MacJams.com - Song: Why We Travel by Tiny_Man

Why We Travel
by Tiny_Man_Inside

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Attribution-NoDerivs-NonCommercial

Guest views: 2000
Member views: 0
Song comments: 49
Tokens: 0
Plays: 883
Last Played:
Downloads: 118
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Submitted on: Aug 22, 2007 - 11:28:13 AM
Last Updated: Aug 22 2007 - 09:07:08 PM

Description Performance Credits:

Huy Dao – Lyrics, Vocals, Arrangement, Crystal
Mason A. Wolak – Acoustic Guitars, Bass, Percussion

08/20/07: Why We Travel started out as Mason fiddling around with a slide on an acoustic guitar. For most of its life so far, the song was simply "the slide acoustic song." A demo of the guitar part was originally posted on Mason’s page as The Ruse. I won't assume the reader has heard our other stuff, but let's just say that this song is a real departure for us.

First, the song, when conceived, was one instrument with plans for vocals. No big noise, riffs, or percussion to hide behind for me. It was my first stab, also, at writing anything with a melody. Most of our other music was rhythmically challenging, even tonally challenging, but my vocals have never been accused of being melodic. Second, we had no plans to make it anything other than guitar and vocals, so the mood of the vocals was purposefully dreary, 4AM on a Tuesday kind of stuff. If I knew the rest of the instruments would follow, I'm sure I would have tried to make the song more aggro.

The back story is that I didn't have much to record on and, following a motherboard crash, I was left with a cheap mixer, the sound card's line in, winamp, an outdated version of SoundForge, and a wireless karaoke mic. Despite the absolute sh*ttiness of the sound, we were able to get a feel for the song and Mason was off and running with new ideas for adding a bass line and some "simple" percussion (see picture below). A few back and forth drafts using Audacity and Tracktion, and we were ready to sit down and record.

We wound up recording vocals over completed guitar and bass with Mason's setup (described below). Percussion was recorded after we experimented with tuning champagne flutes and smoothing out some wood. Mason also decided to establish a new octave range for his voice in the chorus. And that's how it all came together.

One final note: be careful what you threaten. This song came about after I threatened to write a love song if Mason kept writing songs with complicated time signatures (cf. most of his other published material). Not exactly love, but the equally universal love lost.

Huy

Production Notes: The image below illustrates the items used to construct the percussion set; I’ll leave it to the listener to draw the connections. The bass was recorded D.I. into an Onyx 400F firewire interface. The guitar parts were recorded using either a Sennheiser e609 or JoeMeek JM37 mic fed into a JoeMeek SixQ channel strip, the output of which was fed into the Onyx via S/PDIF. The same signal chain was used for vocals, except that the Sennheiser mic was not used in this capacity. The percussion samples were recorded in a variety of manners, using both mics, sometimes with and sometimes without use of EQ and compression from the SixQ.

Hardware PowerMac G5 Dual 1.8 GHz/2 GB RAM – Mackie Onyx 400F Audio Interface – JoeMeek SixQ Channel Strip - JoeMeek JM37 Mic – Sennheiser e609 mic - Ibanez AE30 Acoustic Guitar - Yamaha Acoustic Guitar - Glass Slide - Dean Edge Bass - Metal Hammer - Dye and Punch Set - Cardboard Box - Champagne Flutes - Sandpaper - Wood Panel.

Software: Tracking/Mixing: Tracktion 3.0.2.6, Mackie Channel Strip, Waves Renaissance EQ, Waves Renaissance Compressor, Antares Tube, Amplitube 2, Waves Trueverb, Waves Multi-Tap Delay, George Yohng’s W1 Limiter. Mastering: Acuma Final Mix and SpectraPhy LE

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	Mcboy said 505 days ago
	bangin track.......simplicity with all the nrg of a full blown production.....love the percussion....melded perfectly.....vocal/bass melody is way kool......ipod worthy...highest complimet i can give.....all thumbs OP.....!!!!!!!!!!

	Tiny_Man_Inside said 505 days ago
	Thanks! Coming from you McBoy, that is high praise indeed. Glad you enjoyed it. Mason --- <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/25785">The latest offering by Tiny Man Inside - <b>Rubicon</b></a>

	The Far Away Boys said 505 days ago
	! F'ing word. Well done... Chill and heavy at the same time!!! Y'all rock. -ronnie

	michael2 said 505 days ago
	sounds great i like your voice, the way the slide sounds, and the whole song. it kind of reminds me of Beck back in the old days. very cool.

	said 505 days ago
	Yea This is different from the TMI I know, and different is GOOD! Nice track, guys! I love how clean that slide guitar is. Really nice mix, too!

	Macaudion said 505 days ago
	Hot Damn! Haha... made me stop chewing my gum... lol... Smoken, goodness... It'd be hard not to be inspired by this - But one could be overwhelmed w/ what to do w/ that amount of inspiration... Beautiful! Dion Thanks for the copy!

	Norman Goodman said 505 days ago
	Excellent slide playing Thought the recording was well done,. Vocal line is excellent.... cool phrasing Pretty solid track.... have yet to hear what else you do but this in of itself is really good Glad one of you stopped by my page ... opened up my ears to a talented group

	said 505 days ago
	tops I love the clarity something Im finding harder and harder to achive. Thanks for the description makes one realize the complexity of this yet clear and simple song( when I say simple I mean the straight forward approach) well I hope you know what I mean great song enjoyed thanks!

Scott Carmichael said 505 days ago

MASON!!! you get it
killer on every level... hi scores get tossed around... these are the works that we should reserve them for... the mix is splendid... and please

Metal Hammer - Dye and Punch Set - Cardboard Box - Champagne Flutes - Sandpaper - Wood Panel.

perfect...

I see you're flyin' with tracktion... listening to this may make me jump ship...

a complete stellar track...

one nit pick... post lyrics

Tiny_Man_Inside said 505 days ago

Some comments from people at the KVR forum
I just wanted to post these here so that all the comments were in one place:

from johnny2johnny (KVR Raw Materials Software Forum)

"thanks and now I feel like I need a glass full of whiskey, and a red head babe, a fire, and a phone call about how my pick up truck wont be fixed till next week, so I cant make it too work tomorow, and the boss is gonna kill me...."

from Njxt2 (KVR Raw Materials Software Forum)

"I really liked the song.
Soundwise speaking (IMHO), the voice is great but the slide guitar sounds a little roomy to me and the crosstick (is that the right word in english for hitting the metallic border of the snare ?) is too high pitching. Perhaps it's intentionnal, as the kick drum is very dry and punchy (but I liked that Wink )."

	jiguma said 505 days ago
	Simple .. .. is often best! This is a really good sound with wide references and a gentle yet persuasive production. Love the rhythms and the lack of hi-tech. Some shades of John Butler in the slide/vox/bass melody - some lovely little changes. Excellent all round post. I agree with Scott. Many 9s and 10s being given, but this actually deserves them. Neil

said 505 days ago

starts out
like in my time of dying by zep, then goes into some kind of beck/bloodhound gang hybrid... man, i hate categorizing tunes.... but, that's what hit me initially... the mix is superb, as always, and it lends itself to a deep resonator guitar tone. almost live mic night sounding.... i wish it were longer, with a slide solo, and perhaps kicking it in at some point, giving way to a full blown band production...
great tune, peoples....

Tiny_Man_Inside said 503 days ago

thanks RAD
Well, I've actually heard the zep meets beck analogy before for this song... I didn't really put together the zep connection until I overhead my younger brother (who stayed with me for the summer) listening to Page's slidework. I haven't actively listened to Zep in a long, long time; weird how things can pop out of your subconscious. With regards to Beck, well - I love his stuff and really like the way that he "fills" the sound space with creative samples. The percussion in this piece certainly draws from his sense of rhythmic execution.

Mason

---
<a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/34706">The latest offering by Tiny Man Inside - <b>Why We Travel</b></a>

	Feter said 505 days ago
	Why We Travel Love this Rockin ..man you got a real imagenary of what you want to produced and what your song should sound with .. this is creative my friend ! this Rock !!

	said 505 days ago
	Great ! Loved all about this piece, the guitar sounds really great in this slide, much folky intro, the vocal line is excellent ! Keep up the good work

	echoroom said 505 days ago
	Excellent track Really ace track, and I also love how you guys give the nth amount of detail on how you recorded this. All the 10s from me Steve

Tiny_Man_Inside said 503 days ago

Thanks Steve
Regarding your comments on our exposition of details: I happen to be a chemist by profession, so I approach these recordings from a very analytical standpoint. As a scientist, there is a lot of emphasis on being able to convey your experimental techniques when you write a manuscript detailing your research. I sort of take that same approach to describing our recordings.

I feel as though I've learned so much from reading the forums here and talking to the many talented musicians and producers - I think I've come a long ways in developing my production skills and that wouldn't have happened without this site. Therefore, I tend to also think of this as "giving back" to the community. Maybe some details that I share will help others to make their music in a way that more accurately represents how they want it to sound. Also, by giving out as many details as possible, we open ourselves up to comments from others on what we can do to continue to improve.

Thanks, as always, for listening.

Mason

---
The latest offering by Tiny Man Inside - Why We Travel

	K.I.S.KISMET said 504 days ago
	absolute, honest, earthy, excellent all around!

	thetiler said 504 days ago
	Really gets interesting when you start commin in and sngin,. Like the funky home made type beats. Like the bassy slide right after you start singing. It just keeps getting interesting with lots of funky fun.

	gail60 said 502 days ago
	great song! I thought I had commented on this but I guess I didn't! This is a great song. You have tons of talent! Great vocals along with all of your Hardware magic! Really enjoyed it. I am looking forward to listening to more of yours. Thanks for sharing this!

drakonis said 502 days ago

simple sweetness
Although, I dunno how simple it was to do all that nice sliding around, it sounds very accomplished though! Simple song structure, but great bluesy feel. And Huy's singing is perfect... you mention "dreary", I agree, but in a positive way... fits well. Good use of "percussion"! The recording does sound slightly damped on the low end, but crisp, and otherwise, a very solid piece. Cool stuff!
ttfn,
Drakonis

	Karmatoburn said 502 days ago
	dig it A little departure from the regular, and I love it. Fantastic recording. The guitar work is extra fine, and I second the vote that the vocal is perfectly melded. You are showing your unplugged side! and it rocks

Tiny_Man_Inside said 501 days ago

From our former bass player
I received a note from Dan Moon, the bassist that Huy and I used to work with back in the day... I wanted to post his comments here as I think they resonate with the tone and feel that we were going for with this song.

Mason/Huy:

Just flew in from Korea to DC today. When I was on the
plane, was listening to the radio, thinking about how
traveling brings back memories, hearing Clapton's
unplugged "Running on Faith" - blown away by the slide
guitar, hearing the strings bouncing off the slide,
ringing, loose, and organic...

Arrived in DC and drove down to Kitty Hawk, North
Carolina for a friend's wedding...listening to blues
and southern music...Clapton, Buddy Guy, Joplin...and
after getting to my hotel having a few beers...this
all fits together just right...

Love the tune, man. Love the guitar - didn't know you
had that thick blues vibe in you...and Huy's
vocals/lyrics are on point...percussion is minimal and
just right...right on guys...and the song title is
perfect for me right now...travelling

Keep on,
Dan

	said 501 days ago
	HAPPY To hear This !!!!!!!!! ITS AWESOME :):):) SOOOOOOOO COOL ! ! ! So much FUN WOW LOVE IT I'm gettin my hammer out You inspire Me THANKYOU

	falo said 500 days ago
	holy shit batman this is frakkin awesome!!!! I love the roominess of the whole sound....and that slide work is awesome bro!!!! one of the best tracks you have ever posted as far as my 2 cents is worth.....nice and swampy.....meet me down in the bayou for some froggin kid.....excellent work bro peace

	surge said 500 days ago
	awesome [CBH 10 years later?] awesome track, awesome recording...I didn't know you guys were still producing together. Keep postin' "fat finger" sergio

	Babyhead said 500 days ago
	Texas, please Thanks serge. Glad to see a familiar...avatar. I hope to be seeing Texas, or some version of it, posted here some day soon...

Tiny_Man_Inside said 500 days ago

sweet
Woh-Ho? Nice to hear from you!

Huy and I just started writing and recording again a little over a year ago... kinda post-Cement Babyhead stuff, maybe a little more experimental and going in directions that we otherwise wouldn't have back in the day.

Glad you stopped by for a listen. You should check out the site and post some of your own stuff as well - it's a really great community they've got here.

Mason

---
The latest offering by Tiny Man Inside - Why We Travel

	smokey bacon jnr said 500 days ago
	cool Great blues slide guitar and the percussion works great too. Just shows you don't need loads of electronica to make a brilliant tune. Very cool indeed.

	eleveneyes said 500 days ago
	Coool with an extra o very cool vibe on this track. love the vocals on this. Very hooky guitar lick in between vocal lines in verse. Great chorus. Minimal elements with maximum effect, dynamics and propulsion.

	Moviz said 499 days ago
	Sounds like the original blues/folk songs and your voice fits in beautifully with that feel. Great track and great original 'modern' sound, very rich if raw sounding, cheers M

	Drew Kopr said 493 days ago
	Ouch That's just cool.

	Axgrinder said 490 days ago
	I just put it together..... Duh! Mason Atoms = Mason A. Wolak of Tiny_Man_Inside! This is a cool tune, I dig the slide and it is amazing the sounds you achieved out of your assemblage, considering the only bona-fide instrument was the guitar! Nice work guys and a tight production. Hey and thanks for the tips on mic'ing my guitar, I appreciate it. Keep on keepin on for you sound great! Alvin

	FGarofalo said 441 days ago
	I love this. Very cool slide. It reminds of something Led Zep would do. I half expected the vox to come screaming in ala Plant at some point. Well done. Frank.

	davisamerica said 434 days ago
	yep this one rocks. had my ears from the first. very cool, .....very cool!

	guitapick said 422 days ago
	Cool... ...plus 1 on what everyone else says...cool basics on a kickass production scale. Like to see the lyrics printed out...they're really fine, too...

	Ibstrat said 414 days ago
	Guitar sounds great.Page-like for sure.Really cool vocals.Fantastic track.

	Outtaorbit said 402 days ago
	yeah i dig it

	said 378 days ago
	late to the party... cool slide, and a bit minimalistic in keeping with a slick clean sound. Nice tune guys. . - Harold

	said 377 days ago
	Yes! Wow! This was great! Very inventive style. . .The percussion is brilliant!

	bonnieprincejohnny said 377 days ago
	Aye. Yes aye.

	rtcooper said 358 days ago
	MISSED IT LIKE It a Lot. Great Capture. Heads Up Production Notes, what a courtesy. Tracktion, eh? Cool. best regards, Cooper

	magnatone said 255 days ago
	Why We Travel Mason - this is great! Love the guitar, vocals, the whole darned song is excellent!

	futzpucker said 255 days ago
	Thanks for the treat I really like this track, Mason. It all works so well together. But I especially like the slide playing. Great job, great song. So real...

Babyhead said 98 days ago

For those who requested lyrics.
VERSE 1
37 towns in the rear view
40,000 cigarettes without you
White-dash, mile mark, dimming horizon
4:30AM, all the same blue

CHORUS
And this drink won't bring
This smoke won't sting
And sleep won't swing
me fast enough

My head still rings
My eye still stings
and hope won't bring
me close enough

Never quite far enough
Never close enough to stop

VERSE 2
6 or 7 seven lovers, still you're with me
40,000 songs in the same key
Last night, yesterday, next week, and onward
7 years of running haven't saved me

CHORUS

	Tiny_Man_Inside said 505 days ago
	sweet Glad you enjoyed it Norman. I dig your fretwork too! Mason --- <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/25785">The latest offering by Tiny Man Inside - <b>Rubicon</b></a>

	Tiny_Man_Inside said 505 days ago
	percussion set Thanks for the kind words Scott! I don't know if you saw it when you first listened, but I posted a collage of the percussion set that I used. Thought you might want to check it out just for the sake of interest. Mason --- <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/25785">The latest offering by Tiny Man Inside - <b>Rubicon</b></a>

	Tiny_Man_Inside said 502 days ago
	thanks for listening Glad you liked it, but I hope you're not disappointed by our other stuff. This song is more the exception than the rule. Our other music is much, much heavier and much less melodic (although we are always interested in continuing to branch out). Mason --- <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/34706">The latest offering by Tiny Man Inside - <b>Why We Travel</b></a>

	Tiny_Man_Inside said 501 days ago
	thanks ktb! I know you've had some nice things to say about our heavier stuff and I was wondering whether this track would work for you as well. We were definitely taking a step out of our normal comfort zone in doing this. It was both terrifying and exilarating at the same time. Glad you liked it. Mason --- The latest offering by Tiny Man Inside - Why We Travel

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