last year i picked up the "arturia v collection" plugins on mega-sale, but hadn't really used them much. so i decided to try and compose tracks where every part comes from a different patch of the same synth plugin.
this one uses a buchla music easel emulation. i tried to limit myself to 3 voices: bass and two "leads," but ultimately allowed myself a background pad, too.
i used ezkeys as a starting point for composing on piano, then i split up the chords/lines into different monophonic synth parts with different textures, edited them a lot, and finally added percussion and vocals. turned out pretty well, although they lyrics are a little vapid (kinda uninspired these days, word-wise)...
i think i'm going to try this approach again with other classic synth plugins!!
being as it were
in these moments you prefer
let me say the words
you want to hear
promises perfected
discourse disconnected
i make the same old mistakes
i make the same old mistakes
we pawn the golden rule
since we learned it back in school
the age for gilded fools
to persevere
musings misdirected
calming the collected
we make the same old mistakes
we make the same old mistakes
being as it were
in these moments that recur
the visionary blurs
become severe
i make the same old mistakes
we make the same old mistakes
we choose to let our hearts break
when we make the same old mistakes
@nancycunning Mar 2022
I like how the music stays upbeat around these lyrics. That opens up the possibility that these old mistakes we make are somehow good afterall. Like loving people in spite of the fact that they are a mess and so are we. I ended up having this response of "Oh, look they (we) are acting so human again, how sweet" in spite of the world-weary tone of the lyrics. Nice work.
@ofishell Feb 2022
Given the current state of the world (especially including what is going on just today alone), this song speaks to a deep human flaw, and one that we all seem to repeat again and again. The song is beautifully written and constructed, the way you sing the lyrics really captures the theme, and I love the "being as it were" line...English doesn't use the subjunctive near enough for my liking, so I appreciated its inclusion here.
@rockstarsmd Feb 2022
So very deliciously Depeche Mode-y. As always, a pleasure to hear your pop, brother!
@vainhirvain Feb 2022
Great job with the synth sounds! Strong verse and chorus too. The pre-chorus part is harmonically a bit unclear maybe, could be just that the bass movement in those sections is a bit much for my ears. What I love most is your vocals and the crazy solo!
@katestantonsings Feb 2022
Yes! @aaronnathans downtempo synth dreampop Lost in Translation meets Washed Out—love the chill vocals!
@robynmackenzie Feb 2022
Great mellow beat. Love the dreamy feel, and the doubled vocals in the chorus are really cool. Very cinematic, lots of neat sounds intertwined.
@musicsongwriter Feb 2022
Very interesting, echoey sounds. I like your vocals a lot, they sound beautiful and dreamy. Hypnotic song. Very inspiring work. The main motif just draws the listener in. I can imagine your song in a fantasy movie. It's interesting how the instrumental backing has the life of its own but it works with the vocals.
@aaronnathans Feb 2022
Dreamy! Sounds like it should be on the Lost in Translation soundtrack album. Great lyrics. I know what a Buchla is! Awesome.
@czep Feb 2022
This is stunning! Love the sound, and the lyrics are deep yet fun.
@seemanski Feb 2022
Well you are definitely selling more plugins I can buy, that sounds great and I want the stuff even though I will probably never use them, seems like I always ... well you know!!
@middlec Feb 2022
I like out abstract the music is -- matches the way the lyrics are also conceptual. Really great!
@dudachris Feb 2022
This is a fun go, I need to get more familiar, quick and comfortable with using midi instruments, definitely some stuff going on here that I want to be able to do, how do you find ezkeys?
Also, the "gilded fools" verse is FIRE!
@kenmattsson Feb 2022
This sounds awesome, and I love the rhyming. Yes, reminds me of the 80's.
@ductapeguy Feb 2022
Wow Burr: Those classic synth sounds are a Delorean Ride straight to the 80s. Your slightly detached delivery is perfect for the era too.
@toms Feb 2022
Man, that sounds classic. Really excellent forward movement, and I dig the lyrics! But those sounds really take me back. :)
@cloudhopper Feb 2022
good lyric and entertaining music