Sonolumina

Sonolumina is in its infancy... but I thought I had good enough song samples up for you to get the idea, and this way people can see as it progresses.

Members: Me (Jamie K.) - all instruments at the moment,  and Melissa I. - vocals... but we actually don't have a good recording of her yet.

Location: NY, USA  (soon to move to MA, USA)

Sub-Genre: Combination of symphonic prog, neo-prog, and metal.  Hmm, perhaps we are neo-symph-prog-metal?  Actually, there is at least one point at which we cross into folk prog, too.   Does this mean we are Art Rock?  I think I might need help to define this.

Bio:  Technically, this band started about two years ago, when Melissa and I both realized we were determined to be involved in music (in more than just a listening capacity).  She was inspired by Nightwish, while I was inspired by bands like Yes and Opeth.  I already had a large backlog of songs I'd written down, so I started diverting more energy to it.  I found an outlet briefly with two other people, in a band that lasted about a year called The J.A.M. Experiment.  But, since they weren't prog-rockers, it didn't work very well.  A few months ago, we came up with the name Sonolumina, and are sticking with it, and I started recording song-outlines (which are what's on the myspace page this post links to).  About 2/3 of the songs are inspired by events, people or things I've seen in my life, and the rest are based on fiction (mostly sci-fi or fantasy) or fictional characters.

Songs:
http://www.myspace.com/sonolumina

Note that the samples on that page are just outlines/rough recordings.  Right now, this is pretty much a one-person show, and I haven't worked in much in the way of solos or even overlaid more than one instrument in multi-track.  But I would like to know what you think of the overall structure of the songs, and if you have any tips on mixing I'd be very grateful.  You can scroll down in the standalone player on that page to play a 5th song clip (which is the ending to a song inspired by Calculating God by Robert Sawyer).


(You can also go to http://www.myspace.com/thejamexperimentband to hear more of the songs I wrote - those recordings are generally low quality, but 'Wings of Ash' is the most finished song sample I have available, and is very much prog metal.  Since that band is dead, we're going to re-record those songs eventually under the Sonolumina name).


Edited by StarsongAgeless - May 17 2007 at 12:54

I liked what I've heard...

Well, no new comments for a few days, but I thought I'd post to tell anyone who comes here, there is a new song on the site (http://www.myspace.com/sonolumina).

The new song is a version of 'Wings of Ash' with some backing vocals put in.  The recording of the drums/keyboard is over a year old at this point, and there are a lot of mistakes in it since it was recorded live and it was only about the 3rd time we'd played the song.  Drums were played by the drummer from The J.A.M. Experiment (there's a link to that page on the 1st post).  'Wings of Ash' is definately a heavy prog-metal song, the thing is there are no guitars or bass recorded for it yet.  To hear much better musicianship for the same song, you can go to The J.A.M. Experiment page.

Sounds good.

Atomic_Rooster wrote: wow!  good stuff, I'll have to check back periodically to see when the lead vocals are added. I think I'd actually buy an album if it were available

Thanks!    That's a huge compliment!

Atomic_Rooster wrote: your guitar playing is very reminiscent of Roy Albrighton of Nektar without his signature wahh riffing (definitely a good thing)

Hehe yeah I'm not crazy about wah-sounds, either.  An interesting comparison, now that I think about it I see what you mean.  I'm going to have to listen to Nektar again... I enjoy some of their longer songs in particular.

asimplemistake wrote: I really enjoy "Dawn Version 3", the guitars are all very nice and of course so is the singing.  It reminds me of the singing from Nightwish because of that timbre and tone.  Very cool.  I feel as though this song could maybe use some drums, but thats just my opinion.  It's still a good song, I just personally enjoy having something that can help express tempo and rhythm, but it isn't necessary. I really love the piano in "Blinded".  The singing here fits perfectly, and I love the feel of this song.  Very nice. Summer has a cool intro, a little bit of static (during the clean guitar sections) but it doesn't bother me much.  Again nice singing, I really like it.  The only critique I would have about it is that it can be hard to understand what's being said sometimes.  The last one, "Wings of Ash" may just be my favorite.  It's a very dramatic song, and has the inclusion of percussion.  Could be mixed a little bit better, but the music still is amazing here.  Very good stuff here, I like it a lot

  I do the same thing all the time, asimplemistake.

I agree with you on 'Dawn' - it needs drums, badly! The stuff I have up now is more meant to attract potential band members than be finished work.  Right now it's only me on the recordings, and I hope that sometime soon there will be more people involved than that.  I actually worked with a drummer during the past year on 'Dawn' and 'Wings of Ash', but he moved to CA.  I also enjoy the additional emphasis drums can give, and I wish I had some of that on this recording!

By the way, if any of you out there are drummers, feel free to try putting a drum part to this, or any of the songs I have up here, I'd love to hear it!  Especially if you live somewhere near Middleboro, MA, where I'll be moving shortly.   But don't let that stop you...

'Blinded' is the newest recording so far - glad you enjoyed it!

Thanks for letting me know about how it's hard to understand the lyrics in 'Summer', that's definitely something that needs to be addressed.  I can put up lyrics on the site, and in addition I plan on making a new recording soon.  The static is basically a result of me not knowing what I'm doing when it comes to recording and mixing, but I'm learning...slowly!

A  more percussive version of 'Wings of Ash' is actually available at http://www.myspace.com/thejamexperimentband , which is the band name under which I worked with a drummer and another singer/guitar player/etc.   You might want to listen to that, although a lot of the singing notes are a little off... in her defense, though, it was almost the first time she ever sang the song.   I love this song, myself... it actually comes from a dream I had, I woke up with this tune in my head and rushed to my keyboard to pound it out.

I actually know very little about mixing, which is a huge part of why some things don't turn out the way I want them to... all of these recordings were done either live or in my home where I just have a computer and a $10.00 microphone.  If anyone has any tips on mixing I would be very grateful... even if you had any tips on good places to go to record your music near Middleboro or Boston, MA, it would help a lot!

Thank you so much for your comments.  It helps so much, and it is great to know that someone is listening!

Actually, I decided I'll post some lyrics here so you can read them right away.  First I'll do 'Summer' since you said that one was hard to understand:

'Summer' ~ Sonolumina

Got a full popcorn belly
We get to play at being free
Splash, splash and say we're telling
We're all here, one two three
We're all here, one two three

If I'd known the rest of our lives 'til now
I'd have kept you here
In the day
In the backyard
In the clear cool water

We doused each other
With water guns, hoses and balloons
Clothes on the line
Snap in the wind above
Nothing tasted so sweet
As it did in those days

Days... I miss you there
Every time I see the sun now
And when it hides,
I miss you even more
And I don't run
From anything but remembering
And regret.

We're all here, one two three
We're all here, one two three
And if I'd somehow known
The rest of our lives 'til now
I'd have kept you here
In the day
In the backyard
In the clear cool water

Ice cream eyes
Friendly as can be
She's just a baby
He's just a boy
Hanging over his knee
Dirty floor
Let's leave the house some more
Summertime
I try to save a dime

And I think of all the times
I looked into those eyes
And didn't see
The evil lying there in wait
For other children
Just like me

Shufflefoot
Never lied to me
Like a baby
Some say crazy
Dirty, dirty, dirty
Let's be happy, happy, happy
There's hot chocolate
And it's mine, mine, mine

And I think of all the times
looked into those eyes
And didn't see
The evil lying there in wait
For other children
Just like me

What's a meat drum, momma?
What's a meat drum?
Why  won't you tell me, momma?
What's a meat drum?
I never saw nobody
Play no meat drum
I never saw nobody
Play no meat drum

I think of all the times
I looked into those eyes
And didn't see
The evil lying there in wait
For other children
Just like me

Other people just like me
Please forgive me, please
I didn't see







Edited by StarsongAgeless - May 06 2007 at 01:25

Err...yes. It's tricky. There was a thread around, about two months ago, with the same legal issue. Ivan_Melgar_M provided a couple of good answers (he's a lawyer), sorry, I really don't remember the thread's name. Try to browse a little bit.

And by the way...lovely music. Nice playing (I like tastefully dosed instruments and melodies), and Melissa's voice is enchanting! (especially on overdubbed vocal harmonies). Intelligent, mature and lovely duo you are. Keep up the good work. It's worth it.

Hi Jamie, How you doing?

I really love your tunes and I need to say thanks for your comments about my songs. Melissa's voice is very beautiful. Sorry about the delay for comment here. Hey, if you need my collaboration just tell me ok!? Amazing, amazing tunes. Congratulations for both you and Melissa and I really like to know more about J.A.M. Experiment. My doubt is your voice or Melissa?
Peace.

Eri