Fusion Music Workshop T1 by Ellie Brown

28 09 2016 - Latin

elliemaybrown — 2016-10-03 14:51:10 UTC

12 10 2016 - Sweet Disposition

elliemaybrown — 2016-10-13 06:16:16 UTC

For this session, I worked with Dan, Sara and Morgan again. We decided to do another reggae-fusion cover, this time of the song 'Sweet Disposition' by The Temper Trap. The song is originally a rock song, using rock elements such as riffs and the typical rock band instrumentation.

In order to make our version fusion, we used some elements from reggae and purposefully made them contrast the original elements of the song we kept the same.

We added in a slow, steady drum beat on a drum machine - as we did not have a drummer in our group. We also completely slowed down the tempo of the song to within the typical tempo of a reggae song (between 60bpm and 90bpm).

We decided to add a lot of syncopation to the main riff of the song as this is an important feature of reggae music. The riff is played in a staccato manner, each note separate and individual. This was achieved by palm-muting these notes to make sure that they did not ring out.

However, we did not change the vocal part in any way - other than lowering the tempo with the rest of the piece. We did this because it creates a strange mix of reggae elements and western rock elements that allow for the piece to be a fusion piece instead of just one genre.

(LYRICS)
Sweet disposition
Never too soon
Oh, reckless abandon
Like no one's watching you

A moment of love
A dream
A laugh
A kiss
A cry
Our rights
Our wrongs
A moment of love
A dream
A laugh
A moment of love
A dream
A laugh

So stay there
'Cause I'll be coming over
While our blood's still young
It's so young, it runs
Won't stop 'til it's over
Won't stop to surrender

Songs of desperation
I played them for you

A moment of love
A dream
A laugh
A kiss
A cry
Our rights
Our wrongs
A moment of love
A dream
A laugh
A moment of love
A dream
A laugh

Stay there
'Cause I'll be coming over
While our blood's still young
It's so young, it runs
Won't stop 'til it's over
Won't stop to surrender

Won't stop 'til it's over
Won't stop 'til it's over
Won't stop 'til it's over
Won't stop to surrender

[repeating over the next verse 'til the end:]
A moment of love
A dream
A laugh
A kiss
A cry
Our rights
Our wrongs
A moment of love
A dream
A laugh
A moment of love
A dream
A laugh

Won't stop 'til it's over
Won't stop 'til it's over
Won't stop 'til it's over
Won't stop to surrender

(CHORDS+TAB)

Palm muted (stacatto)

e|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

B|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

G|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

D|---4-5-7---4-5-7---4-5-7---4-5-7---4-5-7---4-5-7---4-5-7---4-5-7---------|

A|-5-------5-------5-------5-------5-------5-------5-------5-------------------------------|

E|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

e|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

B|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

G|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

D|---4-5-7---4-5-7---4-5-7---4-5-7-------4-------4-------4-------4---------|

A|-5-------5-------5-------5---------5-7-----5-7-----5-7-----5-7---------------|

E|---------------------------------7-------7-------7-------7----------------------------|

e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|

B|-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7----etc...----------------------------------|

G|-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7----etc...----------------------------------|

D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|

A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|

E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|

back to the main riff (x2)(stacatto)

e|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

B|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

G|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

D|---4-5-7---4-5-7---4-5-7---4-5-7-------4-------4-------4-------4---------|

A|-5-------5-------5-------5---------5-7-----5-7-----5-7-----5-7---------------|

E|---------------------------------7-------7-------7-------7----------------------------|

Then this slight variation once (staccato except for higher note, F#)

e|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

B|---------------7------------------------------------------------------------------------|

G|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

D|---4-5-7---4-5-----4-5-7---4-5-7-------4-------4-------4-------4----------|

A|-5-------5-------5-------5---------5-7-----5-7-----5-7-----5-7---------------|

E|---------------------------------7-------7-------7-------7----------------------------|

e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

B|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

G|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

D|---4-5-7---4-5-7---4-5-7---4-5-7-------4-------4-------4-------4---------|

A|-5-------5-------5-------5---------5-7-----5-7-----5-7-----5-7---------------|

E|---------------------------------7-------7-------3-------3----------------------------|

e|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

B|-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7------etc...-------------------------------------------------|

G|-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7------etc...-------------------------------------------------|

D|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

A|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

e|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

B|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

G|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

D|-7-5-4---7-5-4---7-5-4---7-5-4---4-------4-------4-------4---------------|

A|-------5-------5-------5-------5---7-5-----7-5-----7-5-----7-5---------------|

E|---------------------------------------7-------7-------7-------7----------------------|

19 10 2016 - Youth

elliemaybrown — 2016-11-29 15:01:32 UTC

In this session, I worked with Leah. We decided to do a cover of the song 'Youth' by Daughter. Originally, the song is classed as a neo-folk song; the form of folk music that fused modern instrumentation and styles.

In order to make our cover fusion, we decided to add in some elements from different genres. Our arrangement was entirely acoustic; only two voices and an acoustic guitar. We did this to take away one of the western elements that the song originally had. The entirely acoustic instrumentation gave the piece an element of traditional folk music or Celtic music.

We also included an element used in country music; close harmony. This is where the harmony is within a narrow range – no more than an octave apart. This can be heard in our performance particularly in the second verse with the vocal harmony on the lyrics '...chasing visions of our futures...' and 'that one will die before he gets there'. Additionally, the end of the final verse also has harmonies a third apart from each other on the lyrics 'ringing in my head, when you broke my chest'.

This inspiration came from listening to two songs, 'Nothing' by Lily and Madeleine (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msmm3EXZbSs) and 'Dusty Trails' by Lucius, performed live (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLKNGNC1w3M).

'Dusty Trials' by Lucius – classed as a pop band – uses some of the typical instrumentation of a country band, meaning that it is all acoustic apart from an electric guitar that is included for lead work. The harmonies were what we looked at closely, however. We liked how there is a section in the piece that is solely a cappella. The voices hold the song together beautifully and we aimed to recreate that in a small way by letting the finger picking of the guitar stop to allow for the voices to come through more.

From the song 'Nothing' by Lily and Madeleine by also took inspiration for some harmonies. Also, their use of dynamics is quite interesting, getting louder at certain points of the music for emotive purposes. We replicated this in our cover during the last verse and chorus, going from quiet to loud. This was however quite difficult for us to do with the equipment we had; no microphones and just an acoustic guitar. The piece had to be played as loud as we could from the very beginning in order for it to be heard so the dynamic changes weren't as dramatic as we would have liked.

(LYRICS)
Shadows settle on the place, that you left.
Our minds are troubled by the emptiness.
Destroy the middle, it's a waste of time.
From the perfect start to the finish line.

And if you're still breathing, you're the lucky ones.
'Cause most of us are heaving through corrupted lungs.
Setting fire to our insides for fun
Collecting names of the lovers that went wrong
The lovers that went wrong.

We are the reckless,
We are the wild youth
Chasing visions of our futures
One day we'll reveal the truth
That one will die before he gets there.

And if you're still bleeding, you're the lucky ones.
'Cause most of our feelings, they are dead and they are gone.
We're setting fire to our insides for fun.
Collecting pictures from a flood that wrecked our home,
It was a flood that wrecked this home.

And you caused it,
And you caused it,
And you caused it

Well I've lost it all, I'm just a silhouette,
A lifeless face that you'll soon forget,
My eyes are damp from the words you left,
Ringing in my head, when you broke my chest.
Ringing in my head, when you broke my chest.

And if you're in love, then you are the lucky one,
'Cause most of us are bitter over someone.
Setting fire to our insides for fun,
To distract our hearts from ever missing them.
But I'm forever missing him.

And you caused it,
And you caused it,
And you caused it

(TAB)
Shadows settle on the place…

e|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

B|--------3-------3/5-------5------5/8--------8------8\7------7-------7\3--|

G|----0-------0---------0-------0---------0-------0--------0-------0-------------|

D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

A|--2---2---2---2-----3---3---3---3-----7---7---7---7----5---5---5---5--|

E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

Our minds are troubled by…

e|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

B|--------3-------3/5-------5------5/8--------8------8\7------7-------7\3---|

G|----0-------0---------0-------0---------0-------0--------0-------0--------------|

D|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

A|--2---2---2---2-----3---3---3---3-----7---7---7---7----5---5---5---5---|

E|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

Destroy the middle... From the

e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

B|--------3-------3/5-------5------5/8--------8------8\7------7-------7\3-|

G|----0-------0---------0-------0---------0-------0--------0-------0------------|

D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

A|--2---2---2---2-----3---3---3---3-----7---7---7---7----5---5---5---5--|

E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

start to the finish line... But if

e|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

B|--------3-------3/5-------5------5/8--------8------8\7------7-------7\3---|

G|----0-------0---------0-------0---------0-------0--------0-------0--------------|

D|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

A|--2---2---2---2-----3---3---3---3-----7---7---7---7----5---5---5---5---|

E|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

You’re still bleeding you’re the lucky one....

e|--------------------------------------------------------------|

B|--3------5------8------7------3------5------8------7-|

G|--0------0------0------0------0------0------0------0-|

D|--------------------------------------------------------------|

A|--2------3------7------5------2------3------7------5-|

E|--------------------------------------------------------------|

Setting fire to our insides for fun... Collecting

e|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

B|--------3-------3/5-------5------5/8--------8------8\7------7-------7\3---|

G|----0-------0---------0-------0---------0-------0--------0-------0--------------|

D|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

A|--2---2---2---2-----3---3---3---3-----7---7---7---7----5---5---5---5---|

E|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

Names of the lovers that went wrong…

e|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

B|--------3-------3/5-------5------5/8--------8------8\7------7-------7/8---|

G|----0-------0---------0-------0---------0-------0--------0-------0--------------|

D|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

A|--2---2---2---2-----3---3---3---3-----7---7---7---7----5---5---5---5---|

E|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

e|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

B|---------8-------8-------8-------------5------5/7------7------7/8----------|

G|-----0-------0-------0-------0-----0-------0-------0-------0-----------------|

D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

A|---7---7---7---7---7---7---7---2-3---3---3---3---5---5---5---5------|

E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

02 11 2016

elliemaybrown — 2016-11-29 15:01:41 UTC

In this session, we worked on a cover of 'Summertime' by My Chemical Romance.

(LYRICS)
When the lights go out
Will you take me with you
And carry all this broken bone
Through six years down in crowded rooms
And highways I call home?
Something I can't know 'til now.
'Til you pick me off the ground
With a brick in hand, your lip-gloss smile,
Your scraped-up knees.

And if you stay I would even wait all night
Or until my heart explodes.
How long?
'Til we find our way in the dark and out of harm
You can run away with me anytime you want

Terrified of what I'd be
As a kid from what I've seen
Every single day when people try
And put the pieces back together
Just to smash them down
Turn my headphones up real loud
I don't think I need them now
'Cause you stopped the noise.

And if you stay I would even wait all night
Or until my heart explodes.
How long?
'Til we find our way in the dark and out of harm
You can run away with me anytime you want

16 11 2016 - Ride without Dan

elliemaybrown — 2016-11-29 15:01:53 UTC

This week, we worked on our cover of 'Ride' by twentyonepilots. As Dan wasn't here for the session, we got Cate to come in and play the guitar for us. Since she was playing an acoustic guitar instead of an electric like Dan would usually play, it gave the performance a different kind of tone.

Cate also added some harmonies and backing vocals for us. We decided at this point that we wanted to keep the vocals as western as possible instead of using traditional reggae techniques such as
'SingJ-ing'. SingJ is the mixture of singing and deejaying. Deejaying is the act of chanting a usually monotone melody over the top of a rhythm.

We also reinforced the idea of syncopated accompaniment, particularly in the second verse when Sara raps. I really like this section as I think that it shows the fusion element particularly well. It is not very typical for this type of vocal melody to be put on top of this kind of accompaniment. In this section, all of the accompanying instruments play solely on the off-beats, in a staccato manner meaning that each note is cut off, and doesn't ring out.

23 11 2016 - Can't Stop

elliemaybrown — 2016-11-29 15:02:00 UTC

This session served mostly as a time for us to record past performances that we hadn't recorded yet.

We changed our reggae cover of 'Ride' by adding in a drum machine. This meant that Morgan could play the bass which added a depth to the whole performance that we thought it was lacking before. It also meant that we were able to stay in time with each other easier.

We also spent some time coming up with a new fusion performance in the form of a cover of 'Can't Stop' by Red Hot Chili Peppers. We used the same drum beat as the one we added to 'Ride' as we felt that the emphasis within it sounded very typically Reggae.

This time, we did not slow down the original song because we wanted the Reggae fusion to be really simple and not the main point of the performance. This led to keeping the typical rock-band instrumentation (electric guitars, bass guitars and vocals along with the Reggae-style drums).

[INTRO]

e|------------------------------|   
B|------------------------------|  
G|------------------------------|   
D|------------------------------|x4 
A|-5-7---5-7---5-7---5-7---5-7--|   
E|------------------------------|

e|--------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------|
G|--------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------|x1
A|-5-7---5-7---5-7---5----5-7-----|
E|---------------------7----------|                                                                           

e|------------------------------|
B|------------------------------|
G|------------------------------|
D|------------------------------|x3 
A|-5-7---5-7---5-7---5-7---5-7--|
E|------------------------------|
                                  

[VERSE 1 & 2]

Riff A
e|-------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------|
G|------7--9---------7--9------------7--9---------7--9---------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-7-7--------7-7-7--------7-7-7--5--------5-5-5-------5-5-5---|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------|
                                                                              

e|-------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------------------|
G|----7--9---------7--9------------7--9--------7--9------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------| x4
A|-------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-7--------7-7-7--------7-7-7--8-------8-8-8--------8-8-8-----|
                                                                          

Riff B
e|-------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------------------|
G|------7--9---------7--9------------7--9---------7--9---------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-7-7--------7-7-7--------7-7-7--5--------5-5-5-------5-5-5---|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------|
                                                                              
e|--------------------------------7--7--7--7---|
B|--------------------------------8--8--8--8---|
G|----7--9---------7--9-----------9--9--9--9---|
D|---------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------|
E|-7--------7-7-7--------7-7-7-----------------|


[CHORUS]

e|-7--7---7--7--7----2--2---5--5--5----3--3---7--7--7----2--2---5--5--5-------|
B|-8--8---7--7--7----3--3---5--5--5----3--3---7--7--7----3--3---5--5--5-------|
G|-9--9---7--7--7----4--4---5--5--5----4--4---7--7--7----4--4---5--5--5-------|
D|-9--9---7--7--7----4--4---5--5--5----5--5---7--7--7----4--4---5--5--5-------|
A|-7--7---5--5--5----2--2---3--3--3----5--5---5--5--5----2--2---3--3--3-------|
E|-------------------------------------3--3-----------------------------------|
                                                                              
e|-7--7---7--7--7----2--2---5--5--5----3--3---7--7--7----2--3---|
B|-8--8---7--7--7----3--3---5--5--5----3--3---7--7--7----3--5---|
G|-9--9---7--7--7----4--4---5--5--5----4--4---7--7--7----4--5---|
D|-9--9---7--7--7----4--4---5--5--5----5--5---7--7--7----4--5---|
A|-7--7---5--5--5----2--2---3--3--3----5--5---5--5--5----2--3---|
E|-------------------------------------3--3---------------------|

05 10 2016 - Ride

elliemaybrown — 2016-11-29 16:36:38 UTC

The focus for this week's session was Reggae music. Outside of the session, I listened to some reggae-fusion music to get inspiration for how to fuse reggae in with today's pop music. One common theme that I found was that a lot of the music was rich with syncopation that gave the tracks a lot of movement and a 'tap-your-foot' feel. I really liked this and wanted to incorporate it in with any performance that the group would come with.

Once in groups, we had all done similar preparation for the session. As there was no drummer in the group, Morgan opted to play a small drum that we felt had a reggae feel to it. We agreed on the song 'Ride' by twentyonepilots because it already had some syncopation in it that we decided to make stronger and more effective for reggae.

With Morgan playing a fairly simple drum beat that easily was the glue for the whole performance - as soon as he starts playing, the rest of us seem to fall in line.

In the session, we all worked really well together, bouncing ideas off of each other. Because it's still early days, everyone is still trying to suss everyone else out, but it seems like we all have a fairly similar taste in music and are all open to discovering new things. Because of this open-mindedness, we were able to get to work right away on developing 'Ride' into a performance.

Syncopation is a massive part of reggae music so it seemed like the best way to put a reggae spin on our performance. We begin by keeping the performance quite close to the original with the held chords and vocals. When the chorus comes in is when we change the rhythm up to reflect the fused genre. We put emphasis on the 2nd and 4th beats to reflect that 'tap-your-foot' feeling that I got when listening to the other pieces. Sara's guitar plays mainly the bass notes which, again, does a great job of holding the performance together as three instruments playing the same pattern wouldn't have been as musically interesting.

(LYRICS)
I just wanna stay in the sun where I find
I know it's hard sometimes
Pieces of peace in the sun's peace of mind
I know it's hard sometimes
Yeah, I think about the end just way too much
But it's fun to fantasize
On my enemies who wouldn't wish who I was
But it's fun to fantasize

Oh, oh, I'm falling, so I'm taking my time on my ride
Oh, I'm falling, so I'm taking my time on my ride
Taking my time on my ride

"I'd die for you," that's easy to say
We have a list of people that we would take
A bullet for them, a bullet for you
A bullet for everybody in this room
But I don't seem to see many bullets coming through
See many bullets coming through
Metaphorically, I'm the man
But literally, I don't know what I'd do
"I'd live for you," and that's hard to do
Even harder to say when you know it's not true
Even harder to write when you know that tonight
There were people back home who tried talking to you
But then you ignored them still
All these questions they're for real
Like "Who would you live for?",
"Who would you die for?"
And "Would you ever kill?"

Oh, oh, I'm falling, so I'm taking my time on my ride
Oh, I'm falling, so I'm taking my time on my ride
Taking my time on my ride

I've been thinking too much
I've been thinking too much
I've been thinking too much
I've been thinking too much
(help me)
I've been thinking too much (I've been thinking too much)
I've been thinking too much (Help me)
I've been thinking too much (I've been thinking too much)
I've been thinking too much

Oh, oh, I'm falling, so I'm taking my time on my ride
Oh, I'm falling, so I'm taking my time
Taking my time on my ride

Oh, oh, I'm falling, so I'm taking my time on my ride
Oh, I'm falling, so I'm taking my time on my

I've been thinking too much
Help me
I've been thinking too much
Help me

I've been thinking too much (I've been thinking too much)
I've been thinking too much (help me)
I've been thinking too much (I've been thinking too much)
I've been thinking too much
Help me

(CHORDS)
Same throughout - G, Am, Em, C

I think that the performance went quite well and I'm very proud of how we all worked during the session. Despite us all being nervous, we were proud of what we'd made so we pushed past the nerves to deliver it. Feedback, while minimal, was still good and I saw a lot of people nodding their heads or tapping their foot along with us.

30 11 2016

elliemaybrown — 2016-12-01 14:42:39 UTC

For this session, I worked with Leah again. We wanted to improve our performance of 'Youth' and change it from our first time performing it.

This time, we changed the acoustic instrumentation to feature an electric guitar. Since the original folk elements of the song - such as the finger style guitar playing - were still included, the electric guitar added to the fusion of rock.

Other than the change in instrumentation, the rest of the song remained exactly the same as the first time we performed it, meaning that the close harmony element stayed the same.