Seattle Alternative Radio

I'm excited to announce that Seattle Alternative Radio will begin adding Zach Trandum tunes to their rotation!

Be sure to look for me on Pandora, Apple Music, and Amazon as well!

What You Do To My Heart

So I do this thing where I go back and listen to a bunch of my old songs, pouring over each one, borderline obsessively.  I don't do this because I'm in love with myself (Kanye. DOWN BOY.) but because my creative mind is almost always hearing new things each time I listen to the tune.  New ideas form, or old ones get cut.  It's truly one of my favorite parts of the creative process!
Anyway,
I wrote this a while back and released it as a single.  I hope you enjoy it!

Set the Atmosphere for Creativity

Being that I just love creativity, and knowing that you need the right atmosphere to get creative, here is an awesome set of tunes, probably geared toward my fellow nerds, that should help.
I grew up playing video games and fell in love with the RPG genre.  The character and story development always captured me.  This music is taken from one of the most successful RPG sagas in history, Final Fantasy.  If you're an RPG fan you've more than likely at least heard of this series and if you haven't played it yet, you NEED to make it a thing.
I know, most of the time I'm writing about worship, and leading, and stuff..... Today seemed like a great day to just have some fun!  Make sure you get some time to kick back and relax for a bit folks!  Break out your oldschool gaming system and lay in to some bad guys!!!

I aspire to one day write a mind blowingly amazing adventure novel.  I've developed some character ideas already but haven't really fleshed anything out.  Sometimes I'll sit down with my sketch pad and just scribble out some ideas of how these characters could look.  Other times I write their back story and imagine myself as that character.  But every time i sit down to write like this, even as I'm writing to you now, I need some atmosphere, so I put on something that will stir up my brains creativity and these songs work amazingly well.  You can also find these with full orchestra, and they are EPIC!

So my bottom line here is this:
1. Take time to refresh. Relax and do the things you enjoy!  I read a ton, and love the occasional old school video game.
2. When you're recharged and feeling that creative urge, make sure you have a space that holds the atmosphere you need to cultivate those creative ideas.

Who knew that such incredible music could come out of video games. 
This particular song set is taken from one of the video game industry's top ranked game of all time, Final Fantasy VII.

Psalms: Sandra McCracken

Via Relevant

Sandra McCracken is a singer, songwriter and producer from Nashville, TN. Over the course of eight critically acclaimed studio albums, Sandra has developed a body of work that encompasses hook-driven melodic pop, No Depression-style Americana, contemporary recastings of classic hymns, and even children's music as part of the Nashville alt-folk super-group Rain For Roots.
Read more...

Songwriting is a Muscle

Songwriting is like a muscle.  If you don't work it out its going to get mushy and weak.  With this in mind I try to spend time every day writing something.  That doesn't mean I'm always sitting down with guitar in hand or piano keys under my fingers.  Sometimes I just sit and write out lyrics even if those lyrics never get used.  Whatever it is I am working out that creative muscle.

Here is a little something that came of a creative writing session.  I wasn't actually planning to get anything much out of this particular session, but I grew rather fond of the sound I was coming up with.  Here is the rough draft of "Always For Me".


(If you listen closely at the end you can hear my in-laws wiener dog barking in the background.)

Worship Music is Getting Dubstep'd & I LOVE IT

Dub step is one of those things that I think you either love or hate.  I once saw an episode of King of the Hill where Hank Hill asked his son, Bobby, what he was listening to.  When Bobby placed his, very 1990's, headphones on his dads ears Hanks expression changed to one of shock and horror as he exclaimed, "It's just a bunch of toilet noises!"

Well I don't agree with good ol' Hank Hill, because I have a special place in my heart for Dubstep.  This music not only has the ability to amp me up, I have a playlist I use when I go running, but also has served to help me focus and block out distractions.  Beyond that, there is an insane amount of creativity and musicality that is put in to this genre!  I would challenge anyone who airs on the side of Hank Hill to prove me otherwise.  The detail that goes in to something like this, without completely understanding all of it, has got to be insane!  If the artist is using samples of songs for their mix they have to often bend and re-tune it to fit the mix.  On top of that they have to understand how to work with waves.  Then there is the process of actually putting all of this together in to a product that thumps you in the chest like an external heartbeat.

Anywho,
I love Dubstep and I am EXCITED by the fact that some worship music has been getting a makeover.  That's right folks!  Worship Dubstep!  I recently came across a great YouTube channel that's specifically for showcasing the best in Christian Dubstep.  Check it out!

Prince Covers Christian Song from Renowned writer Nicole Nordeman

I'll NEVER be the type of man who tells a Christian artist that they would be leaving behind their roots if they were to branch out and write/perform in the secular industry.  Frankly, that's a total load of something stinky.  Why would God, who is the most creative being in all the universe, create you in His image, as a creative being yourself, and then say, "Oh, well about that artsy thing you do... You can only do it in the church."  Riiiiiiiiiight (insert sarcastic vocal inflection and eye roll here).  God never designed our gifts to be used strictly inside the church.

That being said, I just listened to a very interesting song that I heard years ago from a fantastic writer named Nicole Nordeman.  You've probably heard of her as she's been on the Christian music scene for years and had her hands on many different projects.  Well kids, you'll never guess who picked up one of her tracks.... Prince.  Yep!  Good ol' Prince grabbed Nordeman's tune, What If, and produced his own, rock tinged, take on the ditty.

What did I think of it?  Well first of all, let me say that I LOVE hearing about circumstances like this both because of the creativity that goes in to taking someone's song and making it your own with your own spices and flavors added in.  And secondly, it's a song that was written with a Jesus centered core and has been picked up by someone playing in the secular industry. 

As far as the new sound Prince has given the song, I thought it was good, but I actually like Nordeman's original version much better.  I'm a big Prince fan, have always loved his music, so I was kind of surprised when I responded with a "meh".  Anyway, I'll let you be the judge.  Here is the original version from Nicole.  I did some digging to try and find an audio file I could post for Prince's version, but he's rather finicky about having his music available online.  So enjoy the original, and the Easter egg hunt you'll be on looking for Prince's version. (It's funny cuz it's almost Easter.  See what I did there!? *Awkward laugh wheeze*)






Here's a great article from Billboard briefly talking about the new release.

In Their Shoes: the Hurricane Demo

I'm re-posting this today because I truly am excited about it.
I believe that the ability to imagine oneself in the shoes of another, writing from that perspective, is a gift that can make you an incredible force to be reckoned with in the music industry.  To empathize with the person you're picturing, what they're feeling, emoting that in to your music and lyrics.  It's one of my greatest challenges but also one of the most rewarding.

I wrote "Hurricane" in this manner.  I've had only a small handful of relationships, leading up to meeting my incredible wife, Sarah, and none of those were anything like what the song describes.  Because of this I had to sit back, close my eyes, and imagine what a man in those shoes may be feeling.  I actually would listen to other songs that talked about similar subject matter, and even tuned in to some movie clips that showed the pain and frustration of a failing relationship.

All of that to say that I am excited about the tune and will, at some point in the near future, be releasing an official version.  This current recording is a demo for all y'all to sample (is it weird for a guy born and raised in Washington state to use "y'all?)

Stank Face: Snarky Puppy

So these guys deserve one big, giant, scrunchy, stank face.









Now let me clarify.  The "stank face", however unattractive, is not only a compliment given by listeners, but often a reflex that musicians cannot fully control.  Guitarists will sink their fingertips in to the neck, bending those strings, and BAM.  Stank face.  If you're a musician you know exactly what I'm talking about and DON'T even try to deny it.  Like I said, it's a reflex.  Just revel in the stanky goodness. 

There are rare moments throughout my life where I've come across collaborative music that's as truly great as Snarky Puppy.  There sound is one that is rich, and chewy, and will constantly cause you to turn and say "Oh!  Whats that!?"
It's creativity blended with GREAT writing, and musicianship that's ventured far beyond talent.  These folks have sharpened whatever talent they were blessed with in to true skill.  My friends, if you have not yet dipped your ears in to the sounds of Snarky Puppy you simply NEED to take a coffee break and dive on in.

Here's "Free Your Dreams", featuring Chantae Cann.

Throwback Thursday: Woo Hoo

Back in the day, when I was an awkward little band kid, with no wife to help him make better fashion choices, I was introduced to a little band called The Newsboys. To be totally honest I'm not the biggest fan of their more recent stuff but I continue to love their older tunes.  I was given this album by a middle school youth group buddy of mine and I pretty much played the ol' compact disc until it literally wouldn't play anymore.  I used to take this album along with me in my trusty Discman as I went rollerblading around my old neighborhood.  Oh yeah, 1998 was a good year, frosted tips and all.  Oh, and we had this----------->

So kids, in honor of throwback Thursday, here is "Woo Hoo" from the Newsboys 1998 album "Step Up to the Microphone".





What are, for those of you folks who have all the rad memories from our glory days, some of your favorite hits from 98?

When You Don't Feel Like a Leader

I don't know that there is a single leader out there, anywhere, that hasn't had multiple moments of feeling broken and inadequate.  Personally, I can attest to this sentiment and, to be open and honest, I still battle with this at times.  I am an imperfect leader with junk in his life.  But Jesus...
So how do we as leaders respond when we need to lead but are in that place of "I don't know if I'm cut out for this"?

Lets take a look at yet another entry from our friends at The Verge Network.  This is a fantastic article that will be sure to encourage you and hopefully equip you with some useful tools.


Exhausted by the struggle to have it all together? Feeling like everyone else has it all figured out but you? In this 5 minute video, three women have an open and honest discussion about what it looks like to be a leader even when you feel unready, inadequate, and far (oh so far!) from perfect.
Read More... 

Throwback Thursday: The O.C. Supertones

I was one of those kids who listened to things that most other kids my age didn't really dig all that much.  I remember bringing a Clark Terry record in to a jazz band rehearsal in middle school, so excited to share his "mumbles" style of scat with everyone.  When they heard it, I felt like I was being stared down by a Muppet.

 

While my band mates didnt get it, I still knew in my gut that I was falling more and more in love with Jazz.  As I continued my ravenous hunt for more musical deliciousness, I was introduced to a sound that combined some interesting things.  An old buddy of mine described it as Reggae being smashed together with Rock, and Funk.  He called it "Ska".  When I heard that, I'm sure I looked similar to a skeptical dog that was just invited to eat the left overs off your plate.

 

Needless to say, I had to listen, and when I did, my face about melted off from all the joy that was blasting my ears.

So here's to you O.C. Supertones.  I'm sad you guys aren't doing much these days but I've LOVED the incredible music you've given all of us. 

Here's my favorite album:

"Lead Us Back": New Album from Thirday Day

Aaaaaaaaand.... THEY'RE BACK!!!  After quite the breather from cutting any records at all, Grammy award winning band, Third Day, has released a brand new worship album.
I've just sampled the tracks and am delightfully pleased with the newer sound!  I'm fairly certain that you'll agree, so don't wait!  Stop and listen!!!



Here's another great article about the new release from BreatheCast: http:// www.breathecast.com/articles/third-day-launches-new-album-with-concert-in-nyc-lead-us-back-marks-the-bands-first-worship-album-in-years-exclusive-video-25476/