Day 423: In the blood

Maybe something original.  We  don't know what our story is.

Lyrics:
You've got drive, but you spend it all the time.  
Why don't you just give up?
You've got love in your heart, 
but there's a chance you're just full of shit.
Wipe the blood off your mouth.
Clean your teeth. 
We're going out now.
And you're not who you think you are.

Day 157: No Story, Just Music

So, I don't delve into the world on pop very often, but sometimes you just go where the music takes you.  Today it took me to, what I can only think of as Pop World™! This super-pop piece was working with several very high quality loops from Nine Volt Audio and high quality instruments (Propellerhead creations - Bass and Drums specifically).  I thought it came out decent.  The lyrics on the other hand....

Lyrics:
You and I only have one day left.
We just have tonight.

You are the one,
It's oh so true,
You hold my heart,
When I'm next to you.
I don't know if I can say goodbye.

You in your overcoat,
Click of heels on the street,
As we walk hand in hand into the light.
You leap commitments in a single bound,
Don't let your feet touch the ground
Our future's nearly out of sight.
Where do we go from here?
Where do we go?

REFRAIN

You thought the challenge would be the future,
Turned out all the obstacles were in the past.
I was the first, but I know you won't be last.
You'll never be the last.

Day 107: Chop It Up

Just a little experiment with Beatchop by Quadelectra.

Day 104: Industrially Speaking

Everyone keeps secrets.  Some are big, some are small.  Sometimes you keep a secret because of an organization (an organizational secret I guess?), sometimes it's something only you know, or at least you think that (up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, select, start).  This is a little bit about keeping secrets, but also about relationships.

Here I've dipped into the "everything is distorted on some level" bag of tricks.  What can I say other than I'm a sucker for it every time.

This is probably the only song you'll hear today with Sturm & Drang in the lyrics... so it's got that going for it.


Lyrics:
Come a little bit closer,
I've got something you should hear.

Look to the sky,
Now walk the steps,
Unto perfection, 
Unto the beginning of the end.

You are the wind and the rain,
You are the one who keeps me sane,
You are the breeze that blows thru me.

You are the holy ghost,
You are better than most,
You are the secret I keep closely.

Look to the sky,
Now walk the steps, 
Unto perfection,
Unto the new beginning.

Sturm and Drang and not much compasssion,
You said "You forgive me" after a fashion,
You are the only one,
Yes, you are the only one.

Crucifixes and crosses and demons,
You aren't the only one who can see them,
but we are not leaving you,
no we are not leaving you.


Look to the sky,
Now walk the steps,
Unto perfection, 
Unto the new beginning,
The beginning of the end.

Begin at the Middle

This piece I'm currently working on, 303, is nothing to write home about. Pun not intended, but I guess it is something to write a blog about. I'm pretty terrible with names and the name is taken from the bass patch that I'm using - Fender 303. It comes from this bundle of sounds. I'm a bassist "professionally" (whatever that means) so I'm relatively picky when it comes to my bass sounds. I have to say that these sounds are pretty damn good. Rarely, when recording, will I write/play a keyboard bass part then not record a real part later. I find that it's usually not an issue with these sounds. Unless it's a "feel" thing and I just can't get the groove I want I'll often stick with the default patches, not changing them much outside of given parameters.

303 really started with the drums. Usually they're my go-to when I don't have anything else happening creatively. I've been a fan of jungle & drum'n'bass for many a-year and nothing gets my creativity going like a nice jungle beat. This song has very little to do w/that genre, but drums rule is my point. In looking for inspiration I started w/a basic beat, just kick & snare, tempo 110 BPM. I then began perusing through Redrum the kits that come with Reason. I ended up settling on the "Hardcore Kit 01". All the instrument names end with "_TRENT" which I can only assume it's a reference to Nine Inch Nail's Trent Reznor. This makes me happy - and the kit most definitely sounds like a good NIN kit.

The Fender 303 bass sound is not one I normally go for, but sometimes you have to try other flavors to see what you like. The E Minor riff that's driving the A section has definitely been done before, but it is, again, a good building point. Here lately I've really gotten into recording live guitar, so I'm hoping I'll get some great riffy parts laid down tomorrow, maybe a big ol' wall of sound.

At the beginning of the B section I've unintentionally used some instrument sounds that are very similar to sounds that could have been used in the NIN link above. Let me just say that it was completely unintentional. We are all influenced by other people and this is just a case of "This would probably sound interesting juxtaposed against what came before it." You'll just have to take my word for it that it's really a coincidence. I have an idea of how to transition back to industrial drums + guitar from the african tuned percussion, but it will have to wait until I have time to work at it. Here's a link to what is done so far.