60 DAYS: Week 4 Recap

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Link To Week 4 Ideas

‼️I have uploaded all the ideas to my YouTube: HERE

Week 4 Overview

This week I spent days 21-23 finalizing some stuff on the sample library and sound design side of things. This will probably be an ongoing process so I’m going to get back to writing and then keep notes on where gaps are and then address those specifically in it’s own little sprint.

I think the sprint model is going to be a really effective way to approach music. Basically do research on what it is I want to do, sit down and do it for X days, document pros and gaps, then save what worked and solve for the gaps. And then do it all over again.

I spent the last couple days working on a track (Watch Me) that I started last year and to finish and play it out at my Underground Sound Festival set in April.

DAY 24 - Neon Indian - Polish Girl (Aiya Remix)

✅ Pros:

• Getting into a habit now of adding space to everything right away.

• Gun-cock sound pre-drop is cool.

❌ Gaps:

• Probably could re-work the lead in the drop so it doesn’t feel as flat with the rest of the mix.

• Drop 2 feels a bit thin. Sounds need to be worked on and processed better.

• Drum mix could improve. Right now doesn’t feel like the kicks are sitting on top of the bass/leads.

• Could sidechain elements to the kick/snare harder so they pop out more.

• Lead/chords are a bit too loud.

DAY 25 - Fluid Techno Idea

✅ Pros:

• Implemented sounds I designed over the last week and half into this one.

• Evolving composition by changing drums samples or layering it to give existing idea a new feel. For tracks like this they are more about evolving a core idea vs new sections with new melodies/riffs.

• Filtering and taking things away before dropping back in.

❌ Gaps:

• Vocals. I want to find a good spoken vocal sample to chop up and use in this track. Some rave or hip hop vocal that I can mess with to give the track a little club/street feel to contrast the organic feel and vocal chop.

• Lead sound design. Some of these “drop” sections need a lead and I’ve got some idea but I didn’t know how to make it right away. Probably should have reached for Splice at this point.

• Track needs more lead/face elements on top of the lowend I’ve written.

DAY 26 - SV Dubstep Idea

✅ Pros:

• Messed around with designing leads and sounds in Serum.

❌ Gaps:

• Fell into the track of sketching today vs fleshing out ideas and committing to the detail work. Rip.

Don’t think this is a style I want to focus on. Some of the sounds I made are interesting and I’d probably explore using in other ideas but this idea itself is not something I want to explore any further. Not my best day.

DAY 27 - UKG Trap Idea

✅ Pros:

• Re-using elements throughout the beat in different combinations to create different "sxns" that feel cohesive.

• Re-sampling and warping elements of the track to create fills and transition moments.

• Writing a drop idea and then not layering drums over them other than "build" drum pattern (drums/hats increasing in rhythm).

❌ Gaps:

• Drum selection. Sample selection. Sound design. I think this idea just doesn’t have the sauce so it feels off.

DAY 28/29 - Watch Me

✅ Pros:

• Feels like one of the most “liveshow” type tracks I’ve written so far. This is the lane I want to explore more of. How can I create fresh music that fits this sort of energy and lane.

❌ Gaps:

• I think I over worked this one and now it’s starting to feel less cohesive.

Week 4 Takeaways

• I need to do a sprint for vocals. Go on YouTube and find good rave vocal samples and hip hop samples. Interesting videos with good phrases. I also need to take all my voice notes and create a vocal chain that makes me sound good so I can use my own voice creatively.

• ‼️ ‼️ Key ideas that I want to carry forward with me:

  • Writing your max moment and then turning into another section.

    • Writing a drop pattern, and turning that into your build up.

    • Writing a hooky idea that would be a drop or chorus and making that the intro.

    • Basically forces you to up the ante and the whole track gets elevated because of it.

  • Drum selection is just as important as the pattern.

  • Adding space to sounds as fast as possible. Creating chains that quickly give space and dimension to a sound so I can just slap it on, adjust and keep it moving.

  • Altering the samples or layering or pitch of elements in an existing idea so you progress the track through subtle change instead of constantly looking for a new melody or riff or groove. Leads to a more consistent “world” for the music.

See you next week.

Aiya