PicoBlog

I recently returned to the studio to record a few songs.

View from the vocal booth

I’m very happy with how these songs are coming together, and very excited to share them with you. But when will it happen… that’s my conundrum.

At the beginning of the pandemic, I recorded a whole bunch of demos, and I figured (as many did) that I would make a record during the lockdown. That didn’t work out, for a bunch of reasons. But now, I’m back at it.

Initially, I decided that I wanted to record and release a whole album.

Some years back, I got it in my mind that albums were overrated, and that I would just release EPs.

After all, most albums only have a few great songs, padded out with filler. I figured that instead of scrambling to come up with material to fill an album, I would just put out short collections of the best songs I had.

But then I noticed that on Spotify, my “most recent” album is listed as being released over 10 years ago.

That’s because my two most recent releases are listed under “Singles and EPs.” You have to scroll down past the albums to find them.

So, Spotify’s categorization system has created a paradox. On one hand, people have internalized that we’re in a post-album, singles market. (Which is totally fine by me. The LP as a form has only existed for a few decades; it’s not carved in stone anywhere that it must be the standard format.)

On the other hand, the album is still prioritized in terms of what is presented to the public. And it’s also still the format that dominates the critical landscape. Somehow, you’re taken more seriously for making an album.

Let me put the question to you.

Would you be happier waiting for a full WP album, even if it took another two years or more to come out? (Needless to say, it would be all killer, no filler.)

Or would you prefer to get a steady (ish) stream of singles released throughout the next year or two?

Of course, there is a way to do both (release a bunch of singles that are then collected on an album). And (as I always say to WP bandmates) I welcome your suggestions, but I reserve the right to ignore them and follow my own instinct.

In other words, I’m not sure what decision I will make. But I am curious what people think.

Let me know!

Hope all of you are doing well, and hope to see you before too long.

xo WP

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