This year I've been working on a different kind of art project. Writing and releasing music based on Eve Online, even our podcast The Safe Spot always ends with a new song. Sometimes even one written specifically for that episode of the podcast. I know full well how controversial this has been, there are long-time friends of mine who refuse to even acknowledge the project or listen to any of the songs. That's fine. I'm not shy of controversy. Nor do I run from challenges. My art has always tended to anger certain people. Always has.
Some songs have been goofs. Some have been serious. Funny. Heartfelt. Tongue firmly in cheek. But all along the project I've been learning what works, what doesn't, and trying to improve my writing. And get better. And since January I've been quietly working in the background on a more serious project that I wanted to end the year with.
That project is Weapons. Weapons is a special project that I've been writing and re-writing for the past eleven months. Many of the songs and themes of this album come from posts and history laid down over my entire Eve career. Because this is a concept album were each song tells a part of Rixx's story inside the universe of New Eden. The conceit is role-playing to the ninth degree, allowing Rixx to be a real person and wondering what he would do in this situation - how would he tell his own story? How he lost his eye and gained his scars, why he never got those fixed? Where did he come from, what has he seen, and how did he become the Pirate Lord? And the friendly neighborhood pirate of New Eden.
It's not quite ready yet. I still have some tweaking left to do. But this time I wanted to write about the project before I released it. And explain a little more about what the project is and what I set out to accomplish. I didn't want to tackle a project this personal before I felt ready. It was too important to both of us. Or me. I guess it all depends on how you look at it.
I've never been one for role-playing, but I have enjoyed skirting the edges of it over the years with Rixx. From silly movie posters, to stories written from his perspective, it's all been a lot of fun helping to bring him to life. And this is just another way I wanted to try and serve that goal.
I do these things primarily to entertain myself. But I always hope that others enjoy them as well. I hope you'll give Weapons a chance and give it a listen when it is released. (Maybe next week?)
More details then.