337 remixes later...
Hey all. We're almost there. I know... being in limbo sucks ass. Believe me, I've known the frustration of having to wait an irritatingly long time to find out if all the hard work, creative energy, love, and dedication you just put into your recording or mixing project is going to be recognized, understood or appreciated in the way you want it to be. I've done my fair share of mixing songs for people, on spec, and then I've sent that work 3,000 miles away to be poked, prodded, and judged by the artist/label/mgmnt company/etc, only to find myself a week later wondering why these guys can't get off their lazy asses and make a decision already. It fucking sucks. Therefore, I'd like to personally apologize, on behalf of myself and the band, for our delay in announcing the winners earlier today.
We thought for sure that we'd be ready by noon. Shlomi, Dylan, and I also thought that we would have an easy time listening to (and agreeing on) all 12 finalists. In reality; however, we have not had an easy time at all agreeing on our favorites, due in no small measure to the sheer volume of unique, wildly creative, and contradistinctive directions in which you've taken our music. And because of that, our last few days have been spent in some disunity regarding how best to narrow the field, each of us feeling as though we were gathering to decide which puppy was going to be hurled into the ravine next. Your response to this project so vastly exceeded our expectations (in terms of quality and quantity) that we all now have spontaneous right-hemisphere brain-hemorrhages every time we think about how we're going to further narrow down the field to 12. At the outset we expected to receive, maybe, 100-120 submissions (if we were lucky). We also knew that, as we currently continue to relentlessly tour the US and Canada, finding an hour or two every day to set aside for "Indaba time" (on the bus or at the venue); time to go through those 100 submissions; we knew that that was going to be tough. Tough, but doable. In fact, you guys ended up submitting 3X that number. It was amazing, and totally unexpected. I'm not complaining. It's a helluva good problem to have. But it is a whole lot of music (over 18 consecutive hours worth) to critically analyze when you're a hard-working band on the road . We have a cold, impassive and emotionless tour schedule that doesn't care about things like our health, our emotional stability, or our lack of time.
You guys submitted 337 individual remixes for this project that we have been frantically trying to narrow down to 12. As of tonight we were able to agree on a few more cuts and now have it narrowed to 44. I'm hoping that by tomorrow we'll have it all the way down to 12, but I can't make that as a promise. We have no intention of rushing our way through this process. We have every intention of making this decision carefully, and as a band.
One thing I want to say. After listening to every single one of those 337 mixes, and reading all of your comments for the last few months, we've witnessed a level of care and respect for each other's creative process that I believe is completely unprecedented for the internet. The rest of the internet, and even in the real world... [stops. thinks]... basically everywhere but here, is peppered with those people who only know how to rub the temporary salve of false superiority on the gaping wound of their low self-esteem by attacking and cutting down other people. You all approach each other with encouragement and kindness. You show appreciation even for each other's musical eccentricities. It's awesome. Y'all are my kinda peeps! w00t! ;) Anyway, stay tuned, we'll have all the details on those 12 winning mixes soon. In the meantime, play on playas. ;)
Warmest regards, John
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337!!! wow, i didn't know there were that many. i was guessing around 130 mixes. well sorry you guys have to make such a huge decision (well, twelve to be exact). but think how much fun you'll have with your first remixed album.
John I wish every artist that does these comps was as serious about it as you. You and Yo Yo Ma really got into it. In the future I hope more artists follow your lead. Props.
I think we all agree it's an honor to even have our music listened to by the band. Thanks for keeping us updated. It's cool to hear how the whole process has gone for you guys..
man i just had fun making this music! amazing stuff!!!!
yeahhhh 337...awesome
Totally agree with your last paragraph. Indaba is so awesome in that way.
playa, play on. lol.
The kind of thing that warms my heart. Both Johns letter to the community and responses to him here. May we all bring this to the world in everything we do and keep making that kick ass music!
Your heads must be fried already after listening after all of those mixes...
Thank you for such great opportunity, its a great way to meet new talents and make great stuff!
Thank you for keeping us in the loop John! I am sure we were all excited to work with your band's material. Thank you for the opportunity! It was nice to have a pick from all of your 12 tracks. We were all given a chance to remix songs that touched us individually. =)
Uhmm... what day has the winner's announcement been rescheduled to this time? (i'm not trying to sound rude, i clicked on the programs and none of them tell you)
@337 music - lol what are the odds of that. exactly 337.
@ Jake
Now you know why I asked a week ago. =) The deadline is more of a "suggested date". lol All contests go over since you have professionals taking time out their schedules to judge over 300+ submissions so all contests usually go over so I usually take the deadline and add between 2 - 4 days extra.
@Juan
That's exactly how I felt... each person did songs that they related to. Most of the versions I picked were dark so what does that say about me. But lots of good competition on here.
just do eeny miney mo and pick somthin.jk
@ alex, it happens more than you would think. Im always catching the clock at 3:37
@bungalow, thats exactly how I picked mine haha, I listened to them all and just couldnt choose on my own, so I flipped like 20 coins
@goodie, its funny you say that cause the two remixes I did were in a folksy, christian country style and a hip hop style- two genres i've never delved into before this contest
@Marcy Playground, You are doing this the right way. Most artists I don't think have as much of a hand in this as you do... Few other artists on this site have invited the users to private message them and then actually answer those messages. So take your time... No rush!
Well, at least your not doing it by yourself, im so excited to see the mixes, not just the chance of me being the possibility of winning(even tho there are so so so many odds), but the chance to hear what a Marcy Playground liked and thought was great, the chance to hear what their opinion of a great mix!!!
YOU GUYS ROCK!!!!!
I guess it is a true testament to the talent on Indaba that the band is having a hard time picking the final 12. I know with the week I have been having, after my dog passing away and having my mother-in-law in the hospital, this waiting has been a nice escape for me to help keep my mind off things. It is good feeling knowing that Marcy Playground is listening and re-listening to everything and the possibility exists that one of my submissions might make it.
Thanks guys for taking time and for giving us the chance to work with your music. Good luck to everyone, regardless of who is in the final 12 I think we all came out winning.
Sorry to hear about your probs Nikki S. Good luck to you as well. Hopefully good news will come soon to you from this contest.
WOW!! Lots of mixes!!
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