Music is a huge part of my life, as I’m sure it is for many people. Though for something so important, it seems too easy to take it for granted.
It is something so engrained in the human psyche, like a precursor to language, that we seem to understand naturally and can affect us so deeply. Even without lyrics, the sounds can evoke emotions and memories, tell stories, and inspire us to harmonize physically with the pace and motion.
I recall telling part of this story in another column, however when I think back to my childhood, I don’t remember anything of buying music. My parents already had a substantial collection of cassette tapes, origin unknown to me, and anything new was borrowed from the library. As I randomly went through their collection, I would occasionally glom on to particular songs I liked of just about any style: marching band themes, 60’s crooner songs, James Last, and Michael Jackson. I also stumbled across a fair amount of classical music, and ended up listening to a handful of those artists who would sound pretentious to list. After that, I specifically remember going crazy for an album called “Switched On Bach” which had some of his pieces retooled for electronic instruments. Then when we got our first CD player, “80 Spectacular Sound Effects” was the big fascination for me.
I do remember the kids on my street would get all excited when their parents bought them the latest New Kids on the Block album, or KLF, or Salt N Pepa since “Let’s Talk About Sex” was so taboo for our age. But I never went home and asked my parents to buy me that music. I was happy with what I had, and while I would oblige to listen to those songs with my friends, that was as far as it went.
After I got my first video game console, a Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), I started to really enjoy the simplistic background music from the games I played. I began tape recording a cycle or two of each unique song for me to listen to later. This became a fun tradition for me, even as I moved on to the more sophisticated Super NES: I would rent new games to play over the weekends, and record the music as I went along.
Soon after my household began subscribing for dial-up internet service, I discovered MIDI songs. Because of low bandwidth capabilities, MIDI was the ideal method of storing and transmitting music at the time. The file format contained the structure of the song without the actual sounds, so it was the responsibility of the computer that played back the MIDI song, to synthesize the instruments. So the first music-related thing I started asking my parents to buy for me was newer sound hardware to make the MIDI songs sound better.
Then at some point it occurred to me to ask for software so that I could create MIDI songs of my own. This wasn’t the standard thing you could find in a department store, so we searched and searched until we found something at a music store. It wasn’t cheap, but I got the entry-level Cubasis for my birthday, and throughout Junior High, High School and University, I lived with this program open on my home computer.
It’s a little known fact in my social circles today that I dabbled in composing. To this day I still can’t play an instrument or even read sheet music - yet with that program I began sequencing my own original songs. I started a website and built a substantial fan base, met a whole bunch of amazing people that provided me with support and encouragement for what I was doing. I competed in a yearlong online MIDI competition with people from around the world, and came out in first place. Before I left High School I bought a collection of professional-quality sound samples to record my music, and produced 3 albums. I tried to sell them, but I discovered I cared more about people hearing and enjoying what I had produced; forcing them to pay for a physical copy was just a roadblock that turned people away.
This wave of inspiration began to peter out when I found my ability to conceive of songs had moved beyond my technical ability to produce them. My concentration shifted to other areas. The people who had supported me continued trying to expose me to new music with the hopes of inspiring me to compose again. My mom’s influence got me interested in a new age composer by the name of David Arkenstone, and yes, I did finally start buying his albums. But I was left in a state where I was completely isolated and unaware of mainstream music.
Then I started writing for this magazine, taking over the music review column and getting exposed to all sorts of new mainstream music. I’m still often stumped when it comes to knowing who a lot of bands are, but along the way I’ve discovered songs in all sorts of genres that bring me immense joy. These keep me company on my long drives to and from Edmonton, and when I’m concentrating on intensive tasks in my daily work. I would miss not having them to listen to.
Yet in those times when I feel like I’m losing my sense of self in my busy life, I will go back and listen to my own songs. They bring me back to the mindset of my younger self, and that helps remind me of who I am and where I come from. Even though my music is probably long forgotten by others, I’m still glad that I created it. Those pieces still carry great meaning for me - it’s like I put my dreams in a bottle so that they could never evaporate.
The Winds of Change, Part 4
Things are finally starting to calm down in this community shakeup that’s been happening the past few months. As planned, the Junction opened on August 13th, bringing Edmonton’s bar count up to 6; then the following day both Prism and PLAY had their closing nights, bringing it right back down to 4.
While the new owners are still working out some of the kinks as they go along, the community’s response to the Junction continues to be phenomenal. Already, numerous events at different ends of the community spectrum have been held in the space - more on that in the next section.
September 2010
Last month we ran an article about the new LGBT African group at the Pride Centre of Edmonton, however there was some confusion about how the group was structured. While Frederick’s is the unofficial leader, we neglected to credit the involvement of Jeff Bovee, Haira, Gerard, and the two Moses’ too!
The night after Junction’s opening party was the bi-monthly BEEF BearBash, where organizers were relieved to have the old space back for their dance.
We attended the BEEF Bear BBQ at Victoria Park earlier in the afternoon where the sunbathing bears traumatized the little kids (heh heh) and indulged in some good burgers (pronounced bear-grrs). Arriving late, I decided to take a slice of watermelon from the few that were left on the picnic table, but it tasted really strange. Luckily someone told me it had been infused with vodka, otherwise I imagined myself in my naiveté trying another slice, also finding it bad, and throwing the whole lot out.
The dance at Junction was insanely busy, and the plan was for me to down my two drinks at the beginning of the night so that I would completely sober up by the time we needed to drive home. I’ve sworn off beer in the past but unfortunately I relapsed and ordered one as my first drink. Sure enough, I was reminded why I vowed never to drink it – it did not agree with me. It took awhile for me to figure out why I felt so uncomfortable and grouchy, unfortunately by which time I had convinced Steve that we needed to leave early. Damn.
A few weeks later we were back in Edmonton for Coronation, however we came a day early to catch the Lady Gaga concert for a review (see page 16). Unfortunately, but understandably, we only received one reviewer ticket, and access for one photographer. So I got to watch the whole show (which was bloody fabulous), while Steve was brought in with the other photographers for a few songs only.
Steve figured it out that we have been covering Coronations for 10 years now. I recall how after my first, behind the camera for 6 hours of drag, my back was in so much pain that it wasn’t even funny. By now I’m a seasoned Coronation cameraman, and the night flew by easily. Ivonna Diamonds and Big Daddy Pump stepped down, and Dee Luv and LJ Steele were both voted in as Edmonton’s next monarchs. Congrats!
As new developments in Calgary go, we’re happy to say that the Twisted Element has resumed carrying our magazine, and given us their blessing to provide event coverage once again. So keep an eye out in future editions for articles about upcoming events, and photos of special happenings in this venue. Already online is an article about Kristine W, who is being flown in to perform at Twisted during Pride weekend. As for us, we’re excited to reconnect with this audience and once again be able to say that we are available in all LGBT bars across Alberta!
This Month
By the time you read this article, Pride will have probably come and gone. Nevertheless this is the biggest thing happening this month before the community starts to slow down for the fall and winter months.
It should be hammered into your head by now, the Dance being on the 4th, and the Parade on the 5th. Make sure you check out the Official Pride Guide booklets that were inserted in last month’s edition, as there are many more events happening from September 1st all the way through to the 11th. One such event running during that time span is the theatre production, “Heterophobia”, of which we are a sponsor. Read the article on page 54.
And still there are more events coinciding with Pride Weekend. Club Sapien has DJ Perry Finch out for their Evolution dance on Friday September 3rd – not to be mistaken with the (r)Evolution Pride Dance the night after. The aforementioned performance of Kristine W is happening at the Twisted Element the same night as the Pride Dance, which makes for a difficult decision at worst, some bar-hopping at best. The ISCCA is holding a special BBQ after the Pride Parade at the Backlot, while at the same time, the Calgary Eagle has their notorious post-parade party. Goliaths has a special after-hours dance on Sunday September 5th, from midnight until 8am.
Of course, don’t forget about the AIDS Walks in both Calgary and Edmonton, Sunday September 12th. Diana Ross is in concert in Calgary at the Stampede Corral on September 11th, and the ARGRA Dances start up again this month on September 18th. Check out our online events calendar for more forthcoming events. 