Project Plan

Introduction:

My alias in music is Mantramind (however you can shorten it to Mantra). I personally feel that there isn't too much I can say about myself as an artist because I'm still quite young and have a lot of developing to do, both as an artist & human. However, I can say that I want to create a "developing picture" with everything I make (i.e. progression in my songs that can either be represented through my production or lyrics).

My goals are quite simplistic & ambitious: I want to at least create music that makes me feel good whilst at the same time provide a roof over my head because I want a place I can call "home" & mentally fill it with various compositions, productions, lyrics & so on.

My current main genre (hip-hop) is in a weird phase right now but I think that's because it's very unfamiliar with the phase it's currently in. Trap, a genre which has branched from hip-hop, turned the tables on hip-hop as far the mainstream market is concerned. However, at the same time a lot of other people are making hip-hop but putting a twist on it with an experimental approach as well as others trying to be "one" with the genre. So to answer the question: I don't know where I fit into genre, I just intend on bringing myself to the table.

I'm not going to be boxed in so that I'm just making hip-hop simply because I listen to various types of music & therefore, I'm very open to making various types of music as long as I have the musical ability to translate what's in my head & bring it to the real world. However, I must admit that currently, my main focus is on making hip-hop.

I don't know what role I'll be playing in the music industry & whether it'll be an important one or not, however, all I know is that I'll be making/writing music regardless of what position I assume.

Content:

The content of my product will be using hip-hop as the foundation but I intend to apply elements of other genres, for example, have a bog-standard hip-hop song but with a funk bass line, minimal drum kit, a RnB/Motown influenced chord progression on keys & maybe some strings that sounds like it came straight from a 50s record (reference track: Patti Page - Old Cape Cod). But that's only a thought.

I've chosen to go with this approach because I want to truly reflect the range of music that I listen to & also, as I mentioned earlier, hip-hop is in a unfamiliar phase & a lot of people are expanding the genre, so as long as I don't deliberately copy anyone's style/approach, then why can't I experiment a bit and try bring something new to table?

For now, I'll plan to have around 3-4 tracks of me rapping, 2-3 tracks of my own production & at least one live recording where I work with other musicians.

Collaboration/Studio Roles:

I plan on working with people from the Music Performance class, preferably I want a drummer & bass player first, maybe a pianist & guitarist to add more dimensions in the relevant song & maybe work with one other person on the mixing/mastering because two pair of ears are better than one sometimes.

What will they bring to the project? something I can't: live music through the use of instruments. They'll also bring a jam session to the project because sometimes, there's nothing better than a bunch of musicians coming together & jamming, so I want that "feel good" feeling in my project.

How are we going to work together? first of all, I don't want to give them a "script" trying to make them do specific things because I feel that I would be already limiting their capabilities as a musician, so I'd much rather let them express themselves as much as they want to get the best out of them. If anything, I'll just tell them simple stuff like "hip-hop is the basis, so 4/4 rhythm, etc", give them an indication of what to do & make sure that everyone agrees with it, then go with the flow and see what the outcome is.

Equipment List (better to explain in person):

One dynamic & one condenser microphone to record my vocals (when it comes to the live jam sessions, I'll think of what relevant mics I'll need at the time but for now, I'm unsure as to what instruments will be present)

Future Plans:

I can easily use it as a portfolio in case I'm spreading my music to other people whom are interested, whether they're an A&R from a label or a friend from around the corner of my street. If anything, I'll push it out in the public & hope it captures the right pair of ears.

Also, & most importantly, it will be a free project so I can get my name & music out there much more easier rather than charging people to hear music from someone they may never knew existed.