Getcha Some Productions Podcast Episode 28
https://reverb.grsm.io/GetchaSome
A podcast covering all things related to music production: from the first note to the last fan and everything in between. Our mission is to create music and to inspire others to do the same.
Not your typical podcast, each episode is a live business meeting. We are figuring out how to build a media empire (a music production company at least) as we go and listeners come along for the ride. This is an archive of our progress and/or lack thereof.
This podcast is always candid and unrehearsed.
In this episode we discuss:
How can I get back into song writing? With Justin Wertz.
This is a song writing special episode with Justin Wertz.
Justin is my long time friend and a fantastic songwriter. He has a bunch of songs that I wish I had written at this point.
I believe Justin is going to be a famous songwriter.
Justin is a prolific songwriter.
I pitch Justin on the idea of doing an interview podcast with him where I just interview him.
Justin is talking about how he feels reborn. And he acknowledges that he has been working a lot on songwriting lately.
Justin says that he would love to just sit around and write songs all day if he could. Sounds like he’s really getting back into the groove of it. He also loves to just go for a walk and sing ideas into his voice memo app.
We talk about songwriting for a while and about process and challenges.
We talk about about the songwriter Max Martin and about how he’s written a bunch of songs but are those songs really good? I guess the question remains.
I tell Justin that I’m trying to bamboozle him.
I talk about how Oliver’s musical genius is the R&D (which is research and development) arm of Getcha Some Productions. Justin and I were in the band Olver’s Musical Genius in the late 90s when we were in High School. We were a Jam Band pretty much.
Justin mentions that he is a Leo and so he likes it when I propose that he become the songwriting consultant for Getcha Some Productions because he likes to have his ego pumped up with important titles.
Justin says that he has a knack for arranging songs. I know that this is true because he always sends me arrangements of songs that he’s written and cover songs as well. Additionally, pre-pandemic, Justin and I used to have songwriting and arranging sessions where we would help each other with our songs. Justin has helped me a great deal over the years.
So, it’s decided, Justin will be the songwriting consultant for Getcha Some Productions. However, I’m wondering if we should even bother to get into a song tonight on this podcast. Justin says Hell yes. We have to. Get into it.
Then I play my song Ruby or Fine for him live on the podcast.
Fine or Ruby (Can’t decide on a title at this moment) by Keith Fredrickson
A soldier swims through crimson tides unarmed unprepared
What brings us new into this world in need of repair?
This battlefield is filled with souls sincere and naked
A cell is destined to be everything you make it
I knew exactly who I was but I wasn’t much
Now I’m much more but worse and worn I lean on my crutch
When you run through life you can’t see that face behind you
The future takes, make no mistakes, the race reminds you
Home may be far behind me, fine, I finally found her.
Won’t play the fool I know the rules I’m l not the founder.
Let myself go until I know you cannot trace me.
The beautiful soul has arrived who will replace me.
Hero Justin’s notes from that first pass through the song:
- The intro is long. Not necessarily a bad thing but it is. it’s something to think about. You’re “digging in” you’re making a statement so you have to I understand that choice.
- I asked him if the intro riff there is even any good in the first place. Justin says that that’s a pretty unique riff and he really loves it.
- He doesn’t like the funky part in the middle. He suggests maybe just letting the chords ring out in the middle section. I’m not so sure about that but anything is worth a try I guess.
- Something different has to happen in the part that he calls the bridge (Actually the song is just three verses). So it sounds like he’s asking for a bridge. I had considered going to a minor key halfway through the second verse to create the effect of a bridge.
- He also suggested trying to find some alternate melodies to introduce more variety into the song as well.
Justin asked me to play the song again. I suggest an alternate path. I will do several versions on the Oliver’s Musical Genius YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6iRajenI2SUKsiRtxMzlHQ) and tag him. Then he can comment right inside the channel there and I’ll see it.
The spirit of this project is coming alive right now. Justin is really helping me re-address some songs that I’ve written and helping me move forward.
Justin says something so profound right now. I suggest that I would do the song 10 times or 20 times but only send him the one that I think is good. He comes back with if you do it 10 times the only goal should be the 10th time was more fun than the first time.
I suggest again that we should do a formal interview of Justin. He says OK.
I suggest a few different questions that he might get prepared for.
When did you first pick up the guitar? Tell me how you got into music? Who are your biggest influences? What’s your craziest tour story? What’s your best to tour story? What were your biggest challenges?
Justin says to learn more about his music go to his blank baby band camp
https://blankbaby.bandcamp.com
We talk a bit about the 1,000 true fans concept.
Justin starts playing some of our old songs from the original Oliver’s musical genius. One song called The Bitter Cold. And one song called Nancy and Dave. Then we start talking about the rock from the 1990s.
I say that Radiohead The Bends is probably one of the best rock albums from that era.
I say that I still like the blue album from Weezer.
Justin shocks me when he says that he doesn’t like the blue album any more. He still likes Pinkerton now, though.
Then I say that all the good hip-hop is from the 90s: Wu-Tang, biggie.
Then I joke that the best thing about hip-hop is that all the albums are dated inside the lyrics.
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