So, for the purposes of NaSoAlMo, what exactly is a solo album?
An album of music you have written, played and recorded entirely by yourself*. The shortest inarguably awesome album that a lot of people have heard** is the first Ramones album, which is 29:09 long, so your solo album must be at least that long. Beyond that, its form and content are up to you.
*Since Ramones includes a cover of "Let's Dance," your NaSoAlMo album may, if you wish, include one cover of somebody else's song.
**It has been pointed out to the administrators that Slayer's Reign In Blood is 29:03 and that Nick Drake's Pink Moon--which actually is a solo album--is a mere 28:22. You may set your personal goals accordingly, if you wish. You're welcome.
So is this a competition? Who's judging it? What do I win? What if it's not good enough? Do I have to send it in? Do I have to play it for anyone? Help!
No. This isn't a competition: this is a challenge. The winners are everyone who completes a solo album by November 30; what you will have won is that you will have made an album by yourself. You needn't play it for anyone else, and you certainly don't have to send it in, although I will probably listen to any you feel like sending me. It doesn't have to please anyone but yourself, if that; you are going for your own personal best here. The point is actually doing the work, starting and finishing the project. The deadline makes it easy!
Does it have to be professional-sounding?
Of course not. It doesn't have to be professional-anything; the point is the fun of making it. I encourage you to record with whatever you've got around the house.
How do I sign up for NaSoAlMo? And then what do I do?
Sign up by the end of October by registering for an account at this site. At 12:01 AM November 1, as you're noshing your Halloween candy, you can start work on your solo album. If you've finished by the end of November--when you've finished, rather, let's think positive here!--let me know that you've won, and I'll post a winner's hall of fame here. (And, if you like, a link to your finished album; totally up to you.)
Isn't this just a rip-off of Chris Baty and NaNoWriMo?!
Yes. Totally. Thank you for the inspiration, Chris.
Spread the word, and let me know if you have any other questions!
Does this site host finished mp3s?
No. Not yet. This site is still very much in alpha (i.e. a work in progress!). Depending upon how much use it gets this year and what people think of it all, I will look into hosting mp3s on the site. Please let me know any other requests for website functionality you may have by contacting me (through the contact page).
