With the afternoon free, I sat in the studio ready to work. My plan was to record a new song and video. However, I had not yet written any music.
Common sense would dictate it is best to first have something ready to record before rolling tape. However, my association with common sense has always been a story of utilitarian opportunism. Logic is fine until it is an obstacle.
The Abbondanza session
Determined to make a music video (without any music), I set forth with only a title. Abbondanza! is Italian for abundance. I do not speak Italian. As stated, I claim no fealty to logic.
I set my parameters. They included a 111 BPM tempo and the key of A minor. I put a click track in my headphones, turned on the camera, and started recording.
A robotic rhythm tapped in my ears and for twenty-two minutes, on over a dozen instruments, I played a song which (at the time) existed only in the future. I used mostly percussion instruments, which did not require any tonal consideration. For the melodic instruments, I improvised chords and melodies, making sure to stay in key (A min/C Maj).
The unedited 22-minuite video
Abbondanza! Technical notes:
The microphone at center screen is an MXL 920 condenser mic plugged into a Berringer U-Phoria UMC404HD audio interface, which is in turn connected to my Mac Mini. An open ProTools session is running on the computer, providing the click track, and recording the mic. Video is provided by my iPhone 15, which is propped against a coffee cup for support.
Pulling it all together
At the conclusion of the recording session I turned my attention to production. Composing, editing, and mixing were simultaneous activities on this project. I wrote the music by copy and pasting the previously recorded random riffs, chords, and rhythms into a cohesive whole with a chill groove. Lastly I added keys for a little bass.
I cut up the video with the open-source OpenShot video editor software. I spliced in some shots of my daily studio companions. They are (in order of appearance) Murphy (dog), Rey, Mittens, and CC (cats). I then added an iMovie filter and “Abbondanza!” was complete.
Pleasantly surprised with the results, I will release the song as a single on May 1, 2026, and it will likely appear on the forthcoming The Static Dive album Samsara Blues. Until then, enjoy “Abbondanza!” on YouTube, and subscribe!
Intruments used on "Abbodanza!"
artwork by Lela Smith – lelasmith.com