Bowman Reddit AMA distilled Q&A

For those who don’t know, Bowman hopped on the Homestuck subreddit tonight for an AMA (Ask Me Anything) and it’s just winding down now.

For those of you who’d rather not comb though a mass of reddit comments for the Bowman-y goodness, I have isolated all the direct questions along with Bowman’s answers, as well as any random comments he replied to, with his replies.

The full ama is here if you want the whole thing unfiltered (including my nonsense comments on occasion - I’m ComfortableBug, because really there’s only one reason I ever go on reddit)

Griever13_37



Michael Bowman, I really like your songs and your videos quite a bit, like everyone else who posts on this AMA.

first question: so i’m making a fancomic crossover type thing known as jojostuck which you can read if you’re bored and have literally nothing else to do, the link is here: http://mspfanventures.com/?s=13714&p=1

So as you might now, there is a “Cool and New Webcomic” music team, which is basically like if r/homestuck turned into SiIvagunner, plus some more decent songs i guess. We recently did an album full of Doctor remixes, and one that might stand out is Dr. Pepper, based on Stutzman’s Fruity Pebbles song. I just wanted to ask you to listen to it and tell us what you thought about it!

bowmanisgod I’m sure Scott would be honored to know that you went out of your way to parody the Fruity Pebbles Jingle, which is 100% serious. Thank goodness for comedians.

Minkt

How did you get into Homestuck originally? By the way, thanks for doing this AMA, you’re a big part of the fanbase.



bowmanisgod Richard Gung (whose Youtube account hosts the credit score video) was super fucking plugged in to what was going down in the world of webcomics and insisted on recommending Problem Sleuth to me way back in 2008. When Andrew Hussie put out an open call for musicians on his personal blog in 2009, I signed up right away and got invited along with a couple dozen other people to make music.

ajmhtinsin

How do you feel about Homestuck being 100% complete?

Jokes aside, what inspired you for songs like Dawn of Man and No Release?

Thank you! I love your stuff!

bowmanisgod Dawn of Man was a song I thought of in a dream once! I wanted the lyrics to be nonlinear to reflect the structure of Homestuck. Everything on the Mobius Trip album is about doing an album not “about” Homestuck but “within” Homestuck. No Release describes some romantic drama using troll terms. Fly steals from SBaHJ, etc.

~makinpouring

Real question now, are there any projects you’re working on that you can share some details about, like that new solo album? I think We Don’t Know Anything and Purgatory were going to be on it, IIRC.

bowmanisgod Right now the material I’ve been playing with is all over the place in tone and quality, and while I enjoy being, uh, “eclectic”, I kind of want the next album I do to be a consistent journey. So, it’ll be a while before I comb it down.

Tirantbacon



oh shit and I should probably ask: what inspires you to make music? additionally, what software do you use to make music, and what is it like working with other music team members in songs (for instance happy cat song, revered return, gust of heir, EXPLORE <3)

bowmanisgod To the question of INSPIRATION: walks, bike rides, politics, food, vacations, arguments, other music. To the question of SOFTWARE: used to use FL Studio, switched over to Logic in 2012. What I remember of working on those songs: - Toby sent me “Happy Cat Song” and I added my voice and some production choices in FL Studio. I sent it back to him expecting him to, uh, lengthen it. He did not! I was very surprised at how short it was. - I solicited Nick for his stuff and he sent me “Dirgeish” which he’d written pre-Homestuck. I’m not particularly proficient at guitar and FL Studio didn’t have very user-friendly recording options, so getting good takes of the melody and cutting them together was cumbersome. The fun part was the arrangement, which I cleaned up and split across a few instruments. It influenced my solo track “Rodeo Clown” a lot. - “Gust Of Heir” was written by Tyler Dever as a midi track, and I opted to arrange it for him in FL Studio. I gave it a very Eno-ish sound and split the arrangement over several isntruments. I asked Clark Powell for his own ideas and he put together the drum beat that takes over during the last minute and a half, which I faded in and out over the final mix. - “Explore” was just a loop when George Buzinkai submitted it early on with the premise that it would be a piece of looped music with chiptune sounds. I gave it its rock arrangement when it became clear that Andrew was getting ambitious about using fully-realized songs for animations. Even in 2009, it was obvious how quickly the scale of Homestuck was ballooning out from its original premise.

daXfactorz



If you were to try to finish Penumbra Phantasm, what would it sound like?

Do you give two shits about Classpect stuff? If so, what’s your classpect?

What’s your favorite song off of the new CaNWC album?

What’s your favorite Bowman meme?

Why are you so fucking awesome?

How’s the Huss doing?

Why is everything on fire?

AND FINALLY…

The Baby is You or Seatbelt Safebee?

bowmanisgod If I were to finish Penumbra Phantasm it would sound like this: https://bowman.bandcamp.com/track/ismelda-the-bearded-mermaid If I had a classpect it would be VOICE of MEMES. I’m still processing Bowmanquest from however many CaNWC albums ago. Favorite Bowman meme is my own face, which I get to look at. I love me. I’m fucking awesome because I stole a magic lamp and wished it. I don’t know anything about Andrew at this point. The last time I checked he was considering using Ryan North’s credit card to buy a karate lesson when I met him in 2013. Everything is on fire because I set it on fire. I didn’t even know about Seatbelt Safebee but just listening to it I’ve decided it’s a masterpiece.

trainercase



What software do you typically use for music production and what do you like about it?

bowmanisgod I used to use FL Studio, but moved over to Logic after I saw Clark Powell running it in 2012. I think Logic is a smarter platform if you’re a guy in a band and your focus is recording, but FL Studio is a real joy to use - like Ableton but less stuffy. I’ll probably go back to it at some point.

MrCheeze

What got you into making music, and who would you consider your influences?

bowmanisgod

My parents were both music teachers when I was growing up, so there was a lot of jazz and classical stuff around the house. I permanently borrowed Scott’s baritone ukulele when I was 17 and taught myself to play chords and sing David Bowie songs and busked my high school. I think my split interest in classic rock and modern stuff probably comes across in my music, which is admittedly all over the place

IamDrworm

Bowman, where do you see yourself going with your music in the near and distant future?

bowmanisgod

When I get tired of pretending to have better things to do I’ll do some more acoustic renditions for the Youtube page. Probably some covers of other people’s stuff? I’m not deep in the underbelly of people doing vaporwave and futurefunk, but I’m fascinated by the evolution of these virtual genres and the way a space seems to be forming for outsider artists. It makes me want to focus in less on the dadrocky “band” sound and get back into the electronic side of what I’m doing more.

NotADwarf9400

I don’t really have a question, I just want to thank you for making good music, silly and fun videos and being an all around swell dude. Keep doing you, Bowman.

SM64Guy

Meme question: will Radiation return to YouTube to reveal his free credit score?

Actual question: Sburban Jungle is probably my favorite Homestuck song. It literally defines classic Homestuck. All I wonder is there is so few remixes of it?

bowmanisgod

Impersonating Radiation (poorly) convinced way too many people it really was him for that to be any more than a one-time thing. Twitter parody accounts are bad enough - a human parody person might be a stretch too far. Sburban Jungle may not have a lot of 1-for-1 remixes but it sure got referenced to death! The only horse more dead in the homestuck fandom might be actually be horses. Or 720?

IamDrworm



One more question since I’m a greedy bastard: which, if any, of the Homestuck music team members are you close friends with?

bowmanisgod

I don’t live around them so it’s hard to be as close as I’d like! I played my SXSW concert back in 2012 with Clark Powell, Riki Tsuji, Erik Scheele, and Marcy Nabors who we knew through the fandom, so we spent a lot of time together. Also present at that summit were Tyler Dever and Robert Blaker. I’ve also met Jeremy, Toby, a few others (oh fuck am I forgetting anyone geeez). Paige Stanley, who did some fan works and shows up on Vol. 10 has been supportive - we’ve got a few collab tracks from the hrmnzr albums. Most of the musicians have kept in touch through various chat clients through the years.

loading-please-wait

What are your thoughts on the end of Homestuck and what we’ve had since (CANWC, Vol 10, HS 2.0,…)

bowmanisgod

Needs more Bowman.

creatorofjanespeak

Do you already regret doing this?

bowmanisgod

I am deeply amused. There is no point in regret.

origamidragon412

Have you seen cool and new web comic? what are your thoughts?

bowmanisgod

I wish I could remember the plot of Homestuck well enough to get it because my God, what an intricate way for a fandom to self-resurrect. I wish I could accuse it of being this fandom’s devolution into self-parody, but I’m certain that was the point of MSPA from the start.

babybowser101



What’s your favorite music piece you’ve made?

bowmanisgod

I’m torn. These are my babies. Why are you making me choose a baby? Okay, probably “Synchronize.” Sorry other babies! Guess it’s years of neglect for you.

ZapActions-dower



More mobius trip &/or Hadron kaleido when?

bowmanisgod

Probably never? I left it open-ended so that it could be interpreted as needed, knowing that Andrew had twists and turns up his sleeve and I wasn’t exactly allowed to decide the plot of Homestuck in album form. The fan content is, of course, on point.

MTT_Productions

Why is the album Mobius Trip and Hadron Kaleido so fucking amazing.

bowmanisgod Because I fucking made it.

makinpouring

What is your credit score? Asking for a friend.

bowmanisgod

sans1kal

i also need your social security number (for a friend)



bowmanisgod 12

monkeyboyinc



I loved the two What The Fuck shows that are on Youtube and was sad to see there was no more recorded, although I had a lot of fun going through various other shows The Hideout had done.

Got any more things going on with the Austin Improv community?

bowmanisgod

Haven’t been in Austin in ages, but there are some funny, funny people there. You should check it out if you’re ever in town. Hideout Theatre highly recommended.

swifterjack1



whats your opinion on how youve become a huge meme thats keeping a fandom alive

bowmanisgod I would have it no other way.

combineguy55

Are we going to be seeing any more Scott in the future?

bowmanisgod

He sent me some files the other day and I’m figuring out what to do with them. That is all I have to say about that!

Bonzi77



young man it’s pasta your bedtime

bowmanisgod

I can’t believe you’ve done this.

Flareonthehero

Bowman what is your favorite ship in homestuck?

bowmanisgod

Battleship Condescension

CamlinDomino88

What Homestuck related thing (video game, movie, album, merch, whatever) do you really want to see happen?

I guess another way of asking this question: if you had the power to will any Homestuck project into existence, what would it be?

bowmanisgod

I had always expected there to be another MS Paint Adventure. Andrew had said his goal was to do Homestuck for one year before moving on to the next story, but by 2010 I think everyone knew the world had been permanently changed

TheMinishLAN

bowman will you marry me

bowmanisgod

ok

shapdawhapp



What is your opinion on some of your older videos? (Adventures Three, Bowmans Credit Score, Micheal Bowman Remix, Radiation is Now on YouTube, etc.)

bowmanisgod

I’m surprised that people tracked down the stuff I made with my high school friends. We’d gotten really into Waverly Films and their clip of the week ethic and decided to just film a bunch of garbage and upload the least terrible stuff to Youtube. It all goes to show you what I always have said: teenagers have serious problems.

ScootaLewis



I just want to say I really like Comfortable Bugs as an album. Roll With the Punches and Light of Apollo are hella good.

bowmanisgod Thanks! I also really like the Comfortable Bugs album. I made it, you know.

QuantumAwesome



Whatever happened to the collaboration group Casual Sunday? I really loved the Shortcuts album you put out a couple of years ago.

bowmanisgod We’ve talked via chat but we haven’t thought of a compelling enough concept for another mass collaboration. We’d like to do something less abstract? Or more? Who knows.

Daedric_Warlock

How do I live without you? I wanna know. How do I breathe without you, if you ever go? How do I ever, ever survive?

bowmanisgod Constant drug usage.

NoldorinNarwhal

Wait are you still answering questions?

Also should I be less excited about this?

bowmanisgod yes and no

Yufery



Is there any popular piece of media that you’d want to do music for?

bowmanisgod Mr. Robot

ZoomBoingDing

Do you think it’s weird I named my Vaporeon after you?

bowmanisgod That’s so weird because I named MY Vaporeon after you!

NyashAlex



Hello Bowman, nice to see you here! Question: is it okay if I walk down the empty streets at night while (trying) singing your songs?

bowmanisgod as long as you don’t get kidnapped and die

BoopyDoppler

Why Bowman? How many bows are you composed of?

bowmanisgod Bowman is short for Bowmanman. I am composed of one (1) Bowman.

AnionCation

What’s in your fridge?

And how did you enjoy my attempt to moderate :p

bowmanisgod cheese and not enough. i want to savor these attempts

Sylandrophol



whatever happened to red cop bowman

bowmanisgod Scott and I are living too far apart. I can’t do Red Cop without my partner! That would just be a man running around in a red body suit. That’s not a comedy sketch, that’s just regular old exhibitionism.

Lognes123

how did that number get between your buttocks? is there something you’re not telling us?

bowmanisgod It just HAPPENED to be there one day so I thought I’d tell the world. For ten minutes.

TheSquidTamer2204355



Bowman on a scale of 1 to 8 how much would you rate johnvris

bowmanisgod 720

MrCheeze



EVERY QUESTION IN THIS AMA HAS BEEN DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ABOUT PASTA

bowmanisgod what are you talking about we haven’t been talking about pasta at ALL

Tirantbacon

bowman I know you met toby fox at otakon in 2012, with a variety of other music team members as well. did you ever get to talk to him, like a full conversation? im curious :P

bowmanisgod Yes, a bunch of us who were doing Homestuck music were psyched to be all together, and mainly all we talked about was “wow, so we’re all here, that’s so crazy.” Hanging out with the cosplayers and attempting to incite a riot with the guitar was marginally more fun.

HolySacredHeart

Ahh I’ve just been informed you wrote the one that went, boo-boo-bip-a-dip-a boo boo.. BAHHHHH BAH BAAAAAHHH BAHHH BAAAAAAH (bwah bwah bwah bwah bwaaah) that’s a good song, good job doing music!



bowmanisgod No joke, the first anime convention I crashed after Homestuck started was Anime Expo 2011, where with my guitar in hand and only having rehearsed “How Do I Live” a couple of times, everyone sat in a circle and we all sang an acapella rendition of Sburban Jungle. It went like this: beep ba doop a doop be doop bip boop beep bop beep bedoo boop beep bop beep doop beep bee dah dibba doop dip dop beep boop beep beepa dippa doop bip blop beep bip boop BAM BAM BAM BWAMMMM BAAAAAM buhdt duhd duh duhhhhh BWAAAM BWAMMMM bummm BUMMMMM

Ngame989

Have you heard any updates from Will the Responstable Constable about the grave situation in Travis County? I’m deeply concerned for the citizens there since we haven’t heard any additional updates since the diaper fiasco.

In all seriousness, which of your various collaboration videos with Scott is your favorite? As incredible as your solo comedy videos are, there’s something simply magical to me about the Stutzbow videos and to this day more than half of them are among my favorite comedy sketches.

bowmanisgod I always liked Texas History. And not just because of those terrible highlights I had! We wrote it at a Dunkin Donuts. We based it on our 4th and 7th grade education on Texas History. In Texas they dedicate not one but TWO years to Texas History. And they did it using Laserdiscs.

unrelevant_user_name



Any regrets?

bowmanisgod crashing the discord

cosmicgarden

What music have you been listening to lately that you think more people should know about?

bowmanisgod Good question. Most of my days disappear into KCRW. Lots of indie records. I had a major phase with Mac DeMarco’s Salad Days last year. I got a copy of Paris Combo’s record Motifs - I used to listen to them with my parents. Spirit Phone, of course.

Samduff



have you connected to other dimensions to make an organization of bowmans to destroy interuniversal threats such as eldritch abominations, and ants?

bowmanisgod Yes. I used a magical genie wish from that lamp I stole.

Skulldove

I woke up from a nightmare just as this AMA started. No question, but I thought you’d like to know about our psychic connection.

bowmanisgod I used a magical genie wish from that lamp I stole.

[that’s not a typo he really did use that answer twice]



WHATWVR4134123

How can i fully achieve Backyard fun?

bowmanisgod There is no achievement in Backyard fun. Free yourself of the need to accomplish anything and embrace fun as a non-aspirational endeavor.

kazoodles



hey

hey

I THINK that’s all of them; he started answering questions again after I started this post (OF COURSE), so he may continue on after I’ve posted it. If I find any more or someone tells me I’ve missed some, I will update this post. Enjoy!

and of course as soon as I got up I had to add a couple. Should be up to date now, please contact me if I missed any!

