Title track from the Water Planets EP. A progressive rock instrumental featuring odd-time passages, clean & lead guitar soloing, synth lead and ambient backgrounds. Written, recorded & produced by Dagtastik at Key Haven Studios using Macs, Reason Studios 11 and lots of VSTs from Native Instruments, UVI, Impact Soundworks, IK Multimedia, Arturia, Waves and more.

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Water Planets

A progressive rock instrumental featuring lush synth layers, guitar & analog synth soloing and mesmerizing soundscapes. Recorded, mixed & mastered by Dagtastik at Key Haven Studios using Macs, Reason Studios 11, and lots of VSTs from Native Instruments, Arturia, Impact Soundworks, UVI and more. Originally featured on the Plasmacule & Decay EPs. Remastered for 2021.

Decay

Jellyfish

Featured on the Decay EP. A funk-rock progressive instrumental featuring guitar & synth soloing over a variety of grooves. Recorded, mixed & mastered by Dagtastik at Key Haven Studios using Macs, Reason Studios 11, and lots of VSTs from UVI, Arturia, Impact Soundworks, Native Instruments, IK Multimedia and more.

Space Boobs

Update: If you're in the mood for some super-trippy visuals to go with this, check out the YouTube video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8NGZ1kMXu8

A straight-ahead synth rock instrumental inspired by Rush, Foo Fighters & M83. Featuring lush layers of guitars & soloing, breathy soundscapes, and odd-time grooves. Recorded, mixed, and mastered by Dagtastik at Key Haven Studios using Macs, Reason Studios 12, and lots of VSTs from Impact Soundworks, UVI, Arturia, Native Instruments, IK Multimedia and more. Originally featured on the Now Boarding EP. Remixed for 2023.

Now Boarding

Fooblah

A space rock instrumental featuring lush soundscapes in the realm of Ozric Tentacles over top odd-time rhythms and guitar/synth soloing. Recorded, mixed & mastered by Dagtastik at Key Haven Studios using Macs, Reason Studios 11, and lots of VSTs from Native Instruments, UVI, Arturia, IK Multimedia, Impact Soundworks and more. Featured on the Water Planets EP. Remixed & remastered for 2021.

Sektor 99

It’s human nature to orbit the things we’re drawn to. Over the last few weeks, I’ve been listening to a lot of Widek, Porcupine Tree and Rush while being introduced to Big Wreck and Jon Cates. I just finished pouring the mix out of the blender.

Orbital is a return to odd-time signatures, lots of rhythmic movement and super-spacey textures & leads courtesy of Vahalla’s Supermassive Delay and UVI’s Shade, a programmable EQ & filter VST.

Recorded at Key Haven Studios using Macs running Reason Studios 11 and tons of VSTs from UVI, Native Instruments, IK Multimedia, Impact Soundworks, Waves, Toontrack and more.

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Orbital

Almost 35 years since inception, this track has been revived numerous times to serve as a benchmark of sequencing & production quality. Stage Seven is a progressive instrumental that features odd-time signatures, synth/guitar leads and lush atmospheres.

Recorded, mixed & mastered by Dagtastik at Key Haven Studios using Macs, Reason Studios 11, and lots of VSTs from UVI, Native Instruments, Impact Soundworks, Darkglass, Toontrack and more. Featured on the Now Boarding EP. Remixed & remastered for 2023.

Stage Seven

The Trooper: One of the most recognizable tracks from the iconic rock/metal band Iron Maiden, as recreated by Dagtastik with guest vocalist Joe "JD" Disanto. Take a journey with a soldier facing a horrific battle, as told by The Two-Handed Swordsman, himself.

Recorded, mixed & mastered by Dagtastik at Key Haven Studios using Macs running Reason Studios 11 and lots of VSTs from UVI, Native Instruments, IK Multimedia, Impact Sound Works, and more.

Original composition & recording ©Iron Maiden Holdings LTD.
Original artwork by Derek Riggs.

Dagtastik Singles

The Trooper

The Trooper (Iron Maiden Cover)

A fusion jazz instrumental inspired by a longtime admiration of everyone associated with the Chick Corea Elektric Band. While far from matching that talent, this track attempts to pay tribute to the complexity of Dave Weckl's drumming through the years.

Recorded, mixed & mastered by Dagtastik at Key Haven Studios with Macs running Reason Studios 11 and lots of VSTs from UVI, Native Instruments, Impact Soundworks, IK Multimedia and more.

Two Lakes

Pantophobia, the fear of everything, is a progressive rock instrumental featuring a heavy rhythm section underneath layers of guitars, synthesizers, and atmospheres that create tension, suspense, and ultimately, resolve.

Recorded, mixed & mastered by Dagtastik at Key Haven Studios using Macs running Reason Studios 11 and lots of VSTs.

Pantophobia

Update: Check out the YouTube 4K visualizer that accompanies the song at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYPxIelkMSs

The Analog Kid, from the 1982 album Signals, is one of my all-time favorite songs by Rush. Not only is it simply a great song, it also has a lot of good memories attached. It was one of the first Rush songs I learned to play on bass. It was also one of the first songs I learned on synth. And it was one of the first songs I played live in the garage as a teen after acquiring my first set of MIDI floor pedals.

While not one of their most technically difficult songs to play, I feel as though it embodies the unmistakable sound of Rush: Every drum hit carefully thought out, a bass line that accompanies the drums perfectly, a guitar track with the signature sound & phrasing of Alex Lifeson, and a chorus that makes you feel like you grew wings and jumped off the top of a mountain (courtesy of analog synth pads and Taurus pedals). I think Geddy Lee was also coming into his prime as a singer during this time.

I tried my best to produce a note-for-note recreation for this tribute. Through this process, I relearned the song (or at least realized I’ve been playing it wrong for the last 35 years!). All of the music was made using software instruments (VSTs, plugins, samply libraries, etc.) with exception of the vocal track, which of course, is Geddy from the original recording. I also borrowed from the brilliant idea Rush had while playing this live by adding the third chorus.

Recorded, mixed & mastered by Dagtastik at Key Haven Studios with Macs, Reason Studios 11 and lots of VSTs from UVI, Native Instruments, Toontrack, IK Multimedia and more. Original recording by Rush and PolyGram Records, Inc.

The Analog Kid

The Analog Kid (Rush Cover)

WATCH THE MUSIC VIDEO AT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MulLUk4Y8h8

A retro-future, 80s throwback, synth-driven comedy track inspired by Joy Division, computer technology, and human nature. Featuring pulsing synth drums, lush synthesizer layers, and a singer demanding access to your most intimate directories.

Recorded, mixed & mastered by Dagtastik at Key Haven Studios using Macs with Reason Studios 11 and lots of VSTs from Native Instruments, Arturia, UVI, IK Multimedia, Impact Soundworks and more.

Elektronik Love

My disc is hard
I’m virus-free
Climb aboard
My directory tree

Joined together
In the cloud forever
Elektronik Love
Clear your cache
Let’s network play
Elektronik Love

I’m the program
Your motherboard warned you about
Syntax error
Too late to opt-out

Password demanded
Access granted
Elektronik Love
Unzip my drive
It’s time to go live
Elektronik Love

Prepare your system
For maximum RAM
Defrag my hard drive
And purge my spam

Cyber-sensual
Non-contextual
Elektronik Love
Downloading pics
To my 386
Elektronik Love

Accept my cookies
Connect to my nodes
Plugged into your SCSI
Uploading my code

Virtual fervor
I’m your mail server
Elektronik Love
Digital foreplay
Into the ninth day
Elektronik Love
Password demanded
Access granted
Elektronik Love
Joined together
In the cloud forever
Elektronik Love

Electronic Love

Elektronik Love

After listening to Sleep for a few days, I started an instrumental doom metal track. While playing it for a friend, he started reciting Bible verses. From there, the project was born. I used actual verses from Revelation, changing barely a word or two, and it fit perfectly. And this is the final result. Not knocking religion, but wow, the Bible was made for metal.

Recorded, mixed and mastered by Dagtastik at Key Haven Studios using Macs and lots of VSTs. Special thanks to Joe "JD" Disanto for his vocal magic once again.

And when the Sixth Seal was opened
The Earth quaked and spewed its putrid filth
The Sun turned black like sackloth made of goat’s hair
And the Moon weeped with tears of blood

The stars fell from the sky to the Earth
Like figs from a fig tree shaken to its core
The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up
And every mountain and island was removed from its place

You must accept Jesus!
Before it’s too late!

And the angels sounded their trumpets
Hail and fire rained down from the heavens above
The land, the trees and the grasses burned up
And the sea and the creatures and the ships were destroyed

For if you worship the beast and its image
And take the mark on your forehead or hand
You will drink the wine of God’s fury
Poured full strength into the cup of his wrath

You must accept Jesus!
Before it’s too late!
You must accept Jesus!
Before your soul burns!

The angels poured down their bowls onto the land
As festering sores tormented the unbelievers
The sun scorched and seared those who did not repent
And accept the grace of God, Sweet Jesus and Baby Jesus

And I saw the dead standing before the throne
As the book of life and the book of death were opened
All were judged according to what they had done
Eternal peace? Or cast in the lake of fire?

You must accept Jesus!
Before it’s too late!
You must accept Jesus!
The power of Christ compels you!

Revelations

Revelation

As a HUGE fan of 2000s pop-punk, teen angst music from the likes of Blink 182, Sum 41, Good Charlotte, Yellowcard and more, I set out to create a song that would fall right into that playlist.

Rather than making fun of the genre, Nobody Understands pays tribute to the great music of the early 2000s. Okay, so the lyrics lend some comedic value, as we struggle to understand the trials & tribulations of a typical teenager. Everything is just terrible and stupid, after all.

A big thanks to special guest Marco Corva for the outstanding vocals. Music recorded, mixed & mastered by Dagtastik at Key Haven Studios. Want more? Check out Marco singing on my track "Party" right here on SoundCloud.

I didn’t sleep a wink last night
Today’s the first day of school
I’m worried my friends might think
My new kicks aren’t that cool

Missed the bus. Late to class
I left my lunch at home
Can this day get much worse?
It’s only 8am

Gazing out the classroom window
Thoughts of anywhere but here

Parents don’t understand
Teachers don’t understand

My girlfriend’s M.I.A.
Her locker’s not near mine
Haven’t talked since our last fight
I’m sure we’ll be just fine

Homework. House chores
Can’t sign onto A.O.L.
Can this day get much worse?
It’s only 4pm

Gazing out my bedroom window
Thoughts of anywhere but here

Parents don’t understand
Girlfriends don’t understand
Everything is terrible and stupid
Why don’t they understand?

Grown-ups don’t understand
Why can’t they understand?
Everything is terrible and stupid
Nobody understands

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Nobody Understands

Vortex is a prog rock instrumental with analog synth & guitar soloing and lush atmospheres over top an odd time signature rhythm section. First featured on the 2019 EP Plasmacule, it has been re-tracked, remixed & remastered for 2024 using Macs running Reason Studios 12 and lots of VSTs.

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Vortex

Supra is my first legitimate attempt at synthwave and is dedicated to those who love driving around downtown on a rainy night. Hoping you enjoy and it takes you back.

Recorded, mixed & mastered by Dagtastik at Key Haven Studios using Macs running Reason Studios 12 and lots of VSTs including the new Acid by Arturia, Synth Anthology 4 by UVI, Reason's Monotone, UVI's BeatBox Anthology 2, Falcon and others.

Supra

Cutoff Dreams is a continuation of my exploration in synthwave and pays homage to those I've been listening to lately including TimeCop1983, Pylot, The Midnight, Lazerhawk, Mitch Murder and more. I absolutely love this genre. So much fun and another example of what I call Absolute Music: Music for the sake of music; to be enjoyed while you're driving, cleaning your house, making dinner or just relaxing and taking a moment for yourself. Hope you enjoy!

Check out the 4k visualizer video for this track at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_a6-WRJF2s

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Cutoff Dreams

It's dance combat at its finest! Breakdance Warrior takes us back to the 80s when parachute pants, boom boxes, and a cardboard square were the weapons of choice. Special thanks to my good friend, Nick, for his help with the lyrics & vocals. Hope you enjoy!

Check out the video with footage from Breakin' & Breaking' 2: Electric Bugaloo at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFxr7F3OoVQ

Breakdance battle tonight.
I’m here for the music. I’m here for the fight.
Follow the beat. Follow my feet.
I’ma break it down while you take a seat.
Breakdance. I got the fever.
Hitting it hard like Ward on the beaver.
Ladies entranced by my parachute pants.
Fellas bow down when I bring the dance.

Challenge my throne if you dare.
There’s only room for one on this dance square.
Top rock, down rock, helicopter, freeze.
I got the moves to win the crown with ease.
Kneel down when you’re in my kingdom.
I’m gonna bust a beat & demonstrate my wisdom.
King cobra with the pop-n-lock venom
Fightin’ for my right ‘cause it’s all about the rhythm

‘Cause it’s all about the rhythm
‘Cause it’s all about the dance

Pump up the jam. Make your boom box rattle.
Time to suit up. Yo! Prepare for battle.
Raise the roof. Let’s light this candle.
Show these suckas I’m more than they can handle.
Foxy ladies gather ‘round.
Drawn like moths to my high-tech sound.
Shakin’ their booties to the hip-hop groove.
Bewitched by my legendary moves.

Elevate the contest to the next level.
Turn up the bass. Can’t have just treble.
Time to step up, be a man, make a statement.
As soon as the cardboard hits the pavement.
Breakdance. Let the fray commence.
Soon, we’ll be talkin’ ‘bout you in the past-tense.
Expelled from the pride while I breed with your women.
But after we dance ‘cause it’s all about the rhythm.

‘Cause it’s all about the rhythm
‘Cause it’s all about the dance

Let us begin the final chapter.
When the B-boy learns from a breakdance master.
Watch and learn. Feel free to take notes.
So you’ll understand how I got the votes.
My speed is like that of a cheetah, only faster.
Bringin’ the power of a fusion reactor.
Walkin’ tall like the Jolly Green Giant.
The fury of a mini gun, but more violent.

Bullets & blades are ineffective here.
My shuffle & my slide is far more severe.
Turn the tables on. Put the needle on the record.
It’s time to decide, once and for all, who’s better.
I’ma poet, I’ma dancer, I’ma lover, I’ma sinner.
Soon to be crowned and declared the winner.
My rhymes cut deep like a shank made in prison.
Say what? It’s all about the rhythm.

‘Cause it’s all about the rhythm
‘Cause it’s all about the dance

Breakdance Warrior

Der Wäffe is a comedic mashup using the music of Take Your Last Drink with various vocals from other tracks, trimmed, tuned, and finally, reversed. The end result sounds like the latest single by Rammstein. Silly? Yes. Catchy? Definitely.

Recorded, mixed & mastered by Dagtastik at Key Haven Studios using Macs with Reason 12 and lots of VSTs from UVI, Native Instruments, IK Multimedia, Impact Sound Works, Arturia and more.

Der Wäffe

Change Of Plans is a futuristic rock instrumental rooted in 11/8 time with a nice 7/8 break. Lots of textures and high-energy guitar throughout. Featured on the Water Planets EP, this track has been remixed & remastered by Dagtastik at Key Haven Studios.

Change Of Plans

Summer is near and it's time for some synthwave. Featuring solos borrowed & updated from the October & Dagspaztik singles set upon lush, warm, analog synth textures. If you like the rhythm guitar tone, check out Goodnight Song by Tears For Fears and you'll find some familiarity. I've also been listening to a lot of TimeCop 1983, FM84, Mitch Murder and The Midnight lately.

You can also listen to Summer Vibes along with a 4K visualizer on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OxVZujWM3s

Recorded mixed & mastered by Dagtastik at Key Haven Studios using Macs, Reason Studios 12 and lots of VSTs from Arturia, UVI, Native Instruments, Impact Soundworks, Toontrack and more.

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Summer Vibes

The first collaboration between Shaun Moss & Dagtastik, Disco Butter is a high-energy instrumental featuring lots of textures, catchy melodies, and a chorus that is guaranteed to get you moving. This was a BLAST to work on together. Looking forward to doing this again!

Be sure to check out Shaun Moss right here on SoundCloud at https://soundcloud.com/shaun-moss-music for more synthwave goodness.

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Disco Butter

Disco Butter (feat. Shaun Moss)

Home studio musician trying to explore as many genres as possible through original work, favorite artist recreations, and collaborations with other like-minded musicians. Hit me up if you'd like to work on something together.

Dagtastik

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