Get Flash to see this player.
Description
Just a tune that makes me happy.
Alimar suggested I add some notes about my process here, which I think is a good
idea, so allow me to try to analyze how I made this. Not easy for me to do this
without being a bit long winded, so bear with me!
Keep in mind that all I'm using are loops here, having no virtual instruments or
means of recording real ones.
I had a few bottom line concepts I was aiming for. I wanted to make something that
I would love to play in my dream band, which means great drumming, rocking guitar
grooves, highly danceable and with a lot of changes, among other things.
Being a drummer, I pieced together many of the drum parts (using "Drums on Demand"
beats) first. 75% of those beats didn't make the final cut, but I wanted a large pool
to choose from while composing.
I also sought as many rocking guitar parts as I could, which seem oddly scarce among
my (considerable) loop library. I found about 20 guitar parts that sounded good,
and narrowed them to the 8 that fit the drums best.
With the guitar/drums combos I liked, I had enough to build the framework for the song,
and I finished the underpainting, if you will, placing the parts generally where I wanted
them to go. The first half introduces the three main grooves so that in the second I
could extend on them.
It was at least 20 passes of refinement at that point. Finding basslines that fit (quite
the challenge), changing the lengths of the parts, adding transitions, layering more
textures on top, adding some sound effects here and there, and twiddling the levels,
effects and panning.
Most of the work here was in trying to locate loops and loop combinations that fit my
aesthetic goals. In the end, there are only 70 different loops in the final mix, and many
hundreds more that I considered and removed.
I'm pleased with the results and I hope you like it too. I would love to see a real band
cover this one live, especially one with me playing drums. :)
Alimar suggested I add some notes about my process here, which I think is a good
idea, so allow me to try to analyze how I made this. Not easy for me to do this
without being a bit long winded, so bear with me!
Keep in mind that all I'm using are loops here, having no virtual instruments or
means of recording real ones.
I had a few bottom line concepts I was aiming for. I wanted to make something that
I would love to play in my dream band, which means great drumming, rocking guitar
grooves, highly danceable and with a lot of changes, among other things.
Being a drummer, I pieced together many of the drum parts (using "Drums on Demand"
beats) first. 75% of those beats didn't make the final cut, but I wanted a large pool
to choose from while composing.
I also sought as many rocking guitar parts as I could, which seem oddly scarce among
my (considerable) loop library. I found about 20 guitar parts that sounded good,
and narrowed them to the 8 that fit the drums best.
With the guitar/drums combos I liked, I had enough to build the framework for the song,
and I finished the underpainting, if you will, placing the parts generally where I wanted
them to go. The first half introduces the three main grooves so that in the second I
could extend on them.
It was at least 20 passes of refinement at that point. Finding basslines that fit (quite
the challenge), changing the lengths of the parts, adding transitions, layering more
textures on top, adding some sound effects here and there, and twiddling the levels,
effects and panning.
Most of the work here was in trying to locate loops and loop combinations that fit my
aesthetic goals. In the end, there are only 70 different loops in the final mix, and many
hundreds more that I considered and removed.
I'm pleased with the results and I hope you like it too. I would love to see a real band
cover this one live, especially one with me playing drums. :)
Leave a Comment
You must be registered and logged-in to comment.
I love the way it comes back to the simple guitar rhythm
and that little Hawaiian twang all juxtaposed to the heavy
crazy electronica rock opera you have created. Whoa.
It made me happy too.
Jack