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Table of Contents Computer City “Funky” Fridge Tunes
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Songs to Bool to on a Late Night Drive
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Interview with Elizabeth and The Catapult
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Songs to Scream to
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Let’s Get Funked Up (Iconic Funk Songs)
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My Favorite Chords (A Flowchart Extravanganza)
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Musician Missed Connections
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Adrift Playlist
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Lovecore Playlist
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I Feel Like I’m Spinning Playlist
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Persephone by Sidney Gish
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What to Expect at a Rave (From a Veteran Raver)
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Surrealism in Music
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Vaporwave
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Surrealistic Humor/Horror
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Q&A with Max Gowan
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Anatomy of a Queer! Indie! Kid!!
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Colophon
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SONGS TO SCREAM TO BY BRIT ABRAMS 1.Violet - Hole 2.Jennifer’s Body - Hole 3.Ladykillers - Lush 4.I Know The End - Phoebe Bridgers 5.Doll Parts - Hole 6.Fill in the Blank - Car Seat Headrest 7.Cool Schmool - Bratmobile 8.Smack a Bitch - Rico Nasty 9.STFU! - Rina Sawayama 10.Lithium - Nirvana 11.DEATHCAMP - Tyler, The Creator, Cole Alexander
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My Favorite Chords (A Flowchart By Extravaganza) Wesley Dankwa Start Here
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x Good, but sadder :(
x x
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Sa
d
Amaj9
Make it happier :)
C#m7
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x I’m more of a realist
Pure bliss!
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x x Cadd9
Dmaj7
C/G
You know what? I want to ascend to new planes.
Try tuning to Eb for pure devestation. These shapes can be moved around! A litle song: Amaj9 , Emaj7, C#m7, Amaj7
x x x 5
, but
d, b
Sad
ut
az e it j mak
zy...
Amaj7 go th
A greater spectrum of emotion, maybe?
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x
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Maybe 2 real...
Bsus2 It be like that (in a good way)
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It be like that (in a bad way)
x xx
Emaj7 Feeling a bit more neutral...
G6(no 3rd)
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Briann
Spread by Jenna Sittler
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Spread by Jenna Sittler
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New message from Max
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Niiiice!!!
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What’s a song you wish you wrote?
I’m Like A Bird - Nelly Furtado
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When did your interest in music start to become more serious?
When I was 8 I started learning guitar and it was already pretty serious at that point. It died down a bit after middle school but then really picked back up near the end of high school and has kept on since then!
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What do you think has helped you create your own distinct sound?
It’s an obvious answer but I think the more music I’ve listened to, the less my own music sounds like one band or another. I also think teaching myself drums had a big impact on the sound of my music. I’m still not the greatest drummer but I spend a lot of time tweaking the percussion on my songs and I think that has helped me form my own take on the type of music I make.
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What does a typical workflow look like for you when making a song?
I almost always start with noodling on the guitar - usually I get the best stuff like 5 or 10 minutes before I have to leave the house and go somewhere. I’ll take a voice memo of that melody or idea and then sit down with it later and start adding drums, bass, sound collage type stuff, and lyrics. Most of the time I’m writing new parts for the song as I’m producing or recording it, otherwise the immediacy dies away and I’ll lose interest.
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How do you approach collaborating with other musicians v. working solo?
I really enjoy playing in a band with other people but if I’m in that setting I actually don’t like having creative control. I feel like I can be pretty judgmental about musical ideas (lol) but my hatred of conflict means it’s really hard for me to tell someone I don’t like what they’re playing. I love being a member of a band where I really like their songs already, that’s always super fun. Working alone is the route I take with all of my stuff just because I can let loose more and be a lot more of a control freak than I’d like people to think I am.
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What are some obstacles you encounter in the creative process and how do you overcome them?
The biggest obstacles for me have been worrying about what other people think and also realizing that most days of working on music won’t produce songs that I end up keeping. I think a lot of people pretend to be cavalier about what others think (or maybe they really are!) but I am not that way at all, it’s something that weighs heavily on me. Fortunately I’ve found ways to completely shut that out of the equation when I’m just enjoying the process of creating music, because I know there’s always time to worry about it later.
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Do you think the value you put on a song changes when you release it to the public?
The value I put on a song definitely changes after I release it. I’ll always have personal favorites and those won’t change even if other songs do better out in the world, but there are some songs that I put out that do better than I thought they would and I usually take note of that. I have this song called Nursing Home that was meant to just be a demo, but it got put on this big YouTube channel and got like 10k views and I was like “oh, I guess people like this song more than I do.” There’s also songs I make where I have this feeling they’re going to be really popular and then it doesn’t work out that way. It’s always really interesting to compare your own perception with that of others.
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Do you think your background in audio tech influences the way you listen to other people's music? Are there certain things you listen for in terms of mixing and mastering?
I love mixing and mastering music but it can be a bit of a curse when I’m trying to enjoy something casually. The best part of a song in my opinion is always how it makes you feel, which requires you to take it in as one big picture. Mixing on the other hand requires you to focus on the little details, to make sure they add up to the best picture possible. Fortunately I’m still able to enjoy a song by someone if I don’t like how it is mixed, but it definitely takes a little extra mental effort to get myself in the right headspace.
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How do you know when a song is done?
I try to go purely on feel. If I’m listening to a song of mine and there’s little moments that feel unsatisfactory or like they aren’t delivering the full emotional impact I want them to, the song isn’t done. If that doesn’t happen, it is!
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Do you have any songs that aren't meant to be released and are just for yourself?
I have some older songs that never got released that I still listen to for fun every now and then. I still like them and think they’re decent, but sometimes they cringe me out a bit which is why I’ve never released them. I’ve also made a couple of songs for my girlfriend Amelia that I haven’t put out publicly just because they’re more personal.
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How would you compare the DIY music scene in Raleigh to D.C?
Raleigh is a smaller city so it has a smaller scene as well. They’re both very similar in the fact that I’ve met some wonderful musicians and people here and in DC, and they both have been welcoming places from my experience. DC leans a bit more punk with its music than Raleigh does, but overall they’re both very good and cool.
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What are some good bands/musicians from your hometown?
My good friends in Truth Club are amazing, as well as my roommate Caroline - her project is called Infinity Crush. Black Bouquet is a really cool band that we played a Halloween show with - I’m pretty sure they just got a song in Fortnite which is insane? There’s so many great artists here, but I realize I’m struggling with this question because I haven’t been to a show in over a year. Truly a strange thing to be able to say. This question is making me look forward to shows starting up again, I’m sure there are some great new talents that will emerge on the other side of this whole covid thing.
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Find MaX Twitter: @maxgowan_ IG: @maxgowan24
SWEET!!!
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COLOPHON Marjorie Blum (she/her) is a Sophomore at American University studying Film & Media Arts and Public Health. She enjoys being immersed in art, music, and nature.
Brit Abrams is 22 years old and seems to be the only queer person that hates period pieces.
Hannah Sawa is a junior who has yet to learn how to maintain a proper sleep schedule.
Jenna Sittler is a junior who has a coffee addiction and a cat named Lollipop.
Lia loves cherry blossom season but hates having allergies *achoo*
Wesley Dankwa is a junior who is waiting for you to rate his interplanetary funkmanship.
Talia Marshall is not the muse of comedy, merely one of her clowns.
Zoe Parsons is 20 years old and believes it should be illegal for men to wear flip flops.
Milo is 22 and wants to know God’s location. Oh, it’s for nothing serious, they just want to know. !
Brianna Chen is a junior that buys almond milk in bulk and collects mugs.
Annie Dempsey is the Art Director and is happy to be anywhere.
Jack Ford once killed two stones with one bird.
Kane Bowers is possibly 22 years old but scientists are awaiting conclusive results. Recently historians have discovered anachronistic photographs of them playing checkers moments before the execution of Georges Danton.
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