Every year I start FAWM by making a song saluting the Sun — my pagan version of the #firstfruits challenge (https://fawm.org/forums/topic/12391/).
For this year I wanted to shoot a video of the sunrise, with the sun rising up mid-song, I got up at 6am, brewed coffee, wrote a quick song on my OP-Z, and strolled down towards the estuary.
Fortunately the sky was clear, unlike the previous days. It took me 3 takes to get the sun showing up mid-song, since I didn't know the exact time it would show up behind the hills. Unfortunately I got the location wrong, so it's off-camera.
Nevertheless it was a good feeling, saluting the new day, the new month, and all the challenges they bring.
@faceofeinstein Feb 2022
Me: I'll just throw up the site and do some listening while I do dishes...7 minutes later still staring at my phone, not a clean dish to be had. Really nice relaxing chill vibe. I enjoyed the whole thing from the crunching of the gravel on your driveway to the last note. I had to google what an OP-Z was, so I also learned something new. Win win. Cheers.
@vomvorton Feb 2022
What a great idea for an opening song, and you've created something quite lovely to accompany the peaceful video of the sun rising over the hills. Really feel chilled out after watching this!
@zecoop Feb 2022
I never commented when I watched the first time, but this is just completely relaxing and satisfying setting in both the visual and musical. Pure bliss in both cases. Wow. I loved this.
@sightlikeabee Feb 2022
this is great
@phlecksy Feb 2022
Yeah, I agree with @headfirstonly . Just the right level of minimalism to satisfy without intruding.
@headfirstonly Feb 2022
I don't often feel motivated to use the word idyllic when describing something on FAWM, but this fits the bill perfectly. That piano arpeggio is the perfect accompaniment to the synth bed, and the visuals work so well with the music. What a gorgeous landscape to be part of.
Great opening track!
@kendrakinsey Feb 2022
Wow, this is an experience. You make me want to see sunrise, plus the song is so fitting to the surroundings.
@littlespiral Feb 2022
This is so lovely and meditative. I love that you caught it on film. What a great way to kick off FAWM! Also, where did you film this? It's beautiful!
@pippa Feb 2022
I love the birdsong in among the electronic bell tones. This is truly lovely. Thanks so much. I have absolutely no clue how you play such sweet music by pressing buttons, but there you go.
@liz561 Feb 2022
This was strangely compelling-I am not always an electronic music fan but it had the same hypnotic quality as Phillip Glass or John Adams. I really enjoyed it.
@quru Feb 2022
Lovely! Great video too, and I like to think the natural noises in the beginning as part of the song as they can be silently heard through the OP-Z composition too. Love the mellow vibes and how the track builds.
@akokulit Feb 2022
Good morning. This feels like the background music in my head every morning. :D Great video too!
@kanttila Feb 2022
Really nice intro, the video is a great addition to this soothing piece. Creates a relaxing atmosphere, very peaceful.
@gm7 Feb 2022
Wow..this is nice..quiet, relaxing original and just a great idea. Well done.
@vivalarayna Feb 2022
Such a cool concept and auspicious way to start off FAWM! Slow build and delicate melody was a delightful way to welcome the new day and new month.
@wrenarcher Feb 2022
I love this Beto. I meant to tell you this when you put it out yesterday. I was drinking morning coffee trying to rev myself up to take on the day. This was just the thing I needed to accompany that. Really wonderful.
@atam94 Feb 2022
Such a cool video! Great location for the song. Gotta love morning coffee and music. It's the way I love to start every day, even on days that I have to work.
@tseaver Feb 2022
Nice write. The slow build fits the atmosphere well, with mist giving way to breaking day.
@nadine Feb 2022
Super cool idea with the video outside. Isn't it too cold for operating synth?! However I like the tones that come out of that little thingy. You created a great uplifting morning mood.
@bradbrubaker Feb 2022
So, you're saying mornings can be peaceful and not just a scrambling to rejoin the rat race???
But seriously, very calming as I plug back in to office work after a day off.
@balancelost Feb 2022
Holy moly, that is amazing that you made a video like that. What a beautiful place! and such a nice calming tune to go with the sunrise. Massive kudos for being arsed to get up that early.
@gilhari Feb 2022
I really enjoyed this! It’s very pretty and so intimately tied to the sunset… I get a good feeling from listening to it.
@eas3637 Feb 2022
This was gorgeous - the video as well as the music - such a great way to kick off the month! Thank you for sharing this.
@coolparadiso Feb 2022
great idea to salute the son! really nicely done vid the whole thing. very pretty piece
@robynmackenzie Feb 2022
This whole thing is gorgeous. Love how the song starts off with those simple synths, then gracefully adds in the melody and counterpoint. Really soothing and inspiring! Well done!
@bachelorb Feb 2022
Who knew drinking coffee was a music video move??? :) .... honestly, I loved it. In my opinion, the feeling you are describing, you achieved.....
@cloudboy Feb 2022
It's like you're talking to a friend that's behind you and I want to know what they look like...sound like, but we never get to see them. Beautiful composition. I would love to learn how to use something like the OP-Z but feel like it would take time to wrap my brain around it. I love that it can also sequence visuals and lights (and more?). I'm really looking forward to Tape 17!
@standup Feb 2022
Sunrise is a non-directional thing. All-encompassing. You can't mis-aim the camera, it's there regardless. Giant ball of flame. I hear you about the takes to get the walking sequence. Not simple! Walk down, walk back.
What a beautiful spot to be in. My sunrise is not nearly so nice, coming up over tall apartment buildings to the east.
OP-Z again doing what you need. I should just get rid of all my modular weirdness and get an OP-Z maybe.
Great groove to this, and I like the scratchy vinyl groove stuff.
@jdschramm Feb 2022
Wow, what an experience this is. The music matches beautifully with the scene and the rising sun. You should submit this for NPR's Tiny Desk Content as well - I think that platform qualifies as a desk.
@alyxanderjames Feb 2022
This is lovely. What a great way to kick off FAWM!
@auditasum Feb 2022
I love the name. :D I've also started a habit of acknowledging the sun in the morning. Really sets a baseline of gratitude, Like, this flaming ball of plasma didn't have to give us warmth and light, but it did! I like the white noise/crackling sounds on top of the building synth layers. Very meditative and really feels like the warmth of a slowly rising sun.
@gubna Feb 2022
Nice location!! And that's a very mellow tune. Perfect for watching the sunrise!
@yam655 Feb 2022
This was lovely! These days, I identify as an animist, and not a pagan nor even a polytheist. (The reason: I believe in way more spirits and deities than most pagans and polytheists.)
@aeye Feb 2022
This is such a cool idea and a great song too. Really feels like it's perfect for listening to while watching a sunrise.
@kenmattsson Feb 2022
Sounds great and lovely visual! Here's the the pagans!