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Smurph

Forum Senior Member

Joined: January 11 2012
Location: Columbus&NYC
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Points: 3167

Posted: November 02 2013 at 15:31

http://pseudosentai.bandcamp.com/

I did a Halloween song with my band that might be fun for some people- it's based off attack of the 50 foot woman

http://pseudosentai.bandcamp.com/

wtf

MustardSea View Drop Down

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Joined: January 18 2013
Location: Vienna, Austria
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Points: 83

Posted: November 03 2013 at 10:11

I'm currently talking to a local record label about releasing something by me on vinyl. I sent them my last EP and they told me they are highly interested but would prefer releasing an album worth of material.
I'm currently writing and re-recording stuff for said album and just wanted to share some of the new music with you:

Here's the track I plan to use as the opening song if the album really should come into being ;D
It's called "From The City To The Stars":

http://soundcloud.com/kanoi/from-the-city-to-the-stars

and here's another one called "Obstacles" - this one is more of an acoustic-guitar dominated affair:

http://soundcloud.com/kanoi/obstacles

tell me what you think! :)

Edited by MustardSea - November 03 2013 at 10:16

Kanoi on PA
kanoi.bandcamp.com

N-sz

Forum Senior Member

Joined: May 28 2011
Location: NH
Status: Offline
Points: 344

Posted: November 17 2013 at 02:51

Some of you may have heard my compositions before. Here is a brand new video of a fairly old composition of mine. Piano is not what I'm best at, so this took a long time.

Blank Space Records

Luna

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Joined: July 28 2010
Location: Funky Town
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Points: 12794

Posted: November 24 2013 at 17:20

Made this about a week ago for my album that should be released on the 5th.

Listen, comment, critique, insult, etc

Dayvenkirq View Drop Down

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Joined: May 25 2011
Location: Los Angeles, CA
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Points: 10970

Posted: November 26 2013 at 23:31

N-sz wrote:

Some of you may have heard my compositions before. Here is a brand new video of a fairly old composition of mine. Piano is not what I'm best at, so this took a long time.

Very nice! I like the way you made use of the elements, for the most part harmony, and masterfully changed moods between segments. And I'm saying "segments" because it does sound like it could be broken up into multiple songs or instrumental compositions. So, this could be reworked into something a bit more serious. It also might benefit from some production, but then I'd have to hear it to figure whether it would need any. Sounds like you've heard a fair deal of Schubert and Chopin.

All in all, I'm impressed. Keep up the good work. Thumbs Up

Dayvenkirq View Drop Down

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Joined: May 25 2011
Location: Los Angeles, CA
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Points: 10970

Posted: November 26 2013 at 23:39

Luna wrote:

Made this about a week ago for my album that should be released on the 5th.

Listen, comment, critique, insult, etc

My ears are telling me that those sustained-strings bits at the beginning and at the end sound kind of alien to what's happening in the middle. Sounds like they could belong in a different place and be used with something more than just sustain (maybe more frequent chord changes). The stuff in the middle sounds like it could make a kick-ass soundtrack to some video game. Would certainly break the loop of dumb synth-and-beat or professionally executed straight orchestral music. Keep it up. Smile

Dayvenkirq View Drop Down

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Posted: December 05 2013 at 15:30

What do fellow songwriters think of setting up a songwriting workshop on this thread (or elsewhere) if anyone cares?

Edited by Dayvenkirq - December 05 2013 at 15:31

Polymorphia View Drop Down

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Posted: December 06 2013 at 09:25

That's partly what I intended this thread for. What kind of workshop did you have in mind?

Edited by Polymorphia - December 06 2013 at 09:26

Dayvenkirq View Drop Down

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Posted: December 06 2013 at 21:26

I'd say a kind of workshop for songwriters who would write songs that others would listen to, not just to amuse themselves. Maybe something like asking a question on how to write a good theme, motif, variation, etc. Or where to put a guitar solo and why. Basically, if you have a problem you want to remedy, you can ask it here. I'll be around and might come up with something. Smile

But seriously, there are some problems I'm having. For instance, all I'm coming up with is dated hard-rock riffs that would belong in late 60's/early 70's. Can't put that in the context of metal today, can you?

Polymorphia View Drop Down

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Posted: December 06 2013 at 22:58

I usually do one of the following in that kind of predicament:
1. Run with it. See if I can use and develop them in an interesting way.
2. Listen to something else, something I find infectious and impossible not to let influence my sound. It's synth pop and orchestral music right now.
3. Experiment. Try something just for the heck of it. It may not please you at first, but record it and come back to it at a later time. Likely, it will sound different than what you would normally write, and you can hone it to your tastes however you please.

Dayvenkirq View Drop Down

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Posted: December 07 2013 at 01:07

Thanks. I'll try some of these.

Regenard

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Joined: November 20 2013
Location: Philadelphia
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Points: 3

Posted: December 08 2013 at 21:51

Hey there!

So I'm new to the forum but I've been a prog fan all of my life. I'm currently a senior in college studying composition and as a result, I've of course been working on a prog rock project. I call it Supercraft! It started with a piece I wrote for my schools Electronic Ensemble and after the success of Supercraft, I wrote a Supercraft II for the next semester and continued writing Supercraft pieces since. As the pieces developed more, so did a concept surrounding all of them. I'm currently working on Supercraft IV and its really epic. Eventually, my plan is to write a whole album, get it recorded and then tour around America/Europe. I'd describe the whole thing as my own ode to the Watcher of the Skies.

In its current state, the Supercraft recordings are all mock up files made using virtual instruments in Logic, but I'd like to have people listen to it and give some feedback and also I want to just generally start spreading the word of Supercraft.

So please, give it a listen! Let me know what you think!

http://soundcloud.com/regenard/sets/supercraft-saga-1

- Jim

Dayvenkirq View Drop Down

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Posted: December 08 2013 at 22:14

^ Welcome to the forum, Jim. Did you find the Newbies lounge on the forum's main page?

Regenard

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Posted: December 09 2013 at 10:33

I did not! I think I'll check that out now haha

N-sz

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Joined: May 28 2011
Location: NH
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Points: 344

Posted: December 31 2013 at 14:53

Regenard wrote:

Hey there!

http://soundcloud.com/regenard/sets/supercraft-saga-1

- Jim

I like this! I especially liked the second half of Part III. That was great.

I wish you good luck on finding the people to perform this. I'm in a similar situation. I've finally recorded some stuff, so I have more than MIDI files, but now the question is, who will perform this with me?

Dayvenkirq wrote:

Very nice! I like the way you made use of the elements, for the most part harmony, and masterfully changed moods between segments. And I'm saying "segments" because it does sound like it could be broken up into multiple songs or instrumental compositions. So, this could be reworked into something a bit more serious. It also might benefit from some production, but then I'd have to hear it to figure whether it would need any. Sounds like you've heard a fair deal of Schubert and Chopin.

All in all, I'm impressed. Keep up the good work. Thumbs Up

Sorry, I completely missed this. I'm glad you enjoyed it! I have considered the idea of rearranging and expanding this to be played for a band, possibly, so maybe that will happen. I hope to post more fairly regularly. Thanks for listening! I appreciate it very much :)

Blank Space Records

Smurph

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Joined: January 11 2012
Location: Columbus&NYC
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Points: 3167

Posted: December 31 2013 at 17:58

N-sz wrote:

Regenard wrote:

Hey there!

http://soundcloud.com/regenard/sets/supercraft-saga-1

- Jim

I like this! I especially liked the second half of Part III. That was great.

All in all, I'm impressed. Keep up the good work. Thumbs Up

I wish you lived in NYC - I would steal you

http://pseudosentai.bandcamp.com/

wtf

N-sz

Forum Senior Member

Joined: May 28 2011
Location: NH
Status: Offline
Points: 344

Posted: January 01 2014 at 12:56

^ Me? You would? Shocked

Hey look, I have a new song! This is the first one I've posted with vocals in it, thanks to the help of April B from the internet who volunteered to sing.

Edited by N-sz - January 01 2014 at 12:57

Blank Space Records

Dayvenkirq View Drop Down

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Posted: January 01 2014 at 13:12

^ Damn! Very well done! Clap

I bet you used something like a VST plugin for the keyboards. I was actually thinking about using a duet of acoustic guitar and piano in some of my songs.

Speaking of my songs, they are in the works ... as well as me trying to figure out in what direction I should go so that people would actually listen to the songs ... so that I would have an idea what to promote and sell.

By the way, Happy New Year, everyone.

Polymorphia View Drop Down

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Joined: November 06 2012
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Posted: January 01 2014 at 14:35

Dayvenkirq wrote:

By the way, Happy New Year, everyone.

Happy New Year

I would tell you to be honest with your songs. Local music scenes are filled with musicians trying to play what sells, which is not necessarily a bad thing, but it will always change. There's always a niche for honest songwriting.

And I suppose I should elaborate on what I mean by "honest." Make something that you feel represents yourself effectively. In other words, don't make something to impress your pop-liking friends or your prog-liking friends— make something that accurately represents your interests, tastes, emotions, etc. If you are successful, you will draw people's empathy, which is universal (almost, at least).

Right now I am working on some songs as well and I'm more picky than ever with what I do. The problem I'm encountering is lyrics. I always have trouble writing a good first line.

Dayvenkirq View Drop Down

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Posted: January 01 2014 at 14:45

^ Thanks. I'll definitely remember your words, although I do have mixed feelings about people's empathy when it comes to music. (Have you been working for a label by any chance?)

Do you have a plan for what you are going to write about in your lyrics? You could write in 1st, 2nd, or 3rd person in literal or metaphoric terms about fantasy or down-to-earth stuff. You could try to get personal or be very distant. The choices are oh-ho-so-many.

Edited by Dayvenkirq - January 01 2014 at 14:45