It’s official, my next release and potentially all subsequent releases will be in the EP format. As with Sub-Intellect, Worse Than Digital will contain 6 original songs and probably a couple remixes and instrumentals for intro-outro. Release date right now is set for October 1. 

Why not albums? Writing an album not only requires insane discipline and patience, but for an indie artist it also leaves very little room for other important ventures like making videos and promotional materials. Most albums these days are just stretched out EPs. An album is not only a test of patience for the artist but it is also as much so for the listener. Only the most ardent fans seem to want to consume an entire album from a single artist. There is so much recorded material out there today across an endless stream of genre ideas that people have become highly accustomed to listening to diverse playlists, collecting the singles they want from the artists they like and discard the rest. 

But that’s what I hate about musical cuture today, you might say … everything is singles and there is no narrative.

Well, that’s where I think EPs come in. I am not in favor of a singles-only approach because I too like a release to have a narrative and context. I personally feel 5 or 6 songs is plenty of material to form a narrative. It allows me to shorten my release cycle and stay a little fresher. By the time an album is completed, the first song I write for the release already feels old to me as it has been around for over a year. EP would make for a 6 to 8 month cycle and allow me to with more agility, shift into different stylistic overtones and sonic themes. 

So, I imagine there are people who might find this a disappointing perspective but I think I’ll make it up to them by being more productive not just with music but also in releasing video, which seems to be a base expectation these days. I am far more likely to stick in and produce more if I myself am not losing interest with a particular theme I have initiated. I am a little ADD and the releases will have more continuity if I can wrap them up a little sooner than what it takes for an album.

Interested in your thoughts on this. Maybe I’m off-base but this feels like the right decision to me.