My growing collection of remix / remake entries for the MetaPop / Native Instruments challenge contest. #metapop #nativeinstruments ... I am a fan of these great learning challenges. The premise being that Metapop and other recording artists challenge music producers to remake or remix their tracks / audio stems into something new. I often only use the vocal stems and re-record the instruments / arrangements myself in The Hutch. They are judged and winners awarded. check out metapop.com.

MetaPop / Native Instruments Remix Challenge

"Cold Hard Cache" : The Android Trap. C2021
+++ Original Music by D.Cook. Part of the Android Trap E.P. : https://soundcloud.com/made-in-the-hutch/sets/the-android-trap-e-p
+++ A synth based trap instrumental recorded mainly with Ableton stock instruments / FXs / Simpler (a Sample Player).

I saw the robot image on Pexels and that sparked off a sequence of inspiration. I have two more like this in progress, so I will make a "mini EP" of this probably under "The Android Trap". 
Enjoy... FEEDBACK WELCOME !!!

Cover Art :  A.I. Adobe Firefly Beta

The Android Trap

Cold Hard Cache

The Android Trap: Cold Hard Cache

CLO – Sliding Doors Remix Contest 2021
#CLOSlidingDoorsRemixContest2021
This is my entry for the "Clo - Sliding Doors" remix contest c/o of Produce Like a Pro, Clo, iZotope and Native Instruments. I used various stems, but most of this remix uses new instruments and arrangements. 

CLO’s sound is an effortless blend of pop, soul and doo-wop – emerged organically growing up listening to Motown greats like Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye.

This remix was a labour of love for me. I liked the melody and arrangement, but thought I could "mix-it-up" a bit with a retro pop feel. See what you think... let me know with a comment or a like!

Made in The Hutch July 2021
The original recording and content details are here : https://producelikeapro.com/blog/clo-sliding-doors-remix-contest/

More music from the Hutch  here:
https://www.facebook.com/thehutchmusic

Sliding Doors

Sliding Doors : Clo/Metapop/Hutch Remix

"Mint Choc Chip" by Derek Cook. Made in The Hutch c2022
An original instrumental / composition and recording.

This track was written, produced and submitted for a Metapop Music Challenge @metapop.com. The brief was to take a few solo 4 bar guitar loops and compose a whole track around them in celebration of the release of a new virtual guitar plugin called "Electric Mint" by Native Instruments.

I used at least 5 samples in this track, including a minor pentatonic ditty.

So my track "Mint Choc Chip" was written from scratch, in C minor and based on that Electric Mint guitar samples. Recorded and mixed with Ableton  Live 10 and using : Studio Drummer, Rickenbacker Bass, Hybrid Keys, Scarbee Mark 1 Piano, Arkhis Strings and Session Horns. Let me know what you think.

Mint Choc Chip (Funk It Up)

"Cometh the Hour" c2022. 
:::: A MetaPop.com Halloween Challenge Entry ::::
++++++ #metapop #nativeinstruments ++++++
Written, recorded and produced #madeinthehutch c2022
Tick Tock... the Day of the Dead is approaching fast .... Say your prayers as the 12 bells toll... Nooo... It's too late ... the final doom of Hell rings out. 

The task was to take a few short sound FXs and Imperial Stem loops and turn them into an original Halloween-esk theme. The tick tock and the war drum stems inspired me to write this one. I think I approached it more as a TV Drama / Thriller theme tune. Feedback welcome!

Cloak And Dagger

Cometh The Hour

Cometh The Hour (Halloween Mix)

#saiina #metapop #nativeinstruments
This is a remake/mix for the Metapop Challenge using vocal stems from Saiina's latest release called "Hypnotise". Saïna (pron. Sa-ee-na) is a North West London-based singer/songwriter/producer influenced by Neo-Soul, Rnb, Jazz & Hip Hop.

I recorded all the instrumentals, apart from the jazzy sax phrases. The original was very jazzy, so I energised this up a bit with a new drum kit, synth bass groove, pads and ePianos. I used Saiina's superb vocal stems. Recorded & Mixed In The Hutch Nov 2022. Ableton Live 10 / NI Kontakt / Ozone.

Hypnotise (Hutch Remix)

Hypnotize : Saiina/Metapop/Hutch Remix

#metapop #cyberpunk #synthpop
"March of the CyberPunks" is part of the Android Trap E.P. https://soundcloud.com/made-in-the-hutch/sets/the-android-trap-e-p
++++
A new and original synth' composition for an online competition by Metapop. The brief was to create an original piece of electronic synth based music / track... anything futuristic, computer-game, electronic, doom sounding goes.

This is my entry and actually fits well under my The Android Trap collection. Whilst I love acoustic and guitar based pop/rock music... the electronic/computer based stuff is still a fascination with endless sounds to explore. It's amazing! 

Composed / Recorded: Derek Cook / The Android Trap
Using Ableton, NI Komplete, iZotope Ozone, Guitar Rig
Cover Art :  A.I. Adobe Firefly Beta

March of The CyberPunks

The new catchy EDM pop banger in the style of David Guetta... The Hutch goes Electronic pop / Future Rave !!! Turn it up and bang your head.

Having covered  the million seller "I'm Good" by David Guetta (on SoundCloud), the lure of electronic sounds and modern EDM style pop is fascinating me right now. Another "out of my comfort zone" challenge for me. This freshly composed pop tune is based on a vocal stem from Splice but is a scratch production, and in doing so, learning the nuances of modern synths and drum and bass production. Way beyond my usual rock guitar stuff.

I gave it my best shot and quite pleased with it overall. Made me realise there is more technical skills to this genre than I anticipated.

Please add your LIKE OR SHARE... it keeps me trying.

Credits & Tech:
Composer : Derek Cook (The Hutch) c2024
Production: Made in The Hutch
Vocal Stems: Splice
DAW: Ableton 9
Mastered: Ozone 9

Keep Me In The Loop

Getting Closer

Getting Close

A Hutch Remix / Cover c2019. This song by Vina Rose uses her vocal stem for a re-write/remix competition offered by MetaPop & Native Instruments. The first prize would be nice but it was more a learning exercise for me.
+++++ #metapop #nativeinstruments +++++
"Breathe Again" is the uplifting and instantly catchy single for the summer from Vina Rose, whose sound is described as Sia meets Katranada. 

So, yes, I am out of my comfort zone again to learn more about EDM Pop music production. This was harder than I anticipated as I only took the original Vina Rose & Backing vocal tracks, some FX but pretty much re-recorded all the musical parts from scratch including my own string outtro section.

As much as I enjoyed this track, having 20 single tracks and trying to mix / master to a final copy was a labour and frustrating to get the clarity and dynamics right of a Pro'. I admit after a few tries this is the best I could do. But overall I am more than happy with the results and Vina's vocal was awesome to work with. #vinarose #breathagain #metapop

DEMO ONLY: Not for sale.
This version by The Hutch
The orig' copyright and stems are courtesy of Vina Rose. Website : https://vinarosemusic.com
An Extended Remix #1  c2019. / Competition Entry via METAPOP
Orig Stems : https://metapop.com/pages/promos/vina-rose-breathe-again-remix-competition

Breath Again (Extnd Remix)

Breath Again : Vina Rose /Metapop/Hutch Remix

Recorded Oct 2019: Remixed, restructured and rearranged for MetaPop  +++ This is my 3 minute radio remix of "Cast A Spell On Me" by Andromedha & Linnea Schossow a EMD Trance track (Elliptical Sun Records).
+++++ #metapop #nativeinstruments +++++
I have used a few vocal, midi and fx stems from the original song. But pretty much added all new instruments and a new arrangement from scratch.  So enjoyed this foray into electronic dance music (EDM) and working with synth instruments and FXs.
+++ This also features percussion from my "Trash Can Drum Kit" ( a self made drum rack made of street sounds from my local town , like doors, trash cans, railings, lamp posts, keys and even the rustle of autumn leaves !!!)
+++ Feedback welcome of course on how to improve this +++

NOT FOR SALE OR PROFIT - My entry for the REMIX competition in conjunction with MetaPop, Native Instruments and of course Andromedha & Linnea Schossow (Original Artists)

Made in The Hutch:  Native Instruments Kontakt / A49 / Ableton Live 10

Cast A Spell On Me

Cast A Spell On Me : Andromedha/Metapop/Hutch Remix

Bite The Aggressor (Take #2)
+++ Made in The Hutch +++ June 2020
Copyright Material - An Original Composition
Update: Remixed, arranged and added harmony guitar outro... to be continued. This is an early demo only.
Recipe: Take just two chords and 4 bars, mix it up, bake all day and consume! Gone in a flash! So this new and original composition takes its name from two tweaked presets in the Native Instrument's Massive synth "Bite" & "Aggressor"... I loved the electro piano and thud bass sounds. 

So a jam over the rhythmic Cmin7 and Fmaj chord loop and go-for-it with the lead guitar. The end result I really like. 

I could have used more of the guitar jam about 15 minutes of self-indulgence but this (1.40 minutes) is as far as I can take it right now. I think it has potential if only as a video or game soundtrack. But I can hear vocals over this and to add a contrasting middle 8 to pep-it-up.
### Please LIKE OR COMMENT. #madeinthehutch ###


CREDITS:
Composer : Derek Cook
Recording : Made In The Hutch
Cover Art :  Stephan Müller from Pexels.com
DAW / Plugins : Ableton Live 10 & Ozone 8 Elements
Hardware : NI Audio 6 + A49
Synth : Massive (Komplete Kontrol)
Guitar : LTD EC1000 Deluxe / EMG p-ups

#electronicrock #rockguitar #harmonyguitars #madeinthehutch #rockmusic

Bite The Aggressor

Made in The Hutch! Copyright Material
A remix project for MetaPop / Julia Khan's single "Light On". (July 2020)
+++++ #metapop #nativeinstruments +++++
My remix is more pop, organic and "slow dance" ballad-esk, based around the intro piano & and Irish fiddle melody line. I didn't make it easy for myself, preferring to re-arrange and add new instruments including a string quartet section. This took far too long trying to get the verses/chorus / bridges to meld together but i think it is there or thereabouts. So overall, I am very happy with the remix and rearrangement now. I think I added a new flavour to this song. What do you think? Please leave your feedback. 

CREDITS & NOTES:
Original Artist: Julie Khan / Bryan Todd
Stems Used : Kick/Snare, Bass, Pads/FXs, Vox
Remix by: Made in The Hutch
Additions : Drums, Piano/Keys, Strings, Guitar Drones
DAW: Ableton Live 10
Mastered with : Izotope Ozone 8
Hardware: NI Audio 6, A49, LTD 1000Deluxe
V Instruments: NI Kontact Berlin Grand / Scarbee One, Guitar Rig 5, Session Strings, AnnaPad, MT PowerKit


BBsounds : I like it!!
Sergey Konkov : Cool guitar fxs!
George : The piano is unbeaten!
SteSch : I love the piano and strings you added.. catchy tune
Ian Collins : I really like the keys you added, and the drums are varied and interesting.  The strings following that piano line at 01:22 and again around 02:38 give a pleasantly acoustic feel to things.

Light On (The Slow Dance Remix)

Light On (La Romantica) : Julia Khan/Metapop/Hutch

Distant Memories c2020
Made in The Hutch
+++++
A composition based on the Cremona Quartet instruments (Bass, Cello, Violins) as part of a remix challenge. I particularly like the "epic" Timpani / Horns section at 1.30.

This track got under my skin as A) I want to learn more about classical orchestration and B) I wanted something BIG in the middle!

I have recently acquired the BBC Symphony Orchestra Discovery Pack (by Spitfire Audio). Weaving this into the Cremona melodies was the goal. I used the original string stems as a theme but re-recorded them all.

Not sure if it's really that good, but I am proud of how far I have come in producing music and put a lot of effort into this. Probably the hardest track I have done to date!  Still, it's done now and I can take what I learned to more projects, so a win-win for me.

 ++++ Tech: Ableton Live 10 Suite / Brush Jazz Drums / Scarbee Rickenbacker Bass / BBC SO discovery Pack / Metapop Cremona Stems / Stock EQs / Reverb / FabFilter Pro Q3 / iZotope Ozone Elements 9

Distant Memories

Distant Memories : Cremona/Metapop/Hutch Remix

" We Seek To Control" by The Android Trap. 
++ c2021 Original Music by D. Cook.
++ Part of the Android Trap E.P. : https://soundcloud.com/made-in-the-hutch/sets/the-android-trap-e-p
++ Again a new genre for me but one I enjoyed making as I have a limited set of devices right now. So this was an unplanned "happy accident" recorded entirely with Ableton stock digital instruments and FXs. 

++ So I was learning Simpler (an Ableton Sample Player) to make a new bass sound and then added a 606 Drum Kit. I randomly produced a Trap beat to start with and added simple chords. After seeing the Droid image by Erik McLean, it sparked off a sequence of inspiration.  Using synths I have a new composition and two more similar in progress. I may make a 3 track "mini EP" of this probably under "The Android Trap" if all goes well. 
++ Enjoy... FEEDBACK WELCOME !!! Hit the LIKE please.

Cover Art :  A.I. Adobe Firefly Beta

We Seek To Control

The Android Trap: We Seek To Control

WELCOME - SO GLAD YOU CAME.
This is my muso' home, a sanctuary, a creative cauldron of musical ideas, covers, new stuff, original and maybe sometimes off-centre. Even a few surprises as I go where my changing musical interest goes. I am a hobby producer and musician. Those 12 notes are still fascinating me.

If nothing else, this is first and foremost, for my own greater good, to ease a wary soul, shield me from the slings and arrows of modern life. So, keeping me from insanity in a broken world.

Enough rambling, I'll let the chords and the melodies do my talking.
++ Please HIT THE LIKE button, it encourages me ++

NOTE: Yes, constructive feedback is always welcome :-)