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GMC Forum _ CHILL OUT _ Are You Interested?
Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jul 22 2020, 08:39 PM
Hi guys! How are you?
As some of you may know, my band Cirse broke up the last year and now I have a new band called Ramen. I was thinking that I can share with you many details about my experiences with Cirse, and now with Ramen regarding composition, arranging, production, recording, playing live, dealing with bandmates, recording video clips, live sessions, marketing, press, social networks, youtube, spotify, and lots of things more.
With Cirse, we've released 4 studio albums, one live with an Orchestra and 2 Eps, wetoured all along Argentina, México, Paraguay, and Uruguay, and we played with bands like Metallica, Paramore, Duran Duran, Bring Me The Horizon, Incubus, Dave Mathews band and many other ones.
We are living a new beginning now. Ramen is the same band but with a different singer so in some senses we are starting again but with much more experiences and knowledge. 
Martin Magliano (Drummer) - Sebastián Leopardi (Bass Player) and me. That day we decided to continue together and start a new band.
Ramen during our last youtube livestream.
EDIT:
I've just started with some posts based on this one:
https://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showtopic=61178&hl=
https://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showtopic=61195
https://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showtopic=61251
Posted by: Todd Simpson Jul 22 2020, 08:43 PM
I'm sure everyone would be interested to hear about the journey of the band from idea to opening for Metallica 
Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jul 23 2020, 02:49 PM
Nice! Let's see what GMCers say about it!
Posted by: klasaine Jul 23 2020, 03:23 PM
Definitely!
So many many musicians just quit when their band, especially a band that's been around a long time breaks up. What's it like to re-group? What's going to stay the same? What's going to be different?
Posted by: Phil66 Jul 23 2020, 04:50 PM
I'd be very interested buddy, Duran Duran Hall from my area, they had a residency at a club in Birmingham called "The Rum Runner" one of the Taylor brothers used to live by a friend of mine.
I'd like to hear about how you got the gig with Metallica and Duran Duran, how you come up with your arrangements/compositions etc
Also the trials and tribulations of being in Cirse as much as you can without causing hassle obviously 
Cheers
Posted by: mhskeide Jul 23 2020, 07:01 PM
I am super interested in this, as my band have been together for 6 months now (terrible year to start, right?), and I feel like we are not getting momentum. Both because of obvious reason, and maybe some not so obvious ones.
I`ve been in bands before, but that`s so long ago, social media wasn`t a thing besides myspace and barely Facebook (and I`m only 29 
).
Things I`m curious about (just my stream of consciousness, not necessarily all questions needed to be answered):
Songwriting: Do you all write, or is someone a designated writer? If designated writer(s): How do you tackle if someone doesn`t like a part in a song? How much must the dislike be to change it?
Practices: How to practice smart as a band. Any creative insights to how band practice can/should be structured?
Social media for dummies: Do`s and don`ts. Have you put a lot of effort into something that didn`t really pay off at all?
Can probably list much more later, as this thread (or wherever you post) grows!
Posted by: Todd Simpson Jul 23 2020, 09:06 PM
Some very good questions. It could be a sort of course/class in what to do /not do when getting a music project off the ground.
Todd
I`ve been in bands before, but that`s so long ago, social media wasn`t a thing besides myspace and barely Facebook (and I`m only 29
).Things I`m curious about (just my stream of consciousness, not necessarily all questions needed to be answered):
Songwriting: Do you all write, or is someone a designated writer? If designated writer(s): How do you tackle if someone doesn`t like a part in a song? How much must the dislike be to change it?
Practices: How to practice smart as a band. Any creative insights to how band practice can/should be structured?
Social media for dummies: Do`s and don`ts. Have you put a lot of effort into something that didn`t really pay off at all?
Can probably list much more later, as this thread (or wherever you post) grows!
Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jul 24 2020, 03:13 PM
So many many musicians just quit when their band, especially a band that's been around a long time breaks up. What's it like to re-group? What's going to stay the same? What's going to be different?
Interesting topic! Many things keep the same, but many changes. I'm writing down all these ideas.
I'd like to hear about how you got the gig with Metallica and Duran Duran, how you come up with your arrangements/compositions etc
Also the trials and tribulations of being in Cirse as much as you can without causing hassle obviously
Cheers
Nice! We did two concerts with Duran Duran. Amazing experience! Thanks for the ideas Phil, I'll get into this as well!
I`ve been in bands before, but that`s so long ago, social media wasn`t a thing besides myspace and barely Facebook (and I`m only 29
).Things I`m curious about (just my stream of consciousness, not necessarily all questions needed to be answered):
Songwriting: Do you all write, or is someone a designated writer? If designated writer(s): How do you tackle if someone doesn`t like a part in a song? How much must the dislike be to change it?
Practices: How to practice smart as a band. Any creative insights to how band practice can/should be structured?
Social media for dummies: Do`s and don`ts. Have you put a lot of effort into something that didn`t really pay off at all?
Can probably list much more later, as this thread (or wherever you post) grows!
Interesting ones! I think that I'll start different thread to cover different topics. Feel free to share more questions here!
Yes, it's a tricky year, but maybe not that bad for a new band since touring is not the main thing when you are starting. The secret is to find the way to keep making music.
Todd
yeah!
Posted by: Steve Gilfield Jul 25 2020, 01:44 PM
I always enjoy listening to stories or advice from other people; I can learn from their mistakes or mishaps, and they might save me a lot of time and energy
How about you make videos once in a while on different sections (finding band mates, finding time and place for band practice, finding a manager, do you need a manager?, and so on)?
Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jul 25 2020, 08:20 PM
How about you make videos once in a while on different sections (finding band mates, finding time and place for band practice, finding a manager, do you need a manager?, and so on)?
Great ones!! We have lots of experience with Managers, and we didn't have one during the last 3 years!
I'll cover it as well!
Posted by: Todd Simpson Jul 26 2020, 04:17 AM
Love to hear about that as well! Maybe a series of posts in a thread and some time after each for questions? I'm sure big chunks of it should end up in the wiki.
Todd
I'll cover it as well!
Posted by: PosterBoy Jul 28 2020, 12:24 PM
Have the Cirse fans automatically become Ramen fans? Has there been any negativity from Cirse fans comparing the singers?
Have you any different goals for Ramen, than you had for Cirse?
Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jul 29 2020, 12:25 AM
Todd
I was planning to start thread for each topic, and maybe have a thread at my personal board with links to each pne. What do you think?
Have you any different goals for Ramen, than you had for Cirse?
This are very cool questions mate!
Posted by: Sensible Jones Jul 29 2020, 03:43 PM
This will be very interesting! Especially with your experiences in a more 'modern' era of the industry as compared to my own experiences from the late 80's/early 90's!!
Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jul 29 2020, 04:19 PM
hehehe yeah! I've started my career in the late 90s so I had to adapt to many changes through the years.
Posted by: Sensible Jones Jul 29 2020, 08:00 PM
Exactly!! Plus you had the Internet to start with!!
It was a very limited resource for us, we were still relying n Landline Phones and Letters!! If our Record Company wanted to see us they'd send a letter to confirm and Time and Date!! As for trying to organise playing Gigs abroad, that was almost impossible!!!
Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jul 30 2020, 02:54 PM
It was a very limited resource for us, we were still relying n Landline Phones and Letters!! If our Record Company wanted to see us they'd send a letter to confirm and Time and Date!! As for trying to organise playing Gigs abroad, that was almost impossible!!!
yeah! We had emails available with our first band. I remember sending emails to every metal label from Europe and USA. Some of them answered and I've sent our band's first album (physical shipping).
One of them really liked the band and songs, but they criticized the production. They were right, I was 18 years old, and I had no much idea of audio and mixing (I was starting my sound studies at the University) The sound was not professional...
If you are curious, this was my band during those days:
Oh that mix!!
haha... but I love the songs. There is a 23 minutes long song... we played it live only once.. it was amazing.
Posted by: Phil66 Jul 30 2020, 06:20 PM
I'm not a big fan of prog but some of the tracks I liked, I could hear hints of Iron Maiden and Magnum in there. I have only skimmed through it though.
I bet you were chuffed to bring that out at 18
Posted by: MrVegas Jul 31 2020, 03:02 AM
I would like to read about Gabriels, and everyones experience in a band. I would like to know how your bands started and why they ended. How did you find musicians to fill spots you need? How do you and the rest of the band members make sure you set times for writing and practicing, and what your expectations of every member?
During this lockdown I have been doing a lot of guitar practicing (I've learned 6 or so lessons on this site, all from Gabriel and Diego, and some of my fave songs. I practice all these lessons and songs everyday ill upload eventually).
I have been thinking of responding to some ads, and trying to find people to play with. I wonder what I need to know going in. ill play anything just to play with others. Should I ask what I should learn before I jam with them ect.....
I'd like to here your guys good storys of you finding people you were comfortable playing with, your nightmare storys on stage, and bad experiences of meeting strangers to find people to play with. I have stranger phobia, I feel awkward hitting up adds to find people to jam with.
Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jul 31 2020, 03:34 PM
I bet you were chuffed to bring that out at 18
yes! Maiden was an influence! Fates Warning, Queensryche and some Power Metal bands were also big influences during those days.
During this lockdown I have been doing a lot of guitar practicing (I've learned 6 or so lessons on this site, all from Gabriel and Diego, and some of my fave songs. I practice all these lessons and songs everyday ill upload eventually).
I have been thinking of responding to some ads, and trying to find people to play with. I wonder what I need to know going in. ill play anything just to play with others. Should I ask what I should learn before I jam with them ect.....
I'd like to here your guys good storys of you finding people you were comfortable playing with, your nightmare storys on stage, and bad experiences of meeting strangers to find people to play with. I have stranger phobia, I feel awkward hitting up adds to find people to jam with.
Awesome!! There are lots of great ideas here! I also think that it's a great idea to hear everybody's experiences about this topics. I'll always incentive everybody to share his experiences about the topic covered. It's a great idea!
Posted by: Todd Simpson Jul 31 2020, 07:43 PM
The bit at 49:40 was very maiden and I liked it a lot. The mix was just the result of being a young musician. We all have to work through a bunch of bad mixes just like we have to work through a bunch of bad playing. Just like guitar, production takes wads of practice and takes years to get right. My first demos didn't sound anywhere near that good. You should be proud IMHO!
my first demos were way more raw. Yours sound like professional produced grammy award winning mixes by comparison
https://soundcloud.com/techniqueswithtodd/talisman-the-final-day?in=techniqueswithtodd/sets/talisman-80s-metal-recorded-in
Todd
One of them really liked the band and songs, but they criticized the production. They were right, I was 18 years old, and I had no much idea of audio and mixing (I was starting my sound studies at the University) The sound was not professional...
If you are curious, this was my band during those days:
Oh that mix!!
haha... but I love the songs. There is a 23 minutes long song... we played it live only once.. it was amazing.Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Aug 1 2020, 02:26 AM
my first demos were way more raw. Yours sound like professional produced grammy award winning mixes by comparison
https://soundcloud.com/techniqueswithtodd/talisman-the-final-day?in=techniqueswithtodd/sets/talisman-80s-metal-recorded-in
Todd
hehe nice to hear you singing!! This sounds like 80's old school Thrash! You could have become one of the big four!
Posted by: Todd Simpson Aug 1 2020, 03:21 PM
I had no choice but to sing back then as we just could not find a singer! It was very tough to find singers. There were plenty of guitar players though! We were all from the same High School so we all knew each other. We LOVED the big four Our bass player was a Mormon and had to go on a 2 year Missionary trip right after high school. That pretty much killed the band as nobody else we could find, could play his bass parts. Then again we were too young to be playing bars but were playing them none the less It was fun while it lasted!
Todd
Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Aug 4 2020, 03:10 PM
New thread here: https://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showtopic=61178&hl=
Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Aug 11 2020, 04:04 PM
Hello guys!! I've just started with some posts based on this one:
https://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showtopic=61178&hl=
https://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showtopic=61195&hl=
Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Sep 3 2020, 02:34 PM
Hi friends!! I'll continue updating the first post of this thread so you don't miss new entries!
https://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showtopic=61151&view=findpost&p=779093
And if you have new questions, topic suggestions, feel free to write here. I'm preparing new stuff.
Posted by: Todd Simpson Sep 4 2020, 01:36 AM
I feel your pain! In the start, we just used a four track recorder as was the custom then went to the studio for a 24 track recording, which we thought was a HUGE deal. This was PRE DAW when people still used a big console and 24 track tape and it was very expensive. I must say I don't miss that very much. These days hit records are made in peoples homes.
Awesome!! There are lots of great ideas here! I also think that it's a great idea to hear everybody's experiences about this topics. I'll always incentive everybody to share his experiences about the topic covered. It's a great idea!
Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Sep 7 2020, 02:11 AM
Luckily, the first "profesional" band that I had was in 1999 and we'd just discovered Cakewalk 9. It was like magic.
Without knowing about sound we recorded this album:
The sound and mix are clearly very poor, but we learnt a lot during the process.
8 years later I've recorded mixed and produced Cirse's first album. (in 2007)
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