ra mcguire dot com » Connor McGuire http://ramcguire.com Random dispatches from the fish and chips capitol of the world, and elsewhere Sat, 04 Sep 2010 21:01:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 Connor McGuire’s Photography Featured on UK Blog http://ramcguire.com/2010/07/26/connor-mcguires-photography-featured-on-uk-blog/ http://ramcguire.com/2010/07/26/connor-mcguires-photography-featured-on-uk-blog/#comments Mon, 26 Jul 2010 21:59:00 +0000 admin http://ramcguire.com/?p=1123 Connor’s photography has been featured on the UK Blog ‘G Squared‘ in a post called “and we Give You Connor McGuire”. Check it there and also stop by his Flickr page to see some more of his work.

]]> http://ramcguire.com/2010/07/26/connor-mcguires-photography-featured-on-uk-blog/feed/ 0 Connor McGuire’s ‘Song a Week’ Project – Week 12 - McGuire Triumphant Against Great Odds http://ramcguire.com/2010/06/26/the-12th-and-final-week-of-connor-mcguires-song-a-week-project/ http://ramcguire.com/2010/06/26/the-12th-and-final-week-of-connor-mcguires-song-a-week-project/#comments Sat, 26 Jun 2010 19:28:42 +0000 Ra http://ramcguire.com/?p=1105 Twelve long weeks ago my son Connor McGuire began an online experiment to see if he could write and record a new song every week. As an additional challenge, as if the song writing wasn’t enough, he also documented the process on video and posted the combined results on YouTube.

There were some hairy weeks along the way. One week in particular (number five, one of my favourites), he totally scrapped the song he’d worked on for six days and wrote an entirely new one on the deadline day. In other weekly episodes, it’s obvious from his appearance that he hasn’t slept – or that the stress of coming up with something good is taking it’s toll. Often though, there’s the unmistakeable hint of pride of accomplishment, and maybe a bit of wonder at how such a good song managed to materialize so quickly under less than ideal circumstances.

Connor knocked the Song-a-Week Project on the head this past week with episode twelve – a complex and emotional song called “Symphony”. You can hear the relief in his voice as he brings the series to a close, but if you’ve been watching from the beginning, you can also see an accomplished songwriter at the top of his game – who has now documented his ability to confidently pull the magic out of his hat week after challenging week, for three months.

Check out “Symphony” here and, if you haven’t already, subscribe to Connor’s YouTube channel to see other episodes of the series.

Also, check out Connor’s North By East West: Acid House Interview which is now posted here.

]]> http://ramcguire.com/2010/06/26/the-12th-and-final-week-of-connor-mcguires-song-a-week-project/feed/ 0 Connor McGuire’s ‘Song a Week’ Project – Week 11 - And Now for Something Completely Different http://ramcguire.com/2010/06/10/connor-mcguire%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98song-a-week%e2%80%99-project-%e2%80%93-week-11/ http://ramcguire.com/2010/06/10/connor-mcguire%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98song-a-week%e2%80%99-project-%e2%80%93-week-11/#comments Thu, 10 Jun 2010 16:23:06 +0000 Ra http://ramcguire.com/?p=1099 For his second from last week of the the 12-week Song a Week Project, Connor puts on his Pack Mentality hat and reveals his musical alter-ego. Week 11 is a full-out dance track featuring the kind of beats he will be performing next Saturday at the Waterstone Lounge in White Rock with The Forn and The Joy of Cooking (and at a show in Vancouver *this* weekend that I can’t find a link to!). No lyrics, just a pounding dance groove with great hooks. Connor told his Grandma that she probably wouldn’t like it.

Check it here, and, as always, please spread the word and subscribe to the Connor McGuire YouTube channel.

]]> http://ramcguire.com/2010/06/10/connor-mcguire%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98song-a-week%e2%80%99-project-%e2%80%93-week-11/feed/ 0 Connor McGuire’s ‘Song a Week’ Project – Week 10 - Ten Weeks! Two More to Go ... http://ramcguire.com/2010/05/31/connor-mcguire%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98song-a-week%e2%80%99-project-%e2%80%93-week-10/ http://ramcguire.com/2010/05/31/connor-mcguire%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98song-a-week%e2%80%99-project-%e2%80%93-week-10/#comments Mon, 31 May 2010 19:30:34 +0000 admin http://ramcguire.com/?p=1093 Full band arrangement. Beautiful. And some pretty candid thoughts on the process.

Check it here, and, as always, please spread the word and subscribe to the Connor McGuire YouTube channel.

Ten weeks!! Ten!

]]> http://ramcguire.com/2010/05/31/connor-mcguire%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98song-a-week%e2%80%99-project-%e2%80%93-week-10/feed/ 0 Connor McGuire’s ‘Song a Week’ Project – Week 9 - And the Hits Just Keep on Comin' http://ramcguire.com/2010/05/21/connor-mcguire%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98song-a-week%e2%80%99-project-%e2%80%93-week-9/ http://ramcguire.com/2010/05/21/connor-mcguire%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98song-a-week%e2%80%99-project-%e2%80%93-week-9/#comments Fri, 21 May 2010 21:38:24 +0000 admin http://ramcguire.com/?p=1087 This week was a close call. What he eventually created came from a deep and honest place. I doubt if he’d have written this song if he wasn’t so backed against the wall. It’s beautiful and true.

Check it here, and, as always, please spread the word and subscribe to the Connor McGuire YouTube channel.

]]> http://ramcguire.com/2010/05/21/connor-mcguire%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98song-a-week%e2%80%99-project-%e2%80%93-week-9/feed/ 0 Connor McGuire’s ‘Song a Week’ Project – Week 8 - Amazing http://ramcguire.com/2010/05/14/connor-mcguire%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98song-a-week%e2%80%99-project-%e2%80%93-week-8/ http://ramcguire.com/2010/05/14/connor-mcguire%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98song-a-week%e2%80%99-project-%e2%80%93-week-8/#comments Fri, 14 May 2010 20:35:36 +0000 admin http://ramcguire.com/?p=1085 I don’t think Connor expected his ‘Song a Week Project’ to develop into the creative journey it’s become. The process is taking him places he otherwise never would have ventured. Once again the new song has brain-bombed me and I can’t stop singing it …

Check it here, and please subscribe to the Connor McGuire YouTube channel.

]]> http://ramcguire.com/2010/05/14/connor-mcguire%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98song-a-week%e2%80%99-project-%e2%80%93-week-8/feed/ 0 Connor McGuire’s ‘Song a Week’ Project – Week 7 - Seven is a Lucky Number http://ramcguire.com/2010/05/06/connor-mcguire%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98song-a-week%e2%80%99-project-%e2%80%93-week-7/ http://ramcguire.com/2010/05/06/connor-mcguire%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98song-a-week%e2%80%99-project-%e2%80%93-week-7/#comments Fri, 07 May 2010 05:23:58 +0000 admin http://ramcguire.com/?p=1080 Connor’s seventh song is a radical departure. It blends his usual writing style with his Pack Mentality mash-up sensibilities. The song, propelled by a beat he played on a floor tom with a tambourine laid on the skin, soars like classic Peter Gabriel, but more likely references Bat for Lashes or Animal Collective. Once again Connor succeeds and surprises. Check it here, and please subscribe to the Connor McGuire YouTube channel.

]]> http://ramcguire.com/2010/05/06/connor-mcguire%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98song-a-week%e2%80%99-project-%e2%80%93-week-7/feed/ 0 Connor McGuire’s ‘Song a Week’ Project – Week 6 - How *Does* He Do It?? http://ramcguire.com/2010/04/27/connor-mcguire%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98song-a-week%e2%80%99-project-%e2%80%93-week-6/ http://ramcguire.com/2010/04/27/connor-mcguire%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98song-a-week%e2%80%99-project-%e2%80%93-week-6/#comments Tue, 27 Apr 2010 20:13:36 +0000 Ra http://ramcguire.com/?p=1059 Six weeks, six new songs! I can’t say he makes it look easy – as you’ve seen, it hasn’t been – but I can marvel at the fact that he continues to create a brand new, and amazingly good, new song every week! This week’s song is a hard-rockin’ full-band-style arrangement, leaving behind the acoustic vibe from weeks four and five. Check out “House of Cards” here or on the YouTubes. Send your friends. And if you haven’t yet, subscribe to the Connor McGuire YouTube channel.

]]> http://ramcguire.com/2010/04/27/connor-mcguire%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98song-a-week%e2%80%99-project-%e2%80%93-week-6/feed/ 0 Connor McGuire’s ‘Song a Week’ Project – Week 5 - Epic Fail Narrowly Averted http://ramcguire.com/2010/04/21/connor-mcguire%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98song-a-week%e2%80%99-project-%e2%80%93-week-5/ http://ramcguire.com/2010/04/21/connor-mcguire%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98song-a-week%e2%80%99-project-%e2%80%93-week-5/#comments Wed, 21 Apr 2010 16:47:34 +0000 Ra http://ramcguire.com/?p=1056 Connor’s Week 5 song for his ‘Song a Week Project’ could be his best yet, despite the fact that it ended up being a ‘Song a Day Project’. The suspense is killing me! Please support Connor’s work by subscribing to his YouTube channel and leaving encouraging comments.

]]> http://ramcguire.com/2010/04/21/connor-mcguire%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98song-a-week%e2%80%99-project-%e2%80%93-week-5/feed/ 0 Connor McGuire’s ‘Song a Week’ Project – Week 4 http://ramcguire.com/2010/04/13/connor-mcguire%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98song-a-week%e2%80%99-project-%e2%80%93-week-4/ http://ramcguire.com/2010/04/13/connor-mcguire%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98song-a-week%e2%80%99-project-%e2%80%93-week-4/#comments Tue, 13 Apr 2010 18:47:51 +0000 Ra http://ramcguire.com/?p=1054 Every week of Connor’s ‘Song a Week Project’ has had it’s challenges. Week four was no exception. His plan to simplify the process by eliminating a full band arrangement and writing on an acoustic guitar just created a higher expectation for the lyrics – which became a struggle. I’m proud to say that Connor won that battle, and that “Getting Over It” (or whatever the official title will be) is a truly beautiful, thoughtful and damned catchy song. I’ve been singing it all morning!

If you know anyone who would take the time to view and comment on Connor’s ‘SWP’ vids (or, better yet, subscribe to the series), please direct them either to this site or to the YouTube page where it’s hosted.

What Connor is doing with his ‘Song a Week Project’ is brutally difficult work. Making something from nothing – the delicate alchemy of songwriting – can be a gut-wrenching endeavour at the best of times, and doing it on a schedule like this is something I don’t think I could do. I watch his progress with a mixture of fear and loathing … and pride.

Check this out to see a great song being created:

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