Name: Ashes of Understanding (04/52) by Avid Balderdash
Duration: 54 s
Description: For this track, Ashes of Understanding, I incorporated some trap elements. Overall, I find it quite dark, which also inspired the story for the video (you can check it out on Instagram and beyond) The increasingly distorted bass really amplifies the aggressive vibe for me. What do you think?

This is the first track of my 52-track challenge, created using simple tools in GarageBand. I chose a medium tempo to ease myself into the process, combining simple melodic patterns with some unconventional elements. The goal was to gradually build the atmosphere throughout the track, with the bass slowly increasing in intensity until it becomes dominant, before resolving into the final melody. You can check out the video for this track on Instagram, YouTube, or TikTok!

Narcissa and She (01/52)

„This is the second track in my 52-track challenge. I’ve increased the tempo a bit and made the sound more mysterious and dramatic. The beat starts off a bit subdued, but after the "drop", it becomes driving and keeps building until the end. It’s a journey of tension and release, with the energy intensifying as the track progresses. How do you feel about the "arcade trills" melody progression in the final part? Is it a bit too annoying, or does it build up to the climax just right? Check out the video on Instagram, YouTube, or TikTok!“

Sisterhood of the Quantum Holography (02/52)

In line with the story of my next track (video and story plot on Instagram and YouTube), I’ve been experimenting with the Cryogen plugin to add that glitchy sound to my chords. A recurring dreamy melody is paired with a simple secondary melody in the background to create an atmospheric, reflective mood. Does it work? Let me know what you think!

Glitchwood Forest (03/52)

For this track, Ashes of Understanding, I incorporated some trap elements. Overall, I find it quite dark, which also inspired the story for the video (you can check it out on Instagram and beyond) The increasingly distorted bass really amplifies the aggressive vibe for me. What do you think?

Ashes of Understanding (04/52)

Crystal Eclipse is a more laid-back track, slowly building up to a climax. The melody is simple yet enchanting, and the bass drum drives the beat without being too intrusive. I layered two different stutter effects on the bass—first a slower one, then a more characterful one using the Flux Mini 2 plugin. For this track, I also used a special drum plugin to create more natural hi-hat and cymbal sounds. Let me know what you think!

Crystal Eclipse (05/52)

I’m starting to love stutter sounds, so I applied different variations to each harmony individually. Combined with fast bass runs that create subtle chromatic dissonances, I think it gives the track a unique tension. The overall mood is rather melancholic and reflective. Toward the end, the gradually rising melody takes the lead and brings some order to the chaos. Finally, the saxophone part rounds everything off

Elyra.exe: Heartbreak (06/52)

I usually stay unpolitical here, but the mix of eighth and sixteenth-note triplets on the vocal sound gave me the impression of meaningless chatter...kind of like politicians. 😉 The drop in the middle marks a turning point in the track. Let me know how it feels to you!

Democracy AI.0 (07/52)

The bass in this track is called Bending Grime - a beautifully grim and hard-hitting sound that, to me, blends perfectly with the lead melody (which, of course, got a little stutter effect again). Atmospherically, I’d describe the track as dreamy and playful, especially toward the end with those spacey sounds. But what emotions does it evoke for you? Video to this track on Insta and co.

The Creativity Helmet (08/52)

For this track, I started directly with a chord progression that I really love. Combined with the melody, which builds up to the climax, it’s simple yet powerful. The harmonies in this one especially resonate with me. It feels like an emotional journey. And what about the retro gaming sounds at the end? Do they feel out of place or add a nice contrast? Story and Video as always on Insta and co.

Alien Entity (09/52)

The Last Whirl is, so far, my most aggressive track, driven by a pulsating bass. The unconventional melody was a one-take—purely based on feeling—and has a certain dancing quality to it. The harmony perfectly reinforces the darker, more aggressive vibe. The choppy, stuttering second melody that kicks in halfway through feels restless and imperfect, which only makes it more interesting to me. What’s your take on it?

The Last Whirl (10/52)

I'm a musician with several years of experience, but brand new to electronic music. So I'm setting myself a challenge for 2025: creating a one-minute looping track every week. It’s a personal experiment to explore sounds and genres within electronic music. From hypnotic techno to glitchy beats or DnB, nothing is off-limits. Raw, imperfect, and always a work in progress. If you like what you hear, I’m also excited to develop full tracks from these ideas next year. Follow along for beats, loops & the creative process. Short video clips drop on socials!

Ashes of Understanding (04/52)

Avid Balderdash

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