This last week members of the Junk Line got together to do a social distancing performance. It was the first time we had gotten together to jam live since COVID and it felt amazing! Why is it so different to play with people in person vs. recording yourself on a click track and puzzling the parts together? The difference is this human element of music making.
When we play to a click-track there is no communication, no fluidity and no situational improvising. This makes a much less musical experience, especially for a group like the Junk Line who thrive off of one another. When we jam with one another our ears interpret the tempo, rhythm and feel of a jam. Something that a click-track simply cannot provide. This was obvious to me after recording myself playing duets with myself. I would play the two parts with a click-track but they just didn’t feel right. Once I recorded the first part, then played the second part to that first recording, it sounded more musical. It was such a subtle transformation, but it proves the theory that music is meant to be played with other people.
Our Junk Line performance this week was exactly what I needed to confirm the theory. We meshed, we adapted, we had fun. I cannot wait for us to be able to do this again, but in the meantime, I have a lot of awesome footage to look back on!
Hilary.