November 2005 was, of course, NaNoWriMo:
National Novel Writing Month, Chris Baty's brilliant project in which
participants write a 50,000-word novel in the space of a month. It was
also, as it happens, National Solo Album Month, or NaSoAlMo; those
brave souls who were up for it wrote and recorded an entire solo
album in the course of its 30 days.
THIS
YEAR'S PARTICIPANTS:
Philip Alderman WINNER!
Sam Amidon WINNER!
Padgett Arango
Pete Bradwell
Susan Broyles
Michael Bulanti
Andrew C. Bulhak WINNER!
Liz Bustamante WINNER!
Neven J. Carswell (a.k.a. the Claudes)
Kinsley Castle (a.k.a. King o' the Concrete Jungle) WINNER!
The Claps WINNER!
Crescent Electric
Adam Cummins
Darezzo
DJ I Am Cuter Than You
Double J (Ed Leheny Jr.)
Pat Feghali a.k.a. The Modern Ache WINNER!
Ferguson
Zach Forsberg-Lary
Jay Friedman
Todd Gehman (Speler) WINNER!
Lisa Gidley
Jennifer Hart
Jeff Hinton
Impudence
K. Thor Jensen
jonbro
Christopher Keyes
J. Kim WINNER!
Tal M. Klein WINNER!
Kristin Lepionka
The Linger Effect (Kent Burt)
Lola
Lotus Wire WINNER!
lowbot
Tyson Lynn
Torin Macbeth
Mark Maloof
Scott McDowell
Charles Michelet WINNER!
Russell Mirabelli
Dennis Moser WINNER!
Katie Mourning
Muller of The Felony College of the Streets WINNER!
Martin Mushrush
David Nagler WINNER!
Ernest Paik WINNER!
Holly Pants
Robert Parker
Ian Piirtola
John Rose WINNER!
Penny Royalty WINNER!
Jodi Shapiro WINNER!
Matthew N. Sharp WINNER!
John Shaw WINNER!
Larry Sheradon WINNER!
Kate Silver
Matt Slack
Jane Srisarakorn
Kate St. Claire
Katy Stephan WINNER!
Sloan Stewart
Derik Stiller
Havilah Tower
Jason Verlinde
Walkathon
Britton Ware
Jodi Warren
Rob Weddle
Tyler Wilcox
Caleb A. Winter
FAQ (for amusement/historical purposes):
So,
for the purposes of NaSoAlMo, what exactly is a solo album?
An
album of
music you have written, played and recorded entirely by yourself*. The
shortest inarguably awesome album that a lot of people have heard** is
the first Ramones album, which is 29:09 long, so your solo album must
be at least that long. Beyond that, its form and content are up to you.
*Since
Ramones
includes a cover of "Let's Dance," your NaSoAlMo album may, if you
wish, include one cover of somebody else's song.
**It has been pointed out to the administrators that Slayer's Reign In Blood is 29:03 and that Nick Drake's Pink Moon--which
actually is a solo album--is a mere 28:22. You may set your
personal goals accordingly, if you wish. You're welcome.
So
is this a competition? Who's judging it? What do I win? What if it's
not good enough? Do I have to send it in? Do I have to play it for
anyone? Help!
No.
This
isn't a competition: this is a challenge. The winners are everyone who
completes a solo album by November 30; what you will have won is that
you will have made an album by yourself. You needn't play it for anyone
else, and you certainly don't have to send it in, although I will
probably listen to any you feel like sending me. It doesn't have to
please anyone but yourself, if that; you are going for your own
personal best here. The point is actually doing the work, starting and
finishing the project. The deadline makes it easy!
Does it have to be
professional-sounding?
Of
course not.
It doesn't have to be professional-anything; the point is the fun of
making it. I encourage you to record with whatever you've got around
the house.
How do I sign up for NaSoAlMo?
And then what do I do?
Sign
up by the
end of October (as in: it's too late for this year) by sending an email to
signup [at-sign] nasoalmo.org, to let me know that you're in. Unless
you indicate otherwise, I'll post your name and (if you have one) web
site here. At 12:01 AM November 1, as you're noshing your Halloween
candy, you can start work on your solo album. If you've finished by the
end of November--when you've finished, rather, let's think positive
here!--let me know that you've won, and I'll post a winner's hall of
fame here. (And, if you like, a link to your finished album; totally up
to you.)
Aren't you just ripping off Chris
Baty and NaNoWriMo?
Yes.
Yes, I am. Totally. Thank you for the inspiration, Chris.
Spread
the word, and let me know if you have any other questions!