A Blast From The Past, Part.4 Full Original Description

So once more i dug into several of my old projects to have background music mix for BF1 Slayer video, so that i can upload the mix as separate music video on my Youtube channel and also add as free downloadable album for each track individually should someone be interested. As before, i tried to improve Mixing&Mastering on all of the tracks as that has been one of my weakest skill areas. Also have produced, composed and designed couple drops to sound better as some have been horrible as i wasn't as familiar with complex sound design back in the day as i am now however mostly recycled old sound designs of mine as working on so many projects at once and them all being still so old does not motivate me to design new stuff and the old sound designs sound quite nice still in my opinion to produce/compose again with. And this time also have proceeded on several half-finished (though not even halfway done, merely started on some) projects and you can find tracks that you have never heard before (as in you can't find them anywhere even if you search through all my old crap that i have in fact uploaded online on my old artist name, as obviously i have not uploaded every project i have done during the years of my production practice, you can't find them even as those screen captures from within the projects) even though are old projects for me that i now started improving and continued otherwise and now am uploading for first time. Reason for writing this on my blog, again, is because there isn't that small letter limit to prevent me from explaining stuff more precisely instead of cutting down details just becasue Youtube for example won't allow long descriptions, which still is understandable as the website is for videos, not for reading long texts. I will write about each project individually under the names. So the tracklist is as follows: ShadowRaz - Pump Up This was one marathon sitting project back in the day when i created the track (starting and finishing without even taking short breaks during the hours i made this if i remember correctly). This had the intention to be kind of an epic "workout" track as the name of the track implies. On this new render version i mixed and mastered the project a bit and designed the virtual electric guitar lead to sound better with extra modulation (and for example on the original it had way too much reverb so took that out). I also adjusted the drop a bit with the sound design structure. Not much else then than those as it was otherwise already ok sounding in my opinion. First and only time (so far) i have composed with those metallic sounds on my beats which does bring that "gym vibe" into it in my opinion. The lead i designed on the project has presented itself on a lot of my projects after this where it originated, of which most notable might be 'Through the Darkness', as i got the lead design to sound quite nice even if being simple saw design in my opinion, but still not as nice perhaps as a similar lead i designed long after on 'Holiday Song' ShadowRaz - Habanero This is one of those rare tracks on which i produced vocal chops. The voice i chopped and then orchestrated is an acapella version of 'Ellie Goulding - Burn' as it can be heard from the voice though i also pitched it a bit up as it is actually common for vocal chops but not as much so that it would be a chipmunk voice already. This started out as Melodic Dubstep practice project straight from the drop but i started making it as a full track soon after i noticed that it sounded quite nice all and all in my opinion, but left it unfinished in the end even though i started making a music video for it as well, only to now get back to this old project. I think something else than my basic Legato Violin Ensemble composition style, quite repetitive arpeggio piano and then orchestral drums for separate (from Dubstep&DnB beats) beat, would have been better intro/verses to end up in such drops, but i'm not sure what exactly would have fit better so i decided to go with this that i had mostly done already and only had some serious finishing touches done now. On the second drop i did design with an extra drone from a previous project of mine (Numero 12). The name was actually implication to certain chips i like and also to the actual chili, as it also fitted to the acapellas name, burn (you know since chili can sort of feel like it is "burning" your tongue) and it also had that "fire" word in quite nicely for same purpose. I actually like spicy food, not because it burns, i'm not a masochist, but it somehow often makes stuff taste good (not all spicy stuff taste good obviously) combined with other flavors. Sunshine ArtWave - Phenomenon This is a full Virtual Instrumental / Orchestral track. Though i put my new artist name as the creator already, it is still an old project which i started composing long ago while i was still practicing as 'ShadowRaz', but it was really small start with basically having a tentative structure of using those staccato violins that can be heard right from the start and weirdly enough a short virtual flute composition, i basically never use any virtual flutes though have encountered them while browsing virtual instruments sometimes but woodwinds are new addition on couple of projects so the small start of this project got me interested to proceed it. I don't recall ever posting any screen captures of the original so this is one of those never heard by others projects i was talking about. So continued the project by composing and designing the structure more with several virtual instruments and this is the outcome. I actually do not remember why i called the project Phenomenon either but i sticked with the name as it sounds cool. Just for own fun, i recorded my own voice on this (only pitched it ever so slightly down though not much) as i had this passing 'fuck life' moment of thoughts and stuff, you might know the deal about train (frog.. you know what i'm talking about if you have followed my Twitter) of thoughts, and it somehow mirrored into a transition idea as i was constructing this, it might actually slightly ruin the vibe of the track but whatever, fuck that shit. ShadowRaz - Principle Every other kid thinks in their childhood how they would want to be a superhero. As did i. I was actually fascinated about Spider-Man more precisely in my own childhood as the movies and video games influenced on me even though i thought of it already logically at least at certain point of the time when growing that i remember of thinking, how it would be next to impossible to swing effectively without any high structures as there weren't such in the town i lived in or crap though was thinking how it could maybe be possible via lamp posts if they could just support the force and could climb walls obviously but the point was that not only i could defend myself from bullies and crap but also help others with "great power". So anyways back from the childhood... This track has a start which is sort of like "superhero" movie/cartoon style soundtrack composition... kind of.. There is actually this certain inspiration on the start horns i heard from some orchestral track but otherwise i did not actually like the track that much and wanted to attempt on making a similar intro though not exactly the same of course, and then continue the track with my style. And so i did. The original render had horrible mixing and mastering so had some work to do with that, on this old project relooked and adjusted, and also the original had even worse dubstep drops with the same growl design as on original 'The Beast' projects, (btw, the style is otherwise also very similar to those old projects of mine with the violins) and hence i went ahead and renewed the drops a bit though there is still one leftover dubstep drone in there that fitted ok i guess. The use of virtual horns throughout the track on this is uncommon for me but it fitted the style of this precise project. The name is an implication to the fact how often the superheroes shown in stories have a nice principle, as in how they help others and do good instead of thinking about personal gain only or otherwise don't use others for advantage etc which is really cool and could be rather educational for people, however not in a 'Kick-Ass' way necessarily :D? As in going out there in weird costumes without actual powers as they are fictional of course, only to die in the hands of hard-life criminals and crap like that. Oh and the short moments before both drops, i actually have never been talented on creating good transitions but still have had to attempt creating them obviously and making all "breaks" all quiet, do not sound very good all and all, so on this i actually used couple of weird almost rather "childish" sounds i found on Lumina and then just added couple lines of Sheldon from 'Big Bang Theory' as i was watching the show consistently at the time when i made the original, and therefore those "funny" transitions came to life. "Fine... whatever works" :D ShadowRaz - Morning Cycle The very first things to say about this track are about the drops. The style is very heavily copied from the track 'Muse - Follow Me (Prod. by Nero)' as i really liked the track and wanted to attempt producing such myself. The drop(s) would fall almost into remake category a lot more than inspiration but not directly as the composition is my own which is the same base melody as the own style intro for the track. But yeah the style of making the saw melody designs and the distorted bass design to "sidechain" like they do, and then the pitch glide down at the end of the tones is straight copied from said original. I have to advertise/mention this because i do not like people who are full on copycats as in copy others style and produce basically same music and then claim that they came up with it and its their music fully. If i ever do a remake, i mention it first hand, if i ever do remix, same thing, and if the style is so heavily copied as the drops on this track, then i mention it too where the inspiration is from but i try to avoid such copying even if i would mention it. I mean i'm not obviously opposed to inspiration but when does the line get crossed to copying? I think the drops on this have already crossed the copying line a lot. I did not even upload this track anywhere properly except short screen capture to my real name Facebook long ago when it was still active, so it wasn't out there, for the style copy reason, and still though the project was really unfinished anyway as i had started designing dubstep sounds and they were AWFUL so i cut them out too. But i think by giving enough credit to the original where the drops got "inspired" from, allows me to upload this for free download and crap like that without too much guilt. For this upload i mixed and mastered the original project certain amount, extended the track really quickly (so not a fancy job though like the transition from 1st drop to verse is low-pass filter basically though i composed fast toms at the drops end before the filter kicks in) to have a verse after 1st drop and then end up to second drop which both had the new DnB beat that wasn't present in the original project. Also gave the bass sound design of mine more distortion and also improved the saw melody sound design layering. The intro is my own style with basic violin ensemble AGAIN but on this combined with fascinating use of a bass "pluck" design with delay that brought this weird vibe to the intro as if i was in nature or some crap like that, not sure how to describe it. The name of the track is a reference on how life cycles after a while when you wake up every morning to perform the same stuff, like going into a school or job will eventually feel like same crap over and over. Breaking some habits can spice up still mood occasionally but some "habits" are caused by the enjoyment of them like i consume quite a lot of coffee when gaming or producing usually. So some cycles feel boring repetition and some more enjoyable ShadowRaz - Pump Up 2 I'm not actually sure as i do not recall about it, what was the intention from me for this track with its original project name on my PC which was 'Importance', but i had used the Pump Up lead sound design on this again and in a very similar way like on the project where the lead originated and had made an orchestral track basically around it, and therefore decided to name this as Pump Up 2, (no, not even Part.2, just two) as it has the same vibe. I thought of perhaps creating Pump Up Part.2 as separate track for 'Sequel Mayhem' so this was more of a side project that i did not improve much. However i did experiment with a rarely used violin style (tremolo, quite difficult to compose with) from me that will be most present on upcoming 'Symphony of Past Shadows' that is also a bit older project already left unfinished yet with the intention to finish at some point, but i've been doing other stuff so not yet. Also one of the earliest projects of mine on which i used a bit taiko style percussions to compose a beat even though i only very recently started composing with them more than before as i have been focusing on basic orchestral tom drums more. ShadowRaz - The Ugly Duckling This has more traditional dubstep vibe than it is usual for me actually as i tend to combine a lot of orchestral/melodic style into my dubstep music. This project was one of those ones again, that i did not upload properly anywhere (however posted a "preview" music video to my actual real name facebook when it was still active) since the track was highly unfinished and not fine tuned at all. Still as i named it with meaningful track name (which is a reference to the old story as you might guess), had designed a new dubstep sound (Ugly Duckling Drone) which has presented itself on many future dubstep projects, and still did put effort into it a certain amount, i think this project definitely deserved a relook now. Had some work to do with mixing & mastering again, a lot of designing to perform on the drop even though i yet again recycled my old sound designs, and still it took most effort as Dubstep drops always do, and then composed/designed the outro to give a proper ending for the track even though i did not want to extend this to a second drop as the first one had already enough to do with, among with all other projects on this mix/album. I'm balancing back and forward on my own opinion, about making Part.2, *to produce, or not to produce* ShadowRaz - Distant This is a bit more ambient mostly Virtual Instrumental track. The piano and string compositions were meant to have a tender vibe to them as they kind of have, only to rise into a more epic ending. The project was in quite nice shape already considering... Still did mix and master it certain amount and also designed the electric guitar lead towards the end to sound a bit better than on the original. There was this certain meaning to the name of the project but it isn't very necessary to write about. I actually don't like the drumkit beat that much on this either so maybe should just cut it out and cut straight to the orchestral drums.. i dunno. The precise clock ticking you can hear on this track and on couple of more of my projects, was some "grandfather clock effect" i found on youtube, but using it for rhythm isn't my original idea and hence feel the urge to mention this, it actually originated from the track 'Clark Kent & Yinyues - Cosmos' for me (Yinyues - Cosmos is the original of that which i heard not long after, no idea was it anywhere before that but doubt it) which is quite nice track. Actually there are 3 occasions during my production years which have been influenced from that track, first being the actual really early track from me named 'Cosmos', second is using the same clock effect for rhythm percussion, third being the Carl Saga speech that is on the original track, i used a small clip from the same speech on 'Peace Part.1' just before the last drop ShadowRaz - Through the Darkness I actually started up a dubstep sound design practice project a while back, which then extended to have full drop, and as i even composed an intro with my usual legato ensemble violin style, it led to an upload under the name 'Night' (which was a reference on how dubstep can be more grim than your usual happy music as nights are more dark than days as metaphor). Then i continued a bit to alter/design the same project more for a second part. Honestly neither of them were great as my dubstep production practice has taken some serious time to improve and get used to creating as it is difficult for me especially since i have been trying to learn on my own mostly though there is still obviously inspiration behind growls and such even though i design them, which are related to how complex is making proper dubstep sound designs and overall track structure of said genre but of course without basically copying others in copycat way as in imitating how they do their music, as in i want to give the dubstep my own vibe instead of someone elses. The fast pace of changing different sound designs was still actually quite fun to attempt to get sound smooth. And hence as i continued the project even more, "Night Part.3" was under way but as i made it longer than the other two, even longer than usual full length track as this has 3 drops, i changed the name to 'Through the Darkness' as it came to mind whilst designing and composing the project, and the words of it describe about dealing with bullshit that life brings upon as in going through the dark grim crap, dealing with the shit, and moving forward, instead of being consumed by it completely. There are a lot of sound designs so trying to balance them all out turned out really difficult and also the project started being ridiculously heavy on my pc so individual rendering and turning off channels whilst adjusting others was necessary and even still pc runs hot as the project itself is filled with several dozens of plugins and even more of automation clips for each etc. The original wasn't horrible but it still had some serious issues especially in mixing and mastering area and had some work to do with that. The drops were lacking separate bassline completely as i relied on the kicks and the occasional bass the sound designs themselves gave so i also produced that into this version. Mostly it is still the same otherwise, but for example one "drone" on all the drops sounded really weird so i designed it to sound a bit better in my opinion though it still sounds a bit off somehow, maybe too much Bass or mids? (though by boosting its high frequencies it sounded too weird similar to the original) Or then just wrong kind of design by using Massive and its performer plus some macro mod or at least using such in wrong moments? I dunno. Adjusted the DnB part "old timey" style melody design to be louder as it drowned in the original etc. Big project with lots to work on, even if mostly mixing and mastering, had still certain amount of fun, will dig into this for 'Sequel Mayhem' to create a Part.2 which would be already sort of like Part.4 for the original project. ShadowRaz - Sky A short more ambient Virtual Instrumental track from me. This was actually in quite nice shape with its original project but still mixed and mastered a bit. Quite simple yet somehow elegant track with the use of many layer pianos and in same vibe with the violins i used to compose. I think i threw the track name rather randomly from my mind however looking up into sky can still have a peaceful effect so i think i connected the dots in such way, too long time though to remember exactly as a lot has happened in between, saying this again though, i haven't always been able to come up with very good names on all the projects as many don't even have a name as i merely labeled some as "orchestral practice" or on some with the thing i did more precisely like piano practice or sound design practice and stuff like that. Not much to say about this except feeling a bit down usually leads to such style music from me. Not always as creating and also listening music can also change the mood occasionally if it is in some other mood. ShadowRaz - Warm Day This was really simple small project from some time ago on which i attempted to create sort of like slow tempo tropical house music. The main region of interest to continue this ever so slightly and reason for me to add this to the mix/album is the use of virtual horn. Really repetitive staccato style lead yet somehow it feels like some summer style tropical house thing as it is combined with such slow tempo house beat and the basic saw house pluck and some violins for small and not very impressive orchestral twist. The virtual electric guitar lead was also halfway done on the project and the composition wasn't half bad in my opinion so i thought, why not continue this small project ever so slightly even though it is simple and not very impressive track all and all. So i mixed and mastered to take out the over-compression crap again, indeed finished the halfway done guitar lead and produced it to sound better otherwise as well. And then just extended the project with an extra pattern on which i change up the horn lead notes certain amount and added bassline to alter the track a bit and not repeat over and over. The project did not have a name only a genre thing, so i gave it a very fitting name to match the current situation as there are very warm days already as summer is closing in and i do in fact somehow get this summery vibe from this project. ShadowRaz - MELDUB A small melodic dubstep project from back in the day. I actually was almost going to continue this into a full track but then decided not to because much like on Morning Cycle, there is this copy thing behind this. Let me explain. I had watched the movie 'Sorcerer's Apprentice' back then which is quite a good movie, and i liked the "theme" track 'OneRepublic - Secrets' on it too. So i went ahead and composed a piano lead based a lot, as in almost copied remake/instrumental cover, on the pitch of a part on the original track and only after it build the arpeggio piano and the other 3 tone layers around it. If you truly hum the lead of the original you can see that it matches. Actually i might upload a part of the project slightly differently on the mix than on the BF1 video so you'll hear what i'm talking about. So it is still partly my own thing but in a way still.. a remake/remix? I dunno actually how to describe it. What i did to the old project (that i did not upload anywhere either at any point) was some amount of mixing and mastering, changed a shitty growl (original shitty growl design style of mine) after the drone and also designed fast melody to bring out more out of the melody than the pianos.