My vision involves creating a sonic world that is both transcendental and deeply atmospheric.

I want the core production to draw heavily on electronic soundscapes, valuing intricate sound experimentation over conventional structure. I want to demonstrate how cutting edge sound synthesis can be used to convey complex feeling, particularly by utilising minor keys to establish a mood that is at once melancholic and very beautiful. I want the overall atmosphere of the track to feel otherworldly, pushing the boundaries of typical electronic music into a more profound, emotionally resonant space.

incredibly humbling 🤣

~ in production it recalibrated my expectations around proficiency. I quickly realised that the creative learning curve is not linear!

I’ve had a series of breakthroughs and breakdowns mixed with persistent technical hurdles. Embracing this struggle and recognising that there is vast knowledge yet to acquire, has ultimately been one of the most valuable elements of my growth throughout this project.

The Setlist Journey

Our initial setlist choices;

~ Zombie by The Cranberries

~ Play That Funky Music by Wild Cherry

—————————————

Our song choices were made under a perceived sense of urgency that lead us to quick, reactive decisions rather than thoughtful deliberation. While both songs are solid, neither truly align with my personal passion. And to be honest both tracks are vocally outside my comfort zone. However, I am embracing this as an opportunity and consistent effort to push myself beyond established limits and to be honest it's been extremely valuable in expanding my vocal capabilities!! When I sing these songs I can be quite hard on myself often thinking I’m not a good singer even thought I know this is just because I’m out of my comfort zone vocally!

We got the opportunity to add a 3rd track to our setlist so I proposed to my band the song "You Really Got Me" by The Kinks. I feel this song serves as an excellent linking piece for our set, offering a straightforward arrangement while also allowing for so much creative freedom with the vocals. The track is also relatively accessible and very quick to learn, which was a strategic consideration from myself given our limited rehearsal time 😉

Rehearsal Commitment

We have successfully completed 4 rehearsals outside of college time. I attended three of these, and while I unfortunately missed the fourth due to an arm injury, I ensured my bandmates were fully and proactively informed well in advance 🙏🏾

It was the second Wednesday of the project, and we had just received our official Band reflection rehearsal sheet from Andy. As a group, we worked through the form filling every field until we reached the one glaring part of the sheet

<<the Band name section>> 🥲

I posed the obvious question to the group, "Have we actually thought of a band name yet?" When the answer was a unanimous "no," I half jokingly suggested, "Should we just leave it blank?" It’s funny because that simple thought was instantly seized upon.

And Kieran said "That’s it! Why don’t we call ourselves Blank?"

Immediately we embraced the name while also acknowledging its accidental creation 🤣😂 To give it a distinctive visual and sonic flair, I stylised the name by adding the two dots above the (ä) and just like that

~Blänk was born.

It's a name that perfectly reflects both the initial high pressure void on the form and our quick creative solution and I just think it’s a great origin story to how we chose our name

A perfect example was a very fun jam session I had with Ellie one evening after college. She's an incredible keyboardist, we just made stuff up and it was honestly so much fun! There’s something uniquely rewarding about just letting go and jamming freely with another person because it allows for creative ideas to spark without the pressure of a deadline.

~ I’ve attached a snippet of that session as a reminder that beyond project requirements, the best part of music is the simple joy of playing together.

And losing the final, adjusted version of the song's ending was profoundly upsetting for me and to be radically honest it nearly halted my momentum entirely, especially given my tendency to feel overwhelmed and defer crucial tasks -.-

However, the silver lining was discovering a potent ability to perform under pressure despite the initial setback, I managed to create my song in the first place and complete the entire final version from re tracking to mixing in 17 hours over two full days.

And that’s a paradox I’ve come to appreciate is that my best work often emerges when the deadline is immediate 🤣 The final piece is is raw and authentic so raw that you can hear my bracelets jangling in the back 🤣🤣🤣🤣 I like that because it reminds me of aphex twins 2014 album (syro) and there’s one song in particular called aisatsana and he never edited out the cars driving in the background or the birds he just left it raw and I really think that’s cool I did the same for mine (on purpose)

For my track (LUVFREQ) I relied  exclusively on live performance, featuring my own guitar, bass and vocals, consciously opting out of any digital logic loops. Sonically, I aimed for atmosphere I introduced a slightly electronic texture to the instruments using a combination of pedals and what I call a “wonky donky" effect, while the vocals were soaked in heavy reverb to achieve a distinctive dreamy soundscape the lyrics flowed effortlessly, i wrote them in 25 minutes, This rapid creation stemmed from inhabiting a deeply personal space, centered on a specific individual for whom I still hold immense affection so I managed to transport myself to a very specific time and place in my 🌀~mind~🌀 it’s in this form of emotionally charged writing that I find the most creative fulfillment. While the current ending was an improvised first take (just to test the waters of the spoken word part and how it would sound on the track) it just doesn’t quite land with the emotional resonance of the lost version, I am ultimately happy with the submission. The completed track, achieved in such a short window and in my opinion I feel it has potential.

My plan after this project is marked, I intend to dedicate significant time to a full re recording and polish of this track because I genuinely believe this song deserves to be heard, and I look forward to properly finishing and sharing it on SoundCloud. This project has proven that my creative drive is stronger than my procrastination, and I am unbelievably proud of that regardless!

Also definitely a lesson learned to save as I go and save multiple copies 🤣

TRACKID: LUVFREQ - ærielsun

It took me 6 hours (with breaks) to arrange and edit this, it’s not my original artwork it’s originally from a very talented artist called ~trippyphosphenes

because of this, i decided to lean into the emotional weight of the theme, i have went with a dark techno style music video using sound and atmosphere to reflect the feeling of “the black hole”.

Although my progress has been slower than originally planned i feel that this approach allows me to express the concept in a more authentic way.

I cannot wait for what's next 💕

BAND NAME : SEXWAX (our band) Original song by~ McFly

BAND MEMBERS : ⬇️

Jacob - Guitarist (vocals)

Ellie - Keys (vocals)

Mayson - Lead vocalist

Nadz - Lead vocalist

Jackson - Guitarist

Evan - Drummer

Aidian - Bassist

Oliver - Guitarist

Ethan West - Guitarist

STRUCTURE : Verse 1, Pre chorus, Chorus, Verse 2, Pre chorus, Chorus, Guitar solo

TEMPO : 156- 157 BPM

TIME SIGNATURE : 4/4

GROOVE :

I would say its storytelling while many early 2000s pop songs are bout the girl next door this is about a “galaxy girl” which is basically the same thing with a little extra ✨magic✨ the song uses 1st & 2nd person perspective.

the word count is moderate, the song relies heavily on repetition to make that “sticky” ear worm like verse/ chorus so you always find yourself singing it, its been stuck in my head since the first day we started singing it.

In Mr Blue Sky, Jacob took the hook and in Miss Moonlight he sang the chorus, while me and Mayson took more of a backseat vocally by supporting with backing vocals, including call and response sections which was honestly really fun and added a lot to the songs. During the writing stage of Miss Moonlight, I was off sick as my mental health really affected me throughout a lot of Project 2, which I found upsetting and at times discouraging especially when it came to the Black Hole project. Despite this, I stayed as present as I could and was always available for band rehearsals, apart from two sessions where I had the flu. Even on my down days, I still showed up because our band doesn’t expect anyone to perform inauthentically which is something I really value about our dynamic. We communicated constantly through WhatsApp, sending voice notes, videos, hopping on calls, making plans, and giving each other constructive criticism about what could be improved or what wasn’t quite working. Me and Mayson felt that the final chorus in our original song made it feel unfinished so as a band we collectively decided to replace it with a call and response section instead, which worked so much better and really elevated Miss Moonlight. Reflecting on Star Girl, I think we all realised after the performance that having everyone sing the “oooos” together sounded messy so that’s something we’d definitely rethink moving forward. Overall I feel incredibly lucky to be part of this band, the chemistry we have both on and off stage is so special, and we share a lot of similar musical influences. While Ellie and Oliver are more drawn to progressive rock, which isn’t usually my go to performance style, I’d genuinely love to explore that direction too and I think it’s important that everyone gets a voice in shaping what we do next 💜

In Mr Blue Sky I fumbled the lyrics a few times and in hindsight learning them to a higher standard would have helped, but it was also a big positive because even during rehearsals I’d been really scared of getting on stage and not knowing the lyrics at all and that didn’t happen. Realising that was a huge confidence boost and reminded me how powerful muscle memory actually is and I honestly love how the human brain can retain so much information without us even realising.

With Miss Moonlight, we didn’t quite have enough time to get the lyrics completely locked in which is why it was the only song we had lyrics on stage for but despite that, I’m really happy with the performance. Out of all three songs, I think Miss Moonlight was our strongest and I felt the most grounded and connected during that one.

However, during last semester my mental health took a significant dip, living with Bipolar can be very unpredictable and at times it can feel almost self-sabotaging, especially when i want to be fully creative and engaged.

As things became harder, the project unfortunately started to feel discouraging and it got to a point where I struggled to even look at it, as I began associating it with a particularly difficult period rather than the creativity I originally felt. Because of that, I wasn’t able to finish the middle section of the piece or really be as engaged and creativeas i hoped i would be. That said, I’m still proud of the concept and the work i did manage to create, and I believe the idea had real potential. I do wish I could turn back time and explore it fully, and I may still choose to share what I’ve completed, as it reflects my creative instincts even if the project remains unfinished.

If you don’t know what it is, it sounds sexual… but it’s literally just surfboard wax 😂

Ni made a joke about it one day, and for some reason it just stuck. No overthinking, no master plan just one of those moments where the name chose us 🤷🏾‍♀️

While I was away in Ireland, Jacob wrote most of the lyrics. When I came back, we went through them together they were still in a rough draft stage, so I made a few changes and tweaks but the heart of the song was already there. It felt very natural, like we were shaping something that already knew what it wanted to be.

Overall, I absolutely love how Miss Moonlight has turned out. It feels happy, light and uplifting and there’s such a good energy to it. It’s a song we’re all really very proud of and the whole process just reinforced how much I value collaboration and trust within our band 🌺

As an artist, I’m very inspired by how herself she is. She doesn’t just sing songs, she tells stories & expresses emotion in a way that feels raw. That’s something I really admire and try to bring into my own music. Neo-soul is a genre I feel deeply connected to and in my eyes Erykah Badu is the queen of it. Her music has shaped my taste, my vocal style, and the way I approach songwriting & performance. So to me I feel like performing her music feels like paying respect to an artist who helped shape who I am musically today.

It’s only February and this year already feels totally different to me. I been showing up to open jams, putting myself in rooms with musicians I and actually networking instead of hiding behind potential. Cause I’m at that point now where im tryna consciously push myself out of my musical comfort zone & not because im lost, but because ive outgrown where i been sitting i just been musically stagnant for too long I fear ~ n i like to think of myself as someone who lives outside their comfort zone quite regularly & usually act on instinct and do things on a whim i defo leap before I overthink wich can be problematic but hey,ho we love a bitta chaos BUT with music though it’s so different and because it’s the thing that matters most, i hesitate. its so strange and contradictory n feels so claustrophobic AF Like I’m standing in front of an open door and still checking if I’m “allowed” to walk through 🙄 classic.

I know the fear underneath it is completely my shit I gotta work through and it’s the same shit that comes up all the time

~not being good enough or feeling like I wouldn’t be accepted within the music scene. Naming it makes it sound small and almost laughable & kind of embaressing but it’s been so real n scary to me but something is shifting and that fear just doesn’t have the same grip on me anymore, honestly is been psychological warfare 😭 but i feel like this is the start of me trusting myself publicly and fully letting myself be seen and letting myself belong in a community WHERE I BELONG.

♾️

Im trying to write.

i’ve tried to write

when the night leans heavy,

and the world goes quiet.

the words hide from me

but why?

my mind is full

yet I’m mindful

holding space for my feelings

that move with the ocean.

the waves pull me under,

then carrying me back to shore

in every direction at once.

every emotion sways with the tide.

And my perception sharpens.

i see it now.

i always have.

i can write.

i could always write.

the blockage wasn’t silence,

it was psychological warfare

between me

and my page.

now, energetically,

i’m floating.

flying.

cruising.

soaring, through the night sky.

but why night?

i’ve tried it the daylight

i’m too exposed,

its too loud,

too demanding.

too distracting.

so I wait for the darkness.

because my mind opens up like a lotus

willing and ready to receive

whatever information comes my way.

Now im ready for the night

so I pray

to my god, my paper.

pray, and pray again

that my pen listens

this time.

so i bid u goodnight.

because now, i must write.

~ signing off 5.30am

I’ve also been really enjoying Scott’s class It’s been grounding and informative, and I appreciate the structure and insight it brings. At the same time, I’ve noticed that I’m even more excited when it comes to doing my own thing, particularly with mixing I do like the taste he gave us but will enjoy it more when I get to mix my own stuff there’s something so satisfying about being hands on with sound. It feels intuitive, almost meditative, like I can lose time in it and come back feeling more connected to myself. Alongside this, I’m writing another original with my band 💅🏾 which feels really exciting and there’s a deep sense of momentum building creatively, like ideas are flowing more freely and collaborations are aligning at just the right time, i feel so lucky to have the band that i do they are amazing artists & people and we have really connected. I’ve also started working with Dan Baxter from HND, exploring more soul focused music which has been really inspiring. Soul music feels close to my spirit and it’s expressive n emotional n working in that space feels very aligned with where I’m at musically and personally right now 🧚🏽‍♀️✨ On top of that, I’ve joined a band with Gilly and my best friend Amz (who isn’t in college) and that’s been such a joy. We’ve been having loads of jams, just playing for the love of it with no expectations & no pressure. Those sessions remind me that music doesn’t always need to be productive or polished & sometimes it just needs to exist, I find that really ✨healing✨ Overall, things have been feeling really good so far this year. Everything seems to be moving at such a nice pace not rushed and definitely not stagnant just steady and intentional. I feel more present, more trusting of the process, and more open to what’s unfolding for me AND…… I also got the job I’ve always wanted, which feels like a huge affirmation from the universe that I’m on the right path  It’s brought me a sense of stability and gratitude and it’s allowed me to show up creatively with a clearer mind and a fuller heart. Right now, I feel aligned and not in a perfect way but im still m learning, growing, creating, flowing and allowing myself to enjoy where I am without constantly looking ahead. This project so far and this period of my life feels like a reminder that when I move with intention and trust that things naturally fall into place 🌛🌝🌜

Overall, this experience reminded me how much I enjoy performing and how important it is for me to continue developing both my confidence and my vocal ability, was so so fun i loved the solo perfromance ALOT.