Name: Cameron Rhodes
Project Title: FUNKIN’ FORCE – FUNKY FRESH BEATS
| Section 1: Rationale (approx. 100 words) |
| Over the previous units of this course, I have become more proficient at mixing and mastering my own music, while being able to compose and arrange my own original pieces. This makes me confident in the choice for my project – making an original composition for a game I really enjoy. This path of work is interesting to me because I enjoy freelance work in general, as I can learn more genres/styles, therefore enhancing my work quality. Before this, I was not very sure how to make more than drums and bass for a simple 30 second beat. |
| Section 2: Project Concept (approx. 200 words) |
| The concept of my project is to create my own original piece in its own style of ‘rocktronic’ – this piece is heavily influenced by the work of Frank Klepacki and Hideki Naganuma, and I can find out about their songwriting tricks/techniques by looking around YouTube and various articles on the internet. I will be documenting this on digital space and following a rough timetable that is subject to change throughout the project, which any changes will also be made known. This project is going to be full of sampling, a technique that I have never tried before – this is an opportunity to learn it under a certain time limit and see how far my experience can get me in this kind of work, and if I do well with deadlines. I am sure that I can do this, however – I have made songs in an evening before, I just need to get my creativity flowing, which I can go on YouTube for or play the actual game I’m composing around. |
| Section 3: Evaluation (approx. 50 words) |
| I intend to record my voice for evaluation and follow a loose script/no script at all. This will be uploaded onto a page on digital space where I will analyse the song itself, its musical integrity and my documentation to see if I am happy with how much I have produced. |
| Proposed Research Sources and Bibliography (Harvard Format) |
| Zade (2020). Talking Command & Conquer Remastered with Frank Klepacki! (Part 1/2). [online] www.youtube.com. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhJVOxmET34 [Accessed 27 Feb. 2024]. – This interview is short and a two parter but it talks about how Frank Klepacki went around making the music for Command and Conquer, and getting some honest thoughts. Academy of Bass (2023). What makes Funk Bass lines so Funky (#48). [online] www.youtube.com. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_mpAfWxT8Q [Accessed 27 Feb. 2024]. – This is so I can understand how to make the bass in my song more funky, since I’m taking elements from different genres. Beautiful Beats (2020). CRAZY VOCAL CHOPS! | How To Make Vocal Chops Like A Pro! [online] www.youtube.com. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_Fsi5wUh3Y [Accessed 27 Feb. 2024]. – This is for understanding chops/sampling the way that Hideki Naganuma does his work. Underdog Electronic Music School (2021). Music Theory for Techno. [online] www.youtube.com. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcjT7zgs6cs [Accessed 27 Feb. 2024]. – This is for understanding the elements of techno that I will be taking from such as how they do chord progressions and the general theory of things. I need more theory in my work. Klepacki, F. (n.d.). Frank Klepacki. [online] Frank Klepacki. Available at: https://www.frankklepacki.com/ [Accessed 4 Mar. 2024]. – This is Frank’s own personal website and I hope to find information about him here, regarding music. |
| Date Week Beginning | Activity / What you are intending to do – including independent study | Resources / What you will need to do it – including access to workshops |
| 1 (alternating) | Mon AM – Research/Development of Techniques Mon PM – Research/Development of Techniques Tues AM – Understanding the Technique/Recapping Tues PM – Documenting the Technique/Proofreading Weds AM – Graphics; Allows me to get artwork done for anything such as cover art | Mac Suite/Laptop Internet Connection Headphones Quiet Area Alot of iced tea |
| 2 (alternating) | Mon AM – Developing Song Mon PM – Developing Song Tues AM – Developing Song Tues PM – Listening to the Song/Proofing Weds AM – Graphics; Allows me to get artwork done for anything such as cover art | Mac Suite/Laptop Ableton 11 LIVE Standard Internet Connection Headphones MIDI Keyboard Triton Rack Synth Alot of energy drinks |
| MILESTONE 1 – CONTINUOUS | Gain subscribers for a small youtube channel, not too many, but enough to get noticed and talked about | Posting other content on my YT channel like clips of Command & Conquer, random shorts to gain attention etc. |
| MILESTONE 2 – BY WEEK 12 | I have never really made a song over 2 minutes long that doesn’t involve heavy looping. I want to try and make distinct parts of my song. | Try and stray away from looping, and instead of drastic changes just tweak verses and choruses. |
| MILESTONE 3 – BY WEEK 12 | Make a piece that will get people interested with my commission work. I need to have a portfolio for people to listen to | Make sure everything is of a professional standard and I have put all my effort into the piece. |
| MILESTONE 4 – CONTINUOUS | Create a modern and retro version of the track; instead of everything being on the rack synth, a modern track will include more recently recorded sounds from more modern sounding things like guitars and drums. | After creating the first version of the track, simply change instruments around and mix/master differently. |
| MILESTONE 5 – BY WEEK 12 | Final evaluation, see how my song is received by the community, written all work, and handed in accordingly | Proof reading and double checking everything to do with Project 5. |