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Hundreds of songwriters worldwide are coming together for a unique creative musical endeavor: each will attempt to compose at least 14 original pieces of music during the shortest month of the year. The project is called February Album Writing Month (FAWM), and participants can still register online for the challenge at
http://www.fawm.org.
The FAWM project, now in its third year, is the brainchild of Burr Settles, a singer-songwriter from Lexington, Kentucky now based in Madison, Wisconsin. Settles wrote a short novel as part of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) in November 2003, but was frustrated with the musical rut he had fallen into. In an email exchange with friend Matt Hopper (of the Alaskan rock band The Roman Candles), he suggested that there should be a high-velocity challenge for songwriters. The two enlisted some friends and decided to hold each other accountable for a month of songwriting in February 2004.
Settles created a blog of sorts where participants can track their progress, link to MP3 demo recordings, and post comments to encourage one another. The four inaugural participants all met the 14-song goal, collectively penning 66 new songs. The second FAWM in 2005 saw over 100 participants from six countries, of whom 25 met the goal, collectively penning 513 new pop songs, compositions, and works of sound art. Fourteen of the participants from FAWM 2005 went on to record their FAWM songs for a compilation CD, 14 Songs In 28 Days, which chronicles some of the year's best output.
To help overcome writer's block, the project features weekly songwriting challenges, such as writing in a foreign language or an unusual time signature (5/4, 7/8, etc.). Some participants also opt to write concept albums, where the songs string together in narrative or theme. For example, founder Burr Settles will attempt to devote the majority of this year's songs to various people, places, and events in the history of Kentucky (his home state). Three other "fawmers" are joining forces to compose a 42-song opus dedicated to all the U.S. Presidents up to George W. Bush. Since the FAWM 2006 website launched just over a week ago, the number of registered participants has grown to nearly 200, hailing mostly from the United States, but also Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Great Britain, Israel, and The Netherlands.
The compilation CD 14 Songs In 28 Days is available from the FAWM website for a $15 donation. FAWM has a goal of raising $5000 to help cover the website's development and operating costs. Additional proceeds will be divided evenly between next year's FAWM project and with Music Rising, a charitable effort to help revitalize the New Orleans music scene in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
About February Album Writing Month:
February Album Writing Month is a user-focused challenge for professional and amateur musicians. Its intent is to foster fast-paced songwriting with an emphasis on artistic growth and building community. Participants are a mix of music professionals, students, homemakers, and people who work day jobs but rock nightclubs. For more information, please visit www.fawm.org.
Contact:
Burr Settles
February Album Writing Month
P.O. Box 259821 Madison WI 53725
fawm@fawm.org – 608.332.3456
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