Ian Gives an Update on his International Travels

Jul 16, 2012

It's been a few weeks since our last update and a lot has happened, so I'll do my best to summarize everything:

First of all, I'm having a great time and learning a lot while traveling through Spain and studying Spanish music. I've been studying some of the most noteworthy Spanish composers throughout history (such as Manuel de Falla) and listening to samples of their work. It's always fun to hear new music, and their virtuosity is inspirational. I've also tried out some authentic Spanish instruments, like the Spanish acoustic guitar (with its nylon strings) and an ancient woodwind instrument called a dolçaina (similar to the flute).

Two weeks ago, I visited the performance rights organization here in Valencia called SGAE (Sociedad General de Autores y Editores). It's the Spanish equivalent of ASCAP, so it's pretty much a society where composers, songwriters, etc. get together and handle music publishing, royalties, and more. I was able to tour the building (including their studio, stage area, and training facility) and learn about the legal process of music publishing in Spain. I even got a free CD with a lot of famous Spanish songs on it, which was a nice surprise!

Another important element of Spanish music that I've been studying is flamenco. In case you aren't familiar with it, this traditional Spanish performance features a small band and one or more dancers. Not only have I been studying the history and music theory behind this genre, but I've also seen a few live flamenco shows. I saw one in Valencia and another in Madrid; both of them featured excellent performers and I was able to see some of the regional differences between flamenco in various cities of Spain. While I was exploring the music of Spanish night life, I also visited a jazz club and saw a live jam session. These musicians' rhythm and improvisational skills are incredible.

Finally, just for fun, I went to a large music festival in Madrid called Rock in Rio. Incubus, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Deadmau5 just happened to be playing during the weekend I was visiting, so I couldn't turn down the opportunity. Needless to say, the show was mind-blowing, and it was nice to hear some familiar American music after being in a foreign country for several weeks.

Speaking of that, the Spanish people love American music! It seems like I see at least one local person wearing a Guns n' Roses t-shirt every day. That's definitely a confidence booster for me and our band's music. Rock n' roll isn't dead everywhere!

I know this post is long, but hopefully that gives you a good taste of what I've been up to lately. If you wanna see pictures and videos of all this, make sure you visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed. Sorry again for the infrequent updates; sometimes internet access can be spotty here in Spain. I promise I'll be back in America soon and the band will get back to working hard!

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