Thanks, it's always very nice to get praise from a fellow songwriter :*

Alright, another one. I know it looks like mass production but it really isn't. And this one is quite special to me:

https://soundcloud.com/wp-music-1/postscript

Thanks! I can see it uses some footage from the 2014 BBC documentary.

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I understand that perfectly and I think I also made it clear in my penultimate post :)

Besides, the midi technology was developed quite a while ago but it's still very much in use. It's essential when using effect rack controllers, for instance and it's still a very popular tool among composers. And I want to make it clear that I don't just program the sounds but actually use a midi keyboard with, indeed, soft instruments, so it's all played, even the drums. That piano intro was actually improviseed in one take but I later worked on the dynamics in the midi file (my clumsy fingers along with the non-weighted keys made everything sound too agressive) and changed or moved around a few notes here and there.

I guess it's a matter of motivation, I can totally get that if someone wants to make a demo to help them get a gig, it makes sense if it sounds similar to what's going to be played. That's not why I make these recordings, though. Also, I'm not a tradditional singer-songwriter, nowadays I rarely just write a full song on the guitar or piano. I actually usually work on the basic arrangement while I'm composing, to a degree in which the lines between composition and arrangement blend. For example, for this last track I was working on the piano, bass and drum parts at the same time, recording all of them bit by bit.

Thank you both! I must say I have zero technique when it come to the piano but midi lets you get away with a lot :)

Yes, it's that time again. I've just finished a new track. This one's piano driven and somewhat longer and more complex than the last two solo ones (and the SM one too).

https://soundcloud.com/wp-music-1/between-the-lines

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I guess for me it's similar as for 57Arietis. There are a few tracks or bits that I like more than others but there is nothing that really stands out and could compete with the best songs on The Way It Feels, for example. And that's kind of the problem - although I consider myself a fan (having listened to HN's music for 20+years, collected albums and singles and seen several shows), for me there is no album where every song is really great. But a few really strong ones can easily carry an album. I don't hear any on Pearl, unfortunately.
IMO, of course.

Thanks for the link Bernd!

Btw, I haven't made any comments on the album so far and I don't know if I should tbh. Let me just say I have given it about 10 spins now and, well, by and large it kind of washes over me. The performances are great but most of the songs just don't really move in any way and I'm not crazy about the way it was produced. That's not really a proper criticism, I guess, I'm just saying I can't connect with the album and I'm not happy about it, especially following The Way It Feels, which to me is one of her best.

Thanks!

Just made another solo song:

https://soundcloud.com/wp-music-1/blindfolded-complacent

This one's a bit odd for me, quite dynamic, eclectic but short and with an alsmot power pop chorus.

Thank you everybody for the lovely comments!

Gerd, I love Yes, so big thanks! Btw I think you meant Jon Anderson. But I'm a big Jethro Tull fan too ;)

There's a new Strange Moments track out now! First one since November 2016, this one features the other singer, Marzena. Check it out, this one is really delicate.

https://soundcloud.com/strangemoments/be-home-soon

Just checked out the last two songs, liked on FB. I wish I knew a bit more French, I guess the lyrics must play quite an important role in your music as the music iteslf is a bit static. But I get it, there's something dylanesque about it, hence my assumption about the importance of lyrics.

Anyway, you have a really sweet voice and I enjoyed listening. Still, it would be insteresting to hear some of this music in slightly more elaborate arrangements, "La raison du plus fort" could definitely benefit from that.

Just finished a new one called Icy Tenderness. This one should really appeal HN fans. It's uncharacteristically short for me and generally a gentle ballad.

https://soundcloud.com/wp-music-1/icy-tenderness

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I'm getting the "Video unavailable" message with no details. Maybe it's a region thing.

Also, I'll probably get booed out of the forum for saying this but having listened to it quite a few times over the last two weeks or so, I find Just Kids rather average. I like the production and the performances but the song itself just kind of washes over me. Does anyone else feel this way?

Well, last year I saw Macca, he was 76. 38 songs, no interval and the guy is just a volcano of energy.

It's sort of the other way around, though, isn't it? She always cited him as one of her biggest influences.

Really cool. Elton is a legend and a fabulous musician, those early albums are pure gold. His voice is pretty much gone nowadays but I'm glad he still performs and I'm sure it's a great experience for those who are fortunate enough to witness that.

Ok, so I've already released another track. I started this one in September but kind of got stuck halfway through, so I dropped it for a while and finally got back to it last week and suddenly I figured out what to do with it.

It's kind of proggy too bu this time only 6 minuted and I think the chorus is quite catchy :)

https://soundcloud.com/wp-music-1/it-changes

Thank you guys!

Gerd, I love all those artists too (maybe Doors not quite as much, substitute them with King Crimson :)

Anyway, knowing that the biggest HN fan in the world actually is into prog too makes me feel much less weird about myself :D

So I've just finished this new 13-minute prog epic. It may not be everyone's cup of tea but I think at least the first part may appeal to HN fans:
https://soundcloud.com/wp-music-1/the-great-myth

This is so cool! And easily downloadable too.

Thank you for the praise you lovely people :)

Yeah, I became a real fan when Version 2.0 came out and that was over 2 decades ago!

Anyway, here's our version of SLEEPING DOGS from the show:

https://youtu.be/sQd4Mu2e_Lk

I really like Joanna's voice on it and I think I came up with some pretty good changes in the chordal structure of the chorus (even if say so myslef).

Also, here's a playlist with 10 tracks from the show (some with another singer, some with myself of lead vox):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUD5S3 ... 9eQtJNaF9MI9dlYmAW-2wGHHc

Check out this cover of Only Happy When It Rains by Garbage performed last Tuesday!

https://youtu.be/QHZL5YjgaHc

We only had audio from the cams this time but I managed to set a pretty good sound out of them anyway.

Thank you!

Thanks Gerd! I try my best with the limited resources I have.

Just finished a new solo piece. This one's more of a groove-based thing.

https://soundcloud.com/wp-music-1/cracow-station

___________________________________

Also, had to reupload the playlist with the Heather covers. New link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O88m5o ... 9eQtqipP0Dl5M57c8wtzXh7sZ

Here's a playlist with all the songs (London Rain, Island, Doubled Up) in sequence:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EA1MfY ... ZxsjJSTBFMTFR182iKSdtY7_N

Thanks Gerd! I think the emphasis on harmonies sets our versions apart from Heather's, it's certainly a way of putting our own stamp on the material.

...and Doubled Up:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPh_Nw8LqZo

Very pleasant stuff, definitely appeals to HN fans.

Thanks!

Yeah, we have somewhat similar timbres but I also always make an effort to really blend in with her when harmonising.

Anyway, Island is up!

https://youtu.be/qZSOAnLAx4Y

We were recently commissioned to play 3 songs of Heather's at a brithday party. The performance actually took place in a castle! Here's the video for the first song, London Rain:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EA1MfYCdZHE

The other two will follow soon, watch this space!

Just finished a new solo piece:

https://soundcloud.com/wp-music-1/how-long-part-ii

This is a demo recorded for Strange Moments. The vocal is by and large just a guide and as it's written for a female voice, I'm basically singing on the verge of or above my natural range. Also, the lyrics are by no means intended as the final version.

Despite all that I still think it's just about good enough to publish :)

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Yes, Estelle and Verena would definitely fit, I'm not sure about myself, I seem to function in a totally different musical realm. To me it was enough when Heather praised Oysters & Sirens and told me she thought it must have been very difficult to write. One of my fav songwriters talking to me about one of my songs, what more can you ask for? :D

Thanks!

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I only play electric & acoustic guitars and keyboards. I play the drum and bass parts on the keys and I'm actually not very good at it but there's a lot you can fix with midi :)

I make my recordings with very little equipment: the guitars, a 4-octave midi keyboard, a small mixer, a dynamic mic and rather shitty speakers (I should really invest in some better monitors). The rest is software.

I have been looking into mixing techniques a little bit recently and I think it significantly improved the quality of my recordings (especially the last two songs). I do have a tendency to make complex arrangements, which is always difficult to mix.

But yeah, all the songs on my solo profile are 100% solo (except Stay Under Cover, where a great Australian musician friend of mine played the solo and my Strange Moments partner sings harmonies on another song, but that's that).

This particular song came about very quickly, I knew exactly what I wanted, and I had less work this week than usual so the recording didn't take much time :)

I've been very creative recently, here's my newest track:

https://soundcloud.com/wp-music-1/secular

It's much more concise than the last one but very intense.