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Got an iPad? Create a Major Studio Album; On the Cheap.

Dec 26

Posted by Joe Force in ipad, apple, gorillaz, nme, radiohead

Ever innovative, Gorillaz (founded by Blur frontman Daman Albarn, and ‘Tank Girl’ comic book artist Jamie Hewlett in 2001) released a free album to fans on Christmas Day. Free albums releases are nothing new (Radiohead’s 2008 release, In Rainbows, made an estimated $6 million US dollars with its unique “pay what you want” plan), but Gorillaz ‘just changed everything’, so to speak.

What makes this album release unique is the fact that it was made completely on an iPad (well, almost completely with the exception of keyboards, a guitar, piano and a ukelele)!

Talking to NME magazine in November, Daman Albarn stated “I've made it on an iPad – I hope I'll be making the first record on an iPad," he said. "I fell in love with my iPad as soon as I got it, so I've made a completely different kind of record.”.

The album, titled The Fall, is available to listen to free (with a free download for members of their fan club) on http://thefall.gorillaz.com. The album, an ode to America, includes 15 tracks recorded in just 32 days. Amazingly, the album was made with 21 apps available in the App Store. The total cost for all of apps was approximately $117.

Gorillaz turned down a 2001 nomination for Best Band of the year, citing that they were cartoons, not a band. It’s no surprise Albarn and Company would be the first major artist to attempt such a feat.

Technology has been disruptive to the music industry. From digital downloads, to You Tube and social media, the whole Industry is going through rapid change. And now, the whole process of recording and producing an album has taken a wild step forward.

Ten years ago, it took a multi-million dollar recording studio. Five years ago, you could employee a high-powered computer and expensive software to do the trick. Today, a sub-$1000 consumer electronic and a few low-priced apps can create amazing results.

You still need talent (or Auto-Tune) and some heavy marketing chops, but Gorillaz just proved to us that it can be done, and done well!