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Initial ideas:
1st version: reggae song
2nd: drum and bass remix of said reggae song.

Started toying around with some ideas over the weekend. started with making some dub drums and then layering a bass loop and vocal line on top. i then played a piano line and added that. i then sampled some horns from a sample pack i bought (reggae roots kit volume 1 by loopmasters). i then layered some guitar and more drum shots over the top and created two uniques sections. i plan to create this song and then do a drum and bass remix as my 2nd version. finished the two basic segments and mixed them a little. faded in the intro to give an authentic old timey feel.

Started on the remix shortly after creating the two unique sections. started by changing the tempo from 130bpm to 174bpm. i then started programming and layering drums and adding some fx stabs. changed the first section to purely melodic elements (no drums) as the drums i had originally made sounded bad at 174bpm. it also adds to the buildup of the track.

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Worked on the second version this week. developed the structure. added a breakdown from the first melodic section with a hard cymbal and some effects to signify a build up and change in the song. i also had the drop come in a half bar early to catch the listener off guard as i felt it really worked in the track. added a bridge section which borrows the melodic elements from the intro section but with the drum and bass drums. i also added some bongos and additional high hats on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th on the beat. i also added the horn's from the very start of the track to bring everything back to where it started. took the bass out of the 3rd and 4th bar of the bridge to gave the drop more "oomph".

i then switched courses and felt this song wouldn't be suitable as i wasn't sure how to include it in an electronic performance. i considered sloting it into a dj set but felt as if my skills were not up to it so thus ended up making another song.

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I have started an entirely new song as i felt i couldn't take the other reggae/jungle song much further than i already had.

I started by playing around on my keyboard and finding a progression i enjoyed and could play consistently. i then recorded that with a piano vst at 140bpm and put the piano loop in the arrangement tab. with that in place i began to play along to that loop whilst recording and kept anything i thought sounded good. i also started implementing a few different sounds into the mix to see what blended well. i settled on a muted trumpet as i thought it added to feel of the track. im not sure what scale it is in but there's a lot of minor notes and i wanted to create a melancholic yet hopeful? sounding song. i felt the trumpet was perfect for that as its played (by the vst) in a very human and emotive way. it has little inflexions in the notes that created the perfect sound and space. i then added a string line as well. the string sound bends and adds to that feeling i was trying to achieve. i also added a double bass line. i then started arranging these loops. i put the piano loop first, then the additional bits of recorded piano, then the trumpets, strings and double bass. at this point i had began humming a top line and recorded it on my phone as to not forget it. i then started writing some lyrics. my misses had been having a bit of a bad day so i actually started writing it as a way to cheer her up and show i was there to support her.

come and soak in my river, today
i dont know but i think we'll be okay

whatever you want babe
whatever you need babe
just know that i got you
just know that i got you good

come and be sad with me, take it all out on me
i wont be mad, i will kiss at your feet

if you haven't a clue babe
whatever you'll do babe
just know that i got you
just know that i got you good

I recorded the vocals and did very minimal mixing on them and left it there for an evening.

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this is where the track was after an hour or so. (vocals are painfully bad)

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I decided after toying around with some different concepts for the song that i liked it as a drum and bass/jungle song. i felt the built up and vocals worked for a drum and bass track already although felt that the vocals were not up to a good standard performance wise. conceptially they worked fine as a place holder until i could record something better or have someone else perform them. i begun working on a "drop" for the build up to go to. i started the usual way i make drum and bass with making some drums and layered the already established chord line on top of them and then started playing around with some bass noises on my keyboard. i settled on a standard saw bass which i took the low end out of and put a sub sine underneath instead as its easier to mix and specifically sidechain later. i also changed the chord structure slightly. the same chords are played in the same order but are now on the off beat and an octave up. i felt this made it easier to fill the mid's with bass and drums as it wasn't as busy with the piano on a higher pitch. i have attached the very first version of the "drop" i had with just the sub bass and drums.

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I then began adding different elements to the track such as a string line which i will attach and a few additional drums. the string line slides up slightly and i think gives a really nice cinematic feel to the track, at least in that particular moment. i added a small delay and reverb onto to it to add to that effect. i really liked the contrast between the gritty bass and heavy drums to the soft synth line and piano. i then made a slight breakdown to the track. i added a low pass filter on the saw and automated it to climb and then fall as the "bridge" comes in. i also removed the piano but had the string line play as i felt the delay and "reverbyness" previously mentioned really worked in that section to signify change in the song.

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In the 6th week i began to work on "the bridge". I felt i didn't want to take away too much in terms of drums and percussion as i quite like drum and bass/jungle tracks that just keep rolling into the next section. i instead took away the saw bass and kept the sub. doing this seemed to take away enough "energy" from the track to allow to make another build up but without completely starting at square one. i added a synth line. the synth is quite wobbly as i added a tremolo and flanger onto it as well as a "vowel filter" to give it almost human sounding element. after repeating that section twice i dropped the synth out and added the chorus back in. i felt this tied the song together nicely. i then recreated the breakdown from the first section to the bridge but added a large delay onto the last word in the vocal to make an impact effect for the next drop.

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after making the bridge i wanted to make another "drop". i wanted this drop to have no or very little melodic elements and just be all about the bass/synth lines. i began by bringing back the saw bass and the sub underneath. i also made a heavily detuned saw with i layered with an 808 bass as i felt the heavy attack of the 808 sounded great. it really pops out in the track. i then layered that detuned saw with a reese bass and another saw and widened them to make it all sound very full. the song then repeats from here on in. after this second drop it goes back to the bridge and then back to the second drop where the song eventually ends.

I then had my partner sing a few harmonies and extra backing vocals for the track which i blended my already recorded vocals.

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the 8th week onwards was all about working out the performance aspect of the course. i started by having a chat with jack kinglake (great name btw) about how i could break the song up into different elements and what ones i could play and what i could leave playing in the background. i settled on the playing the keys and singing the intro section up to the drop. i would also do the keys played on the higher octave during the drop, the synth section of the bridge and the detuned bass on the 2nd drop. i also cut the song's last two sections as it went over the maximum time allowed for the performance (5 minutes).

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the 9th week was spent setting up the track to play in the background of my performance. its mostly the same just with the elements im playing removed and with a few added prompts to help me stay in time such as a delayed hi hat at the start of the track. it was also spent practising and trying to get over my nerves. im not a natural performer, or at least i dont feel comfortable doing it unless i feel i have it perfected. I felt i did all i could to get the performance as good as i could but honestly at this stage i dont like the track very much and almost felt a little embarrassed playing it.

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the 10th week has been largely spent writing or editing this as well as my reflective diary. just want to say thanks to all the tutors and all the students you've been amazing! hope whoever's marking this has a great day (if they mark me highly). see ya next term!