Today we’d like to introduce you to Ricky Frable
Hi Ricky, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
It was a dark and stormy night during the height of the Coronavirus pandemic, I went over to my friend Mikey’s (who is also part of MacBook Orchestra). After about 8 gin and tonics each, we decided to record an impromptu rap song (Splatter Dey Taints).
Surprisingly, it didn’t turn out half bad. I thought, if we could make something this good, this wasted, at 5 in the morning, we might be onto something.
Keeping the foot on the gas, we released an EP. Our friends liked it, but you know how it goes. Music is tough. I think it got 1000 streams total.
Everyone at that point kind of just viewed what we were doing as a parlor trick or a silly hobby or something you do once when you’re young and just kind of leave it. But I had bigger aspirations for it.
I sold out, got a job in tech sales, and put my first two months’ pay (seriously, I actually did this, I am crazy), into paying an animator to help bring one of our new songs to life. “Disconomicon” released earlier this year, and it’s the first time that I was able to look at our work and go “wow people might actually watch this.”
So far we’ve released three animated music videos, and everybody seems to love it (for the most part). I still look at this project as being in its infancy, so time will tell how it goes.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Has anybody you asked this to answered “yes”?
There’s no such thing as a smooth road. Literally every single thing I have ever done ever has had road bumps. I tried hiring a guy off Craigslist to help me with this interview. How do you think that went? A smooth road is boring anyway. Bumps build character.
The biggest challenge is in waking up everyday and continuing to choose this as your path. Because, you know, the road is so unsmooth and it sucks so much and nobody else is doing it and you inevitably say to yourself “Why am I doing this thing at all? Would it not be easier for me to just follow the paved path?”
It’s really hard not to get down on yourself sometimes because when you do something that’s original, you wonder if you should be doing it at all. It’s lonely starting your own thing. I fight an internal battle everyday on whether or not I should be doing what I’m doing. But it’s important to know that you love it, and sit down and say “For better or worse, this is my path.”
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
You should know that it’s good and that if you’re reading this, you should go watch it.
On a serious note, I think it’s important to note just how many people help out with this project. I’m at the helm, yes, but this would be nothing if not for all the help from my friends and collaborators. You can’t do it all alone.
It’s hard to make art as an island. You lose perspective. Use what you’ve got.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
I’ve got like 3500 subs on youtube, I am just starting out.
But I guess if I could offer any piece of advice it would be this: find your path and stick with it.
Life is too short to be rudderless. There’s a Bukowski quote that I really like that I’ve had stuck in my head for a while.
“Find what you love and let it kill you”. So, that I guess.
Unless what you love is making satirical animated music videos. In that case, don’t do it. Last thing I need is another talented, good-looking competitor.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.macbookorchestra.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/macbookorchestra/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@macbookorchestra
