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Odd Time Signatures, Social Media and Musical Surprise with Josh Zimmer

Metadata

title
Odd Time Signatures, Social Media and Musical Surprise with Josh Zimmer
description
Josh Zimmer (Project Atlantic) has taken off on social media with his tongue-in-cheek music theory videos. In this pod, we discuss how he came to love these quirks of pop music, where social media fits in music marketing, and how special the element of surprise can be. (I'm traveling at the moment, and uploading the video has proved impossible on hotel and cafe wi-fi. I'll add the video to my YouTube page, when I'm back home in San Diego. My YouTube is https://youtube.com/scoobertdoobertburrito
status
complete
date
2023-10-24
kind
guest
guestSlugs
  • josh-zimmer
listenUrl
https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lovemusicmore/episodes/Odd-Time-Signatures--Social-Media-and-Musical-Surprise-with-Josh-Zimmer-e2b0f2s
appleUrl
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/odd-time-signatures-social-media-and-musical-surprise/id1567355195?i=1000632464018&uo=4
spotifyUrl
https://open.spotify.com/episode/7hQynFt7r05zwkqBEkrZkl
topicsDiscussed
  • The internet
  • Music theory
  • Creativity
  • The music business
  • Josh's musical journey, from Pink Floyd to Project Atlantic
  • Impact of social media on music marketing
  • Understanding odd time signatures
  • The element of surprise in music
  • Life as an independent artist
  • Composition techniques and tools
  • The value of personal expression in music
hostNote
**Josh Zimmer** (Project Atlantic) blew up on Instagram and TikTok by doing something deceptively simple: pointing at **odd bars** hiding in plain sight, a sneaky **3/4 measure** in the *Dragon Tales* theme song, micro-surprises in radio edits, the kind of left turn that makes your ears perk up for half a second. We trace his arc from a 13-year-old **Pink Floyd / Wizard of Oz** sync-up summer, through bass-led voice-leading, to why he makes those videos: pop is often **simpler than it looks**, and the people behind radio hits are not amateurs. Then **Project Atlantic**, social media as discovery (not replacement) for an indie career, and why rhythmic surprise hits hardest in the songs you least expect.
selectedMoments
  • label
    Josh's initial encounter with music
    startSec
    13
    note
    Pink Floyd at 13, how his whole perception of what music could be turned around.
  • label
    Explaining music theory basics
    startSec
    249
    note
    How learning music theory opened up the whole world of music for Josh.
  • label
    Contrasting music theory perceptions
    startSec
    402
    note
    Theory made Josh a much stronger musician, rules vs. tools.
  • label
    The role of emotion in music
    startSec
    567
    note
    The emotional connection music brings to both creators and listeners.
  • label
    Little surprises in pop songs
    startSec
    1162
    note
    Odd bars as micro left-turns, especially when you least expect them.
  • label
    Dragon Tales theme, sneaky 3/4 bar
    startSec
    1188
    note
    Josh's first viral odd-meter video: a measure of 3/4 in a PBS kids' show theme.
  • label
    Pop is simpler than it looks
    startSec
    1275
    note
    Breaking the stereotype that commercial music is made by amateurs.
  • label
    Legacy of personal music
    startSec
    1764
    note
    The timeless nature of music and its personal meaning over the years.
  • label
    The universal appeal of music
    startSec
    2086
    note
    Music is absolutely everywhere, being able to partake in that is very special.
excerptQuotes
  • text
    When I was 13, he put on Dark Side of the Moon with it, and after that opening song, my whole perception of what music could be was absolutely turned around.
    startSec
    124
    reviewed
    true
  • text
    Little surprises — sometimes they're in some of the songs that you least expect it.
    startSec
    1161
    reviewed
    true
  • text
    The PBS show Dragon Tales — the theme song has a measure of three four.
    startSec
    1192
    reviewed
    true
  • text
    There's this feeling that pop music is actually simpler than it actually is — and anytime you're able to point out a moment like nah, there's stuff going on here, it gives people some chills.
    startSec
    1273
    reviewed
    true
  • text
    The people behind songs that get radio airplay — whether you like them or not — the people behind them are extremely talented.
    startSec
    1294
    reviewed
    true
  • text
    The only thing I'm comfortable with on any of my Project Atlantic stuff is the bass playing — everything else is such a struggle for me.
    startSec
    1571
    reviewed
    true
faq
  • question
    Who is Josh Zimmer?
    answer
    Josh Zimmer is a musician and the creator of Project Atlantic, known for his engaging music theory videos on social media.
  • question
    What are odd time signatures in music?
    answer
    Odd time signatures are rhythmic structures that differ from common time, creating unique patterns and surprises in music.
  • question
    How does social media impact music marketing?
    answer
    Social media provides a platform for musicians to reach wider audiences, engage fans, and promote their music creatively.
transcriptPublished
false
draft
false

Content

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