Mitch Albom's fantasy novel The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto tells the fictional life story of one of the greatest musicians of all time. Frankie is a larger than life character who grows up in war-torn Spain, learns to play guitar from a blind teacher, and travels across the world visiting various music hot spots, all while interacting with many of history’s biggest names in music. 

The story and his teacher share countless life and music lessons throughout: one being that a musician should not attack the notes being played, but rather coax them. Make the listener hunger for the next note. Make them hear the beauty of what we are offering, so that they will want it for themselves. I had never truly gotten inspiration to write music based on a book before. Thanks to Jess though for getting me reading more - that quote really hit me, and I wanted to write a piece keeping it in mind. 

This song aims to uphold the idea that a song should coax the listener in hearing the beauty of what is being offered.

The Beauty Of What You Are Offering

While I am writing my first feature length film score, I've been inspired to compose a great amount of piano based tracks, accompanied by various synths, reverse, and ambient textures. This track is the first of many for what I would call an "ambient piano" album for a personal project of mine. The song, while calm and relaxing, also gives me a sense of motivation and inspiration.

HYMMM (Demo - Ambient Piano Composition)

I did not have a final name for this song until I uploaded to SoundCloud. Decided to take a final listen and ask myself what I was feeling, what's the emotion? What's the one word? "Rise" came to me in the moment and I stuck with it.

This song was heavily heavily influenced by an instrumentalist named Tracey Chattaway, and from my last few months of releasing songs, feel as it is the most full and complete from a production standpoint.

Love of course bringing in ambient and reverse elements to compliment (or contrast) with the Bechstein grand piano. First of the 4 songs to include percussion. Had lots of fun working with the MPC and then tweaking virtual drum sounds in Cubase.

It wasn't until I was about ready to mix this song when I decided to give a bit of electric guitar a try. Cannot imagine the song without it now -- completely drives the emotive dynamics for me. Trusty Mexican Strat of course :)

Rise

I hope you think of your loved ones while listening to this song. It's a beautiful backdrop and soundtrack to your thoughts of those most important in your lives.
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This song was untitled until after I decided to release it for my November 2019 release. I had the piano stem from a session in June (or July?), which was recorded while listening to some ambient pads and reverse tones.
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There was no piano part prepared or rehearsed going when the record button was pressed. Somehow, an improvised take bounced so delicately in and out of the pads and synths. A simple repeating melody, and no real structure or chord progression. Just enjoying playing the piano in the moment.
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So why is it the song called "Loved Ones"? Well, at the time of writing this description, we are one week away from Thanksgiving and the official start of the holiday season. In the simplest form, in the shortest amount of words, the holiday season is about loved ones in our lives. 
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Loved Ones

Time Pass

A mid-tempo, relaxed but inspiring composition, that invites the listener to have a peaceful and motivating reflection, be that introspective or retrospective. Lines is a song that has been in the work for 7 months now, pretty much non-stop. At some point, it’s time to release it to world and call my 80% complete, letting that final 20% of the song be completed in the listeners eyes. The longest labor, most hours, most tweaking, and most focused track I have worked on. 
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This one has felt like uncovering some sort of sound, exploring and learning the style of music that I not only enjoy listening to but also creating. Something that feels at least somewhat new and refreshing and decently familiar.

John Joseph Wiater

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