Junglejar

[experimental.crow]

i speak only for myself ...

@ J Dub ...
cheers for taking the time to explain your position , and feelings , in a clear , and consise manner , sans invective ...
i respect your opinion , and i think you only do yourself honor by representing yourself in this manner ...

i can only say that i was unaware of any involvement on your part in the project until several days ago ...
AFAICR , you opened a thread about two weeks ago , here at K-v-R ,
asking for a contact e-mail address for JJ ... i responded to you via PM , and supplied a contact address ...

then , several days ago , a 'welcome steven west' thread appeared on our forum ...
several days after that , your original post/rant here at K-v-R appeared ...

to the best of my knowledge , you have had no involvement in our group discussions , and/or planning , nor have you performed any work in relation to putting the site online ...
your first presence on our board was several days ago ...

that being said , i have no idea as to what has transpired between yourself , and kevin ...

[funked]

Normal,

I asked for J dubs opinion on the idear I had for splitting the site up. He has not been helping me make descions on how the site will work like you and the artists have.

From the begging I decided to keep the artists that where chosen here J dub seprate as I didnt think it would be fair to the artists that where chosen here(& all the other artists that submited there music in the thread here) to give J dub the same 'status' as he was not chosen by us he simply send us a CD.

[Steven West]

Thanks Normal.

Like I said, it started to make me wonder why Kevin was treating me 'like a mushroom', and I just got the sense he 'didn't want me to mingle with you guys'. Nothing bad about any of you by any means - just that I think I had somewhat more experience and expectations from a lengthy history, and that you guys were kinda 'fresh' to alot of it. And maybe new ideas like 'sub labels' and all could flourish? Kevin was very good at filling me in on what you guys were discussing and all, and I can honestly say that he nor I ever said 'that's a dumb idea' or anything like that. I just politely kept my own personal distance from it until I saw 'the gears start to turn' so to speak. Kevin and I both agreed that none of you should 'sell yourselves short', and that's when I was invited in to give my little 'pep talk' to you all. Not that Kevin pushed me by any means, just on my own accord.

So what transpired with Kevin from that to dismisal in a few hours, I really honestly don't know?
Sure, everyone has a 'change of heart' - and to answer Jack R's question about Demon Gap (thanks! ), it was much the same scenario. We worked together for 6-8 months and I just got a real 'uncomfertable feeling' with it all. I did my best to explain to Jen my feelings, and although heart broken - I think she understood. And it's not like I erased all the tapes and never spoke to her again. And I still try to promote the little that we did in some way still - for fans like Jack R it turns out. (I'll get to work tout sweet for you Jack!) ANYHOO - I don't think it was as 'sudden' as what Kevin did to me?

So it leaves me 'high and dry' sort of? Was it something I said, or didn't say? Does my music suck, or is really 'that good'? I'm just a composer trying to bring entertainment for people is all. If Kevin wanted 'experimental/ambient' - I think I could've done it, maybe not? So Steven West CD's was on JungleJar for 3 months and disappeared, or you could only buy Steven Wests 'Architexture' exclusively there and no Electricky or Demon Gap stuff. Just to be given a wee chance is all I wanted.

Just blows my mind that Kevin didn't want it as well Oh well, it's certainly not the first time to be dropped - but somebodies missing money out there by letting me give it away for free constantly. (George Michaels - eat your heart out!)

[cloudspine]

junglejar is a work in process ...
the site ( will ) exist for purposes of promotion only ...
no one has any expectations , other than the fact that we have agreed to work together ...
kevin chose a few people to start the site with , based upon an open solicitation , conducted here on this board ... i consider myself to be fortunate to have been chosen ...
i could have just as easily been not chosen ...
IMO , some very talented people were not chosen ...

kevins' choices reflect a certain style , and approach ...
they will most certainly not be everyones 'cuppa' ...
the fact that he decided your work did not fit this approach is no reflection on you as a person , nor your talents as a musician ...

i hope , in somber reflection , you will consider your words with care ...
members such as 'ew' and 'JackR' are respected , and valuble , members of this community ...

Normal said just about what I was going to...
Dare I say that what we're expecting is, at presently at least, is simply to distribute our music...

The way I figure, this upcoming JungleJar is a totally new "version." I visited the site some time before the competition was opened here at KVR, and the site was up and running and everything. The only reason I can see for Kevin to flush everything down the drain and start anew is what he said: no response from musicians...

I was going to say more, but I see things have (almost) been resolved...

J Dub, I know how you feel, as I've been turned down as well. No label is ever going to say "you music sucks ass, we hate it and don't want any part of it." The rejection will always sound something to the effect of "sorry, we're backlogged" or "it's good, but just not what we're looking for" or something similar. It certainly is no reflection of the musician as a person or their music...
For what it's worth, I'm sorry to hear this happen...

'cloudspine' posts here somewhat infrequently

I try my best to post as frequently as I can, but I'm more of an observer type

... i have respect for his work ...

Thank you The feeling's mutual!

[Steven West]

I'll bid adieu by leaving you with my most experimental track to date - Bass Drum/Snare Drum from my Analogistic CD.

http://www.artistnow.com/./write/audio/13457-16528.mp3

Too experimental, or not enough?
Just give it a good home please.

[Spe3D]

I'll bid adieu by leaving you with my most experimental track to date - Bass Drum/Snare Drum from my Analogistic CD.

http://www.artistnow.com/./write/audio/13457-16528.mp3

Too experimental, or not enough?
Just give it a good home please.

I am not getting involved with the debate – just wanted to comment on the tune,

Jdub – sorry for your position – I think a blunt and to the point and ‘timely’ decision pays off right at the start – and that’s when it should have happened – no doubt all of us learn with experience and maybe whoever JungleJar is will endeavour not to repeat the process – take any major label – they are blunt to the point of rude – straight off – they have to be to get the message home – move on – try again – don’t give up.

The tune you posted – well I am no expert – I would say it’s not commercial, I would say the very start sounds promising, though after a while the variation it promised tapered off to repetition – that’s it’s failing in my ears on that particular tune.

I just need to add - I am in no way connected with JungleJar.


Best regards,

Spe3d

:O)

[Steven West]

No probs Spe3d.

It dawned on me after I posted this tune - this is all done with a Yamaha EX5 synth. Sequenced, mixed, and ready to go live on a moments notice. So if you wonder how hardware still sounds - this is the tune for you. It was the 'minor' brass to 'major' piano and strings back to 'minor' brass that was the tricky or experimental stuff for me. And the voice samples going through Beat Change insert effect trying to keep them in relative time with the BPM.
BTW - Voice samples courtesy of a old Casio RZ-1 sampling cassette.

I was going to take on Negativeland in a showdown or something I guess?

Okay - NOW I'm outta here.