acoustic guitar
- Art & Lutherie 12-string acoustic guitar
- cheap Silvertone electric guitar with Zoom G1xON effects pedal
- Rogue ukulele and/or Uke-and-Play ukulele (though that one technically belongs to the footlings)
- Casio Celviano digital piano
- M-Audio Keystation Mini
- Bach Bb tenor trombone
- pBone Eb alto trombone
- tin whistle in D
- various percussiony things I find around the house
I like to collaborate--it's about my favourite part of FAWM-- so feel free to ask! I believe in communication before, during and after the collaborative process. My basic assumption is that I'm making music just for the fun of it-- my real life job will not permit the time necessary to make music even a side-career-- so I'm not looking for any commercial or professional results. As such, my FAWM output is a musical sketch-pad of sorts. I'm not usually posting polished works.
I'm the blessed one. Thanks Alex. ๐
105 songs!?! Wow - congratulations! There should be a special, super-duper trophy for breaking 100.
Howdy, Alex! Thanks for your remarks. Guess one of your feet, the metal one, would be safe at that scavenger's feast you commented on. Holy macaroni! One hundred and five songs! 105! Is it you or me that has gone crazy? Both? I'll have to eat something. Postponed that dinner too long. 105! Where's that damned horse? Have to hunt down a buffalo!
Hi Alex. Thank you for your very kind Macca comment on "The First Annual International Klaus' Junk Drawer".
I just sang "O, Canada". I sang it twice because you did more than 90 songs and you're worth it.
Hi Alex! Thanks for busting my final zong ๐ yeah, I found it really inspiring to write to arbitrary rules. The hardest bit was actually the lyrics, as the lyric I was given to include made me write outside my comfort zone. But I think thatโs what itโs all about!
And another heartfelt (I have blue blood, you know) thankyou for your steadfastness and courage bordering on recklessness not only to listen to @pointlessaccount/@frogspawn output but also to comment on it!
I gotta step my game up lol I usually give myself 1-2 hours to do a song. Whatโs the musical equivalent of steroids? Guess I need that. Lol
Thanks for the comment on "Trash Man"! If you haven't already, do check out the rest of the songs from the Mega Man 2 challenge, I'm afraid mine was the runt of the litter. ๐
Aww thanks man, I will have a nice whisky tomorrow in his honour as well. Maury was a super likeable guy, it's just hard to believe he passed away so suddenly. Motorcycles... no protection man...
I've briefly escaped from the gilded and padded pond they lock me in to thank you for your bravery in tackling the @pointlessaccount/@frogspawn output for this post-FAWM.
If your autoharp is limited to the keys of C and F, it's probably a diatonic autoharp, which is pretty cool; those have a much zingier sound.
Thank you ๐ Iโm massively honoured that anyone would spend time with my creation.
Thank you for your thoughtful comments on "Come Play With Me". It wasn't an easy song to write and not easy for a lot of people to comment on, so your thoughts mean a lot to me. I will be reviewing them all as I revisit the song and develop it further. I truly appreciate your time and support - as you have given me many times.
105 songs!!!
Thank you so much for taking the time to check out my skirmish song "I Can't Wait". I save my archive and review and consider all comments as I'm going back over my fawm songs. Many thanks to you.
I really appreciate you taking time to listen and comment on my songs!
Thanks for your comment on my song - would love to know what you think about my album - already started the much longer process of trying to record it properly!
Thanks for checking out "We could all use a little spring right now". Yeah, you always seemed to have so much fun with the merlin, and I got a chance to try one out a few years back; finally picked one up during the pandemic. They are a lot of fun!
Thank you for the kind words about my songs. I really appreciate it. I would say hope you had a good FAWM, but it's pretty clear that you had a fantastic FAWM. It's true what they say, practice makes perfect. I believe you started FAWMing the same year I did, and I liked what you wrote back then, especially the songs for your kids, but I'm envious of how much you've grown as a songwriter and a singer. Kudos to you on a great FAWM 2021. Have a great and safe year until next February. No need to ask if I'll 'see' you then. ๐
Thank YOU for listening, commenting, and being so supportive! It's been a blast, as always. And holy cow, major congratulations on breaking 100 songs!
Thank you for listening and giving comments to Blรผtentrรคume ๐
Amen to that, re: downtime. That song is one of the two I'm going to finish this March, if I keep my energy up. Thanks for listening to "It's the weekend, baby"
Thanks for commenting, demo is up for Vulnerable Child. Hope you enjoyed FAWM!
Thanks for kind words, and 105 is something else! Congrats!
Congrats an a super epic win! Don't know how you do it! Have a wonderful 2021. ๐
Hey Alex! 105 songs? Congratulations!! Most impressive!
(Did you actually sleep during the month? ๐ )
BTW - Are you planning to put together an album or collection of all the elements songs? I have a friend who specializes in educational songs and these seem like they would be up his alley.
Thank you for your comments on my improvised story, Alex. I'm glad you've enjoyed the bits you've listened to!
Thanks Alex. The free version is one minute! It is not that expensive and very easy to use. Iโm just not enough a musician to use it but I highly recommend it!
Thank you for this song of encouragement, @metalfoot & @guatecoop ! Nice collaboration!
Haha!! The suspense! Itโs public now
Itโs up!
No problem Alex, there'll be other opportunities I'm sure. Cheers
Itโs true!! Iโm about to do some drums on it now. Maybe a few other things too. Itโs coming along well!
Hey, I did make a placeholder for the song, but I accidentally checked the NSFW button! Hahaha. That is hilarious! You?!? NSFW?!?! I will uncheck it when I post the song, but thought it was funny
105??? Holy Macaroni. That's nuts!
Congrats on a very successful fawm ๐
Just another person closer than me. ๐
Do you ever get the "almost" comment, I've always assumed it was only because it was the last day.
Hahaha! That's for sure. But @nahlej381 shoots me the tunes and the game is for me to come up with some vocals... on this last one I did vocals and added some OP-1 synth sounds. Fun stuff! @djtjb started this track actually...
Hi! Thank you for listening 'Bears' Nutrition Guide'! I appreciate your comment!
@metalfoot ooo, question, if i can catch you yet this evening; if we make the unfinished songs private, we can continue to esit them, right? Trying to remember last year
Dear man of a million songs aka @metalfoot ๐ I have finally made a small effort to get some demos up! Tech challenged and inhibited, but nice people like you make me wanna try ๐๐ผ Congrats on your FAWM (and making us all look like slackers ๐คฃ) youโre amazing!
Thanks so much!! I've appreciated your comments and encouragement this month, always a pleasure. Also- look at your song list- over 100!! Hope FAWM has been a truly great time for you this month.
PS: I love that you're still working on the periodic table- I really enjoy the entire concept and the geekiness of it.
Thanks so much for the kind words - was so humbled that Leah was happy to collab and really pleased with what weโve created. This is my first FAWM and just been an incredible experience - what a wonderfully supportive community!
wow, you are incredible... so many songs more than 3 per day...
By the way thanks for your comment to Guardians.
Oh ok. Actually, I can probably do the drums tomorrow, as kidsโ bedtime prevents my from playing loud in the evening. I will try to imagine the ending when I add whatever I add tonight before the drums tomorrow. I will send you the files tomorrow....probably early
Any luck on finding those wav files? I can put up a place holder if you want.
I believe in you! 99 as I head to bed... I know youโre going to do at least one more! ๐ฃ
Yup!
Thx so much for your feedback!!!
Thanks for your feedback on "Get Well Soon." Yup. My friend wants to write music for it so we edited that bit into something she thinks will work.
Thanks for the feedback on my song Henry the lever presser! Much appreciated!
You did good! I love it. ๐
Alex! So sorry. I've literally only just got round to seeing that you'd posted it. It's been a hectic couple of days. ๐
Taking a listen now. ๐
WOOP! Thank you much!
I'll do my best! Let's give it a go!
Alex can i use the rock valentine song on my podcast - i know t was for fun but i think it shows the different things we can do zecoops is fine with that
Oh ya, I confessed that I moved out of slothcore, but, it is where it began. It is harder to be subversive when you have kids and a family, but, man, the margins are getting thinner and thinner. Its bad for everyone.
First of all, sorry for your recent loss. Second, thanks so much for the sweet comment on โItโs Okayโ and thank you for telling me of your experience with end of life and the care that you provide. I work (on the administrative side) at a Hospice because I believe that this is important work - providing comfort to the dying and their families. So, bless you for the work that you do at the bedsides of those who are making their way home.
I accidentally put the wrong one in first, and linked it to someone else's not a song. I think I should fix that fixed error ๐คฃ
Hey! Thanks for the kind words on โGhosts of Everyday Things.โ Also, I forgive most puns.
Hi Alex. So you did make it to 90. It was just a wild guess but I'm glad it came true. Congratulations!
I perused it super quickly but won't get a chance to listen until Monday, haha
Fun to hear your offering in the castle!
@metalfoot thank you so much for the appreciation and kind comments on 'Escape Together' I guess we're all in the same boat.....
Funny how one would previously constantly wonder if we'd ever get a break from life, and God just does that and here we are wanting a break from a break.....!!! ๐
You're welcome! I'm using the weekend to catch up on some of the listening I've neglected. Your songs are always so fun to listen to because there's such a great variety of them!
You are a machine! Are you going to break 100 this FAWM? I'm thinking I might make it to 20 and that would be a major achievement for me.
Awww, Alex! Diolch yn fawr am eich sylw hyfryd! Really touched by your lovely comment on Light of Night and so kind of you to put it in the recommendation thread too!
You are too kind, @metalfoot . Thank you for the shoutout โบ๏ธ
Huzzahh! hehe ๐
A last minute funsie would be wonderful, thank you!!! What do you suggest ?
thank you not sure how long skirmish are? i just found this one
Thanks for commenting on Bears Guide to Nutrition, I really appreciate it!
Fixed the link, thank your the notice and comment
Thank you for the comment on my screaming song. I was going to add a line saying "Earl Grey" steaming", but thought it might make it less relatable!
Thx for the comment on Banjo Guitar Tune. I don't really play banjo so I kinda faked it.
Citizen of a land I can't yet see with my eyes. Haaa, that's a breath of fresh air and a good thing to refocus on. I think that should be a hook line for your next song. Hearing that immediately brought peace into my agitated soul.
Hey, @metalfoot ! I'm so glad you caught the simile/metaphor line in Bliss, Nothing But Bliss. Thanks for stopping by to listen!
Haha, yes definitely a first world problem. Thanks for the kind words ๐
And you are up to 73! Is that a record?
@metalfoot Iโm so glad you enjoyed Marco?, the collaboration with @richaaaay. That was a great experience. Thank you for listening.
I have enjoyed hearing your songs and your collaborations-I have some lyrics and am wondering if you might like to set them to music. Please let me know.
thanks Alex! ๐
Yeah, both of my shantys were sortof a challenge by a college friend, but I had fun with them and I'm toying with creating a few more and releasing a collection.
๐
Hi, @metalfoot , many thanks for your comments on my songs, and great catch on the augmented chord/augment his life pairing. There is a diminished chord/diminish lyric pairing, as well. The Major And The Minor was truly a challenging challenge.
Thanks for the love on "You, The Screamer." Kids. Ah, yes. "Get the F away from me" half the time, "Never leave my side," the other.
Thanks for your kind comments on "I'm Getting Through". It's one of the few I'd like to demo in the next week. I'm in awe of how prolific you are. Thanks for inspiring me to keep going and trying to get better!
Awed by the no of songs u have clocked up!!
Thanks from r checking out my kitchen song which as you say was quiet and not really fully formed but still worth posting if only to get one person ( your) feedback. Thanks
No shame in having a dictionary by your side! ๐
RE: Sleep - Hey man! Thx for listening and taking the time to comment on my jam! Regarding the line on royalties -definitely not as autobiographical as I'd like it to be, but we're all chasing that dream together! One of these days, man! ๐
I record midi in real time with a keyboard. Then I might go back and edit it manually and quantize it. I use Ableton Live on a PC (for midi as well as regular recording). I don't know if it's necessarily the best program. It's just what came with my keyboard and I got used to using it!
Wow, you are super productive! Iโm happy you like Mrs. Capt. Jimโs Applecake I may have to make one tomorrow โIโll experiment with the singing along.
I trust you implicitly, Alex!
If you need a version with space carved out in the mix, just give me a shout.
The Sapling is yours, Alex! Woot!
I personally enjoy all of the late Mr. Lennon's solo hits above most of his work with the Beatles, although I don't always agree with the assertions.
Thank you for the comment - and the flattering suggestion that something I wrote should sit alongside the Zong Song!
I havenโt been on FAWM for awhile, just got your message. Iโm glad things are opening up there a bit more. Here too, a teeny tiny bit : )
Thanks for the comments! I've had a blast so far, and it isn't over yet!
Sweet ๐
Thanks again for checking out my track Welcome To Tomorrow. Appreciate your thoughts. Realized after your comment that I was thinking nosier in terms of production rather than "noise". Edited the liner notes accordingly. ๐
Sorry, Alex -- maybe 50/90 will be easier. I have to tell you that "Sofa" is the only song my wife remembers from 5 years of me doing this.
I'd be honored if you'd take "Driftwood." You've done a whole bunch of amazing this year, glad you wood bring this one to life.