My intent in producing this blog is really quite simple: my friends and I are avid Starcraft followers, following everything that can possibly be followed when it comes to each GSL as they come out. We love to watch the mighty Thoughthammer at work, and mostly - we love watching everyone from Team Liquid successfully stomp everyone in their path!
However, this blog is about a particular friend of mine named Scott King. He is a musician . . . at least, he should be. He has grown up in an environment that is trying to redirect him into something unsuitable. For anyone who knows of him and his ability, this is something of a tragedy.
Raised by separate parents, neither of which are his real parents (Adopted parents divorce? Ouch.) whom both firmly are determined to have him go straight to university to become an engineer, or a similarly high-paying job.
With this in mind, Scotty has taken all his appropriate courses. And he is by no means unintelligent - he does quite well for himself. But with all this time dedicated to chemistry, something he doesn't enjoy - he loses the time he could be practicing with music - something in his life he enjoys the most.
Now that we have a very slight lull in our schoolwork, I got together with him and had him record in the most ghetto of recording studios (my room, with a classy gaming headset, and rockband mic for his guitar supported by a hollow cardboard tube held up on a chair, and an iphone propped up on a couple of books) and got him to record a few songs he felt comfortable with.
Now the reason I post this blog here, on Team Liquid, is not simply out of desperation to get view hits on the YouTube I have created for him.
I emailed Team Liquid some weeks ago about potentially sponsoring a Team Liquid open in Scott's name. I am determined to give this guy a chance at music, because his parents will never let him.
I received a reply not long after saying they were not comfortable with the idea of such a high cost event being sponsored by someone who would not be making any direct profit.
Scott has more than enough talent to become a great musician. I want to be able to prove to his parents that this is the career he should pursue, but we have no measurable evidence that he can do well.
So here it is, fellow TLers: I ask you to just check him out. To click one of the links below and just listen. I understand the video quality isn't great, but the audio is the important part, and it turned out fairly well. I will be doing more recording with him in the next week or so. He is also writing original material.
I ask you all to check out his videos and truly make a judgement. If you like them, please, let us know. Suggestions? Let us know. If you want to help him out, and save him from a life that he shouldn't be pursuing, since it's the life his parents want him to pursue. . . I ask you to simply watch and reply.
This serves two purposes - if this initial blog does well, then I would gladly attempt to sponsor a Team Liquid open in his name - He has so much support from school that raising the money to do so would not be difficult. But we need to know that people would care enough, and are interested enough to make it worthwhile.
He his truly the best guy I know. I don't think he's ever had a malevolent thought about anyone, and if anyone ever deserved an opportunity at pursuing something they love - then it is him.
The videos and the channel I have created for him are below.
Individual videos so far (Only covers so far, more to come!):
Edit* New videos, with actually decent quality:
Stop This Train - John Mayer
Berkley Springs - Don Ross
ALL OF THESE ARE OUTDATED, WITH OLD EQUIPMENT, AND ARE ALTOGETHER MUCH WORSE QUALITY THAN WHAT'S TO COME!
Pistol - Dustin Kensrue
A Christmas Song - Dave Matthews
The Girl - Dallas Green
Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley
Blackbird - Paul McCartney
I'll keep this blog updated as more of Scotty's music is made, as well as to look further into a TL open, more professional recording equipment, and his own written songs.
Please let us know what you think, and as always, Thank you TL!
Very nice, indeed! You guys should maybe get in touch with that Kurt Hugo Schneider Guy, who did Husky's Banelings vid. He seems pretty awesome and has very high production values. Anyway GL HF Scotty. Good you have such nice friends too...
The question is, does he want to be a musician? I understand that you see a lot of potential in him and wish him the best, but maybe a music career is something he doesn't wish to pursue. There's definitely a difference between a career and a hobby. He can continue to play music as hobby even if he pursues a different career path. Skill level and talent do not automatically label someone to dedicate his/her entire life as a musician - there are plenty of musically talented people that enjoy their careers and play music as a hobby anyway.
The first link is broken, and I listened to the next three. Overall he's pretty good, but I personally wouldn't say he's outstanding enough for an outright decision (to be a musician) right now. As you said, you have no measurable evidence or evaluation of Scotty's capabilities. Perhaps some intensive music training will reveal what he's really capable of?
He desperately wants to pursue music. He wants to go to university and practice as a musician. The reason I'M doing this for him is because his parents won't hear of it.
They don't believe a music career can lead him anywhere and that he is better off to pursue something more practical.
I don't think it's fair that he should be denied his love for something that he is good at simply because his parents want him to do something 'more practical.'
I agree! He certainly needs some true practice time, and some real training perhaps.
I really want to emphasize my goal here is to demonstrate his raw talent. This was done spring-of-the-moment, and a room with awful settings, where he just picked five songs to just do.
I want to give him incentive to believe in his music abilities. If he can do that, he can get real training, and get really good. And make something of his passion.
The pragmatic approach might be useful here. Some of my friends were double majors in CompSci/Math/Physics/EE and Audio Tech, so if he has the opportunity to do that it would provide a set of skills that might be useful in other areas as well. Sound engineer is kind of a low-paying job, though things like acoustic/structural and electrical engineering pay significantly better.
But splitting focus isn't always the best idea either. If he's more of a performer-singer-songwriter then maybe he should go music all the way. If he's at all interested in the production side he might want to consider investing some time into some audio tech courses, though. (I mean, I think all musicians have to be interested in production to some degree but there are definitely those that rely on the tech more than others).
He is certainly more of the performer-singer-songwriter type. It's why he's never done anything like this before. I'm by no means any kind of production manager, and I know little about audio engineering than the simple editing and recording we did for the above videos.
There's definitely a lot of raw material there to work with, I like what he's put up on YouTube so far. Getting a music education is really important, even if you aren't going to be a classically trained performer. So many "musicians" out there don't know how to read music, and it seems a lot of college classes are heading towards teaching classes in entrepreneurship anyway. If he can't pursue it formally then maybe he can at least get a music minor if the school he goes to offers it. I'm offering my opinion as someone who is two quarters away from finishing an undergraduate voice degree. The vocal program where I am going is rather small, but there is a guy just like him who is a singer/songwriter type and he is keeping up right along with the other voice majors who are focusing on classical singing.
Parents want engineer kid want's music, omg wait.. theres such thing as sound recording technician and audio engineering omg! It's what I do, and I love it :3
In what way are his parents preventing him? How old is he?
I am too an aspiring musician, and this have been my dream my entire life. My parents have always been supportive so I suppose that I can't really put myself in his position. But he needs to do what He feels is best for Him, regardless of what his parents tells him. I mean, just fucking do it. If his parents can't agree with that, at least he'll have some good material for writing songs, right?
Sadly, I can't watch the clips since I am at work, but this shouldn't really be needed and at some point every person needs to stop worrying about what his or her parents think.
I would also like to commend you for being an awesome friend. Your kind is rare.
What the fuck is wrong with those parents , what they are trying to do to him is beyond terrible.
In his place I would revolt, not go to school and go with music all the way.
I mean what the fuck, my parents will prevent me from fullfiling my dream ? Ain`t happening.
Edit: I listened to the first video and I think ur friend pretty good. He should really drop any school/studies right away and pursue his dream or he`ll end up living a miserable life of doing something you don`t like or even hate.
Well that's just the thing, right? I think it's awful that he's being forced down a road that he doesn't like. But he's just a good kid that wants to please his parents and he always does what they ask of him.
You'd never find a nicer kid.
Which is why the whole "Screw everybody, I'm just gonna go become a musician" isn't going to work for him.
Which is why I'm here - looking for feedback, ideas, and support for Scott. People should be able to do what they love, not what their parents deem best for them.
Oh and if anyone knows much about how to set up a little bit better method of audio/video recording, please let me know. I just threw together what I knew based on a very basic knowledge, and some simple trims and syncing together manually with Audacity. . I've no idea how the 'proper' way to do such things are, exactly.
On the weekend, Scotty and I got together and did some more recording! This time, we got two legitimate microphones, two professional mic-stands, as well as a proper webcam to record video, and a video camera as well. I'm working on editing everything as we speak and should have three new songs up in the next few days with some real video, and way better audio, so keep checking for him!
If anyone is interested in helping Scotty more then let me know - his days are numbered before he's forced into medical or engineering or something, and his music dreams are crushed.
So PM if you want to help out, I have several ideas to try and get him going, but we can't do it alone!
If you aren't that committed but would like to participate you can do so simply by going and liking all his videos, and subscribing. The content coming in the near future is much, much better quality, and we anticipate this to continue to only get better!
Hey folks! It's been a few months, but with things so crazy with our edumacation, Scotty and I haven't really had time to make time for the music.
However, I would like to declare that we are officially putting out a video a week, and I would love Team Liquid to be exposed to this, and appreciate any and all help you all are willing to offer.
As it stands, Scott has been accepted to both Music and Engineering programs for school. I'm really trying to push him to go to music. He does not enjoy engineering, it's just what has parents want him to do. I'm making these videos for him in order to show him that he does have potential, and he should pursue what he loves, not necessarily where the money is or what his parents demand of him.
Take a look at the two new videos. There will be a new one every Wednesday morning from now on.
PS! He's going to be coming out with hopefully an album this summer! Super excited.
EPT
