Writer's block? Write a PD Christmas instrumental
Posted: Wed Oct 27, 2021 3:10 pm
I had writer's block a few months back and happened to see a TAXI brief regarding Christmas songs.
Something clicked in my mind and I decided to do an arrangement of a PD (public domain) Christmas song. Long story short that one instrumental turned into a 10 cue Christmas album of indie rock instrumentals. I had missed the deadline on the original TAXI brief so I sent a few of the instrumentals to a TAXI "friendly" publisher who I had met through the Road Rally several years ago. I got a polite no.
Sent them to another publisher I have a relationship with from a 2016 TAXI connection.. another no thank you. Third publisher I sent them to is a high-end, ad oriented publisher who I also met via a TAXI connection. To my surprise he signed all 10 and even took my rough mixes the way they were so they can remix and master. The album should be on Spotify in the next few weeks titled "Indie Garage Christmas" by John L Pearson".
The moral of the story is Public Domain Christmas songs will always be in demand, and we all know the melody. It's just a matter of finding a usable genre, putting your personal spin on them and making them your own. And most importantly have fun with them! Since I'm a bass player, in my collection I'm playing the melody in some places on bass. Here's "O Christmas Tree" unmastered.
https://soundcloud.com/jp-pearson-1/o-c ... 8cccb077c3
Something clicked in my mind and I decided to do an arrangement of a PD (public domain) Christmas song. Long story short that one instrumental turned into a 10 cue Christmas album of indie rock instrumentals. I had missed the deadline on the original TAXI brief so I sent a few of the instrumentals to a TAXI "friendly" publisher who I had met through the Road Rally several years ago. I got a polite no.
Sent them to another publisher I have a relationship with from a 2016 TAXI connection.. another no thank you. Third publisher I sent them to is a high-end, ad oriented publisher who I also met via a TAXI connection. To my surprise he signed all 10 and even took my rough mixes the way they were so they can remix and master. The album should be on Spotify in the next few weeks titled "Indie Garage Christmas" by John L Pearson".
The moral of the story is Public Domain Christmas songs will always be in demand, and we all know the melody. It's just a matter of finding a usable genre, putting your personal spin on them and making them your own. And most importantly have fun with them! Since I'm a bass player, in my collection I'm playing the melody in some places on bass. Here's "O Christmas Tree" unmastered.
https://soundcloud.com/jp-pearson-1/o-c ... 8cccb077c3
