Listen to the Lights (My 1st Post)
This post is focussed on proposed types of Behind the Lights posts, and defining general course heading for Pretty City Lights. Author = @prettycitylights (RYNO)
NOTE: Many people miss the ‘about page’ of our publication, which is worth a visit for an up-to-date definitive explanation.
Hello.
I’m RYNO // 라이노. My new music project is called, Pretty City Lights. This is my first Substack post. You may know me by my previous band name, Amateur Blonde. My songs have had some success. One was even featured on The Walking Dead, for example (S10 Ep21 ‘No Worries’).
I’m inviting you to explore why crafting of a song can be so fascinating.
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Why the 2 logos look similar.
This publication is called Behind the Lights because that’s what it is–a look behind the curtain to see how I make songs for Pretty City Lights. This publication is a grand ole’ experiment in vulnerability, that shall evolve over time.
Our Target Audience:
People who wanna watch a guy make songs from scratch
People who are exhausted by 'rockstars'
People who need a break from headlines and politics
People who just want to chill out and listen to albums
Songwriters, DIY recording artisans, musicians, camera people, and home studio gear heads–or people just starting out
Those who need real drums, played by a human
People dying of middle age
People who lift weights while listening to classical music
Those who agree song are THE ultimate magic
The Charted Course & Topics of Exploration
You will not be notified about every post. I post 1-2 times per week here. I send out summary emails less frequently. I do not email from substack directly, rather I send email from music@prettycitylights.com - linking to this page. Don’t be confused. I do this to make things easier for everyone.
You’ll be able to watch, read, and listen to content right from your email inbox, or follow links to the website.
Things you watch, read, and listen to here will evolve over time. I’m open to suggestions you may have. (please email music@prettycitylights.com)
My Post Types (see INDEX)
Demotrons (songs in progress) - Mini-Documentaries of a song’s creation, from initial spark to finished demo–sometimes as I write it, sometimes looking back. I make demos before I ever commit to recording. Demotrons are typically a couple episodes spread out over a the course of creation. Examples, here.
Song Expanders - Similar to Demotrons, Song Expanders dissect various aspects of the final recording AFTER it has been released. This could be technical or spiritual. Examples, here.
Instrument Monocles - usually an uncut video view of a single instrument as it was tracked start to finish. These often arrive paired with a Song Blueprint. Example, here.
Song Blueprints - a ‘How to Play’ instructional that includes a song’s chords, time signature, lyrics & song-chart. Typically, there’s video of the hands and chords on screen, in real time. Examples, here.
Gear Splainers - a focus on gear. This might feature: instruments, pedals, lighting, cameras, lenses, or album artwork creation. These may be detailed procedures, or studio tours. Without mansplaining, I make note of how I accomplished various complex tasks. These posts are aimed to please my fellow gear-heads. They are focussed on discovery. Examples, here.
Recording Ennui - similar to Gear ‘Splainers, but more focused on my multi-track recording ideas, editing, and mixing discoveries, analyzed in dreadful detail. The goal is to hone in on one cool detail from a recording. Examples, here.
Uncut Diamonds - Posts about projects abandoned, unfinished, or not worth the effort. For example, between 2006-2010 I began a number of projects that were not completed—such as an entire lost symphony. Examples, here.
Plans, Dates & Updates (News) Releases & Shows - Tour dates, album release dates, and details on where I’m heading, where I’ve been, the albums I've got planned, and pontifications of what’s next. Not as boring as it sounds. Examples, here.
My Songwriting Book - I hope to write a book about songwriting. Eventual of examples, here.
Exclusive First Listens - Song & Album releases. I invite you to share these with people who might enjoy Pretty City Lights music. Examples, here.
Live Show Recaps - performances, rehearsals, solo & band live show performance videos. Examples, here.
Utterances - off script musings, peculiar insights, band write-ups, weird discoveries, face-palming observations, angry outtakes, and all bilgy things (perhaps unrelated to music) I find worth sharing. Examples, here.
Filmpoet - Past Film projects, posts about film, and cinema memories. Examples, here.
Under The Covers - Cover songs I make, typically a friend's song (or someone I know).
Any Suggestions? You can help me with your post requests. Please leave a comment
What I aim to achieve with this publication
I call myself a songsmith, but you might describe me as a singer-songwriter. I think of myself sitting at a workbench, rather than an easel. In truth, I’m working hard to make content part of the process, rather than a chore unrelated to music.
Don’t hate the player, hate the game.
I’ve grown tired of moaning about content creation, so I’m doing something about it that’s meaningful. There are levels to content creation. I don’t wish to make disposable things, or exist solely in a bite-sized forms. If I was a baker, I’d bake and sell bread–but as a musician, I must harness attention through tangential means. It’s hard to navigate, yet I want to be good at it.
Studio 네네 (neh neh)–aka Yes Yes Studio
I’ve transformed a small room in my apartment into a sound & film stage called, “Yes Yes Studio” or “Studio 네네”. It’s the size of a parking space. Over the years, I’ve taught myself how to write, record, edit, and mix music. Lately, I’ve added simultaneously videoing the work as I go. It’s a bit nuts and I’ve spent a year chiseling down the massive procedure list to a few simple tasks. I can now set off 8 cameras recording at the push of a single button. I will make these videos available with an album or song’s release.
I intend to do one of my Gear Splainers about the Studio 네네 in the future and will place the link right here when it’s up.
‘Freemium’ content
This place is ‘Freemium’–pay what you want. You don’t have to pay a thing to see everything here. With that in mind, paying subscribers connect with me on a deeper level. You see, by offering your financial support, you are saying “I believe in you Ryno”.
Some days, I’d pay for that kind of encouragement.
I’m grateful beyond words for any support. Those who make a paid contributions towards my art, in my mind, become part of the song.
Paying subscribers are not helping me with down payments on a new motorcycle.
I’m dreaming up new posts all the time.
Music making can get lonely.
I consider this place a chill spot where readers can relax from political talk, pop-culture drivel, and shocking news headlines–and watch me focus on the pleasure of building something. I’m making my music discovery plain and vulnerable. Sharing like this is a new thing for me to do, but I need to come out of my cave. I hope you like what you find.
About the author
Ryan OToole (aka, RYNO) is a skateboarder from Arizona with too many film degrees, who writes songs for Pretty City Lights—a new music project based in Seoul, South Korea. His songs have been described as, "alternative rock for people dying of middle age". Formerly associated with the band, Amateur Blonde, his songs have been featured in television and film - notably, The Walking Dead (S10 Ep21). RYNO is the author of Behind The Lights a freemium substack publication , documenting the Pretty City Lights song & album creation process with the slogan, “watch me make music”.