Over the past several months, I've slowly started to gravitate closer to something I've wanted to do for a long time: getting my music placed into TV, film, commercials, video games, etc. That's not to say that you can currently hear any of my music in any of these places, nor that you will any time soon. But it does mean I'm actively working on leveling up to that place. 

To do this kind of work, one has to develop the skill of writing and producing songs and/or instrumental pieces quickly and at professional quality. 

So I'm now part of a group of musicians that works together to help each other achieve success in “Sync Licensing," which is the technical term for the slice of the industry that deals with music synced to video footage. The group is called “Sync or Swim.” Every Monday we get a songwriting challenge prompt, in terms of a target emotion that we want to conjure.  Whereupon we have seven days to write and record a song and share it with the group. Then the group meets and gives each other feedback on the previous week's efforts. 

I joined the group in March or so, but I just lurked there while I was working on the Dog Legs & Feet album release. Then in July I submitted two songs. In August I committed to doing one every week. And I did it! Yay for me! It's been a fun challenge so far and I've learned a lot each time I've done it. 

I've definitely had to scramble to get this done around day job commitments, raising kids, and a summer that has been full of travel. (Also, the room that's normally my studio has been full of my kids, playing video games because they've been out of school.)

But I've started to figure out how to integrate this kind of music production into my life during the little slices of time that I do have. 

So for example, on Monday when the prompt comes out, I usually spend just a few minutes coming up with an initial sketch of what I think the piece should be like. I use voice notes on my phone to capture whatever ideas I have. I create a project file in Logic Pro X and start collecting snippets in there, then I spend my spare time during the week editing them together and revamping or rerecording pieces as I go. 

Here's what AI thinks I look like doing this (though I don't have a beard):

Anyway, so far, it has kinda worked. My goal is to keep at it, at least for the next several weeks and see where I get (although: never promise anything in a blog). 

And I have a pool of new music now building up on my hard drive, and I'll start sharing some of the demos here, once I find the additional time to put them up on the interwebs.