Sound Collage

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This is actually the second piece I've made called sound collage, but it was the one that was actually turned in for credit (for my music class). I'm not entirely satisfied with the way that it turned out, but I have no doubts I will receive full credit on the assignment. (Full disclosure: it's a pass / no pass assignment that is graded on two criteria - 1) does it have sound over time, and 2) does it last 1-2 minutes.) I would have liked it to sound more "spacey." Also, though I think it has a weird, somewhat intense atmosphere, this is more a novel occurrence than anything I directly created. If I had more knowledge of musical theory (and honestly if I had put more time and effort into this project), I feel I could could have made a song that wasn't just weird...it was weird and it made some semblance of musical sense.

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Here are my notes about the song that were turned in as a part of the project:

This song is composed of 5 tracks. There are two guitar tracks, and three “vocal,” tracks. The main vocal track is an extended poem. It is distinct from the other vocal tracks because it uses several voice modifications (male to female transformer, transposition down a fourth, and a touch of reverb and echo). The “bottom-end” track is supposed to be a mumble to keep the beat. It was also highly modified from the original source sound (tuning down, echo, and heavy treble reduction). The final vocal track is distinct because it uses phaser and echo, and is the only track out of the three that isn’t voice modified. It is meant both to emphasize and play off the main vocal track. Both the guitar tracks are meant to add color to the track as a whole, and use a few chromatic lines to do so. I also tried to harmonize the guitar tracks in a few places to add emphasis to what was being said, and to the emotion the track was meant to convey. In closing, the two primary influences this song drew (or tried to draw) upon were, “Ray Bradbury,” (the musical entity, not the author), and Saul Williams.

Here are the lyrics (the /'s are placed arbitrarily, each section is divided by the "feeling" and rhythm I was trying to create):

The universe is a lonely place / full of stars, planets, and hearts, / Each trying to look past themselves / To find peace of mind, / Or at least someone to share the emptiness with.

For what is light but a star’s fleeting message / its call for company, for a companion? / What is gravity but a planet’s embrace, it’s humble greeting to arriving guests? / What is a heart of not a beacon, a target / for both slings and arrows, and fate’s gentle caress?

Fate will whisper in our ears: let the emptiness come. / Let it fill our souls with inaudible sound / may it make us question / who we are, and what we want of this world.

What we need to survive in this place / Is the ability to wait. / Patience can overcome time itself, can overcome / the pain lying dormant in our minds / crying, screaming to see the light of day / but left to rot just below the surface.

Below the streets, below the sweeps / lives a man with just one dream / to be accepted as himself, his arms / outstretched toward the noisy roads above / falling short because he was to weird / for anyone to let him call this world home.

So he left, disappeared to build a new life. / He’s built a house, with cupboards for his things / He’s built a bed, to rest his weary bones.

So ask yourself the next lonesome night / when your skin shivers in the frozen air / after all others have turned you away / will you share his home, / or will your body be left to press against the door?

Recent Round-Up

I haven't fallen off the face of the Earth. Here are a few instrumental pieces I've done recently.

Rhythm In Motion -

 Hypno-sis - Rhythm In Motion (Working)


Note - This song ended up being a giant backing track for me to solo over. I don't think it turned out as well as some of the ideas in, "Sound Collage 1," but I still had fun with this work. I tried to make sure that each section lead into the next somewhat fluidly, but listening in again (and a bit closer) shows me I have a lot I still need to improve on.

"Sound Collage 1" -

 Hypno-sis - Sound Collage 1 (Tentative)


Note - The one started life as a small piano riff. After I settled in with a two handed riff, I transposed it into a few different keys, and tried to improvise a meaningful guitar part over everything. I think I was more successful in some sections than others. If nothing else, I'm happy with the fact that at least the four sections sound reasonably distinct.

"Voices In Motion" -

 Hypno-sis - Voices In Motion


Note - This one was inspired by the Music class that I'm taking right now. The initial concept was to play off 3/4 and 4/4 beats off one another, but in the end it ended up more like an exercise in looping certain sounds and trying for specific audial effects. For the record, the lead guitar part's tone is done with a pedal called a "bronzer," and I know that it sounds somewhat like the "Dramatic Chipmunk." This was not done intentionally.

"Hello, Madness."

 Hypno-sis - Hello Madness.


Note - The title came from two places. One was the front of a torrent site, "Demonoid." The other was from the fact that this was basically a mash-up created by a few new plug-ins I have for Garageband. My two favorite parts are the bass and the little bit of talking at the end. There are lyrics, so listen carefully (or just turn it up).