tag:adammeachem.com,2005:/blogs/latest-news?p=1
Latest News
2019-05-27T13:21:57-07:00
Adam Meachem
false
tag:adammeachem.com,2005:Post/4893490
2017-10-16T09:25:15-07:00
2023-12-10T08:56:58-08:00
Exploring Alternate Tunings: Part 2
<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="font_regular"><strong>Exploring Alternate Tunings on Acoustic Guitar</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Part 2 - Exploring the unknown (advantages and other aspects of alternate tunings) </strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a contents="[Click here to read Part 1]" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://adammeachem.com/home/blog/exploring-alternate-tunings-part-1"><strong>[Click here to read Part 1]</strong></a></p>
<p>When using fairly exotic tunings you are going to be abandoning all the accustomed chord shapes and scales you are used to. While you will obviously still be able to play them on the same frets it may not sound very good. (e.g. the 'A' minor chord shape will sound very dissonant when played in Open C). </p>
<p>Therefore, you now have to use your ear to create new chord shapes. You have to forget about the "normal" positions you are used to and just see if the notes sound good together. If they do, make a new chord shape. Use your ear to make things that sound good! </p>
<p>Since the tone of the song can generally be set by the tuning you're using, you can be inspired by a particular tuning to create a new piece of music. Exploring alternate tunings can enhance your understanding of the guitar and expose you to new styles of music and can help get you out of a creative rut (e.g. writer's block). </p>
<p>Also you may figure out, or even invent new techniques used in a particular tuning, or learn a new technique from a song that requires a certain technique to play it, which may not often be used in Standard Tuning. You can make up your own custom tunings if you are feeling a little more ambitious. There are a few artists out there who love doing this. </p>
<p>Being able to play lower bass notes and retain the higher notes you would usually have is a huge advantage of alternate tunings. Other benefits include being able to play certain pieces of music with relative ease, as opposed to trying to play the same piece in Standard tuning, which could sometimes be very difficult with huge stretches involved or just impossible due the lowest bass note being 'E'. You could not get any lower unless you tune down the low 'E' string to Drop 'D', or 'C', or even 'A'. There are many variations you could choose, that's why I will give you a list of alternate tunings to try out at end of this article. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/138118/98e7da347a4f5a1c2515aa75163d42c661c205a9/medium/headstockback.jpg?1508170976" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>I briefly mentioned in Part 1 that it is helpful to have multiple guitars that more or less stay in a certain tuning, or within a range of tunings that are similar. When playing live I personally use multiple guitars because some of the tunings vary so much that tuning the guitar between songs would take too long, or just take too long for the guitar & strings to adjust to the new tuning, which can take a few minutes depending on the guitar and how solid it is built, and the material that the string is made of, for example, nylon strings on classical guitars seem to take a bit longer to set once they are in the new tuning, as opposed to metal strings. </p>
<p>When playing alternate tunings in a live setting, try to arrange your set-list in an order where the tunings go from high tension to low tension (e.g. start out the set in Standard Tuning, next song tune to Drop D, then next song tune to DADGAd, etc.)to minimize chances of string breakage in the middle of a show. I re-tune between songs on the same guitar, when playing live, only when it is a tuning change that can be achieved within seconds. Other than that, I grab one of three other guitars behind me which, depending on the type of show, can look like cool stage props when not in use. </p>
<p>The possibilities that open up when you are exploring alternate tunings are endless, which can be a little daunting at first, almost like learning the guitar all over again. Don't let this put you off; it is extremely worth it to try them out. Some tunings you might take to very quickly and others may be a lot harder to get used to. I have seen guitar players that almost completely abandon standard tuning and make their home in a new tuning where they feel much more comfortable ripping around the fretboard. This, in turn, can also considerably change their style, technique, and overall sound. </p>
<p>I regularly play in at least nine different tunings and have become comfortable in all of them. Usually I will learn a song I like, which just happens to be in a different tuning, I will learn how to easily and quickly re-tune to get to the required tuning, learn the piece of music, and then create two or three of my own pieces within the given tuning. This is a way to very quickly learn your way around a new tuning. </p>
<p>While I am not going to mention any other artists names in this article, I must say, I have many inspirations in guitar, which I'm sure you do also, so to give you this list of tunings, you must either research songs that are played in any of the upcoming tunings, or just create your own compositions right from the start. Alternate tunings have changed my style, technique, outlook on music, opened me to new ways of playing and listening, and my overall approach to guitar in general, and I hope they do the same for you. </p>
<p>Various Alternate Tunings </p>
<p>- D, A, D, G, B, e (Drop D Tuning) -- (String Gauge; Medium or Light) </p>
<p>- C, G, C, G, C, e (Open C Tuning) -- (String Gauge; Heavy or Medium) </p>
<p>- C, G, C, F, A, d (Drop C Tuning) -- (String Gauge; Heavy or Medium) </p>
<p>- D, A, E, G#, A, e -- (String Gauge; Light or Medium) </p>
<p>- E, B, C#, G#, B, d# -- (String Gauge; Light or Medium) </p>
<p>- E, G, D, F#, B, f# -- (String Gauge; Medium or Light) </p>
<p>- E, A, C, G, A, e -- (String Gauge; Medium) </p>
<p>- D, A, D, G, A, d (Celtic Folk Tuning) -- (String Gauge; Medium) </p>
<p>- E, A, D, G, C, f (All Fourths Tuning) -- (String Gauge; Light or Medium) </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a contents="[Click here to read Part 1]" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://adammeachem.com/home/blog/exploring-alternate-tunings-part-1"><strong>[Click here to read Part 1]</strong></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Written by Adam Meachem ©-2017</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">www.AdamMeachem.com </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">©-2017</p>
Adam Meachem
tag:adammeachem.com,2005:Post/4889154
2017-10-12T14:45:36-07:00
2023-12-10T08:55:35-08:00
Exploring Alternate Tunings: Part 1
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Exploring Alternate Tunings on Acoustic Guitar </strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">by Adam Meachem ©-2017</p>
<p>So you've come to the point in your guitar playing where alternate tunings are just waiting to open up a universe of possibilities for you. There are things you should know before you start cranking tuning pegs all over the place, and you are in the right place to find out information on the next steps, and some tips to go along with them. </p>
<p>In this two part article I will present things to consider when you want to venture out into the exciting land of alternate tunings. We will go over concepts that beginners should definitely know, and also get into details advanced players can put to use as well. </p>
<p>For me, alternate tunings completely changed my approach to guitar playing. They also made me buy several other guitars to be strictly set up and played only in their given tuning. This is for many reasons, but the 2 main ones are, reason #1, when you are in a really low tuning, if your guitar is not set up for this particular tuning it may or may not hold the tuning very well (e.g. Drop A might be too low a tuning for your thin strings to handle and hold the notes properly, thicker strings are generally better for low tunings). Reason #2, when playing live, switching guitars can be a lot faster than re-tuning your whole guitar to a different alternate tuning (e.g. Standard Tuning to Open C can take a few minutes to re-tune). There is a string gauge chart at the end of part 2 of this article that will help beginners choose the optimal gauge of strings for the tuning they wish to use. </p>
<p>It is good to have a (clip-on) chromatic tuner to make sure you are tuning each string to the right notes especially when first starting out. It's good to start out using electronic tuners to get to know your way around a specific tuning, and it is really good to eventually break away from the tuner and be able to tune by ear. Another quick note: When using clip-on tuners, if they are not responding accurately or quickly to the open string, try using the 12th fret harmonics on each string and the tuner will usually respond very quickly. </p>
<p>Tuning by ear is a superior skill because you will be able to tune faster, and having acute pitch perception is a very valuable skill to have as a musician. Also there may not always be a tuner around in every situation, so being able to tune by ear just may save you some trouble. Remember, it is a learned skill that can be honed and sharpened to a very fine degree with practice. (Some people have a harder time than others with this, but you will get it with time and deliberate practice.) </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Part 1 - Keeping the piece. (pitfalls and maintenance issues)</strong> </p>
<p>There are two definitions we will go over right now that will make it easier to understand... </p>
<p>Definition #1: The tension spectrum - the degree of looseness and tightness each string is able to physically handle before becoming too loose to hold a note, or too tight that the string will snap, each string will have a different threshold. </p>
<p>There are apps available for smartphones (such as "g-strings")that will show you the Hertz while you are tuning, here is a chart for the respective strings and frequencies from high to low: </p>
<p>e - 1st - 329.63 Hz </p>
<p>B - 2nd - 246.94 Hz </p>
<p>G - 3rd - 196.00 Hz </p>
<p>D - 4th - 146.83 Hz </p>
<p>A - 5th - 110 Hz </p>
<p>E - 6th - 82.41 Hz </p>
<p>Definition #2: Target note - the desired note that the player is ultimately intending to tune a particular string to. </p>
<p>Make sure you stay within the tension spectrum of the string to avoid breakage, for example, tuning the 'B' string up to 'C' you don't want to go past the first 'C' to an octave up from that, because you will likely break the string trying to tighten it that much, and also keep in mind, when tuning from a 'B' to an 'A' you would be tuning down, rarely would you tune up so high that the string would be likely to break. So learning the tuning and knowing where you are in the spectrum of notes is key. Also when you eventually tune back to Standard Tuning you will be able to do it faster when you know which strings tighten up and which strings loosen down. I usually tune from the low(thick) strings to the higher (thin) strings. </p>
<p>Example: </p>
<p>Going from Open C to Standard Tuning </p>
<p>C -> tightens up to ->E </p>
<p>G -> tightens up to ->A </p>
<p>C -> tightens up to ->D </p>
<p>G -> stays at --------->G </p>
<p>C -> loosens down to ->B </p>
<p>e -> stays at ---------->e </p>
<p>Conversely you don't want to tune a string too low when trying to reach a certain note; this can be a problem if you don't realize where you are in the range of tuning (also known as the 'register'). </p>
<p>When you are tuning the strings up from such low tunings it should be done in stages as not to put each string directly up to its intended tuning at a fast rate, doing so quickly will increase chances of string breakage, especially if you are in a cold environment. Instead tune each string from low to high in segments of half or full steps and then fine-tune (by ear or with electronic tuner) as each string gets closer to the target note. While this is more of a rule of thumb, some people, including myself, often times will crank the tuning peg right up to the desired note with no string breakage occurring, but it has seldomly happened where I did end up breaking the string due to quickly tuning up. It is something you must get comfortable with. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/138118/b38fadee575aed27e5790df8353bd8c10bab912c/medium/final-for-web-8.jpg?1507844689" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>The more you tune the string, the more it is being weakened at the machine-head. Kind of like bending a coat hanger back and forth, it will eventually get weak and break. While this isn't hugely common, it is something to consider. I personally haven't had too much of a problem with this. If you make a quick mental note of where the tuners are physically sitting when in tune, you can use your eyes, along with your ears, to make it easier and quicker to tune your guitar. Each tuning will have a different position and when you put new strings on your guitar the positions of the tuners will likely change once the new strings have set. </p>
<p>When tuning the string down, there will naturally be a bit of slack left between the nut and the tuning peg. To neutralize the slack you can either give the string a tug (pull the string away from the fretboard above the 12th fret), or tune a bit lower than your target note and then as you tune back up there will be no slack. If you do not do this, as you play, the guitar will gradually go slightly flat. To counter this problem some guitarists lubricate the grooves on the nut with soft graphite from a pencil, a little goes a long way. </p>
<p>While tuning the guitar, make sure you are not accidentally putting pressure on the neck, it is quite easy to push or pull the neck slightly when reaching over to twist the tuners. </p>
<p>When using a capo, you may have to slightly re-tune the guitar, depending on your string gauge and pressure setting of the capo, after the capo is applied, make small adjustments to fine tune it again, depending on the guitar and capo combination you may or may not have to do this, but be aware so you can correct any inaccuracy in tuning. Depending on the string gauge you may want to place the capo in the middle between the frets, or right up close to the metal of the higher fret, you may get slightly different results, sometimes I put it on an angle giving the thicker strings some room and then the capo angles closer to the higher fret on the higher strings, so see what works best for you.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a contents="[Click here for Part 2]" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://adammeachem.com/home/blog/exploring-alternate-tunings-part-2"><strong>[Click here for Part 2]</strong></a></p>
Adam Meachem
tag:adammeachem.com,2005:Post/4865327
2017-09-25T23:49:05-07:00
2023-12-10T08:56:37-08:00
Interview Series: Dave Ruch
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/138118/45d89e9a7d79fca319e283a3c530f02a7c8d354f/medium/dave-ruch-at-canalside-greg-meadows-photo.jpg?1506407092" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>I had the pleasure of interviewing folk-artist, and music business trailblazer Dave Ruch (pronounced "Ruck"). He has some great insights about building your career on your own terms. Not what most people think of as "making it" in the music business, but I strongly believe he has tapped into an area that most musicians wouldn't ever think about!</p>
<p><em>How did you get started in your career?</em></p>
<p><strong>I got started like a lot of kids in the 1980’s did – trying to play Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix and that kind of stuff on the guitar. I used to plug my electric guitar into my tape deck (on pause/record) so I could listen to it through my stereo speakers! </strong></p>
<p><strong>Music has really been the main interest of my life, and so in a sense I guess I did always know it was what I wanted to do. BUT, it took me a long time (age 27) to decide to pursue it full time.</strong> </p>
<p><em>Did it take a long time to get to the point of feeling successful from when you first decided what you wanted to pursue?</em> </p>
<p><strong>I think there are little “micro successes” all along the way. For instance, my first year as a full-time musician, I made a whopping $12,000 (after leaving a $30K/year job) but it felt like the best $12,000 I ever made. I never had any ambitions to become “famous” or tour nationally – for me, it’s always been about making a living locally or regionally doing something I love, so there have been lots of feelings of success along the way. </strong></p>
<p><em>How has the industry changed since you got started? </em></p>
<p><strong>You know, I’ve always done my best to sidestep the industry, so I can’t really say other than what I hear from other musicians about there being no money in recording/selling music and fewer places to play. There are lots of opportunities for musicians outside of the music industry itself, and that’s where I’ve found myself.</strong> </p>
<p><em>What are some of your proudest accomplishments and what are you doing now that is exciting?</em> </p>
<p><strong>Well, I’ve been featured on several national PBS documentaries and on CBS Sunday Morning, so it’s always a thrill to be considered valuable for those kinds of productions, and I’m also very proud of the fact that I’ve been able to make a solid middle class living and support a family of four doing this. </strong></p>
<p><strong>As for exciting stuff happening now, my most recent project is a Netflix-like video streaming service for K-8 schools bundling together interactive cultural arts programs that teachers can pull up and use in their classrooms on demand. That’s launching this month after five long months of work on it. </strong></p>
<p><em>How would you describe your mindset on an average day (currently and in the past)? </em></p>
<p><strong>My mindset has always been that I don’t want to fail at this experiment (doing music full time), so every day that I’m not gigging, Monday-Friday, I’m in my office taking care of marketing, PR, booking, and all the other things necessary to put a good independent career together as an artist. I’ll spend 8 hours a day on the business end of music if I don’t have gigs that day. </strong></p>
<p><em>Are there things you intentionally do or think concerning your mindset? </em></p>
<p><strong>Not really; it’s never been a struggle for me to stay motivated, so I guess I’m lucky in that sense. </strong></p>
<p><em>Are there any memorable turning points or connections that really made a difference in your career? </em></p>
<p><strong>Yes, my first gig for a young audience of school kids, which I talked about quite a bit here - http://daveruch.com/advice/how-to-get-gigs-in-schools/ That changed to whole trajectory of my life and career. </strong></p>
<p><em>Did you set specific goals? </em></p>
<p><strong>Situationally, yes. It’s not like I have a master plan of “in three years, I want to be here, and five years, here.” It’s more like there are always long to-do lists on my desk, and I simply prioritize stuff according to a) urgency, and b) income potential. </strong></p>
<p><em>Would you suggest anything to help in the area of time management? </em></p>
<p><strong>My best suggestion would be to treat it like a full-time job. Those who do that have way better odds of making this work. </strong></p>
<p><em>How have you handled relationships (family, friends) while working to be successful in your career? </em></p>
<p><strong>Well, family always comes first, and because I travel so much, I do some pretty oddball things like leaving home at 4am to get where I’m going (so I can be home the night before). I’ve also been known to go work for the day in some fabulous location and not even stop to get a meal or see the sights – just go in, do the gig, and come back home. I decided when my kids were little that I didn’t want to be an absentee Dad, so sometimes that makes for some long days and awkward travel schedules, but it’s how I’ve been able to make it work. </strong></p>
<p><em>What would you say are some priorities in your life now and in the past? </em></p>
<p><strong>Family, health and wellness, quality relationships, and good beer.</strong> </p>
<p><em>Are there any mistakes you've made that you can share for the sake of helping others? </em></p>
<p><strong>Gosh, how much space do we have? For the sake of brevity, I’ll go with this one – know and trust yourself and what’s going to work/not work for you. I burned out both my right arm (tendinitis) and my singing voice over the years due to overuse in crappy gig situations that seemed fine for everyone else but just didn’t work for me. Now that I’m in my fifties, with 25 years of full-time experience behind me, I’m much smarter about designing my work to suit my individual quirks and shortcomings.</strong> </p>
<p><em>Where do you get the energy to do all that you do? </em></p>
<p><strong>I don’t know. I honestly don’t. I’m the only person I know who doesn’t nap and doesn’t get tired in the middle of the day. Lucky, I guess. I also try to eat really well and exercise 3-4x/week. That definitely helps. </strong></p>
<p><em>What motivates you? </em></p>
<p><strong>Fear of failure! Seriously, that’s part of it. The rest is that music has always been a strong pull for me, as is giving a great performance that leaves the audience with some kind of reaction. Those things together keep me going. I want to continue to get better at my craft, both musically and in terms of delivering a great product for the venues that hire me to perform.</strong></p>
<p><em>Thanks Dave! Looking forward to learning more from you!</em></p>
<p>Go to Dave's website: <a contents="www.DaveRuch.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://daveruch.com/" target="_blank"><strong>www.DaveRuch.com</strong></a> where you can find many resources and articles that can help expand your music business.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/138118/692d4b4cb8522d2e6db0187f434383c08646b180/original/dave-with-bones-from-behind.jpg?1506407164" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
Adam Meachem
tag:adammeachem.com,2005:Post/4704545
2017-05-11T00:28:31-07:00
2022-06-01T18:39:42-07:00
Awards Season is in Effect!
<p>I am very honored to be a top 3 finalist in two different awards ceremonies, the City of Kelowna Civic & Community Awards (below I am pictured with the Mayor) as well as the Artsco Okanagan Arts Awards (2nd year in a row as a top 3 finalist in the OAA). To be among the top individuals chosen for these awards is just such an honour! Looking forward to the path ahead! Thank you to everyone who has helped me along the way!<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/138118/edbf69f399bda4395555c772cee7bc95ef3a91c1/small/city-logo.jpg?1494487631" class="size_s justify_left border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/138118/fcf496b005ffc72cddc9f1f964bd5c0cc17ce209/medium/oaa2017-adammeachem-web.jpg?1494487679" class="size_m justify_right border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/138118/a8ce1268bc6098e6285d1dc53f8cd604e279800f/medium/civicawards-mayorcolinbasran-adammeachem.jpg?1494961326" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></p>
Adam Meachem
tag:adammeachem.com,2005:Post/4504038
2016-12-09T10:25:47-08:00
2023-12-10T09:25:31-08:00
Eternal Spring recorded live at Frequency
Here is a third video from frequency called Eternal Spring, guest musicians are Catherine Brandon and Nils Loewen!<br><br>Enjoy!<p><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="315" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FFrequencyWinery%2Fvideos%2F1462267437135188%2F&show_text=0&width=560" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" width="560"></iframe></p>
Adam Meachem
tag:adammeachem.com,2005:Post/4483198
2016-11-24T20:23:50-08:00
2023-12-10T10:05:08-08:00
Live Take of "Fragments" at Frequency Winery
Here is another original piece called "Fragments".<p><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="315" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FFrequencyWinery%2Fvideos%2F1456774171017848%2F&show_text=0&width=560" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" width="560"></iframe></p>
Adam Meachem
tag:adammeachem.com,2005:Post/4476195
2016-11-20T11:19:57-08:00
2023-12-10T11:35:50-08:00
Frequency Winery - "Solarwind" Live Video
<p>We shot a live off the floor video at a new winery in Kelowna called Frequency.<br>Catherine Brandon on violin and Tony Lewis doing the audio and video recording!<br><br>This is the first video in a series of many artists coming through the doors and recording their art.<br><br>You can check it out here:<a contents=" https://www.facebook.com/FrequencyWinery/videos/1452567714771827/" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/FrequencyWinery/videos/1452567714771827/" target="_blank"> https://www.facebook.com/FrequencyWinery/videos/1452567714771827/</a></p>
<p><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="315" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FFrequencyWinery%2Fvideos%2F1452567714771827%2F&show_text=0&width=560" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" width="560"></iframe><br> </p>
Adam Meachem
tag:adammeachem.com,2005:Post/4329732
2016-08-17T14:51:38-07:00
2022-06-01T18:39:40-07:00
In Focus interview for KelownaNOW
KelownaNOW interviewed me yesterday for their In Focus section.<br>You can read it here!<br><br><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.kelownanow.com/good_stuff/good_people/news/In_Focus/16/08/16/In_Focus_Adam_Meachem_of_Adam_Meachem_Music/" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/138118/6a8fc01768c4e5175749fbe9c73260a9f8ccd352/small/adammeachem02.jpg?1398753524" class="size_s justify_left border_" /></a>
<p><a contents="https://www.kelownanow.com/good_stuff/good_people/news/In_Focus/16/08/16/In_Focus_Adam_Meachem_of_Adam_Meachem_Music/" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.kelownanow.com/good_stuff/good_people/news/In_Focus/16/08/16/In_Focus_Adam_Meachem_of_Adam_Meachem_Music/" target="_blank">https://www.kelownanow.com/good_stuff/good_people/news/In_Focus/16/08/16/In_Focus_Adam_Meachem_of_Adam_Meachem_Music/</a></p>
Adam Meachem
tag:adammeachem.com,2005:Post/4228828
2016-06-14T00:31:30-07:00
2023-12-10T11:22:15-08:00
Okanagan Arts Awards Finalist
Here are some photos and such from the 2016 Okanagan Arts Awards!<br>I was one of the top 3 finalists out of 40 nominees for the MUSIC category, which is an honor!<br><br>I was also nominated for the KelownaNow Best of Kelowna 2016 awards.<br>It's great to be nominated alongside all these fantastic artists and people!<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/138118/b70cb8a5cbf1d5cbe366e800baf878a8cb99a619/medium/ooa-award-poster-adam-meachem.jpg?1465889409" class="size_m justify_left border_" /><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/138118/8b35c6e7a0a2a632a458660157d292a48d6d483f/medium/oaa-photo-adam-meachem.jpg?1465889422" class="size_m justify_left border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/138118/626163054b1318483063e2c929fdf14aeeae16c9/medium/finalist-badge-web01-01-adam-meachem-okanagan-arts-awards.jpg?1465889348" class="size_m justify_left border_" />
Adam Meachem
tag:adammeachem.com,2005:Post/4166992
2016-05-05T09:24:29-07:00
2024-02-19T22:15:55-08:00
Out Of The Darkness - Movie Premiere Event
<br>I wrote the original score for the award winning film Out Of The Darkness, and we premiered it on May 1st, 2016 at Kelowna Community Theater. The event was a great success, I had a blast performing! When people ask me "So what is this film about?" and then I explain the synopsis everyone says "Story of my life!"<br>I am looking forward to creating more scores and music for film and television! Definitely one of my passions!<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/138118/b13ce527f634849a1ef413a98df88bed1baf029b/original/ootdmovieposter-03-website.jpg?1462464455" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/138118/25058567c66b20b7572d83dda26ddab7e80e34d5/original/kctshot01.jpg?1462465406" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><div style="text-align: center;">
<br>@ Kelowna Community Theater on opening night!</div><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/138118/00fd7cfd422b8bd7f53f2f3afa8e41c7dea64896/original/ootd-photoshootonset-adam-meachem.jpg?1465897451" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><div style="text-align: center;">
<br>Behind the scenes on set...</div>
Adam Meachem
tag:adammeachem.com,2005:Post/4085154
2016-03-12T12:46:51-08:00
2024-02-19T22:15:56-08:00
Inspired Word Cafe TV Show Feature
Here is a live set of 3 originals and an interview!<br>This was shot on January 28, 2016 @IWC - Inspired Word Cafe on Shaw TV<br> <div class="captioned justify_none"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/138118/e684bfe79a2e355d8b084c163575c0900f085ac8/medium/img-20160203-221004.jpg?0" class="size_orig justify_none border_" /><p class="caption">Click here to watch!</p></div>
<p><a contents="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vG26p2vS_sk" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vG26p2vS_sk" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vG26p2vS_sk</a></p>
Adam Meachem
tag:adammeachem.com,2005:Post/3952974
2015-12-06T23:37:08-08:00
2023-12-10T08:41:31-08:00
interview Series: Photographic Spirit - An Interview with Paul Howard
<p>I have been so fortunate & honored to have such a great photographer to work with for the past few years. <br>He has been more than helpful and more than enthusiastic whenever I would bring up any kind of photoshoot. </p>
<p>He absolutely LOVES photography, and you can see this from all the posts on his Google+ and other social media, in which he has over 30,000 fans. </p>
<p>His photographic discipline reaches across several fields including landscapes, animals, modeling shoots with many amazing women, plants and flowers, self-portraits... although his main passion within the art is studio portraiture, which is clearly evident from his website, <a contents="www.paulhowardphoto.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.paulhowardphoto.com/" target="_blank">www.paulhowardphoto.com</a>. </p>
<p>I interviewed him about this passion of his, and being a (former) photographer myself, it was quite insightful. Approaching 60 years in age, his tremendous passion for photography is written all over his face. <br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/138118/4415f5fd38a4553d4162c5e71388915d2ff5448d/original/testing-testing-glasses.jpg?1450668110" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><br><br>----------------------------------------------------------<br> </p>
<p>AM: How did you get started in photography? </p>
<p>PH: "I got started backwards, kind of. I loved it when I was in my teens, I was going to go to college for photojournalism, which didn't pan out, and I dabbled in my 20s. But being film and having a young family, it wasn't financially feasible to pursue. <br>When I turned 50, I lamented that I hadn't kept it up. My wife told me I could start anew, or keep complaining until my pension came in. I bought another camera and started again." <br> </p>
<p>AM: What are some of your proudest accomplishments and what are you doing now that is exciting? </p>
<p>PH: "It's very cool when you get published in the paper or on a website or place in a competition. But the biggest ones are still the one on one thanks from a client. <br>And that's still the most exciting."<br> </p>
<p>AM: Did you set specific goals? </p>
<p>PH: "Actually, no. When I started photography again at 50, I bought a reasonably cheap Canon Rebel and decided I'd shoot whatever caught my eye and, if I kept it up after six months, I'd expand from there. But no specific goals aside from seeing if I was still interested." <br> </p>
<p>AM: What would you say are some priorities in your life now and in the past? </p>
<p>PH: "I think just to keep moving forward, to keep coming up with new ideas and new ways to do things. I guess my priority would be to keep it fun. The moment anything you love becomes a burden, it kills your passion for it." <br> </p>
<p>AM: Are there any mistakes you've made to learn from? </p>
<p>PH: "Oh man, every day, all the time. There is always something new to learn technically or creatively, but that's all part of the process. If we didn't mess it up on a regular basis, we'd never find out anything new." <br><br><br>AM: What equipment do you use right now on a regular basis, and do you have any pieces of equipment you would consider your "secret weapon"?</p>
<p>PH: "My equipment used is dependent on what it is I'm doing. For walking around use, I use the Olympus OM-D E-M1, together with Olympus and Panasonic lenses. That setup is small, quick, easy, and light!! For studio work, portraits, events, I am using a Canon 5D Mark III and a series of Canon lenses. <br>My "go to" lens for people would definitely be my EF 70-200mm f/2.8L lens. I LOVE the look it gives for portraits! But if I have a secret weapon, I suppose it would be the Petzval 85mm Art lens. It's touchy, manual, tough to focus, but produces the softest, most beautiful and unique bokeh that I've ever seen! I use it rarely, but the shots from it are just magic!"<br> </p>
<p>AM: What motivates you? </p>
<p>PH: "I think my biggest motivator is the people that I photograph. I never thought that would be the case. I've been fortunate to have a number of photo subjects who hadn't been in front of a camera before and actually had a serious lack of confidence about how they looked to others. I firmly believe that there's SOMETHING indefinable about everyone. Something they don't usually see themselves, but can be seen by others. <br>I certainly haven't been able to do it every single time, but more often now I get at least one image that shows how I'M seeing someone, something past that outer layer. When I show that to the person having their photo taken and they just freeze for a moment because THEY see it... that's magic!! And that motivates me to want to do this again and again." </p>
<p><br>AM: How has the industry changed since you got started? </p>
<p>PH: "Even in just the seven years since I got serious about this again, the number of people who have access to and actually publish (via social media) photos has grown exponentially day by day, which has tremendously devalued the art - and I do feel photography is art - produced by professionals. It makes it difficult for them and anyone aspiring to be professional to actually earn a living doing this. Cameras have become really inexpensive and really good in their image quality. Snapshots will always just be snapshots, and those people don't have a desire to become professional anyway, but the millions of photos uploaded every day make it so much harder to find the real quality work amongst it all. Even big name magazines like Time have now dropped their rates and, apparently, their standards, as they "can get photos anywhere". It's not helping those with a passion to create great stuff. <br>Although there is some GREAT amateur photography, it puts me in mind of 'an infinite number of monkeys with an infinite number of typewriters....'. " <br> </p>
<p>AM: Are there any memorable turning points or connections that really made a difference in your career? </p>
<p>PH: "Photographically, it was one particular photo session. There was a young lady that it took me three years to get in front of the camera. I had photographed people before, but I never really did a portrait session or "model shoot". When I saw what I was getting from her and out of the camera is when I thought THIS is what I want to be doing! That completely changed the way I looked at my own photography." <br> </p>
<p>AM: What was your (childhood) dream and are you living it right now? (or working towards that) </p>
<p>PH: "I'm downright envious of those people who say they knew they wanted to do what they're doing now back when they were five years old. I wanted to be everything at various times, a lawyer, a photographer, a priest, an astronaut, a spy, you name it. <br>Today, I'm still not sure what I want to be when I grow up. For the moment, I'm loving being a photographer!" <br> </p>
<p>AM: Do you have any suggestions or MUSTS for me? </p>
<p>PH: "DO IT! If an opportunity comes up, take it. I have a lot of missed opportunities because I was too hesitant. I don't have regrets, there's no point in that, so I'm reincorporating some of those things that I passed up earlier. But you can't do that with the once in a lifetime ones. Just do it. <br>There will still be things that get missed for a multitude of reasons. If they do, they do, and you carry on without regret. " <br><br>---------------------------------------------------------------</p>
<p><br>Here are a few photos from this past year.<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/138118/dfb0429f4c826d139dff9e463e89ff61591b7026/medium/final-for-web-14.jpg?1449473419" class="size_m justify_left border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/138118/e1326ff2a84cedfa124341566f0e8cc03c87123d/medium/final-for-web-6.jpg?1449473477" class="size_m justify_center border_" /><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/138118/0f045d9af67ed78d7c253661cfa5112502be0b61/medium/final-for-web-2.jpg?1449473690" class="size_m justify_left border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/138118/b7e8baa2151290d832ae651a02a9e8846789639a/medium/final-for-web-9.jpg?1449473797" class="size_m justify_center border_" /><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/138118/04856d783918a55c10e8e01f4f657001b3b0ce8a/original/final-for-web-10.jpg?1449473743" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/138118/458291fcfabe8d3cf819c5cdefb3b2205b15dada/original/final-for-web-kaylee-1.jpg?1450508054" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><br> </p>
<p>Check out more of his photographic masterpieces by <a contents="clicking here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://plus.google.com/+PaulHoward" target="_blank">clicking here</a>.</p>
Adam Meachem
tag:adammeachem.com,2005:Post/3666673
2015-04-20T00:55:36-07:00
2022-05-30T00:06:48-07:00
Studio Recording
Hi everyone,<br>Thought I'd give a quick update on what I've been up to.<br>Mostly I have been recording guitar parts for my upcoming album "Axial Precession".<br>Thank you to everyone who has contributed to helping this process along.<br>If you have purchased "Totemic Revival" I greatly appreciate it and know you have contributed to the production of my full length album. You will receive a digital copy of<br>"Axial Precession" upon release as my thanks to you!<br><br>I still have quite a few songs to record, but the ones I have done so far are coming along nicely.<br>Can't wait to share more music with you, I will post my next single release "Sapphire Sun" as soon as it is ready.<br><br>I will soon be posting upcoming events and live performances where I will be performing this summer!<br>Hope to see you there!<br><br>~Adam Meachem<br>
Adam Meachem