Feb 2022 alt-rock rock psychedelic firstfruits fuzz
I've been doing the "first fruits" challenge for a couple of years now and I love it. For me, spirituality is very much tied into my music so it's a nice ritual to start off FAWM. I've been doing a lot of thinking about interdependence, oneness, and evolution, and these things all sort of came together in this song along with having some fuzzy guitar fun.
Constructive criticism on mixing/production is welcome!
I got time on my shoulders
I got the world on my mind
Light a fire on the mountain
Light a fire in your eyes
We are gods, we are robots, we are vampires
Roaming in the night
We are ghosts, we are aliens and wizards
We are in the light
This world is electric
And I am alive
I've been swimming in the shallows
Got swept under just for fun
No more sleeping in the shadows
Gotta step into the sun
We are song, we are melody and rhythm
Hymns from on high
We are all of the things that we've been given
We are a lie
This world is electric
And I am alive
This world is electric
And I am alive
I am alive
I am alive
I am alive
@electrocelte Feb 2022
Love this song… great riff to start, and that big fuzzy guitar part as chorus… very very nice. Makes me want to buy a guitar, to be honest!
@corvisier Feb 2022
Excellent the guitar at 1:13 !!
Another good composition.
@mctown Feb 2022
cool
@berni1954 Feb 2022
Love the moment the Fuzz comes in! You had me before, but that blew me off my stool!
Some great lines and this verse is true class:
"'I've been swimming in the shallows
Got swept under just for fun
No more sleeping in the shadows
Gotta step into the sun"
@skibum1066 Feb 2022
I too am ALIVE (fuzzy as that may be). I know nothing about production ...yet. This year I will learn! I may offer critique once I actually know something! I like all your songs.
@kendrakinsey Feb 2022
This is so fun!! gotta remember to get some sun too! dancey and makes me wanna celebrate!
@mikegtz Feb 2022
Ok, I am downloading this one and putting into my phone so I can wake up to it as alarm music...lol. This is very rockin' Robyn, way to Go!
@andrea Feb 2022
The music and vocals are so good, but it won't keep me from noticing the amazing lyrics. Love the hard rock moments! I love everything about this song.
@berty38 Feb 2022
This is totally awesome. The bridge rocks so hard.
@splittybooms Feb 2022
Nice hard fuzzy guitar riff coming after that "And I Am Alive" - that feels great going into my ears.
Also liking the rhythm guitar throughout the verses.
The lyrics paint vivid pictures for me.
Overall great feel and mood of this track - kinda feel good but also making me think about stuff. Its like the perfect music to gaze out the window to while contemplating my place in the world, and then that riff breaks in and makes me think about how I can conquer said world.
@danvaillancourt Feb 2022
Cool indie vibe mixed with the 60s psychedelilic feel, especially in the effects at the end of the lines of the verses. Love the fuzzed out guitar that kicks in! Nice!
@ralphhogaboom Feb 2022
Holy smokes, this is fantastic indie rock. I'm guessing that's just you playing everything, but it sure feels like a band playing together. All the instrumentation just fits and sits very well together. Also - damn fine lyrics. Righteous!
@johnpeekstok Feb 2022
Great sound, cool lyrics.
@cts Feb 2022
Hey, hey, hey! This is a cool little rocker; groove is steady and the use of the fuzz guitar is perfect for what you've got going on here. I like how you have the drums panned to the right (I keep forgetting that it's okay to not have them in the "safe zone"). They could be brought to the front for a little more presence. Overall, the balance between the instruments is there. It sounds great in my JBLs
@crutherford Feb 2022
Awesome Robyn! it's great to hear you again!
My favourite lines are:
I've been swimming in the shallows
Got swept under just for fun
No more sleeping in the shadows
Gotta step into the sun
@elesimo Feb 2022
I love these lyrics, Robyn, and the perfect way to celebrate your spirituality! Such a good song, I feel I'll have this one stuck in my head for a while!
@tcelliott Feb 2022
It's all been said, but I liked this one.
@scubed Feb 2022
Enjoyed this very much! You have wonderful imagery and metaphor in the lyrics, and the music crackles with the energy you’re singing about - that heavy electric guitar riff after “I am alive” really drives the message home.
@musuko Feb 2022
Wow. This is so good it almost makes me mad, haha. Your vocals are so so good dang. And the mix is rock solid. Love the chord progression and the "this world is electric" break point. Fuzz contrasting with the clean guitar is excellent. Amazing. Well done.
@gammafied Feb 2022
I wasn't ready for the fuzzy. Nice surprise and contrast. The arrangement is nice. I like the layering around the transitions between stanzas. I don't know what happened, but the bass became so jammy at 3:11. I like it. My favorite lines are the whole 4th stanza and "light a fire"
@katestantonsings Feb 2022
This is Robyn's vibe!! All her own. LOVE this song! This belongs in a playlist with The Breeders!
@mardeycranbleson Feb 2022
Absolutely love the sound of this - the clean simple rhythm guitar the sloppy fuzz and the tight double tracked vocals. Looking forward to hearing more double tracked vocals like this!
@rshakesp Feb 2022
Really enjoyed this one. The grove really pulls you in. The double tracking on the vocal adds some umphh. The fuzz breakdown / solo is killer and even better when the vocals gat added back. I think what really makes it is the hang back tempo, feels like you are really digging into the song - great work
@thegreatbrandoni Feb 2022
I dig this a lot. Love the fuzz. Love the rhymes and lyrics. The doubled vocals and the harmony works well. It sounds like if a young Liz Phair was positive about life.
@jmadison Feb 2022
Holy fuzzy guitar, Batman! What a rockin tune!
@cleanshoes Feb 2022
Ooh, that fuzzy guitar is all kinds of yes. Love the second verse, too. Great start!
@miga Feb 2022
I agree - this is a catchy melody. That always feels like a huge win to me! And it's got some good vibe positivity too! It's a great song!
@jerrypettit Feb 2022
Really, really nice start--great arrangment and very interesting lyrics. VERY good vocal on this--love the doubling.
Looking forward to hearing what else you come up with.
@philkmills Feb 2022
I like it all and think the tone contrasts are brilliant.
@seemanski Feb 2022
There is so much to love about this track, your vocal harmonies are a delight and those little worberly deliveries get me every time, then that fuzz kicks in and I am sold. This song KICKS ASS!
Not heard of the first fruits challenge but seeing as I've already posted my first track I've probably missed out on that. Couldn't find anything about it on the forums either, I'm probably being blind.
@helenseviltwin Feb 2022
Love it! It's got a kind of Courtney Barnett vibe in the verses, but that fuzz at the end of the chorus really elevates it. Great positive message without getting cheesy or smug.
Mix notes (while listening on less than ideal headphones):
- As DD says, I found the bass a little muddy for my liking.
- I thought the fuzz guitar, wonderful as it was, probably came in a little too hot compared to the rest of the mix. I think you can make it a little lower and it'll still have the impact.
- Not sure if it's an intentional choice (in which case ignore this point) or an artefact of the double tracked vocals, but there's a slightly artificial sound on the long held vocal notes that you might want to look at. Might be a phasing thing, but not sure.
@dragondreams Feb 2022
Love it, Robyn. It drives along really smoothly. I love the progression, and grinned from ear to ear when the fuzz guitar hit!
Your voice is always amazing, and the melody and harmonies work so well with this lyric.
Technical feedback?
I'm with some of the other comments about the drums losing their impact under the fuzz guitar.
And I'm also finding the bass is losing a bit of punch. It sounds a little "muddy" and unfocused, but beautifully bassy. I'd be tempted to just wind a tiny bit of bass off and add just the tiniest bit more mid to give it slightly more presence alongside the crisper sounding drums.
But that's just me being REALLY nit-picky and something you're free to ignore. ;-)
@sunfire Feb 2022
Great sound quality, vibe and lyric. Awesome! Good to hear & see you posting stuff. Really dig your tune. Cheers!
@ductapeguy Feb 2022
RAWK!
Timeless Power RAWK.
@musicbymichelle Feb 2022
Love it! What an amazing job!
@odilongreen Feb 2022
Great groove; it got me moving right away! Funky and laid-back yet with a propulsive energy that was tremendous fun. When the distorted guitar (I assume?) drops... wow! Awesome!
@nahlej381 Feb 2022
Your vox remind me of Kim deal/the breeders but in a more psychedelic era type setting. The claps are perfect. Cool lyrics that half step chromatic modulation is perfect. This ticks so many boxes for me!
@nuno Feb 2022
Great vibe to this song. I love the way you've processed your vocals. Definitely takes me back to the nineties and the likes of Throwing Muses. Can't wait to hear what's next.
@cindyrella Feb 2022
Oh boy is this amazing! So much like what I've been thinking about lately. Brilliant!
@auditasum Feb 2022
Aw yissss when the fuzzy guitar comes in after "I'm alive." Punchy as hell!! Beautiful sentiment with a great groove behind it. Only production tip I'd give is to use a de-esser plugin to make the vocals a little less "sharp"? But I don't bother to do that for FAWM songs personally :D
@djtjb Feb 2022
Oh my! Awesome start to FAWM. That lead is sick, and the lyrics are right up my alley. I particularly love the "we are all the things we've been given, we are a lie" line. Great job!
@bandybum Feb 2022
Cool, easy groove. Some mildly burning guitar and those wonderful haunting harmonies again. Great stuff.
"We are ghosts, we are aliens and wizards
We are in the light"
- Love it! So fitting for firstfruits :)
@alyxanderjames Feb 2022
Ooo, this is great! That chorus packs a real punch. Nice work!
@eas3637 Feb 2022
Such a catchy riff and great melody! The imagery in these lyrics are so strong, too - I love "I've been swimming in the shallows/Got swept under just for fun/No more sleeping in the shadows/Gotta step into the sun"
@gm7 Feb 2022
NICE...that fuzzy chunky lead. Great vocals as usual.
I am not a pro at mixing and it's too personal how people mix. BUT if you wanted a big in your face lead..it worked!
@aeye Feb 2022
I always loved how you mix your vocals. It kinda gives me vibes of Garbage ( shirley manson). Great track and great lyrics
@mikeb Feb 2022
Wow, when that fuzzy guitar jumps in, it grabs the listener by the you-know-what! Very modernish sound, this is radio-ready!
@flw3rch1ld Feb 2022
I love this so much!! I love the electric guitar and the lyrics! So good!!
@mystiquemuse Feb 2022
I like the story. The electric guitar solo was better than the acoustic guitar in my opinion.. Which I personally prefer.the sounds of the acoustic Better. All and all a strong song.
@richaaaay Feb 2022
Great start for 2022. Your vocal phrasing really keeps this interesting and catchy. Musically, my favorite part is the transition into "This world is electric".
@tinear Feb 2022
@fourzeroes Feb 2022
Apologies. @timfatchen just pointed out it's definitely my speakers. Listening in headphones now.
@timfatchen Feb 2022
Solid rocking, toetapping enjoyable. We need to be reminded we are alive in an electric world! BTW Bass is solid on my gear.
@wurzelfrau Feb 2022
wow what a ride, loved every bit of it!
@fourzeroes Feb 2022
Great song. Is there any bass on it or is getting swallowed up by my computer's inadequate speakers? Few more harmonies, big melodic bass guitar and louder drums and it'd be spot on.
@thedutchwidows Feb 2022
Really good. Voice is bang on and lyrically strong. It has such a nice lilting quality to it. Really enjoyed it.
If you want specific comments on production/mixing, I thought the rhythm guitar under the big fuzzy guitar worked against the impact of the fuzz. The rhythms slightly jarred for me, and I thought the fuzz guitar would have more impact if the other guitar dropped out for that bit. Just an opinion though, and you did ask... (I don't like giving opinions on something so subjective)
@vomvorton Feb 2022
Love it when the big fuzz kicks in! Really strong writing, excellent melody and arrangement! Great start from you this year!
@davidtaro Feb 2022
The arrangement is superb, Robyn. You’re brilliant at holding back these big dynamic shift changes, first with the full kit coming in, then that visceral hit of huuuuge guitar on the chorus (love that riff btw). Listened twice, super strong opener!
@thelowestbitter Feb 2022
I’m a sucker for that big stomp clap beat, the fuzziness that comes in after the chorus is great already too. Really strong vocal too. Great start!
@dreamscuba Feb 2022
I love the double tracked vocals. It has a kind of Indian mantra thing to it that creates a spirituality vibe to it. Great.
Oh, is that a fuzzed up guitar in the chorus? I love it. It’s so mean.
Great lyrics… I’m all about spirituality.
@coolparadiso Feb 2022
Lucky i found you trolling along, somehow you had escaped my watch list! But no longer! You know i would like this, this has touches of my fav song of yours! But some lovely bigger growly guitars. You do these songs great! Love it! This will get another listen!
@dzdandcunfsd Feb 2022
Great track! That bass is killer, as is that fuzz. A great uplifting lyric as well, its a ton of fun with a ton of energy.
If I had to nitpick on mix I think the drums could be a bit more up front as well as @radioovermoscow pointed out. It's not noticeable until that fuzz kicks in, so probably just some frequencies canceling each other out as its the cymbals that get buried, possibly moved around in the stereo field away from the guitar could help on that front even without having to go messing with eq, as it sounded great.
Really enjoyed this!
@sheilerk Feb 2022
No suggestions for you at all, I’m just enjoying the heck out of it!! I love “This world is electric, and I am alive”. That pretty much says it!
@radioovermoscow Feb 2022
Love the mix of folky-psych and stoner rock you often bring. If you wanted mixing/prod advice, I'd say the drums get totally destroyed when the big guitar comes in - make them bigger and heavier the whole way through, if that's a possibility.
@kajati Feb 2022
Robyn great little chord progression, can’t get you much on production as I’m actually listening on my phone, but love the raw guitar when it drops, adds the chunk and the vocal fit in great giving that kind of east coast sound. Great starter !!!