Autopilot was a project that I started to force myself to become active in producing music, as a way of distracting myself from the stressful days I was experiencing at the time. I only had Saturdays and Sundays to spend on the project. Autopilot was a 10 week long commitment, and the result is the first 10 individual tracks. The ones after Autopilot 10 are an extension of the project later at a different time.

I have used my iPhone 4s's microphone to record sounds from my instruments (guitar, ukulele, setar, drums and harmonica). After recording the sounds mixed the lines using Adobe Audition. 

Even thinking about using Adobe Audition in that way again terrifies me!

The Autopilot Project

I am starting this project mainly for personal reasons, pushing myself to record a tune every week to push myself to actually pick up my instruments and play for at least few hours a week.



Autopilot-01

I'm trying to be as versatile as possible in terms of the instruments being used and also the genre or style. So for absolutely no reason, this week I sound like Folk.



Autopilot-02

I'm very happy with the recording qualities that I'm getting from my iPhone 4s's microphone. Its actually surprising for a phone! I also have started to mix some already existing recordings with my own recordings. For example, I haven't actually recorded the drums for this track. It is taken off of a drums tutorial on YouTube which I have heavily edited. Its like when one edits a render. (finding photos of trees, people,... and mixing with the render in Photoshop)

I have asked one of my friends' for help, and will share a more developed version of this track in the next few days.

Autopilot-03

Borrowed sounds:

1- Drums: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfugFhFNS60&list=PL4lEESSgxM_5O81EvKCmBIm_JT5Q7JeaI&index=370
2- Drums: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfiUwWlQJm8
3- Drums: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idmkvI55THY
4- Trumpet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcIp7K2UFgE

Autopilot-04

This one has been the funnest recording/production session that I've had since the start of this project so far! Hope you enjoy it! And please give me feedback!

Thanks,
Saman

Borrowed sounds:
-Ramadanman-Glut
-Can-Vitamin C

Autopilot-05

Sounds borrowed:

Drums 1 and vocal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNdHe5hCeLU&list=RDJIt7AnmJDSY&index=3
Drums 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8gD6153aNI&index=9&list=RDJIt7AnmJDSY

Autopilot-06

The major work on this track has been done by my amazing friend, Bahram Kheradmand, whom I know since high school. We used to play music together in Iran before both of us leaving the country to continue our education abroad. He lives in San Diego, doing research on honey bees. 

Words, Vocal and Acoustic Guitar: Bahram Kheradmand
Electric Guitar, Drums, Bass and Mix: Bunker

Lyrics:

Lend me your eyes and I'll weave you a braid
A turquoise twine for your board to be tied

The swinging, the tranquil, the hustle to cease
To center the mass that is gravity's womb

Tide is to shine when you rise and you wade
Like winter kois who are bored, and are tried

The movement to be still, the struggle for peace
The swim up the river to rest in the combe

Splashes of color, of ivory, ochre
Of azure and saffron, in Holi in spring

Twist and turn slowly to knit her a garment 
To make her a sari like Mindanao gums

He dashes to call her, with words that once woke her
To throw her the helix of phosphorous string

And tell her the story of his old apartment              
Where he left his memories of basses and drums
  

Tunker - Autopilot-07

I think this week was all about being hopeful and optimistic and waiting for good news.

Autopilot-08

The main theme of this track comes from one of the earliest stuff that I've ever wrote when I was 16 or 17, when I had no clue how to complete it. I realized that I owed my 16 years old self to develop that and finish the job.

Autopilot-09

This is Winter's goodbye kiss. I have used rice in the production process of this track.

Autopilot-10

Autopilot-11

To my wonderful friend Sheida and all the ones who loved her and will always remember her beautiful voice and her laughter. I'm glad I got to know you and that I had the chance to share so many unforgettable memories with you. Love

Autopilot-12

Production, Mix, and Master: Bunker
Based on an Autopilot sketch @autopilotproject
Vocal and Lyrics: KAL @arash-roshani
Special thanks to Solino @Dechroma

Cover Art: Harmony
instagram.com/harmunicube

Labkhand e Faravoon

Hang in There

Bunker is a collaborative music project that started as Autopilot's personal endeavor in 2015. In 2016, KAL joined the project during a busy period of grad school, immigration, and adjusting to new life circumstances.

With their diverse musical backgrounds, Bunker creates a sound that blends electronic elements with influences from TripHop and Funk. Most of their tracks feature instrumental sampling and carry deeply personal stories, functioning as an audio journal that reflects their experiences and emotions.

People involved:

Saman Abdullahi (https://soundcloud.com/autopilotproject)
Arash Roshani (https://soundcloud.com/arash-roshani)

Saman (designer) and Arash (physicist) are amateur musicians born and raised in Tehran, Iran. They started writing and playing music together in high school with a group of friends. After years of navigating immigration challenges—Saman in Calgary and Arash in Los Angeles—they incidentally reunited in the summer of 2016 and continued their musical collaboration.