[microsound] RPM Challenge

[Ken Restivo]

On Mon, Feb 02, 2009 at 02:03:37PM -0500, Michael Palace wrote:
> I also want to mention this project my small town started a few years ago.
> 
> http://www.rpmchallenge.com/
> basically it is a challenge for people to record an album in the month of 
> FEB.  10 songs or 35 minutes of music.  i did it the first two years, got 
> some airplay on our National Public Radio Station.  I actually did 4 
> projects each year (2006, 2007).  I skipped 2008. 
> 
> This year I will likely only do one with a guy I know here in town.  It is 
> open to the world.  First year was local and there were 200 bands.  The 
> other years it was open to the world and 800 people completed it.  Thought 
> you all might want to give it a go.
> 

I participated in RPM08 this last year with a group of Linux-based musicians (http://packet-in.org). We created the first collaboration CD made completely via Linux with tracks constructed via sharing over the Internet. It was not microsound-y at all, but certainly fun.

I'd recommend any group of people to try it. Like the Infinite Jest or the Pi projects, RPM can provide the kind of focus and/or deadline that can result in interesting collaborations.

-ken