Hack Music Theory

Life in a ‘90s Grunge Band.

LIFE IN A ‘90S GRUNGE BAND. Comparing the music world of 1996 to 2026.     It’s 9pm. Friday night. December 20th, 1996. Cape Town, South Africa. I walk out on stage. The air is thick with smoke from the fog machine and cigarettes, and probably something else too. A bright spotlight is in my face. The light’s hot. The weather’s hot. That middle-of-an-African-summer kinda hot. All I can see beyond the spotlight is a sea of people. The venue is sold out. In fact, it’s probably over capacity.   We’re opening for South Africa’s biggest rock band, Springbok Nude Girls, who’d just signed a major label deal with Sony. But my band ROYD wasn’t far behind them, all thanks to the support of legendary DJ Barney Simon, who hosted the only rock show on national radio. His heavy rotation of our debut single led to it climbing up the national rock chart until it reached No. 1 just a few weeks before. To get there, we beat out Nirvana and Smashing Pumpkins. Recalling this makes it feel like a distant dream, but it was in fact, reality. And I was only a teenager. This was truly a dream come true.   [//images.zoogletools.com/s:bzglfiles/u/64207/e9225e136de3cbe16f28d0c2e764b32e9041d375/original/1996.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==]     The roar of the crowd intensifies with every step I take towards the microphone. I swing my long hair to the side of my face and pretend I’m about to speak into the mic. The crowd quietens. In this silence, without warning, we launch into the heavy opening riff of our No. 1 single “Impression X”. They. Go. Crazy! The dancefloor instantly erupts into a dangerous (yet friendly) pit of hair-windmills, body-slams, and flying flannel shirts. Welcome to life in the ‘90s.   Subscribe to get the latest posts in your inbox [https://rayharmony.substack.com/subscribe].   Fast forward 29 years to December 2025. I get an email from the bassist, my best friend Rob Krammer, who now lives in Austria: “Dude, we should totally do something special next year to celebrate the 30-year anniversary of our debut release”.   After the initial shock of realizing that three decades had somehow flown by, we decided that it would be awesome to get all our recordings re-mastered and re-released as one epic album. We excitedly emailed the drummer, my brother Tony Holroyd, who now lives in Japan. He’s one of those people who doesn’t show his excitement, though, or maybe he just doesn’t get excited, I don’t know. But after he revealed a sliver of enthusiasm, we knew we were onto a great idea!   ROYD was formed in 1995 (out of the remains of a previous band) and broke up in 1999, when I moved to Los Angeles to study at Musicians Institute. In our four years together, we recorded one demo and four EPs. We went to record at Paris Studios once each year. And no, unfortunately it wasn’t in Paris. That was the name of the owner. But he was great, so we didn’t mind the fact that Paris was just down the road.   Subscribe to get the latest posts in your inbox [https://rayharmony.substack.com/subscribe].   Back to December 2025. So I got in touch with my favourite mastering engineer, Tony Lindgren, over at Fascination Street Studios [https://www.fascinationstreet.se] in Sweden, to see if he was up for the job. He was, and his genius has not only revived these dusty old ‘90s recordings, but he’s masterfully brought them up-to-date with the big, loud, modern music industry, without compromising their old-school character though.   You can hear the results for yourself on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/album/0Ropq59iXJRGy0iY48KVmy?si=DHbJgjJ1TJKIAzYRlhg9vw&nd=1&dlsi=3b0a5a42e8a64f90], Apple [https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-90s-recordings/6767704537], or any other streaming platform, just search for ROYD - The ‘90s Recordings. Or if you’d like to download the album for free, then head on over to HackMusicTheory.com/Royd [https://hackmusictheory.com/royd].   [//images.zoogletools.com/s:bzglfiles/u/64207/8bc0fc0fa533c520d4f69589230fde8d56adcbce/original/royd-the-90s-recordings-final-cover.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==] ROYD • THE ‘90S RECORDINGS Cover art hand-drawn in 1996 by Ben Ludik and his ballpoint pen     So coming back to the title of this post. What was life like in a ‘90s grunge band? In other words, how does the music industry of 30 years ago compare to now?   Instead of focusing on all the obvious things, like recording to tape in the studio, or running a newsletter and fan club using snail mail, or selling CDs at shows, or playing in front of people who were actually looking at us (not their phones), instead of all that, I’m going to focus on the feeling that us musicians felt about life in the music industry back in the ‘90s. And what feeling was that? Hope.   You see, the music industry back then was a hopeful place to be, because every year it was getting bigger and better as music continued to become a bigger part of our shared culture. The future was not only hopeful, it was expansive. Opportunities were increasing with every passing year. There was a shared belief that music was a vital part of our daily life.   Subscribe to get the latest posts in your inbox [https://rayharmony.substack.com/subscribe].   If you didn’t live through this era, then watch the movie “Singles” from 1992. It perfectly captures how important music was in our lives back then. And it’s a really good rom-com, too! And if you prefer your movies a bit sillier, then watch “Airheads” from 1994. It’s silly, yes, but it totally embodies that feeling of hope we all had back then. The future was bright.   And music was arguably the biggest shared cultural experience that people bonded over. It was a significant part of people’s lives, and it took up a significant amount of our time. We would spend hours every day listening to music. Recorded music and live music. And the music wasn’t in the background. It was the main event.   [//images.zoogletools.com/s:bzglfiles/u/64207/2641b9a528c22dbe8a37ef1f64c3175832f2b10e/original/royd.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==] ROYD • PARIS STUDIOS • 1999 Tony Holroyd (drums), Rob Krammer (bass), Ray Harmony (vocals, guitar)     The music industry in 2026 is the opposite. Hardly anyone listens to music as the main event nowadays. Music is almost always a soundtrack to something else: working, studying, driving, walking, exercising, cleaning, cooking, etc.   Yes, people listen to lots of music in 2026. Maybe even more than we did 30 years ago, because everyone has a phone that plays music now. But, music has been relegated to the background. It’s pretty much never the main event, and if it is, it’s usually just a song here or there, not a full album followed by another one, and on and on, which is how we used to listen to music back in the ‘90s.   While music was a bonding experience back then, it’s now an isolating one. There are numerous reasons for this shift, which we don’t need to get into here, but the evidence for this change can be seen on Spotify or Apple or whatever streaming platform you use. Look at the biggest artists in the world, with tens of millions of monthly listeners. Forget about the artists who are no longer with us, like Michael Jackson, just look at the living artists. How many of these massive artists have you never heard of? A lot, right? Another way this can be seen is by looking at the artists playing the arena in your city. How many haven’t you heard of? A lot, again. Right?   Subscribe to get the latest posts in your inbox [https://rayharmony.substack.com/subscribe].   That never happened in the ‘90s. We all knew the big artists in every genre, even if we didn’t listen to that genre. This was largely due to radio being the main source of most people’s music. That level of gatekeeping has an obvious downside, which is actually what the “Airheads” move is about, but the gatekeeping is precisely how the shared culture was created and sustained.   So, despite the frustration that us musicians felt back then from trying to somehow claw our way through the gate, I think it was worth it. Because we now know what happens when the floodgates are opened.   Yes, everyone can release music to the world nowadays, but the price we paid for that privilege is the loss of our shared culture. If you’re a Gen Xer like me, or perhaps you’re a Boomer, what do you think? You’ve experienced both worlds. Was it worth it? Let me know in the comments, I’d love to hear your perspective.   [//images.zoogletools.com/s:bzglfiles/u/64207/acf77aee49c86ae14224044f0505ae21161a4664/original/studio.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==] Paris (owner, engineer) waiting for the tape to rewind. Studios in the ‘90s never had computers, they were reserved for boring office workers!     While there are many other differences between the pre-internet music industry and the industry we’re living in now, the main difference (by far!) is generative-AI. This isn’t so much a difference as a demolition. I’ve said a lot about this topic in other posts, so check those out if you’re interested, but suffice it to say that AI has single-handedly killed the hope for a bright future. Generative-AI is narrowing the future. Every month there are fewer opportunities in the music industry.   And while I’m a proud old-man luddite shouting at the AI clouds, this is not my opinion. It’s a fact. The AI narrative that mainstream media outlets and all the big YouTubers and podcasters are pushing (in a suspiciously co-ordinated fashion) is that everyone loves generative-AI and everyone’s using it.   But, if you do some digging, you’ll quickly hit a very different level of reality, where young people are rebelling against AI because it’s robbing them of a future. To learn more about this rebellion and how it’s developing, I highly recommend subscribing to Brian Merchant’s brilliant subtack Blood in the Machine [https://www.bloodinthemachine.com].   These youngsters pushing back against AI fill me with that ‘90s hope once again, and remind me that it’s worth boycotting generative-AI. It’s not too late. And we owe it to the younger generations.   Subscribe to get the latest posts in your inbox [https://rayharmony.substack.com/subscribe].   I’ve had my time in the spotlight, literally, but if we don’t boycott generative-AI, these young musicians will never get their time in the spotlight. And it’s already happening. All the biggest artists in the world are mostly dead, and if they’re not dead, their band broke up decades ago. The Beatles. Elvis. Michael Jackson. Queen. Frank Sinatra. On and on. Read the legendary Ted Gioia’s recent post [https://www.honest-broker.com/p/the-hottest-musician-in-2026-is-problematic] on this bizarre phenomenon.   And don’t get me wrong. I love old music by dead people. In fact, my favourite artist of all time died in 1750. But, every Friday I listen to the new releases in search of new gems. The treasure hunt is thrilling! We can’t give up on new music and young musicians, otherwise the music world dies.   [//images.zoogletools.com/s:bzglfiles/u/64207/5d7f9d6139d95986bbbb824e4bc49254ad0c9213/original/live.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==] ROYD • LIVE IN CAPE TOWN • 1998     And remember to look in your local community too, and please get out there and support the young musicians playing live in your area. They need and deserve your support more than anyone in the entire music industry!   And please make an effort to speak to them face-to-face afterwards and share your appreciation. It will mean the absolute world to them. Most musicians nowadays are struggling with an array of self-doubt and anxiety about the future of the industry, so a kind and supportive word is your most valuable currency. Having said that, though, if you’ve got a few spare bucks, give them a tip or buy their merch, cos unfortunately landlords don’t accept compliments as rent payments.   Subscribe to get the latest posts in your inbox [https://rayharmony.substack.com/subscribe].   And speaking of paying the rent. If you want to help me put money in my landlord’s pocket on the 1st of next month, please consider becoming a paid subscriber (or make a one-off donation) [https://hackmusictheory.com/join], or perhaps buying something on my website [https://hackmusictheory.com/lessons].   If you can’t afford to at the moment, though, no problem. You can give Hack Music Theory a 5-star rating in your podcast app, that supports my work too.   And if you’re feeling nostalgic for the ‘90s, check out the new, old ROYD album. Or is that the old, new album? I don’t know, but just search for ROYD - The ‘90s Recordings on whatever streaming platform you use, and enjoy some old-school ‘90s vibes.   Thanks for being here, my friend, you are very much appreciated!   Ray Harmony :)     ----------------------------------------   DONATE. Help keep the Songwriter's Ark afloat [https://hackmusictheory.com/join].     [https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXcfJLf-E08kl2XRn5nHpb-Nc_iPEffyLR7Yt6bV9gHxE4C8wKhFCPYgXk1ciyN7nutOdhug3obTbw9e5x2v1evIgw5nnTBgp6U9S1lQmoYZkWuM0qGo6Cj4dlGe3kU9vW_4fHP3?key=xaUIfXiL9neOSZAizVCeXA]https://hackmusictheory.com/join Photo by Mart Production     ----------------------------------------   ABOUT.   Ray Harmony is a multi award-winning music lecturer who’s made music with Serj Tankian (System Of A Down), Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine), Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree), Devin Townsend (Strapping Young Lad), Ihsahn (Emperor), Kool Keith (Ultramagnetic MCs), Madchild (Swollen Members), and more. Ray is also the founder of Hack Music Theory, a YouTube channel with over 10 million views and over 255,000 subscribers learning the fast, easy and fun way to make music without using AI, cos it ain’t no fun getting a robot to write “your” songs! Everything here is 100% Human [https://hackmusictheory.com/home/blog/7737438/writers-readers-against-ai] and 0% AI.     [//images.zoogletools.com/s:bzglfiles/u/64207/1fc0126caa22f59fc4d520e1023ff795efefe216/original/tony.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==] Tony Holroyd, Paris Studios     ----------------------------------------     Outro music by Ray Harmony, based on the music theory from GoGo Penguin "Everything Is Going to Be OK" [https://hackmusictheory.com/blogs/theory/posts/7208821/how-to-write-a-bass-line-with-harmony-music-theory-from-gogo-penguin-everything-is-going-to-be-ok].     ----------------------------------------   PODCAST. Listen below, or on any podcast app.

Creating Calm Through Song Structure.

CREATING CALM THROUGH SONG STRUCTURE.   How to make a sonic sanctuary, like Tamikrest.     My favourite Saharan rock band Tamikrest just released their new album “Assikel”, and I’ve had it on repeat this week. Why? Well firstly, this is a mesmerizing collection of songs that make me feel good. I can sense the warmth emanating from their laidback desert grooves. And considering it’s the middle of May and we’ve just had more snow here in Alberta, I’m well up for their hot Saharan vibes!   Another reason I love this album is that it was recorded live in the studio, to analogue tape. That’s what I’m talkin’ about! It’s the only way to capture the magical synergy that’s created when a great band performs together. It’s been a rare method of recording since the 1950s, when multitrack recorders became common in studios. So for this reason alone, Tamikrest’s new album is worth a listen.   But my favourite thing about “Assikel” is the unusual song structures. And that’s something we can all learn from this band. Their songs are not structured like regular songs, which switch back and forth between verse and chorus sections. When it’s done well, that switching is stimulating. But, the downside of being stimulated is that it’s the opposite of being relaxed. There’s nothing wrong with a coffee in the morning. But a coffee before bed? Well, that’s a very different story.   Subscribe to get the latest posts in your inbox [https://rayharmony.substack.com/subscribe].   And as our fast-paced modern world speeds up exponentially, the calm that Tamikrest’s non-switching song structures create is a sonic sanctuary. In the sizzling Sahara, it’s far too hot for stimulation. The wisdom of the desert invites us to sit in the shade. This shifts our attention to stillness, and awakens an idea that maybe we don’t need anything out there. Maybe it’s perfect right here in the shade.   I was born and raised in South Africa, and I remember that feeling of being so hot that you’re forced to sit as still as possible, because any movement creates heat in your body, and that’s the last thing you need. So you sit still. Sweating and contemplating. Contemplating and sweating. Until the need for water outweighs the need for stillness, so you stretch out your arm, slowly, and reach for the drink.   So here’s the songwriting hack that we can all learn from Tamikrest:   Songs don’t always have to be journeys through different sections, they can instead be contemplative explorations of one section. Stillness is a sonic sanctuary.   For all these reasons and more, I’ve got Tamikrest “Assikel” on repeat. I’d love to know what you have on repeat this week, so please let me know in the comments. And thanks for listening, my friend, you are very much appreciated here.   Ray Harmony :)         ----------------------------------------   DONATE. Help keep the Songwriter's Ark afloat [https://hackmusictheory.com/join].   [https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXcfJLf-E08kl2XRn5nHpb-Nc_iPEffyLR7Yt6bV9gHxE4C8wKhFCPYgXk1ciyN7nutOdhug3obTbw9e5x2v1evIgw5nnTBgp6U9S1lQmoYZkWuM0qGo6Cj4dlGe3kU9vW_4fHP3?key=xaUIfXiL9neOSZAizVCeXA]https://hackmusictheory.com/join Photo by Mart Production     ----------------------------------------   ABOUT.   Ray Harmony is a multi award-winning music lecturer, who’s made music with Serj Tankian (System Of A Down), Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine), Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree), Devin Townsend (Strapping Young Lad), Ihsahn (Emperor), Kool Keith (Ultramagnetic MCs), Madchild (Swollen Members), and more.   Ray is also the founder of Hack Music Theory, a YouTube channel with over 10 million views and over 250,000 subscribers learning the fast, easy and fun way to make music without using AI, cos it ain’t no fun getting a robot to write “your” songs!     [//images.zoogletools.com/s:bzglfiles/u/64207/84861f76cab80a00a46d7ecd47d74381e7703980/original/image.jpeg]       Outro music by Ray Harmony, based on the music theory from GoGo Penguin "Everything Is Going to Be OK" [https://hackmusictheory.com/blogs/theory/posts/7208821/how-to-write-a-bass-line-with-harmony-music-theory-from-gogo-penguin-everything-is-going-to-be-ok].     ----------------------------------------   PODCAST. Listen below, or on any podcast app.

A Couplet a Day, Keeps Insanity Away.

A COUPLET A DAY, KEEPS INSANITY AWAY.   Daily creative habits for better mental health.     We’ve just moved. Again. For more than a decade now, Kate and I have been averaging about one move per year. Last year we moved twice, but our record is an impressive three moves in one year!   The reasons for moving so often are numerous. Sometimes it’s our decision, sometimes it’s not (like the move we just made). The owner of the property we were renting sold it, so we had no choice. Time to pack up our lives. And move. Again.   Psychologists say that moving is one of the most stressful events in life. Having immigrated twice, having lived in four countries, and having moved so many times that I stopped counting when the number of places got to the mid-20s. I agree. Moving is stressful!   And for creatives like us, one of the worst things about moving is the loss of our routine. We work so hard to carve out a little “me time” in our calendars for making art, and then we work so hard to protect that precious time against the countless encroachments. But once our creative routine is established, it’s life-changing. We’re better humans when we’re being creative.   Creating is not a luxury. It’s a necessity. Our bodies need to consume air, water, and food. Our souls need to create art. And for the record, when I say art, I mean anything original that we make. Yes it could be a song or an oil painting, but it could also be a flower arrangement or a loaf of bread. I have my own soda bread recipe that I’ve been honing for years, and making it puts me in the flowstate.   Subscribe to get the latest posts in your inbox [https://rayharmony.substack.com/subscribe].   But when we have to pack up our lives and move, making music and baking bread both come to an abrupt stop. This sudden cessation of creativity is devastating to our mental health. That’s why I began a new creative habit on January 1st this year. It’s a daily habit, and I haven’t missed a day, despite all the time-consuming activities that were added to my schedule over the last few months, like house hunting, packing, moving, and now unpacking.   It’s for that reason that I started this new creative habit. Over the last few years my creative output has been dwindling, mainly due to depression, but that’s a story for another day. Back in December last year, I knew we were probably going to move again this year, and I also knew that there never seems to be enough time in the day to justify spending some of it making art, so I knew I needed a daily creative habit that could be sustained through all the inevitable disruptions.   I actually got the idea from our daily yoga habit. Kate and I have been doing yoga every day for many years. Every morning, seven days a week, we do yoga. If we’re busy, we do less (on moving day, it was only 10 minutes). And when we’re not busy, we do up to an hour. But every day we do yoga. No excuses. It’s been life-changing, and I think it’s one of the few ways we’re hanging on to a tiny bit of sanity through these mad times!   Subscribe to get the latest posts in your inbox [https://rayharmony.substack.com/subscribe].   So, here’s my new daily creative habit: writing a couplet. If you aren’t familiar with couplets, they’re simply two-line poems. And no, they don’t need to rhyme, unless you want them to. So every night in bed, I reflect on my day and think of the most important lesson I’ve learned. Then I write a couplet about it. And inspired by Wendell Berry, I write these with pen and paper.   I love the limit of having to say everything I want in only two lines. It’s similar to a haiku. That strict limit forces us to think more creatively. It’s counterintuitive, but the more limits we have on our creativity, the more creative we need to be in order to express ourselves.   Also, the concise nature of couplets means that we always have time to create one. We’re never too busy to write two lines. And the habit is working. It’s stuck. We’re in May now, and I haven’t missed a day. It’s also pretty cool to see my notebook filling up with creations. I’ve already got over 130 couplets.   Subscribe to get the latest posts in your inbox [https://rayharmony.substack.com/subscribe].   The last thing to mention about my new daily creative habit is that I decided before starting that I would not publish any of them. They’re like a journal. Personal. For my eyes only. I’m not even sharing them with Kate. The reason for this is to allow myself complete and utter freedom.   As soon as we know that we’re making something that will be shared with other people, we start restricting ourselves. Sometimes that’s good. For example, if you want to start a band and play live shows, it is kinda essential that your songs are enjoyable to at least some people, otherwise you won’t get many gigs. On the other hand, if you’re making music exclusively for yourself with no intention of sharing it, then you can do whatever you want. Anything goes! And that’s liberating.   So this is my invitation to you to start a daily creative habit. Today. And… 1. make it small enough that even on your busiest days, you can still find a few minutes to do it. 2. make it simple enough that you can do it even if you’re away from home.   Yes we can (and should) still write songs and paint canvases and make all kinds of other creations, but all those bigger projects require more time and more equipment than just a few minutes spent with a pen and paper. So do both. A small daily creation, which is sustainable. And then larger projects that are ongoing.   Subscribe to get the latest posts in your inbox [https://rayharmony.substack.com/subscribe].   I’m interested to know if you have a daily creative habit, and what it is. And if not, are you feeling inspired to begin one? Drop a comment below, I’d love to hear from you! And if you’re looking for help with your creativity, then I’ve got you covered. From beginner to advanced, there are loads of free resources for you on my website.   If you’re a beginner, start by reading my free book [https://rayharmony.substack.com/about] 12 Music Theory Hacks to Learn Scales & Chords. It only takes about half an hour to read, then you’ll have a solid foundation of the basics. If you’re already making music, though, you can work your way through 30 free PDF tutorials [https://hackmusictheory.com/tutorials]. They’re step-by-step musical “recipes” you follow to instantly make better music. All genres are there, too. Electronic to hip-hop, classical to metal, and everything in between. Enjoy!   On top of the free book, 30 free PDFs, and over 220 free YouTube tutorials, I don’t paywall any of these posts either. I don’t want to exclude anyone. But, if you’re enjoying all these free offerings and want me to make more, please support my work by becoming a paid subscriber. It’s only about the cost of one coffee per month, but if enough people join, then I can pay the rent and keep doing this work. To sign up, please visit HackMusicTheory.com/Join [https://hackmusictheory.com/join].   If you can’t afford to at the moment, though, no problem. You can give Hack Music Theory a 5-star rating in your podcast app, that supports my work too. Either way, thank you so much! And welcome aboard the Songwriter’s Ark, where all the music making skills are being preserved through this global AI flood. The flood shall pass. The skills will last.   Ray Harmony :)   ----------------------------------------   DONATE. Help keep the Songwriter's Ark afloat [https://hackmusictheory.com/join].   [https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXcfJLf-E08kl2XRn5nHpb-Nc_iPEffyLR7Yt6bV9gHxE4C8wKhFCPYgXk1ciyN7nutOdhug3obTbw9e5x2v1evIgw5nnTBgp6U9S1lQmoYZkWuM0qGo6Cj4dlGe3kU9vW_4fHP3?key=xaUIfXiL9neOSZAizVCeXA]https://hackmusictheory.com/join Photo by Mart Production     ----------------------------------------   ABOUT.   Ray Harmony is a multi award-winning music lecturer, who’s made music with Serj Tankian (System Of A Down), Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine), Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree), Devin Townsend (Strapping Young Lad), Ihsahn (Emperor), Kool Keith (Ultramagnetic MCs), Madchild (Swollen Members), and more.   Ray is also the founder of Hack Music Theory, a YouTube channel with over 10 million views and over 250,000 subscribers learning the fast, easy and fun way to make music without using AI, cos it ain’t no fun getting a robot to write “your” songs!     [//images.zoogletools.com/s:bzglfiles/u/64207/4af0813de6f65c9c1e454f9c102fdda88b4d4e58/original/image.jpeg] Photo by Tirachard Kumtanom       Outro music by Ray Harmony, based on the music theory from GoGo Penguin "Everything Is Going to Be OK" [https://hackmusictheory.com/blogs/theory/posts/7208821/how-to-write-a-bass-line-with-harmony-music-theory-from-gogo-penguin-everything-is-going-to-be-ok].     ----------------------------------------   PODCAST. Listen below, or on any podcast app.

Forget Meditation, Listen to Music.

FORGET MEDITATION, LISTEN TO MUSIC. Meditating isn’t effective enough anymore.     As people become more addicted to their phones, society’s obsession with mindfulness meditation grows. I think that’s because the collective unconscious knows that we desperately need to take back control of our minds, as our lives are being wasted through endless hours of meaningless scrolling.   There are only 24 hours in a day, and despite the fact that most people (including myself) don’t sleep nearly enough, we do still sleep some of those 24 hours away. Then the remaining time each day seems to disappear in a blur, and suddenly it’s bedtime again. So we close our eyes. The alarm rings. And we do it all again.   I think it’s safe to say that no kid dreams of spending their one precious life this way. The people who viscerally sense this horror of modernity usually end up turning to some form of meditation as a path back to reality. And for the record, I meditate every morning, so I encourage this practice. However, I’ve come to think that meditation alone is no longer a powerful enough method in this modern world.   Subscribe to get the latest posts in your inbox [https://rayharmony.substack.com/subscribe].   It’s easy for us to forget that throughout the ages, the people who meditated were living in a completely different world. Not only did they not have social media and smart phones, but their pace of life was unimaginably slow compared to ours. Think about it, a hundred years ago most people still walked everywhere they needed to go. Now there are cars that drive themselves! And progress just keeps speeding up.   So when people in the old-world meditated, it wasn’t for stress-relief or relaxation. It was mainly for religious reasons. Different meditation practices were used for different functions, but none of them were designed for improving mental health in the age of social media, smart phones, and AI.   Once again, I encourage people to meditate, just remember that these practices were not designed as a technique for coping with our modern world. If you’re looking for help with that, there’s a far more effective method: listening to music!   You see, actively listening to music not only helps to focus our minds, just like mindfulness meditation does, but music also resonates with our hearts and makes us feel. It instantly changes our emotions, which instantly changes our energy. If there was a pill that could do that, it would be the best-selling drug on the market. But all drugs have negative side-effects, whereas listening to music doesn’t.   Subscribe to get the latest posts in your inbox [https://rayharmony.substack.com/subscribe].   Also, when we sit in silent meditation, we might get a break from outside stimulation, but if you’re an introverted intuitive like me, then this practice usually results in our thoughts getting even faster and louder in this silent, empty space.   But if we actively listen to great music, like Bach or Vivaldi, it doesn’t allow our minds to wander. The music acts as a tether to our minds. And for people with obsessive thinking patterns like me, this mind-tether provides a deeply welcome break from our thoughts. And not only that, as I mentioned earlier, the music also tugs at our heartstrings and activates our emotions, which further helps our minds relax.   So the opportunity cost of doing silent mindfulness meditation is expensive, because we could be listening to music instead. And if we choose the music wisely, and listen actively with our eyes closed, the music will literally change our physiology, and therefore our mood. Better moods lead to better days. And better days lead to better lives.   This serves as my invitation to you to start practising music meditation today. If you’re not sure what music to choose, my favourite is an 18-minute long EP of Vivaldi’s Stabat Mater by the phenomenal Polish countertenor Jakub Józef Orliński.   Subscribe to get the latest posts in your inbox [https://rayharmony.substack.com/subscribe].   Now, the only thing more magical than listening to music, is creating your own music. So if you need help making music, I’ve got you covered. From beginner to advanced, there are free resources for you on my website. If you’re a beginner, start by reading my free book [https://rayharmony.substack.com/about] 12 Music Theory Hacks to Learn Scales & Chords. It only takes about half an hour to read, then you’ll have a solid foundation of the basics. If you’re already making music, though, you can work your way through 30 free PDF tutorials [/tutorials]. They’re step-by-step musical “recipes” you follow to instantly make better music. All genres are there, too. Electronic to hip-hop, classical to metal, and everything in between. Enjoy!   On top of the free book, 30 free PDFs, and over 220 free YouTube tutorials, I don’t paywall any of these posts either. I don’t want to exclude anyone. But, if you’re enjoying all these free offerings and want me to make more, please support my work by becoming a paid subscriber. It’s only about the cost of one coffee per month, but if enough people join, then I can pay the rent and keep doing this work. To sign up, please visit HackMusicTheory.com/Join [/join].   If you can’t afford to at the moment, though, no problem. You can give Hack Music Theory a 5-star rating in your podcast app, that supports my work too. Either way, thank you so much! And welcome aboard the Songwriter’s Ark, where all the music making skills are being preserved through this global AI flood. The flood shall pass. The skills will last.   Ray Harmony :)   ----------------------------------------   DONATE. Help keep the Songwriter's Ark afloat [https://hackmusictheory.com/join].     [https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXcfJLf-E08kl2XRn5nHpb-Nc_iPEffyLR7Yt6bV9gHxE4C8wKhFCPYgXk1ciyN7nutOdhug3obTbw9e5x2v1evIgw5nnTBgp6U9S1lQmoYZkWuM0qGo6Cj4dlGe3kU9vW_4fHP3?key=xaUIfXiL9neOSZAizVCeXA]https://hackmusictheory.com/join Photo by Mart Production     ----------------------------------------     ABOUT.   Ray Harmony is a multi award-winning music lecturer, who’s made music with Serj Tankian (System Of A Down), Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine), Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree), Devin Townsend (Strapping Young Lad), Ihsahn (Emperor), Kool Keith (Ultramagnetic MCs), Madchild (Swollen Members), and more.   Ray is also the founder of Hack Music Theory, a YouTube channel with over 10 million views and over 250,000 subscribers learning the fast, easy and fun way to make music without using AI, cos it ain’t no fun getting a robot to write “your” songs!     [//images.zoogletools.com/s:bzglfiles/u/64207/a1ce710bd34e166999f99e7c883050eb5f0852be/original/image.jpeg] Photo by cottonbro studio       Outro music by Ray Harmony, based on the music theory from GoGo Penguin "Everything Is Going to Be OK" [https://hackmusictheory.com/blogs/theory/posts/7208821/how-to-write-a-bass-line-with-harmony-music-theory-from-gogo-penguin-everything-is-going-to-be-ok].     ----------------------------------------   PODCAST. Listen below, or on any podcast app.

Writers & Readers Against AI.

WRITERS & READERS AGAINST AI. If you’re pro-human, join Paul Kingsnorth’s campaign.     The brilliant English writer Paul Kingsnorth [https://paulkingsnorth.substack.com] recently launched a campaign for everyone who loves humans and human creativity. So if you also miss the good ol’ days when you could read, listen or watch something and know that a human made it, then please join this campaign. And please do it today. This is urgent!   Due to generative-AI, humanity is at a vital fork in the road. In all honesty, I think it’s probably too late to save human-made art, but if we don’t try, we’ll never know (and we'll always regret not trying, too!). And if you’re a Gen Xer like me, or a Boomer, then we seriously owe it to the kids, because we know how life-changing real music was to our childhood development.   The term “life-changing” is thrown around a lot nowadays, but music literally changed our lives when we were growing up in the ‘70s, ‘80s and early ‘90s. It’s heartbreaking to think that kids are no longer experiencing that deep and profound meaning that music gave to our lives. Those bands that we lived for (and couldn’t stop thinking about) not only made us who we are, but they helped us to cope with a screwed-up world that just keeps getting more screwed up!   This is why we owe it to the kids to try our best to wake people up to the consequences of generative-AI. And that process begins by having conversations like this with our friends and family. On that note, please share this post with any open-minded person willing to listen.   Subscribe to get the latest posts in your inbox [https://rayharmony.substack.com/subscribe].   Here’s an example of the reality we’re living in with AI. So the other day I was listening to the new album by Icelandic singer-songwriter Ásgeir. It’s breathtakingly beautiful. But while I was halfway through the title-track “Julia”, a thought popped into my head: “He could’ve used AI to write this!” I really hope he didn’t, but we’ll never know.   And that’s what most non-musicians still don’t seem to understand about generative-AI. It’s ubiquitous. It’s being used in most new songs. In fact, when asked off-the-record, a shocking number of professional songwriters and producers admit to using generative-AI when making music [https://youtu.be/xHW-k3OC5Wc?t=554]. This has been confirmed by well-connected industry insiders like journalist Kristin Robinson, who’s a Senior Correspondent for Billboard, and writes their “Machine Learnings” newsletter that covers the rapid impact of AI and other emerging tech on the music industry.   And just a quick sidenote. If you wanna learn my fast, easy and fun method for making music, then visit my website. From beginner to advanced, there’s something for you there. And most of them are free, so enjoy!   If you’re a beginner, start by reading my free book [https://rayharmony.substack.com/about] 12 Music Theory Hacks to Learn Scales & Chords. It only takes about half an hour to read, then you’ll have a solid foundation of the basics. If you’re already making music, though, you can work your way through my 30 free PDF tutorials [https://hackmusictheory.com/tutorials]. They’re step-by-step musical “recipes” that you follow to instantly make better music. All genres are there, too. Electronic to hip-hop, classical to metal, and everything in between. Have fun cookin’ up some new tunes!   Then on top of the free book, 30 free PDFs, and over 220 free YouTube tutorials, I don’t paywall any of these posts either, as I don’t want to exclude anyone. But, if you’re enjoying all my free offerings and want me to make more, please support my work by becoming a paid subscriber. It’s only about the cost of one coffee per month, but if enough people join, then I can pay the rent and keep doing this work. To sign up, please visit HackMusicTheory.com/Join [https://hackmusictheory.com/join].   If you can’t afford to at the moment, though, no problem. You can give Hack Music Theory a 5-star rating in your podcast app, that supports my work too. Either way, thank you so much, and let’s get back to the topic at hand…   Subscribe to get the latest posts in your inbox [https://rayharmony.substack.com/subscribe].   So, even old-school garage bands that record directly to vinyl could still be using generative-AI in the writing process. Most of the band members would not even know. This disturbing fact is what we need to help people understand.   You see, every time I speak out against AI, people leave comments saying that they’re not fooled by AI-generated songs and that they can tell the difference. For now, let’s forget about Deezer’s recent survey that found 97% of people can’t tell the difference between fully AI-generated songs and human-made songs [https://newsroom-deezer.com/2025/11/deezer-ipsos-survey-ai-music]. So putting that data to the side for now, here’s the bigger problem, and I’ll illustrate it with an example.   When the new Foo Fighters album “Your Favorite Toy” is released in a few weeks, how will we know that Dave Grohl didn’t use generative-AI in the writing process? We can’t. That’s the short answer. Because, he could easily have used AI secretly at home while writing the songs. The other band members wouldn’t even know.   From what I’ve read it sounds like the album was recorded in Dave’s usual old-school way, and with his preference of analogue gear. That’s all great, but the fact remains. He could have used generative-AI to help him write the songs. I really hope he didn’t, but we’ll never know. That’s the problem. That’s what we need to help non-musicians understand.   Subscribe to get the latest posts in your inbox [https://rayharmony.substack.com/subscribe].   So when people say that they can tell the difference between AI-generated songs and human-made songs, they’re just uneducated on the way that generative-AI can be used in the writing process. This is our reality. Right now. And it’s been like this for the last couple years.   To be clear. There’s literally no way that anyone can know if a new song was written by a human, by AI, or by a combination of the two.   If we want to be guaranteed that the music we’re listening to is 100% human-made, then our only option is to stick with old recordings. I recommend albums from before 1997, because that way you also avoid Auto-Tuned vocals. Yes, the transhuman music agenda has been underway for decades! If you want a short history of this, check out my previous post, titled: AI Human vs Human AI [https://hackmusictheory.com/home/blog/7728861/ai-human-vs-human-ai]. [//images.zoogletools.com/s:bzglfiles/u/64207/fb71ed7fe663a6d8778b9e92ebb70e4efd703a54/original/writers-against-ai-logos-writers-against-ai-1.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==]https://www.paulkingsnorth.net/ai040391355937-1-1 Logo designed by Justin Clark     Now, back to Paul Kingsnorth’s vital new campaign: Writers Against AI [https://paulkingsnorth.substack.com/p/writers-against-ai]. The first thing to know is that it’s actually for writers and readers. So even if you’re not currently writing anything, you can join as a reader. Having said that, though, I definitely encourage you to start a daily writing practice, but that’s a topic for another post. For now, all you have to do is make three pledges and you’re in. Here they are, in Paul’s words:   “To support the campaign, a writer must make three pledges:   1. I will not use AI in my work as a writer. 2. I will not support writers who use AI in their work. 3. I will support writers, illustrators, editors and others in related fields whose work is entirely human-made.   The first of these points draws a line for our own creative work. We say, as storytellers: we will remain human. With the second, we refuse to lend our voices or our money to anyone who uses this technology to replace human creativity. Finally, we commit to doing something positive: supporting, financially and morally, other creators who are drawing the line too, and refusing to be dehumanised. If you are a writer who agrees with these pledges and who wants to sign up to this campaign - well, that agreement is all it takes.”   Subscribe to get the latest posts in your inbox [https://rayharmony.substack.com/subscribe].   So if you’re feeling inspired to get involved, head on over to WritersAgainstAI.net [https://www.writersagainstai.net] today and download the logo, then use it on your website and social media to let your audience know that your creations are 100% human-made. And if you’re a reader, you can download a “Readers Against AI” logo and post that on your social media and anywhere else that you can. Let the world know that you’re pro-human, and that you support human creativity! And please, do this today. Time is of the essence. [//images.zoogletools.com/s:bzglfiles/u/64207/a8dff20eb5614de4761a44e6f3d8ca38944562c7/original/writers-against-ai-logos-readers-against-ai-2.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==]https://www.paulkingsnorth.net/ai040391355937-1-1 Logo designed by Justin Clark     A heartfelt thank-you for reading/listening, and welcome aboard the Songwriter’s Ark, where all the music making skills are being preserved through this global AI flood. The flood shall pass. The skills will last.   Ray Harmony :)   ----------------------------------------   DONATE. Help keep the Songwriter's Ark afloat [https://hackmusictheory.com/join].   [https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXcfJLf-E08kl2XRn5nHpb-Nc_iPEffyLR7Yt6bV9gHxE4C8wKhFCPYgXk1ciyN7nutOdhug3obTbw9e5x2v1evIgw5nnTBgp6U9S1lQmoYZkWuM0qGo6Cj4dlGe3kU9vW_4fHP3?key=xaUIfXiL9neOSZAizVCeXA]https://hackmusictheory.com/join Photo by Mart Production     ----------------------------------------     ABOUT.   Ray Harmony is a multi award-winning music lecturer, who’s made music with Serj Tankian (System Of A Down), Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine), Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree), Devin Townsend (Strapping Young Lad), Ihsahn (Emperor), Kool Keith (Ultramagnetic MCs), Madchild (Swollen Members), and more.   Ray is also the founder of Hack Music Theory, a YouTube channel with over 10 million views and over 250,000 subscribers learning the fast, easy and fun way to make music without using AI, cos it ain’t no fun getting a robot to write “your” songs!   [//images.zoogletools.com/s:bzglfiles/u/64207/7058d824b4d920bb9dd7b9ffdebb4ee50849a59c/original/image.jpeg] Photo by cottonbro studio       Outro music by Ray Harmony, based on the music theory from GoGo Penguin "Everything Is Going to Be OK" [https://hackmusictheory.com/blogs/theory/posts/7208821/how-to-write-a-bass-line-with-harmony-music-theory-from-gogo-penguin-everything-is-going-to-be-ok].     ----------------------------------------   PODCAST. Listen below, or on any podcast app.