As most of you already know, I have been composing music for some years now. I started around 1993 when I bought a Kawai K4 synthesizer and I got some sequencing software on my trusty Amiga 500. You won’t believe it but I composed Atomic Disintegration on that day I bought my K4!
That period coincided with a love story which finished very bitterly only for another one to start (and which is still going strong…)Â My first album, My Contribution to Art, contains 12 tracks composed between April 1993 to May 1995. For years, the album did not have a cover but I’ve finally settled for one:
I’ve settled for a very naïve art depiction of an airplane (courtesy of Donna Spurrell.) Of course, the tracks are not that great (or else I would have been Thom Yorke) but they mean a lot to me. In fact, I’m very proud of them. The whole album can be listened and downloaded freely at Last.fm.
My second album, So Logical, was released in 2004. It coincided with the births of my two kids, Anya and Kyan. That album too didn’t have a cover. I’ve settled for:
The image is courtesy Sharpbrains. The So Logical name of the album comes from the fact that it was entirely composed using Emagic (now Apple) Logic Audio. The album contains 8 tracks and most of them are linked to a special event concerning either Kyan, Anya, Christina or myself. For example, I always associate This is real and Beautiful sea with Anya’s birth. All in all, So Logical is a much nicer album that the first one and it has an excellent audio quality (judge for yourself by listening to it or downloading it freely – I believe it sounds better than most of the “professionally” mastered albums being released now.) Of course, the music is perfectible but, what the heck, I am just an amateur after all.
The third album
Since getting my MacBook, I’ve bought Logic Express and I’ve worked on some tracks (a few which are pretty much done but the vast majority is still in alpha state.) Maybe I’ll finish around January 2009. I’ll keep you informed.
Hi.
I like the album cover for So logical. hmm I think you cherish the dream of doing the recording in Studio one day. Maybe with the success of your Linux company, this might come true.
What is the difference between Logic Express and iLife?
So no one’s gonna get a lunch at the restaurant!
As yourself you said, most of the songs one the album is shit, but its your album, your work and should be proud of it. As it concerns Thom Yorke, Radiohead sucks, i hate pop bands, and this band is not really alternative rock. Alternative rock is like bands like Nickelback. And for the information of everyone, PSYCHOSOCIAL IS THE BEST SONG OF THE YEAR 2008! Check it out on fuse !
I’ve been listening carefully using my headphones to the tracks on So Logical and I agree that the sound quality is interesting.
As I’m most probably getting some home-studio equipment (mic and pre-amp) by the end of this year and that I’m still not fixed on what will fulfill my needs, I was wondering how the tabla-liked percussion got mic’ed on Play?
To Ashesh:
Maybe. But I compose music using virtual instruments (and not at all (for the time being at least) with real instruments and vocals) and therefore I don’t think that I’ll get a much better sound in a studio.
On the other hand, professional mastering is bound to help.
To Jim:
I’m proud. Thom Yorke is a great artist. And I don’t know anything about Nickelback. They are not really alternative though. They do “post-grundge” and are signed to EMI. Sounds pretty mainstream to me…
To David:
I worked a lot to get a good sound quality. As a matter of fact, I didn’t use any of those “mastering” effects. I just used normal delays and a little bit of reverb from time to time. What I spent a lot of time of was getting the levels correct. You won’t see a single clipping sample in the whole album. And the dynamics are on average 14dB which is much much better (and better sounding) than most of the overly compressed music we have today. Of course, musically, the songs are not that great :-)
As for the tabla percussion, this is a sample I got from my brother years ago and I don’t think I have it anymore (at least, not on my MacBook…)
i shud try doing some music as soon as i get my violin :p metal with violin :D.
hahaha it must be cool make make your own music
Thats great. Awaiting your next album then :-)
Concerning Nickelback, I think he is a real original piece of wonder guy. I really like his music and voice.
Btw I have finally completed the migration: My new address is now http://www.islandcrisis.net
Please everyone update your blogrolls…still configuring things there.
To avinash
Now Nickelback is no more alternative because of their new album Dark horse which is much more heavier as “All the right reasons”, their previous album. But if you listen to the song Rockstar, you’ll hear real alternative rock- I think i liked this song much, this is why i told you that nickelback was an alternative band(they are, but dont play much of it) Bands always evolve nowadays. Those playing punk before now play post-hardcore. Not like radiohead, a band i hate, including coldplay, i hate them too. These bands play too much pop, with drums dating from the 80’s. And by the way, radiohead in rainbows were sold at mp3 160kbps, that sux! Even though 160 is the minimum i expect, 256CBR or V-0 would have been better for a thing we buy.
To selven
Metal songs can be done with violin, check out linkin park’s no more sorrow, at first someone is playing a violin. What i mean is that violin can be included in a metal song. For just who don’t know, Linkin Park’s genre is NU-METAL, not rock.
TO EVERYONE
Do you know a software capable of playing electric guitar(with effects!) with the keyboard. I mean playing guitar using the keyboard with a software for PC windows??? and drums software too? someone knows?
Yorke is a master:)
Yes. He is a genius.
He’s a master genius of crap music. I repeat my question:
Do you know a software capable of playing electric guitar(with effects!) with the keyboard. I mean playing guitar using the keyboard with a software for PC windows??? and drums software too? someone knows?
Radiohead makes excellent music… as far as I am concerned. This is entirely subjective you know.
As for a software to play electric guitar, a lot of people rave about Amplitube. For drums, people rave about BFD.
British bands such as Radiohead, Blur and Oasis have kept British rock alive in the 90’s against crap music like the spice girls, take that etc… they deserve more respect…
to Avinash: Your music sounds ok. Well done. Bravo.
dez fafara is great also :p
well done my friend….keep it on ….thank you
Hello.
I’d like to invite you to join Indaba Music to share and collaborate with other musicians.
URL: http://www.indabamusic.com
Do check it out and I look forward to hear some great remixes involving your music.
:)
Thanks.
P.S
This is NOT spam – do check out the site, please.