Cherry Petals in the Wind

Re: Cherry Petals in the Wind

I'm kinda pissed at myself for not seeing this thread earlier!

Your mixing sounds really good, production levels sound like an old van Dyke album. Though I admit I'm not a huge fan of the anthem trance; for me it feels like I'm constantly packing for a trip and never leaving. It's probably for that reason that I can so clearly imagine another melody synth coming in near the last sections of the piece.

But some seriously great stuff going on here!

Re: Cherry Petals in the Wind

I can see how that makes sense.. the ending does sound like it'd be good for a background to a melody, but for the life of me I can't imagine actually putting one in the song. That's ironic, too, since virtually all of my music is melodically driven. I just couldn't do it with this song.

To me it hits a climax at the EQ shift. I'm extremely happy with the way that turned out, and it just made the song for me. I can see how you'd expect more, though.

Thanks for commenting, too -- I was literally just coming over here to bump this thread with a link to a song I just finished, rather than make a new thread. I'll post the link once it finishes uploading.

edit: and here it is.

Aquatopia (Trance Mix)

Re: Cherry Petals in the Wind

Ah, another amazing track! Your kits sit well, very organic feel. Might I ask what software you use?

Re: Cherry Petals in the Wind

I made this song as a possible transition from Cherry Petals, which I didn't go for in the end. That's why some of the percussion is the same, but I think I added enough to it to change it up and warrant it's inclusion.

However, I don't see how they're essentially the same song. Their structures are different, they're written in different keys, they're different genres, different synth choices (aside from using a similar sine moog bass).. so unless you're looking into more fundamental things that I'm unaware of, I don't understand at all.

I don't know what constitutes originality or "depth" by this forum's standards but in my honest opinion it seems like my music's going to be bashed by some people here just because I go for a more club-friendly progressive trance approach rather than the stuff that'd fit well into FFR. As far as that's concerned, that's just the path I chose for my music.

That might not be your intent, so if you're calling them shallow and generic for reasons other than my incapability of creating music in more obscure genres or utilizing things like music theory or skills picked up from having more than my 8 months of experience, I'd be glad to hear them.

And I'm sorry if this post seems to be insulting, that's not my intention. I'm just not in a very good mood at the moment of typing this and having someone call a song I've gotten virtually nothing but good reviews for by other musicians shallow and generic isn't helping that matter.

Re: Cherry Petals in the Wind

I worded that terribly -- I meant that, as for the in-house musicians that frequent the forums here, they tend to make much more original works under genres that could be seen as more innovative than trance, and comparatively my work might suffer from that.

And I never said my style of music is generic. I do, however, know from experience that people who listen to more underground types of electronica tend to think trance is generic and unoriginal in it's form, due to the repetition. Given that the musicians here tend to make music in those underground genres, I have no choice but to tie those two ideas together when someone here calls my music generic.

If you don't think the melodies I used in Aquatopia were strong enough to drive the song then I'm literally incapable of pleasing you, because that song is one of my best attempts at melodically driving a track. I'm fully aware of what you're capable of doing with a piano, however, so I can see how you might think this isn't very good.

edit: Yeah, I understand, and that is what I've gone for, but frankly learning music theory isn't something I can realistically do right now.

I've been making music actively for maybe 6 months. It's early, I know, but I'm not exactly trying to get into the "music business" yet. I'm selling it at very minor places where the people purchasing it would be doing so because they know me somewhat and would be putting money towards a cause rather than purchasing it just for the sake of getting the music.

Sorry for replying rudely. I can take negative criticism, but yours didn't seem to be presented very constructively. Putting this all together, it now seems to be.

Re: Cherry Petals in the Wind

Yeah, I know Cherry Petals is somewhat empty. I didn't realize that at first

I figured one comment was just as good for the other since they were both essentially the same in your viewpoint. And as I said, I can definitely use criticism like your's, but initially it didn't seem constructive. Even harsh negative criticism I can use, but I obviously won't be very happy with it.

Either way, thanks.

Re: Cherry Petals in the Wind

I personally don't see where this music is generic KgZ. From a producers standpoint, being able to understand how a song was made doesn't constitute it to being generic. Being able to appreciate the synergy of a kit from the perspective of the person who produced it is called good muscianship. Just because your accustomed to being amazed doesn't reduce the quality of what used to amaze you. In fact, I think that actually shows a narrowing of perspective, since it usually means your zooming in on personal delights rather than universal artistic appeal.

Btw I thought the piano in Aquatopia was a little harsh in its tone.

Re: Cherry Petals in the Wind

O_o

You see, that's my point. People don't ever make music that sounds boring to themselves, and so if it sounds boring to you than your judging it from your own perspective. And by doing that, your narrowing your own perspective about what quality music is.

I mean, there's the classical analogy of analyzing music from 14th century with modern ears; it absolutely will sound boring to almost everyone today, but its impossible to call it generic.

Re: Cherry Petals in the Wind

I dont want to get involved in all of that ^^


Anyways, Aquatopia sounded really nice actually. Maybe just quiet the piano a bit or something. Im not even sure what it is. Something about that piano seems off, but I really cant pinpoint it.

But im a fan of yours cyanite!

Re: Cherry Petals in the Wind

ok

Re: Cherry Petals in the Wind

Its really cool to edit a quote stargroup.
+++ cool points 4 u!

dont ****ing post if you have nothing to say about the topic.
so for you, just dont post at all.

Re: Cherry Petals in the Wind

and here's the part where stargroup says my song sucks to stay on topic just long enough to insult you again

Re: Cherry Petals in the Wind

Guyz i herd that misquoting is ULTRA-INSULT FOR COOL PEOPLE
but i don't know how to do it plz halp

Re: Cherry Petals in the Wind

Everyone's perspective is born through the collective associations they form in their lives, so when you say that your judging from your own perspective, its not necessarily true. It's why its important to judge things from the perspective of others, because then you as a separate person can decide whether or not that perspective is correct or not. But that doesn't make the perspective of the original artist any less valid. Sure, you may be being "honest", but its difficult (and rather insulting actually) to critique something without understanding the sides to it. It's like a slave driver critiquing the art of a slave. It's why I hate the idea of genres, especially in electronic music. I think that since were given the capacity to create any timbre we want, put it through any rhythm we want, against any speed that we want, we are creating music that has infinite flexibility for interpretation. Trying to put it snugly into a genre actually subtracts from the music, because by trying to associate music with the rules of a genre you are forced to make assumptions about what the music is trying to achieve. Unless the artist had specific motives for their music (like a specific video to play it against, lyrics, a certain event, any sort of non-interpretive situation), I really don't see how the modern definition of genre can fit electronic music.

And regarding "special style": I don't understand what people's deal is with this. It seems to me like as soon as someone does something interesting and makes it a social norm, nobody can access their ideas unless its "fresh"; and if their ideas are "weird" people try to bring the ideas back to the social norms. I think they all forget though that everyone's ideas are based from someone else in history.