Light Scraps by Blackstallion

Most of these songs were recorded in the summer of 2018. I spent that summer at my friend Jon’s house in Lake Tahoe, and I was surprised by how that time and space shaped the music that I created. When I left for Tahoe, I felt like it would be some type of transformative experience. I had a romantic idea that in my isolation I would be able to create some art; and, to some extent, I did, but it was a lot harder than I thought it would be. I worked two odd jobs: Concert Security and as a cashier at a campground. With so much time on my hands, I felt lonely and tried to do anything to fill up the time. When I wasn’t recording, I spent most of my time walking around at night with a headlamp and going to Karaoke at a pool hall called The Classic Cue. I feel like those two activities changed the way that I created. I would think about what music and songs should truly be when I was walking around. I started feeling fed up with the idea of making art that is “cool.” It just seems to be a way of chasing social approval. It felt important to me that I attempt to make something beautiful or sincere—and with that, I also asked myself if that was even possible. I wanted to start making something that was true to myself, as opposed to just “cool.” It’s hard for anyone to consider, “who is my true self?” “how do I express that?” But I also believe that art should come from an individual going through self-reflection and discovery to bring that information or wisdom back to other people. I was also inspired by karaoke because it made me re-think creation and performance. So often, I feel like artists get on a stage to have their egos stroked and to be praised. There is so much toxic pride in art. But in karaoke, a performer and the audience are on the same level, sharing the experience, singing along together. These types of performance are less about the glorification of the person on the stage, but more about a sense of communal enjoyment through a song—and I feel like that is what music should be—something that makes people feel happy and connected, not just a tool for some fucker to get social adulation through their “cool” art.
I was hesitant about putting these tracks up because I was weirded out about what I made. I can hear and feel the intention that I had when making them. I wanted to express joy and light-heartedness, which is something that I hadn’t done before. It makes me feel naked and embarrassed (maybe that’s a good thing?). I spoke to Julien and Fil Corbit when I got back into town and they said that it would be worth a shot to just put these tracks on the net, even if they are an abomination. If nothing else, I’m glad to have a snapshot of a particular time and place.

Makin tunes.

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