Various assignments & little productions from my years at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. Arranged from Newest to Oldest. More to come. 

Berklee College of Music Assignments: Dave D'aranjo

I used to have this great show on the Berklee Internet Radio Network, called "The Low End". It ran from February 19th, 2009, to June 18th, 2009. Only 16 episodes, but boy did I put a lot of work and planning into each one! My goal was to deliver two solid hours of a bassist's favorite jams, and I think I did a pretty good job on that. 

Here's a blurb I used to have on the show page: 
"If it makes the bungle jungle rumble - if the funk punks a swampus stank - if the tones walk through the valley of the shadow of C4- and if the vibrations are so deep it hertz, chances are you're digging The Low End.

Let Singaporean-born bassist Dave D'aranjo (aka DJ Darangatang) slide you down the neck of the most ridonkulous, bulbous bass jams out there.

You'll hear today's best players and yesterday's classic axe heroes. You'll hear 16th-note pockets, fat whole note grooves, warm acoustic butter, double slaps, slides, and more popped G-strings than you'll know what to do with.

All this goes DOWN every Thursday afternoon, 2pm to 4pm Eastern Standard Time (GMT -5) on the Berklee Internet Radio Network.
Or, tune in to the BIRN1 via the "College Radio" tab within your iTunes™ streaming radio library.

Turn up your subwoofer, because:
If you're feeling the groove, chances are you're listening to The Low End! ™"

"The Low End" Radio Show on The BIRN (Berklee Internet Radio Network)

There's a link going around that claims the following:

"Want to hear something magical?
Experimental director and playwright, Robert Wilson, caught a hauntingly beautiful piece of music one night, a recording of crickets.
That part is common enough, but then he stretched out the sound as much as one would have to stretch the life of a cricket to equal that of a human, and the result is truly wonderful.” 

Clicking that website’s link takes you to https://soundcloud.com/acornavi/jim-wilson-crickets-audio
And what you hear is unbelievable: two overlaid audio tracks; one of crickets at normal speed, and another at a slower speed which sounds incredibly like a church choir in a major tonality. 
At the time I write this, the link has well over 300,000 listens and I’ve seen it posted all over. 

Curious as I am, and not really buying what I was hearing, I grabbed some beautiful audio of crickets online:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzN3yJXlWrg

Then I brought it into the Time & Pitch editor in Logic Pro (a professional audio editing software). 
I used Classic Mode, which lowers the pitch as you extend the time (much like putting your finger on tape or a record - the slower it goes, the looowwwwer it goes). 
I also selected the Pads algorithm, which is suited for polyphonic audio - strings, choirs, chords, etc. 

My thinking was this: let’s say the average cricket lifespan is a generous 6 months. 
The average human lifespan is 70 years (840 months, not much time either). 

That means that for Wilson to stretch "out the sound as much as one would have to stretch the life of a cricket to equal that of a human”, it would require an expansion of 14,000%. 
14,000% of 10 seconds = 1400 seconds, i.e. 23.333 minutes. Anyway, I think that would give a decent approximation of what Robert Wilson has claimed to do. 

Here are the results of my pitch-shifting: 

1. The first audio region is the 10-second original sample. 
2. The second region is part of the sample that has been slowed to 40 seconds. 
3. The third region is part of the sample that has been slowed to 1 minute, 40 seconds. 
4. The fourth region is part of the sample that has been slowed to 2 minutes, 40 seconds. 
5. The fifth region is part of the sample that has been slowed to 10 minutes, 40 seconds. 
6. The sixth region - I’d need a subwoofer to even hear it. That sample is just over 23 minutes long and is the 1:1 ratio of cricket/human lifespan.

As you can hear, none of this sounds anything like Mr. Wilson’s very human-sounding choir. 

There are three final regions I included for fun: 
7. The seventh region is all previous regions playing at once. Except for the original sample. Spooky! 
8. The eighth region is Mr. Wilson’s recording, sped back up to “human speed”. So that’s 23 minutes of his recording, shrunk down to 10 seconds.
9. Outro. 

Look, Mr. Wilson’s original is no doubt relaxing and sounds pretty and I used it to help me sleep once. But it is undoubtedly a human singing, or perhaps a manipulated choir loop. It’s not cool to spread around incorrect info and then call it some miraculous evidence of divine intervention in nature. To me, the sound of the crickets are wondrous enough! C’mon folks, let’s try and be less gullible! 

To borrow from the great Adam and Jamie…. “MYTH BUSTED”! 

UPDATE:
Another SoundCloud user has a good post on this subject, if you are interested - 
https://soundcloud.com/vcfxrecordings/crickets

He writes, "The recording originates from a CD made in 1992 by Jim Wilson, which is for sale here: 
www.constancedemby.com/godscricketchorus_f.html

Please note the testimonial by a Mr Tom Waite, not Tom Waits as some have initially believed.

A portion of the track also features on the song 'Twisted Hair' by Robbie Robertson, released in 1994:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=61ytg60AwOE

Bonnie Jo Hunt, who sung soprano on the track, was quoted in an interview with saying:
"...they sound exactly like a well-trained church choir to me. And not only that, but it sounded to me like they were singing in the eight-tone scale."

Dave D'aranjo | Dawkins' Chorus of Crickets | legit crickets audio recording slowed way down

Here's high-res audio from my infanthood crib mobile. The song is "King of the Road", written and originally recorded in 1964 by country singer Roger Miller. Thanks for keeping this, Mom!

Image courtesy of Hannah & Aspen:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/HannahandAspen

"King of the Road" Crib Mobile

Migrant Motel performs "Back in Black" by AC/DC
Produced & mixed by Dave D'aranjo for:
MP-P305-002 (SP15) - Record Production for Musicians 
Berklee College of Music

Migrant Motel is:
David Stewart, Jr. - vocals, bass (Peru)
Ed Graves - guitars(England)
"Chava" Ilizaliturri - drums (Mexico)
www.migrantmotel.com

Recorded at: 
Dirty Water Studios, Charlestown, MA
www.dirtywatersound.com

KissyPig Studio, Allston, MA
www.kissypig.com

Recording assistance and co-production by: James Willetts
www.jameswilletts.com


Sound-Alike: Migrant Motel performs "Back in Black" by AC/DC

Originally aired on February 19th, 2009
by Dave D’aranjo (aka DJ Darangatang)
on the Berklee Internet Radio Network (the BIRN)
www.thebirn.com

NOTE: The previous semester I had hosted an assigned show called "Folk Ways" - which I wasn't too thrilled about. So this first episode of "The Low End" begins with the "Folk Ways" ID and me playing a folky tune.... 

0:00:00 - “Folk Ways” Radio Show ID [“Afraid to Dance” - Don Ross] - Dave D’aranjo, VO by Joe Murray
0:00:14 - “Everybody Way Oh!” - Terry S. Taylor
0:01:09 - “John the Fisherman” - Primus
0:04:22 - “What Is Hip?” - Tower of Power
0:09:24 - “Ever Lost Your Lover” - Bootsy Collins
0:14:52 - “All Over Again” - Stanley Clarke & Esperanza Spalding
0:19:51 - “2 Timers” - Victor Wooten
0:24:40 - “Business Time” - the Flight of the Conchords
0:28:42 - “Bruce Sexy” & “BIRN Bootsy” Radio ID ft. Bootsy Collins [“Give Up the Funk...” - Parliament]
0:29:02 - “Chasing Shadows” - Tony Grey
0:35:20 - “Zeta Reticuli” - Steve Jenkins
0:40:46 - “Come On, Come Over” - Jaco Pastorius 
0:44:35 - “Boogie On Reggae Woman” - Stevie Wonder 
0:49:30 - “Doin' it to Death” - James Brown
0:54:36 - “Just the Two of Us (Secret Track)” - Christian McBride / The Philadelphia Experiment
0:58:30 - “BIRN Bootsy” Radio ID ft. Bootsy Collins [“Give Up the Funk...” - Parliament]
0:58:46 - Dave’s Shoutouts [“Summer In the City” - Quincy Jones]
1:01:15 - “BIRN Chillax” Radio ID - Dave D’aranjo
1:01:30 - “Zauberwasser - Ralf Gauck from European Bassday 2005	
1:03:40 - “Kivu” - Richard Bona
1:05:02 - “Tears in Heaven” - Jeff Berlin
1:08:58 - “Opus Pocus” - Jaco Pastorius
1:14:23 - “b’s song” - Janek Gwizdala
1:15:55 - “and Another Thing” - Janek Gwizdala
1:22:24 - “When God Created The Coffeebreak” - Esbjörn Svensson Trio
1:28:54 - “BIRN King Julien XIII” Radio ID [from “Madagascar”]
1:29:02 - “Higher Ground” Red Hot Chili Peppers
1:32:22 - “Oz Is Ever Floating” - Oysterhead
1:35:09 - “Love Ain't For Keeping” - The Who
1:37:18 - “Roundabout” - Yes
1:45:05 - “Dracula’s Wedding” - Outkast
1:47:37 - “Hair” - Graham Central Station
1:52:30 - “Funk Ain't Broke (ft. Rodney O.)” - Bootsy Collins
1:58:08 - End of Program.

"The Low End" Episode 1 - 20090219 - [Pilot] - The BIRN (Berklee Internet Radio Network)

I used to have this great show on the Berklee Internet Radio Network, called "The Low End". It ran from February 19th, 2009, to June 18th, 2009. Only 16 episodes, but boy did I put a lot of work and planning into each one! My goal was to deliver two solid hours of a bassist's favorite jams, and I think I did a pretty good job on that. 

Anyway, I also put together this intro for each show. There are a couple of things to know about what you're hearing: 
- The first two Radio IDs you hear were created by BIRN staff, and the 2nd one features Bootsy Collins, of course. 
- When my own voiceover picks up, Ive used a song called "Bass Face" by Brian Bromberg as the backing track.
- In Version 1 of this, I am “singing”. Yikes! 
- Later, I found a singer and created Version 2. Many thanks to the amazing Dari Matilsky! Her vocals were recorded at the BIRN studio on March 31st, 2009 by Aaron Bastinelli.
- I overdubbed some crazy slap bass additions to Version 2 as well!

Here's a blurb I used to have on the show page: 
"If it makes the bungle jungle rumble - if the funk punks a swampus stank - if the tones walk through the valley of the shadow of C4- and if the vibrations are so deep it hertz, chances are you're digging The Low End.

Let Singaporean-born bassist Dave D'aranjo (aka DJ Darangatang) slide you down the neck of the most ridonkulous, bulbous bass jams out there.

You'll hear today's best players and yesterday's classic axe heroes. You'll hear 16th-note pockets, fat whole note grooves, warm acoustic butter, double slaps, slides, and more popped G-strings than you'll know what to do with.

All this goes DOWN every Thursday afternoon, 2pm to 4pm Eastern Standard Time (GMT -5) on the Berklee Internet Radio Network.
Or, tune in to the BIRN1 via the "College Radio" tab within your iTunes™ streaming radio library.

Turn up your subwoofer, because:
If you're feeling the groove, chances are you're listening to The Low End! ™"

"The Low End" Radio Show Intro - The BIRN - Version 1 of 2

Originally aired on March 5th, 2009
by Dave D’aranjo (aka DJ Darangatang)
on the Berklee Internet Radio Network (the BIRN)
www.thebirn.com

0:00:00 - “Bruce Sexy” & “BIRN Bootsy” Radio ID ft. Bootsy Collins [“Give Up the Funk...” - Parliament]
0:00:19 - “The Low End” Radio Show Intro Version 1 [“Bass Face” - Brian Bromberg] - Dave D’aranjo
0:00:49 - “Come On” - Mads Tolling, Ronald Bruner, Jr., Ruslan Sirota, & Stanley Clarke
0:03:48 - “Shake Hands With Beef”- Primus
0:07:39 - “To Serve Man” - Victor Wooten & Steve Bailey
0:14:20 - “Life Cycle” - Salamander
0:20:22 - “Think About It” - the Flight of the Conchords
0:23:33 - “Something's Wrong with This Picture” - Galactic
0:28:45 - “Contact” - Jurassic 5
0:30:00 - “Bruce Hip” Radio ID
0:30:08 - New Segment: Dave’s Bass Analysis [“68 State” - Gorillaz / “Jesusland” - Ben Fold]
0:37:00 - “BIRN K. Weiner 1” Radio ID
0:37:08 - “Jesusland” - Ben Folds
0:41:34 - “Money” - Pink Floyd
0:47:41 - “Helter Skelter” - The Beatles
0:50:25 - “Hysteria” - Muse
0:54:07 - “Eriatarka” - The Mars Volta
0:59:52 - “BIRN 03” & “BIRN Bootsy” Radio ID ft. Bootsy Collins [“Give Up the Funk...” - Parliament]
1:00:14 - “Smells Like Teen Spirit” - Paul Anka
1:02:54 - “Liberty City” - Jaco Pastorius
1:10:51 - “Mela” - Esperanza Spalding
1:18:02 - “Lonnie's Lament” - Marcus Miller
1:23:20 - “Tuesday Wonderland” - Esbjörn Svensson Trio
1:29:44 - “BIRN Chillax” Radio ID - Dave D’aranjo
1:30:00 - Dave Speaks + “Heart of the Bass” - John Patitucci
1:34:28 - “Reminiscence” - Béla Fleck & the Flecktones
1:40:03 - “Abadaba” - Charlie Hunter
1:46:28 - “Call For All Demons” - The Philadelphia Experiment
1:51:46 - Dave Signoff [“Transmission 1” - DJ Shadow]
1:52:12 - “Contribution” - Jurassic 5
1:55:55 - “Back Again” - Dilated Peoples
1:59:52 - “BIRN K. Weiner 1” Radio ID
2:00:03 - End of Program.

"The Low End" Episode 3 - 20090305 - The BIRN (Berklee Internet Radio Network)

Here's a sketch for a song I wrote shortly after starting Berklee College of Music in late 2008.... I should finish this one up someday! Berklee Beach is the strip of sidewalk outside of 150 Massachusetts Ave, the main Berklee building, where there are always students milling about, hangin' and smoking between classes. 

"Berklee Beach"

Download "Out of My Head" performed by Alemay Fernandez!  

iTunes: http://www.itunes.apple.com/​us/​album/​out-of-my-head-single/​id423425400?uo=4
CDBaby: http://www.cdbaby.com/​Artist/​AlemayFernandez

  "The tracks you left were never meant to stay..."  

"Out of My Head" tells the story of an old love, renewed, and the confusion one endures when they still have feelings for someone that has hurt them in the past. It features the sultry, wistful vocals of Singaporean vocal star Alemay Fernandez in an international collaboration with Interrobang Records. Written and produced by Dave D'aranjo, who also plays bass, the song features striking guitar work from Enriquez Castillo, contemplative synths from Sean Nerney, and a standout steel drum track by Earl Brooks, Jr. of the Berklee College of Music.

 "I'd catch your eye and I would wanna sing..."  

The plaintive longing for a lost love; conflicting emotions when confronted with the past; the yearning for happier days, and the bittersweet observation that everything changes with time. "Out of My Head" taps into these universal experiences and reminds you that you're not alone. 

 "But that was then and now I know for real..."  

The track was arranged in Boston by late 2010, with the guitar and synths recorded independently in Singapore. The vocal sessions were handled by the great Peter Hendricks of Inversion Studios. Steve Catizone of Sanctum Sound, Boston, mixed the track. The song was mastered by Fred Kevorkian in New York City. Special thanks to Margrethe van der Zwan for the use of her photo for the single's artwork. 

 "You still won't go..."

  OUT OF MY HEAD
 Lyrics & Music by: Dave D'aranjo 
 Performed by: Alemay Fernandez 

"I closed the door and watched you walk away...
Outside my window 
Fresh snow was falling.

The tracks you left were never meant to stay.
Crisp as the sunrise, 
They melted by morning. 

But that was months behind and now it's warm. 
Winter's a desert. 
The desert is blooming. 

And still those tracks you left leave me so torn.
Grass has grown through them - 
To think I once knew them. 

Get out of my head,
You left - baby.
Get out of my head,
You still won't go. 

The way you spilled the wine excited me. 
The littlest action 
Sparked an attraction.

I'd catch your eye and I would wanna sing. 
Warm by the fire; 
Lust for a liar. 

But that was then and now I know - for real -
What you were thinking
As my heart was sinking... 

And all these days I've tried my best to heal. 
It doesn't matter.
My heart's still shattered. 

Get out of my head,
You left - baby.
Get out of my head,
You still won't go. 

At 2am I heard you ring the bell. 
And there you were standing, 
Presence commanding. 

I felt the chill and took a look outside. 
Conflicted by wonder:
It's snowing in summer. 

And I saw your tracks again, back in the snow.
Once they were leaving - 
Now they are leading. 

Can I forget the pain you put me through? 
No black or white outcome.
As grey as the autumn.

Get out of my head,
You left - baby.
Get out of my head,
You still won't go.

(ad-lib out): 
You still won't go.
You walked away - why did you leave me all alone? 
Baby don't - don't go..."  

© & ℗ 2011 Interrobang Records (interrobangrecords.com)
 NTRO -20110214
 UPC: 8-85767-52491-0. All Rights Reserved.

"Out of My Head" featuring Alemay Fernandez

This is the intro to the song "Spinning Lady", by The Ocean Band. This features the vocal characterization talent of Mr. Joe Murray! Sound design by Dave D'aranjo. 

Visit www.theoceanband.com to purchase the beautifully-packaged album "Couch Dictators"!

All Tracks © & ℗ The Ocean Band, 2009 
Interrobang Records™ 
NTRO-12062009 
theoceanband.com

"Outside the High Times Saloon" from "Couch Dictators: Alternate Edits" featuring Joe Murray

I used to have this great show on the Berklee Internet Radio Network, called "The Low End". It ran from February 19th, 2009, to June 18th, 2009. Only 16 episodes, but boy did I put a lot of work and planning into each one! My goal was to deliver two solid hours of a bassist's favorite jams, and I think I did a pretty good job on that.

Anyway, I also put together this intro for each show. There are a couple of things to know about what you're hearing: 
- The first two Radio IDs you hear were created by BIRN staff, and the 2nd one features Bootsy Collins, of course. 
- When my own voiceover picks up, Ive used a song called "Bass Face" by Brian Bromberg as the backing track.
- In Version 1 of this, I am “singing”. Yikes! 
- Later, I found a singer and created Version 2. Many thanks to the amazing Dari Matilsky! Her vocals were recorded at the BIRN studio on March 31st, 2009 by Aaron Bastinelli.
- I overdubbed some crazy slap bass additions to Version 2 as well!

Here's a blurb I used to have on the show page: 
"If it makes the bungle jungle rumble - if the funk punks a swampus stank - if the tones walk through the valley of the shadow of C4- and if the vibrations are so deep it hertz, chances are you're digging The Low End.

Let Singaporean-born bassist Dave D'aranjo (aka DJ Darangatang) slide you down the neck of the most ridonkulous, bulbous bass jams out there. 

You'll hear today's best players and yesterday's classic axe heroes. You'll hear 16th-note pockets, fat whole note grooves, warm acoustic butter, double slaps, slides, and more popped G-strings than you'll know what to do with.

All this goes DOWN every Thursday afternoon, 2pm to 4pm Eastern Standard Time (GMT -5) on the Berklee Internet Radio Network.
Or, tune in to the BIRN1 via the "College Radio" tab within your iTunes™ streaming radio library.

Turn up your subwoofer, because:
If you're feeling the groove, chances are you're listening to The Low End! ™"

"The Low End" Radio Show Intro - The BIRN - Version 2 of 2

I produce music and play bass guitar.
www.davedaranjo.com

Dave D'aranjo

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