Finn Harald Røed - blog archive 2006


December 26, 2006
The last few days, colored by Christmas traditions and messages, it has struck me that religious leaders and Churches probably have less influence on people than whatever average movie they're watching on TV during the holidays. For example, I saw "One special night" with Julie Andrews and James Gardner the other day. It struck me that it's message in many ways felt more important and touching than most of the repetitious Christmas messages I've heard or read the last week.

Last night, when watching "Superman returns" on DVD, it struck me that all it's religious references ("the father and the son", "the world needs a saviour", etc.), woke up my religious subconsciousness. Thus, Superman played a part in my 2006 Christmas experience. Quite annoying. Actually a bit embarrassing, but also somehow quite thought provoking.

November 18, 2006
Just a quick note about another planned album. After the who knows when release of "Promises of tomorrow", I will release a web CD (Internet MP3-album) with a collection of my best songs from the last 15 years or so. I've already discovered chosing from the about 200 available recordings is quite difficult. Besides, some of the older tracks deserve more attention, but have never been officially released (and they need to be re-recorded before qualifying for that). We'll see what happens during the eliminiation process. More info to come.

November 7, 2006
I was watching TV the other day, when suddenly I guy I used to play in a band with showed up on the screen. He is having success with an electronica band. He gave both an interview and performed a couple of songs. The whole experience made me wonder how different life could and probably would have been if I hadn't settled down in the mid 90's. It's really strange to think of how one's choices shape the future of several people's lives. I have been married for more than 10 years now, have three sons and have had the same full time job for more than 7 years. Quite different from the music career I was striving for when I was in my mid 20's. Still, I'm glad for the choices I made back then. I'm still able to make music. Never really enjoyed too much public attention anyway. The "cyber artist career" suits me just fine. ;-)

October 22, 2006
This afternoon I was reading a news report from Afghanistan, when I suddenly realized that most news channels aren't really providing much neutral or objective descriptions of what muslim national leaders are saying, particularly those from the Middle East. What do I mean by that? Well, since our cultures and everyday religious lives are so different, using direct quotes from each other will only emphasize, focus on and strenghten those differences.

When these religious leaders are using phrases like "our holy warriors will prevail in the fight against evil", they are simply using traditional standard expressions that are part of their culture. I don't think they are trying to sound dramatic or to take things to extremes, neither do I think that the people feel their leaders are using particulary strong expressions. It's kind of how they say things when it comes to war against their suppressors. Basically, I think they mean the same thing as a western leader means when expressing his thoughts in the western language culture code (which often is very formal with little or no spice).

Of course, using direct translations and quotes from the leaders of today's muslim countries, will make sure that people from "the west" will fear and worry about "the others", and consider them religious fanatics. At the same time, the news channels can insist on that they are providing objective news, using precise quotes. Nothing more, nothing less.

When reporting from the Middle East or similar religious-political areas, I believe a "cultural translation" often would be in place, so that this quote
- "We are waiting by the slaughter-bench. With the help of God, our holy warriors will fight these satanic nations", could end up as something like this in the western media:
"Our soldiers will fight the enemy with all their might".

Of course, this is not a correct translation, but to a certain extent I believe that's what they're really saying - in a cultural translation. After all, except from the USA, no western countries are using religious references in their foreign- and military policy anymore. Muslim countries are mixing religious and policical expressions, and have done so for centuries. It's a cultural thing which seems very strange and unfamiliar to Europeans these days. And quite scary.

Then of course, I guess it's the same principle the other way around. We really must sound quite boring and helpless with our colorless statements... To break even, I guess they could add some religious spice when quoting western leaders. Just to make sure the point is coming through. ;-)

October 10, 2006
I've been lucky enough to get permission to use some interesting photos taken by my American friend and artist Matthew Quinn Jackson. These will probably become the basis for the CD cover for my next official CD release. A couple of drafts were made last week. :-)

August 19, 2006
Version 1.1 of "Breakable, fragile and alive" was released today. Most of the adjustments apply to the CD cover, including a brand new backcover (more graphical than the previous one). Also, one of the songs got a minor volume adjustment in the intro. The new version has replaced the old one on the downloads page.

August 12, 2006
Added a new page to this site today - "Reviews". As part of the release of "Breakable, fragile and alive", I registered with several online music promotion websites. Some of these websites offer reviews of the artists' music. The reviews are written by other musicians worldwide. On the new page I've collected some of the reviews received so far.

August 03, 2006
Finally. The project album was released today! The official name of this Internet-CD is "Breakable, fragile and alive".

A little more than 33 minutes of music, all written, arranged and recorded during just 2-3 weeks. It's been quite a lot of work, a bit of a zombie life, I would say. You'll find lots of more information on a new webpage dedicated to the album, so I won't say much more here at the moment. Click this link for more information: "Breakable, fragile and alive" (2006). Any feedback about the album would be appreciated!

July 31, 2006
Oh, well. The project CD is not quite finished yet. All songs are recorded and mixed down, but the mastering takes some time, since it has become obvious that there IS a difference between a $100.000 and $10.000 studio. Until I'm reasonably satisfied, I've temporarily made available two "almost there" tracks (song 1 and 2 on the Internet-album) on the MP3 page.
I'd say the album - complete with downloadable cover - will be available during this week. Please have patience with me. :-)

July 18, 2006
I've been working on a completely new project the last week and a half. Having been able to spend several hours almost every day composing and recording has opened up a flow of creativity.

Ironically enough, I haven't spent one minute with "the almost done web-CD", but rather written a set of completely new songs under the working title "Breakable, fragile and alive".

From the very start the goal has been to write a collection of new songs that blend and transist into each other, resulting in one piece of music. With only a few exceptions, all the songs are to share the same chords (dm, F, B, gm). Certain motives and sound elements show up as recognizable themes throughout all the songs. As for now, it looks like the final result will be about 25 minutes long.

The lyrics are diving into human emotional vulnerability, combined with the dream of a make believe world, existing on the edge of what just might once become reality. All in all, I feel the composition goals are about to be fulfilled, and during July the result will be released on the Internet as a downloadable MP3-file, including files for CD-cover.

July 9, 2006
There is now an article about me in Wikipedia, "the web's free encyclopedia". The page is located here: http://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finn_Harald_Røed

June 14, 2006
Seems like there will be more changes to some of the songs than I imagined in the first place. I've written new verses for "Running out of faces", and the structure of the song has changed a bit, now starting with a chorus-intro instead of a verse. The studio monitors (Soundcraft Spirit Absolute 2) are up and running again. They sound as good as ever. Besides, the RØDE NT-2 studio microphone is finally connected to the PC's sound card via the Mackie-mixers AUX. The signal sounds very clean and quiet. From now on I will record all vocals and acoustic instruments using that mic.

May 25, 2006
In principle I now have all of the about 15 songs ready for the upcoming web-CD. Still... the mixing, tweeking and polishing remain. I guess there also will be some re-recording of particular vocal parts, and maybe som final adjustments to some of the arrangements. I feel done, but I know there's still a long way to go. As soon as I get a new studio monitor bass element from the local music shop (a defect element had to be special ordered from UK), I'll finish the album once and for all. Wow... it's been quite a process. I see that I've been talking about this since June 2004. Well, it's not like I've been working full time on this project, but rather just a few hours a week. At the most. I'll try to find more time during the mixdown-period. A thought: This album will actually cover and represent my musical efforts during almost the last four years. I find that quite interesting for my own part.

May 21, 2006
My third son was born in April. It's been five years since last time I became a father. It somehow feels like a new start in many aspects of life, and makes me, more than ever, want to fulfill my musical plans within the end of this year.

April 29, 2006
This Spring I've spent some time re-recording a song I wrote back in the mid 80's: "Empty Faces" from 1985. At the time I felt it was my best song ever. Guess that's reason enough for me to bring it back to life. Besides, my latest website got it's name from that particular track. Up until now, I've only had a rather lousy band recording of it: Everything recorded in one take during a session with the "The Headlines" (the band I was playing with back then). The new recording of the song will of course be published in mp3-format as soon as it's done.

March 31, 2006
Watched the Swedish film "Så som i himmelen" from 2004 on DVD last night (Int.: "As it is in heaven", US: "As in heaven"). I simply feel morally obliged to comment on it. This might be the best, most touching and most thought provoking movie I've ever seen. What an impressive combination of simplicity and complexity, and a strong credibility with wonderful acting, setting and message. Very down to earth, while at the same time covering topics that touch the inner soul in our search for happiness and meaning of life. Then there was the philosophic thoughts around the music as a higher force. Simply beautiful and very inspiring.

Dramatic scenes of hope, despair, love, violence, care, trust, forgiveness, and the fullfillment of dreams through that wich is really important in life. All without the focus on materialism, glory and money. All this gathered in one 2 hour movie, with a strong message to all mankind: No matter the past: There is a hopeful tomorrow and future for all of us.

This movie opened spiritual gates that made it emotionally possible to actually touch the perspective on things I have dorming inside me, but seldom have been able to fully define nor feel. Last night, and today, I surely do feel it. It reminded me that life truely is a wonderful gift, not just a lifelong challenge. This movie and it's message hit me straight in the heart, almost with the force of a revelation. I highly recommend it for all those who believe they are able to watch, listen and feel in silence and with an open mind.

March 13, 2006
My new official general website, as described below, is now published. Feel free to take a look at it at www.emptyfaces.com. It's the start of a portal for several of my artistic or job related activities for the last couple of decades. :-)

March 10, 2006
I'm working on a new website; a "portal" for my music, writing and design / web solutions. I'll mainly link to replaceyourself.com concerning the music, and to webbusiness.no for the Internet solutions. I'll publish several texts (articles, short stories, lyrics, essays etc.), since I want to offer text writing as a commercial service. At the same time, there will finally be a place where people can read chosen pieces of what I have written.

The site will be named "Emtpy Faces" - after a song I wrote back in ancient 1985. This means I also will record a new version of that song, since the old one sounds rather adolescent and draft like. At the same time as the site offers commercial services (music, text writing and Internet solutions for companies), it will have a main focus on the creative side of things, in many ways with the same feel of things as replaceyourself.com. By the way. The site will mainly be in Norwegian. I'll post more info soon!

January 29, 2006
Finished recording "This scenario", a song that I've had in my head for at least two years. Draft versions of the verses were recorded more than a year ago. During the last week the rest of the song has been written and recorded.

The last month has been a very productive one, actually the best musical period I've had for 2-3 years. I'm actually starting to see the end of a long way towards the web-CD I've been talking about for so long. I won't publish any new songs on the web until the CD is ready. This also means that some of the tracks that are available on this website will come in slightly revised or re-recorded versions on the CD. The web-CD will also contain a couple of songs that previously haven't been available for downloading at all. By the way, I'm also working on the CD-cover these days. People will be able to download a front- and back-cover for the CD. All you need to do is print it and put the pictures into the CD-box. :-)

January 20, 2006
Uploaded the brand new version of "Magical graphic color scheme" tonight. I have the feeling this will be a fun song for live performances - with many alternative variations over the different themes.

Into the fever - under the flashes, I'm a believer - ashes to ashes,
I know you, I know you now...
Too many questions - I cut my connections, I'm a believer - with lots of reflections,
I know you, I know you now...

January 16, 2006
Mixed down and uploaded a new song tonight: "Love dares you". The first song written in 2006! It's available via the MP3-area. I also wrote and recorded completely new verses for "The Magical graphic color scheme": New chords, melody, arrangement and lyrics! I'll finish the mix and upload the new version of the song in a few days. If you have downloaded the old one while it was available, I recommend delete and replace... ;-)