This is my first summer track (and, generally, one of my first experiences), as I have recently begun to study Renoise and write some music by means of this program.
When I just started to write a demo, I set my mind on doing some goa-trance track accompanied by various Indian instruments. In consequence of testing different plugins, the track was overflowing to the electronic sounding in some broken computer way and glitchy fx. As a result, It appeared to be the mix of synths and ethnic instruments 135 bpm. While listening to it, it feels like written by different people. The summer was highly charged and full of events which I wanted to express with music. All this reflected on the track itself, specifically on its separate parts overflowing to one another.
I would be grateful for your listening to the track and pointing out some ways to improve the music.
I hope the music will cheer you up and give you some sunshine.
It generally sounds a bit disjointed to me, too many themes and they aren’t really compatible at times. I’d probably cut down the ideas a bit and try to go for a more progressive approach. Like instead of switching leads over and over, stick with one or two, and introduce more gradual changes: New layers, filter movements, volume fade in/outs or other automations etc. So that it becomes a journey with ups and downs instead of new scenes every 16 bars etc.
Also there were too many “lead” kind of sounds/melodies for my tastes, but not much percussive sounds or atmospheric stuff (pads, ambiences etc.) or weird sounds etc. So I’d try to add more variety of sounds perhaps.
Production quality wasn’t too bad, but it lacked dimension imo, and that’s again about variety. Alsosome of the levels were quite off. (Esp. the sitar sound and a couple other leads were too loud compared to the rest of the music.)
Overall, wasn’t a bad listen but needs more focus imo.
I actually didn’t find it too disjointed. I liked the progress, the motion. I like that the piece ended in a different place from where it started.
I agree that some of the levels seems a bit weird with respect to each other, but generally, I enjoyed the sounds.
Thank you, emre_k, for your detailed report. This was my first experience of writing trance-track. I have a lot to work on and this somehow cheers me up. I would try to use certain features while making music and, specifically, trance (I would realize the structure of a trip, not a story, though it would not be easy as first of all author must know the way). Trance and particularly goa-trance is hard to actualize, this music is more than meets the eye and ear. Any hokey-pokey will be recognized at once, music tells a lot about its author. Thank you again for pointing out the mistakes to focus on. Sitar really caused a lot of trouble; I spent much time to put it in tune at the end. I think pads added some air and made it more atmospheric.
Thank you, Jan Koekepan. I am really glad you liked this little story about summer, sun, sea and wild beaches, about the Moon rising from water, about sparkling shrimps in the dark seabed, about love, search and waiting. I was inspired by all these things and tried to express it in the track. I will try to improve technically and do everything possible for music levels not to collide. Thank you again.
