Music in the City

In the movies...

When I watched movies as a kid, I loved how people who lived in the city (especially New York City) always had someone an opera singer living upstairs, or a piano player across the courtyard or could hear a saxophone coming from nearby.

In Manhattan

Then, when I moved to New York City to go to film school, I actually ended up with an opera singer living upstairs.  Her singing echoed across the courtyard.  In another building I lived in, there was a trumpet player.  It was just like the movies!

Here in L.A.

I now live next door to a musician, who writes music for different venues -- films, TV, commercials (from what I understand from his cellphone conversations -- the buildings are very close and I can hear EVERYTHING).  It's all original music, all in very different styles, although he may be writing music for a demo too.

Luckily, I like his music, because I often have to hear the same tune over and over and over, as he works on it, or listen to just parts of it, over and over and over, as he edits/produces.  His relentless work ethic is actually quite inspiring.  He revises and revises, just like I do when I write, down to the tiniest detail.

Mostly, it's just really cool.  A couple of days ago, I heard him working on the lyrics with a collaborator.  They sit out back under the avocado tree (the tree is actually on their property, although the branches happily extend to our side), and brainstorm.  It's so awesome to hear them discuss phrases and rhymes -- it's just like the movies!!

Right now, as I write this, he's playing his guitar.  Just a short, sweet acoustic riff.  I think I'll go listen...