My name is Zaire Kariff. That is my stage name, anyhow.
I have created this blog for the purpose of discussing my music, myself, songs and albums I've come across, things that influence me musically, and my dreams for my music. I have another blog where I am going by my birth name. The title of that one is "Thoughts of a Would-Be Monk." That one is for theological, philosophical, and more intellectual pursuits. You may have a look see at it, but you may not always like what you find.
Anyway, this is the first post, obviously; so, what should I update everyone on? Well, I have been hard at work performing live at various places and writing music, as I should be. I have decided that, in the next year, I will be relocating to either Boston, Chapel Hill, Portland, or Britain for the purpose of finding new digs and grooving with new people. It isn't that I don't like Texas...well, that is partly to blame. You see, I am not a Texan...I just live here. But, that is for another blog post. Therefore, I find it wise to move on.
So, moving on. I am relocating to another area to pursue my musical dreams and I felt it was high time for me to make new recordings. I have come a long way from my "The Government Thinks I Have Kids EP" (for those in the know) and I need music that reflects that. However, until quite recently, I have felt stunted and unable to get what I wanted musically without a band. That has since changed. I've been experimenting with garageband and loops and made enough pleasant discoveries that I think I can make a legit album, EP, and add to my live shows through the use of my gorgeous computer, Whilemena (I know I BUTCHERED THAT, sorry. I should rename here since I cannot spell her blasted name).
Doing this (and, look at that, this is turning into a long post) has obviously opened up my options and I plan to use them. I hope to finish my record, to my satisfaction, by Fall 2012. The working title is terrible, so I'll spare you all that one. Thus far, I have extremely workable demos for 11 songs and enough pieces of many others that I could probably round out a 15 song album, if I so choose. I do want it kept in mind that creating an album is, or use to be more frequently, about putting songs that work together (even if it isn't thematically). It is a whole body of work. I come at the tail end of the generations that understood that. I'm nearly 25 now, but I remember when albums were more than a bunch of random singles. There was cohesion, right down to the album art.
I realize not everyone is into the art aspect, and there is a place for that, but I am. So, I won't be satisfied with, whatever I title this album, until I feel that sort of cohesion (even if it is imperfect, this is my first time after all).
I plan to make available, for extremely cheap prices, my first aforementioned EP. It is not going to be nearly as together as what I am putting together now (we didn't even have drums), but it is a good way to see my growth as an artist. I had only been writing songs a year when I created it and my playing was not as good as it is now. I still need improvement (something I'll always strive for), but I am better able to express what is in my head now than I was then.
That's why I am going to rerelease it. It'll be cheaper than what I sold it for back then as well. I can't give it away for free because money helps you build even better albums. You understand.
So, that is where I am, essentially. I am ready to really give this music thing a show and I am growing by leaps and bounds with every song I write, orchestrate, and arrange. I couldn't arrange worth a flip when I started out. Thankfully that has changed. Thus, I deem it good to say that you all have good things to look forward to. I will post snippets from time to time and random thoughts on my progress, while also giving you glimpses to artists I am incorporating into my own style. I'm eclectic, it has to be the Californian in me, and I hope my music will continue to reflect that.
Love and Harmony,
ZK
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