Writing Update

I’ve been an absolute hermit of late because when I haven’t been chasing around a 2 year old I’ve been IMMERSED in writing for Snaggle’s next record!

My producer and often featured trumpet player Brownman Ali and I are HUGE science fiction fans, so on his recommendation I just finished reading through one of science fiction’s masterwork series’ - Isaac Asimov’s FOUNDATION SERIES which caps off a three series arc:

- The Robot Series

- The Galactic Empire Series

- The Foundation Series

15 books spanning a rich tapestry of a possible ‘future history’ of humanity, it’s a stunning epic and because I’ve been so wrapped up in it it’s been deeply affecting my writing. Lot’s of the new Snaggle tunes have inspirations springing from Asimov, some of the working titles I’m playing with include:

THE MULE: PSYCHIC TYRANT

A tune that delves into the character of 'The Mule’, a mysterious mutant who’s ability to manipulate emotions leads him to conquer numerous worlds.

TWILIGHT OF CIVILIZATION

A tune depicting the decline and fall of the great Galactic Empire, which in it’s height, spanned millions of worlds and a dozen millennia, all kept in line by the world-city of Trantor.

THE ZEROTH LAW

A robot must not harm or through inaction allow harm to come to humanity. The discovery of this law creates (in my opinion) one of the most satisfying saviour archetypes in R. Daneel Olivaw, a robot driven to ever walk the knife’s edge in order to help shepherd the fate of humanity.

I’m starting to round the halfway mark of the writing process, so a little ways before the band will be hitting the stage and then the studio… but I can’t wait!

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While I see many of my colleagues are looking with great trepidation at the recent shuttering of Finale (boo!), and the annoying prospect of having to learn an entirely new piece of notation software… I’m just gonna stick my fingers in my ears and keep using my 2007 copy of Finale Allegro that my parents gifted me for my birthday in Grade 11. Still works great almost 20 years later… I’m sure one day Windows will inform me that it’s no longer compatible with my operating system, but until that day… WHEEEEEEEEE!