New Indie Artists

Composing "Forty Heroes", 35 Days In May's Tribute to 9-11

Dictated by Jeff Kaye, President of New Indie Artists (NIA)

I don’t usually write music with a theme in mind (unless I’m doing specific arrangements of a cover). I mostly get my inspiration from rhythm and then build my compositions from there. There was one song that was different from my usual style, though. After writing the rhythm track and then adding a synthesizer on top, it started to suggest tension and a certain sense of heroism. It made me think of the third plane that went down in the 9-11 attacks that had 40 passengers overcoming the terrorists. I started to write with these people in mind and called the song “Forty Heroes”.

Forty Heroes by 35 Days In May Hear more and shop!

REALLY listening to music

Dictated by Jeff Kaye about the music of 35 Days In May

Coming from a background in jazz, I often sit down to listen to music not only for the pure enjoyment but also to learn and study what these great musicians are doing. I then try to let it inspire me and implement similar ideas into my music. Because I’m doing no other activity while listening, I feel I can concentrate fully on the sounds that I hear. The more I grow musically, the more I’m learning to appreciate the nuances that I hear in music, for instance the way the great drummer Philly Joe Jones hits a snare or listening to the way his stick rides a symbol. I’m not sure whether people today, especially younger generations, sit and just listen to music, rather than using it as a background when multitasking (driving, working on the computer, etc.). The music I write is special and to be listened to solely. I’ve been told by many people who enjoy my music that when they sit and listen, especially when they close their eyes, that my music is very visual. I don’t write with this intention, but I do write with many subtleties that the passive listener might miss.

Composing "Out of Blue" and "Country Wizard"

Dictated by Jeff Kaye about his jazz fusion group 35 Days In May

There are 2 songs I wrote recently, “Out of Blue”   and “Country Wizard”. What I did with these songs first was   I took a drum track and then improvised a keyboard solo on top. Then I layered   it with quite a few different drum tracks and other electronic sounds, creating   the type of feel I was looking for. Then I invited 2 of my musician friends,   a bass player and a sax player, to improvise freely on top, without telling   them too much about the songs. Once again, I was very happy to hear the melding   of electronic and live music.

Out Of Blue		Purchase Song
Country Wizard		Purchase Song