May 2016
Guild Tidings
The official publication of
The International Songwriters Guild
Volume 21, No. 5
Next Meeting Sunday May 1st 5:00pm
The International Songwriter’s Guild meets at 5 PM on the first Sunday of every month at the
Central Florida Musician’s Union building, 3020 East Robinson (at the extreme east end of
Robinson, near Orlando Executive Airport) in Orlando.
Songwriters, composers, performers, publishers, and the curious are encouraged to join us. Non-
members are invited to attend a meeting or two to get a feel for our group and what we do. For
more information, visit our website at www.tinyurl.com/isgsongs or myspace page at
The meetings will be structured as follows: 5:00 to 5:30, business and introductions. 5:30 to
6:00, presentation by a guest speaker (when scheduled), 5:30 or 6:00 to 8:00, song critiques.
Please bring a CD or I-phone or mp3 player or perform your song live, and bring 10 or more lyric
sheets. If we have at least 5 songs by members who wish to be scored, and 6 members scoring, then
we will have them entered in the Monthly competition. Everyone is encouraged to write
constructive comments on the lyric sheets.
Any Details not in this newsletter are at: www.tinyurl.com/isgsongs
If you wish to join our Facebook group, please check us out at
https://www.facebook.com/groups/831814850193553/
WebChatter
By Susiecool
Here is a very informative Video that Donna Fant shared with me on FaceBook. It's about how
important it is to include contact info in the Metadata on the MP3's that you are putting on-line
and/or pitching, and how to do that in itunes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEZ3o-Zca2U
Tense Times
By Jeff Mason
Why this title? You may ask. These are indeed tense times. Terrorist attacks, mass shootings set
against the backdrop of a weary planet and a long running carnival called an election. The reason
for my title, however, is a little more mundane. For several months I’ve been seeing industry
listings like “Tension Based Electronic Underscore Cues are needed by a successful Production
Music Library for placement in Films and TV.” These tips included examples of artists, television
shows and films to help get a feel for the music and the “stylistic wheelhouse” that they were
looking for.
I’ve been studying film and television scores and I knew about some of the cited artists.
Even as I write this article I’m listening to a playlist on Amazon Music titled “Scores to Study
to.” It’s very soothing and for the most part would not apply to these listings. It does,
however, include a piece called “Gray Matter.” It was written by Dave Porter and comes from the
successful “Breaking Bad” television series. This piece would definitely fit the genre. Dave is a
Los Angeles based composer with an interesting musical background. A classically trained pianist
who studied electronic music at Sarah Lawrence College under John Yannelli. He started his
professional career as an assistant at Philip Glass’s studio in New York.
http://www.daveporter.tv/ He is in demand and is currently contributing music to a number of
shows including “Better Call Saul” and “The Blacklist.” In a recent interview he stressed the
importance of speed and “there’s always a ticking clock.” He turns a piece out from the first
spotting session to the final mix in a week. https://www.arts.gov/audio/dave-porter
Cliff Martinez is another busy and successful composer. I’ve been aware of his work since
the 2000 movie “Traffic.” Cliff has been the drummer for several prestigious bands including the
last version of Captain Beefheart and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Turning to film scores in the
mid 1980’s, he has built up a resume that includes scores for “Drive,” “Contagion” and “Solaris.”
He has recently scored the soundtrack for the television series “The Knick.”
One television series cited in the listing was “Mr. Robot.” I’d never heard of this
show. After some research I’ve discovered that the main composer for this show is Mac Quayle. He
is based in Los Angeles and has worked with Martinez on “Drive,” “The Normal Heart” and
“Contagion.” He received his first Emmy nomination for “American Horror Story: Freak Show.”
http://macquayle.com/ I’d heard that music and I’d be surprised if someone investigating this
music genre has not heard their work before.
Why consider composing music for this genre? Well, you might find it liberating.
Importantly there are no words. They are instrumentals. Michael Laskow from Taxi suggests making
an instrumental of every song you write. My current DAW has several synthesizer plug ins and they
are easy to download. In this music you need an interesting and varied tonal palette at your
disposal. Think of yourself as a musical painter. Unusual instruments can be used. You don’t have
to be a virtuoso on them. Remember it’s the tonal colors you’re after. Dave Porter uses a
Japanese koto for the central character in “Breaking Bad.” Cliff Martinez likes to compose with a
custom made Baschet Crystal. He says it’s great for mystery scores. These composers are keyboard
geeks with an affinity for vintage synthesizers. They are the alchemists of the music world.
Stylistically think about the Dorian scale, drones, pulse drones, low tones, distortion and
dissonance.
As composer Timothy Drury says in this months “Recording” magazine it’s easy to build
up a large library of these instrumental pieces. Remember to group them by theme. Good luck and
perhaps I’ll see you around.
ISG Bulletin Board
Meeting space graciously provided by Central Florida Musicians Association, Local 389. You are
invited to join the largest union in the world, representing the interests of the professional
musician. Visit their website at afm389.org for more information. You may reach them by phone
at: 407-894-8666.
Why isn't your gig announced here? Members in good standing
call SusieCool with your appearance schedule! 407-760-2153
Saturday April 23rd Barberville Spring Frolic
The "Jane Gang" with Dell Smith, Asli and SusieCool will have 2 sets on Saturday.
11:30am Church
04:30pm Bridgehouse
The sets are only 25 mins, so please don't be late!!
Where: 1776 Lightfoot Ln, Barberville FL 32105
The festival is on Saturday from 10:00am till 9:00pm,
and Sunday from 10:00am till 4:00pm
Sunday April 24th 10:00am to 2:00pm. Earth Day celebration at Lake Lotus park.
Jeff Mason will be performing, and Asli, Dell and SusieCool will also be performing.
(We may have an appearance by the "Jane Gang" too :-))
Where: 1153 Lake Lotus Park Rd. Altamonte Springs FL 32714
Also for anyone interested, Central Florida Folk hosts a song circle at the Sleeping Moon on the
last Wednesday of each month. 7 to 10pm. All are welcome. It is acoustic. They have a facebook
page too.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Central-Florida-Folk-Song-Circle/139385302761066?fref=ts
On the third Wednesdays of each month we have a playing circle with the Fingerstyle Guitar Group
in the Community room of the winter Park Library. 460 E. New England Ave.-- Winter Park, FL
32789. 6 to 8:30pm. Songwriters are welcome, but we do try to play our fingerstyle songs and not
use picks. There is more info on the facebook group page.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/228147620559285/?fref=nf
Current members please send us your website info if you would like your site to be listed in the
ISG members page.
https://sites.google.com/site/isgsusiecool/home/links-and-recommended-reading/member-websites
Also if you have any songs that have placed first in the monthly critiques, please send the mp3's
to isgorlando@gmail.com if you would like to have them featured in the ISG MySpace page.
April 2016 No Critique results
New members always welcome!
© 2016 ISG