The Tao of Tangram

Here's a music video to the instrumental track of

off my Coast album. Give it a view and then check

below for some inside information about this video.

I purchased this book/puzzle called The Tao of Tangram and it's a cool Chinese concept of a puzzle that is cut into seven pieces and then can now form thousands of different objects with the same seven pieces. And what a perfect opportunity it was to use this concept for a music video. The abstract looking lights that flash quickly are actually the reflection of distant street lights through rain drops on a window screen. The color effects are just an editable option in iMovie to edit. The iMovie program is perfect for simple video editing and synching up audio tracks, it also has some good built in title presets and video color effects. The entire night of filming this video it was raining which made for some great footage of rain hitting the pavement and rain against the streetlights. I've also simplified a lot of recording equipment and gear. I use GarageBand to record and it is everything needed to track songs. I use an MXL condenser mic for the acoustic guitars and vocals and a cheap keyboard to output more ambient sounds. The ending footage was a mistake that ended up looking very cool. Water drops got onto the lens and looking into the lamp it created those ghostly shapes. The background vocals were heavily inspired by Jeremy Enigk from Sunny Day Real Estate.

www.youtube.com/mellowtonen

COAST

To kick this blog experience off here's a music

video to my song Coast off of the Coast titled album.

Scope it, then look below for some in depth behind

the scenes wordage.

Coast Lyrics

Follow into, Could you not say o.k.

Although it's heard, I can drive it away

Almost too close, found you flashing a frame

Blue ghost, do you find it hard to explain?

A bit misplaced, tossing stones that I find sometimes

The ripples are space as we skip over patterns and lines

I'm seeing them now, splitting up thoughts so they float

And thinking about how nice it'll be on the coast.

Long drive, all night, through the fog and the fields

You'll find your stuck in a stack of old reels

Rewind, project on the wall to your eyes

Implied message mumbled under these lights.

(repeat chorus)

On the coast

Blue Ghost

The video sequences during the 1st and 2nd verses depict the differences between artificial and real. The opening verse cuts quickly between artificial lights and the official real source of light(the sun). It's also symbolizing man-made versus natural. The black and white is playing down the realness of these artificial objects while the sun footage is in full color to show it's importance. The 2nd verse cuts quickly between non living surfaces/materials and living surface(the grass). The spinning chair sequence is more of an abstract idea of the mental circles that certain media's can spin you in. The ending scene with the hanging plug kinda means getting away from the craziness that you get spun into sometimes, being able to unplug it.

www.youtube.com/mellowtonen