---
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
---