CONCEPTUAL VEGETABLES
Ah, the concept album. I've always been a bit starry-eyed about it. The sheer ambition of it, the comprehensive feel, the pageantry involved—just delicious. As a former theatre kid, infusing a storyline or character-work into an album naturally appealed to me.
But when I look back on the amount of conceptual musical efforts I find to be truly solid from front to back, I can honestly count them on one hand. And on that hand, only a few fingers remain if you asked me how many I actually enjoy replaying. And that's the catch. When music aims to touch the soul, diving too deep into narrative can muddle that. Crafting the perfect concept album is like a tightrope act—it's all about balance.
From my adventures in crafting a trilogy of albums around one character's journey, I've learned a thing or two. Lessons often born from slip-ups. If you're considering crafting your own cohesive conceptual project, here are a few key takeaways for you to consider:
Start Small. Biting off more than you can chew (as I did at first) leaves no room for growth. Try to know your endgame before diving in, but keep it simple. Overwhelming yourself right out the gate? Not the best start.
Needs vs. Wants. Understand the difference. And yes, budget for both. I've wasted time assembling sides while my main dish was still raw. Funny enough, I eventually left behind most of those extras anyway. It's not just about saving money but aligning priorities. Are you a musician or merchandiser? If both, which comes first? Operate on two tracks at once, and both will suffer.
Show, Don't Tell. A gem I picked up in improv class. Still something I’ve yet to master. I actually complicated things by adding an audio drama, which risked spoon-feeding the audience. While clarity is great, over-explaining can strip away the magic and kill replay value. So, I simplified things by anchoring my project on a character exploring a manor and then layered complexity from there.
After all the stumbles, my grand idea was looking like a non-starter. I was essentially turning it into a broccoli before it even had a chance to be a cake. So, when you're embarking on your own journey, maybe—just maybe—keep it less vegetable, more dessert.
But the good news? I ultimately managed to salvage and complete my project after much trial and error, and the result is my debut album, WARMTH.
