Initial idea:
To begin with, my initial idea was to create a three track EP of original piano compositions, composed by myself, accompanied by orchestral strings and Latin percussion. I chose this project because I get to challenge myself using my strengths. For the past projects, I always composed solo piano and sometimes composed using strings too. However, this project gives me an opportunity to explore my composing skills in different genres and using different instruments, such as percussion in the Latin genre. In the final product, I had to scrap my Latin idea because it was very problematic in the fact that I struggled to pick up the timing and rhythms quick enough whilst I still had two other pieces to compose too. However, the research I did can still be used in the future because I now understand and can play the Salsa rhythms as well as the Montuno. If I were to do this project again I’d have started learning some Latin rhythms and patterns before the project started so I already had a head start and I wouldn’t have to scrap it for timing.
Visuals: Madmapper
I knew from the start that the visuals were very important for this project, however, my original ideas for Madmapper were quite different to the final product. Initially, I wanted to create an immersive performance, with the lights covering the whole stage but also a little into the audience. However, this wasn’t possible because of the placement of the projection so instead we turned the lights off the audience and drew the blinds closed so the only light came from the stage and it kept it the main focus. The idea of the ocean and nature were my first starting point but when we had trouble downloading the videos, to play them through the projection, I kept the shorter videos I had saved, which were the jellyfish. Although it wasn’t what I had envisioned, I think the jellyfish worked better because they didn’t move too fast or too slow because they just changed colours so it was quite hypnotising and relaxing. If I were to do this project again, I would’ve wanted to start the MadMapper a little earlier so I could possibly design the stage rather than just taking the video and having it play behind me. However, I do think this way worked better than my initial idea. The MadMapper footage also worked well for promotional material because I cut the videos down and added a snippet of my compositions over the top.
Visuals: Spotify Canvas’
Visual aspect went further than just the performance for my project. All of my favourite artists that inspire me have Spotify canvas’ and I knew that I was quite a big fan of them so I wanted to incorporate them into my music if I were going to post onto Spotify. My initial idea was to film my own videos and have a live videos looping. However, it became a problem because of the difficulty to transfer phone videos onto Adobe, due to the sizing. As well as this, Spotify only take a specific measurement too so it became too problematic to proceed with. I then began to develop my storyboards to design some animations instead. I came up with a lot of different ideas so the difficulty was just picking between them. However, as soon as I chose, I began working with the graphics teacher so all my canvas’ were done around two weeks before the release, which was perfect timing. If I were to do this project again, I’d probably just start straight away with the animation designs because it’d save me time but I had them early anyway so it didn’t really effect my project at all. After I had the canvas’, I realised I could also release on Apple Music. Apple Music doesn’t accept canvas’ so I quickly designed some cover art for each track. I used some of my scrapped canvas design posts for promotion too.
Promotion:
Initially, i was going to create a post weekly for promotion to post every midweek but I quickly realised how difficult it was to create a single post. Instead, I used Kinemaster, because I was more familiar, and then I edited some of my visuals footage by putting a snippet of my compositions over. My promotion started with just posts on my main feed but then I incorporated story posts as people are more likely to see those as they don’t get lost in the feed. I posted more frequent as the deadline came closer. My posts on TikTok’s did a lot better than they did on Instagram but I still kept posting on both and using hashtags and locations to try and boost my posts. If I were to promote again, I’d have promoted more regularly and tried to interact a little more with people.
Track Process: Breathe & Believe
Writing this track was a little difficult because I struggled to get the power that I wanted from the motif. I kind of had to imagine the orchestral strings as I went along. When I went to record, it went really smoothly and only took around 3 – 4 takes because I had previously practiced for hours. I was very happy with the take but I wish I kind of took more of a break between section B and C (the motif). When I was arranging strings, it came pretty quickly. I had already been imagining ideas as I was working so I just had to work out the notes I wanted and then play it in. The main issues with this track was probably struggling to keep interest in it, because I thought it sounded empty without strings, and keeping in times, which I had to rerecord the violins because they were out. If I were to do this again, I’d have tried to experiment more in dynamics and pauses in order to keep the piece interesting, even without strings.
Writing the acoustic version was quite difficult too. I found the motif to be very repetitive and boring after a while, because I practiced it a lot so I got bored of it. However, once I figured out a structure, I found it very easy to finish. If I were to do this again then I’d probably not of performed this piece at the showcase or halved the motif because I just found it very repetitive and like it didn’t show off my skills. However, I did like the cross over from bass the treble.
Track Process: A Gambled Soul
This track was probably the easiest to write. Initially, I wasn’t going to collaborate with anyone but this ended up replacing one of my other tracks because it just flowed out better. Me and Isaac spent probably an hour and a half in total in a practice room just playing around and then we found a sound we liked so we structured it and it just worked. The most difficult part was that I needed to figure out a finger picking style on the guitar for a little break up section and Isaac had to play the arpeggios without slipping any notes. Other than that, it just flowed out and we had the composition basically complete almost right away. We only rehearsed a little bit because we both had other tracks to work on. When we were recording, I kept falling out of time with the piano but he also slipped some notes so it took us around 7 – 8 takes to get it perfect. Due to how we both recorded in the same room, there’s a lot of spill on the guitar which means that it’s very quiet in the mix but I do quite like the sound of them spilling because it gives it a muddy sound without it sounding too out. The muddy sound kind of gives it the deep feeling I wanted. If I were to do this collaboration again, I’d of tried to get some more rehearsals in so it didn’t take as many takes. I’d also have recorded the guitar separately, just so I could have the guitar a little louder, but I think the final mix works really well too.
Once we had recorded the track, I started to think about some string arrangements for it but I didn’t want the strings to turn the emotion to anything too far off what we had already created, which was quite a deep feeling. I decided to experiment a little with the different synths that Logic had and the harps, alongside the orchestral strings. I worked from the orchestral strings first, because I had previously used them in Breathe & Believe. After the orchestral strings I heard the harp kind of playing the higher end of what the piano was playing because I feel like the higher octaves sound more emotional. I then experimented with the synths because it felt like something was missing and they just brought that extra element of emotion that was missing. If I was to do it again, I’d of worked in the same way because the orchestral strings gave me the confidence to keep working on it because I knew I had a solid base so even if I couldn’t arrange for the synths, I already had a track that was good. I wrote all of the accompanying instruments myself which was helpful because I think it can be a little difficult to try and split the arranging between two people when you both have different ideas. Working solo on the accompanying instruments allowed me to be a little more experimental.
Track Process: Saman
Originally, I wanted all my tracks to be originals but after the Latin piece just caused me trouble from the start and I was running out of time, I researched into how to legally post covers. I think this cover paired well with the other tracks I had composed too because they give a similar vibe. If I were to do this again, I’d probably of just started with this cover instead of trying the Latin piece because, even if I could finish the Latin piece, I don’t think it really fit this EP anyway. This piece was really easy to record because I had learnt it and rehearsed it for a whole week before I recorded it. Initially, I recorded using my digital piano at home and audio interface but the piano sounded very hollow so I just recorded it in college. It only took around 2 takes and I used the sustain pedal to sound more like the original track too. I didn’t have to arrange any strings for this track either so it was done very quickly.
Performance:
Before going on, I had been on with Millie so I wasn’t as nervous but then when I started speaking into the mic, I felt the nerves hit me. This made me speed up my piece quite a lot in the motif, which then made me slip on a couple notes to start with. I wish I took more of a break before I went into the motif because I felt like it moved from section to section very quickly. However, once they clapped early and laughed I felt much more relaxed because it didn’t feel as though it was as professional. However, I think I appeared very confident and I spoke about when my EP would be out. The visuals really made the performance relaxing and they really complimented the piece I chose to play.
If I were to perform again, I’d of tried to compose myself a little more before I went on or started playing, maybe take a deep breath before I play. Whilst I did slip on a few notes, I don’t think anyone noticed because I carried on and didn’t make a face or anything to draw attention to it. Even though I rehearsed it a lot before the show, I think if I rehearsed a little more and slower then I wouldn’t have slipped or fell out of time. However, I am very happy with my performance, I think it looked and sounded very professional.
What went according to plan:
To summarise, I releases a three track EP and performed my own pieces and with Millie at the final showcase. My original tracks had string accompaniment that I scored myself. I finished all my research which allowed me to produce my work to a higher standard. I completed all my visuals to a high standard, the canvas’ and the MadMapper.
What changed and how:
I ended up doing a cover song instead of all original compositions. I ended up performing two tracks at the showcase, instead of just one. My canvas designs weren’t actually live but instead animations.
Overall: What went well
Overall, I think I completed my whole project to a very high standard. All of the visuals, promotion, the records and my whole delivery of my project was done very professionally. I came across a lot of different problems that took me by surprise but I still managed to complete three tracks ready for the deadline. I even managed to do a performance to a high standard alongside an EP. I think this project really helped me work as though I was already in the industry and I’ve shown myself that I am more than just a musician, I am an artist. I think this project was very successful as my end product was almost identical to my initial but it turned out even better because I learnt about cover music and graphics work.
Overall: What’d I’d of done different
Whilst I am very proud of the outcome from my project, at times I did feel unprepared. For example, I feel like I could’ve set aside some more time for Madmapper so that it wasn’t just a video playing behind me, I could’ve done the lights moving to my piece. If I were to redo this project, I’d of tried to balance the visual aspect as well as I did the musical side because I felt like a lot of my graphics work were rushed and could’ve been improved, like the canvas design for A Gambled Soul. I’d of tried to make them loop a little better or looked more interesting and had a little more going on. Also, I would’ve played the piece to a metronome so it would be easier to play the strings in and then I wouldn’t feel like they’re slightly out of time.