summary:
It's a lo-fi, hip hop chill song. The theme that I did was for like a midnight sort of late night song. It describes about someone having difficulties to sleep at night. He or she is contemplating between to sleep or to stay awake every night. When he or she is about to go to sleep, they can't help but to suddenly think about the amount of work load that's not completed and rising. So this makes them anxious and guilty to sleep. But their body feels weak and tired however their mind is telling them to complete the work. So there's this conflict between the mind and the body. In the end, the person forces him or herself to stay up late till past midnight and just contemplating about themselves and life. Most people would be able to relate to this as the work load is getting heavier that its hard to afford a good night sleep.

differentiating factor:
In lo fi, its a common thing to have the repetitive beats and set of chord progression and then the soundscapes to give the song more realistic feels. Most importantly, its a low and chill song. However, for mine I thought why not give some tension feels in the middle section but still keeping the idea of lo fi as the whole theme. Instead of going with the chill vibe all the way which gets a bit dull sometimes, I decided to do some twists in the middle. I thought it will be great to give the listeners a bit more variations and surprises so that they could expand their thoughts further. So, mixing additional stuff into the genre because to me it feels there's more impact and like a curve of up down feelings. 

delivery strategies:
I started off with a four chord progression three times to give this chill and also repetitive feeling where the person is slowly getting ready to calm his mind and sleep. It's like meditating. But then the chord progression changes after that to a suspended chord to give a hanging feeling in the middle(the part where the mind suddenly decides to think about the work load and things thats not done yet). This is when the person gets stuck at and start contemplating. Then it goes on to a push and pull where the mind and the body is conflicting one another. I tried to put in the chords in a major-minor progression and also some extensions. The melody was played in a kind of "messy" manner as I felt this would add some tension to the song and the uneasy flow.

credits:
arrangement: aswati
midi stuffs: aswati

midnight chills

verse 1: 
when we first met 
we were halfway drunk 
Went Half past two, we were
chasing down the midnight blues

chorus 2:
Ooo~
his eyes were looking bad
but his words were good
it kept me down on my feet 
and i was so distracted 
with the way he smiled 
it confuses my mind

verse 2:  
this game we played 
between you and me,
was getting old,
so i asked if we, 
could get a little closer
 
verse 3: 
But it was too late
I couldn’t be more blind  
why didnt you tell me that 
i was hurting your heart

bridge: 
Why didnt I realise it sooner
You were gold to me
i wish you were still here 
if only i could take it all back
  
Take back my heart
take back my time
take back my loss
take you back (harmonize to it)

Credits:
arrangement: Dong Heng, Amira, Aswati
piano melody line(outro): Martina
lyrics: Raynard, Amira, Aswati
vocal melody line: Raynard

vocals: Amira
mic used:mxl 990
place: her house

summary:
There’s this girl and she met a guy in a bar. She had a small talk with him and they decided to become friends as they find that they're similar. They went on several hang outs to get to know each other more. As time passes, she realises that she’s getting attracted to this guy as she gets to know about his personality. But she was unsure if she likes the guy and if he likes her. She tries not to as she’s afraid of falling in love. However, one day she tries to ask the guy out for a date but she got rejected. After that day, they became distant, the guy went away with no answers no replies no text. She was worried that he might be angry with what happened on that day. But soon she found out that the guy was in a critical heart condition.  He kept a secret from her that if his heart beats too fast it reduces his life span. So during the moments he spent with her he actually, fell in love with her but he didn’t had the courage to tell her. He chose to be with her and fill up her sadness and sorrows in life instead. He thought it’ll be great to help someone at least get her life back again before he lives the world. 

Differentiation Factor:
My differentiation factor this time is about the storyline I added in. Usually, in this kind of love songs where they can’t be together would be because of the differences or because the guy has a girl or parents restrictions. However for mine, i chose to go with the idea that they can’t be together because they will in a sense kill each other. The girl is “killing” him.  I took some ideas from a show that I recently watched and a story that I heard from my friend, Rachel and put it together to come up with this idea. I find it not commonly told in a song so I decided to go with this.

Delivery:
I chose to go with RnB because I didn’t want to go with a sad vibe first. I wanted more of a chill smooth serene vibe to begin with. Since it starts with the first meeting between the girl and the guy, I made it sound flowy and serene. Throughout the song is filled with the emotions that she feels when she’s with the guy. Light and interesting but as it goes on it gets slightly heavier with the texture of the song as it goes onto the part where she finds that his getting distant and about his critical condition. Also, at the end of the song, there’s this short outro that I placed to develop/continue the emotions that builds up after she finds out the truth,  it doesn’t resolves as she feels guilty and blames herself.

PROW WK 6

VERSE 
Oh blue
we’re the children of absurd use
oh how cruel

Oh blue
all the woods that we’ve hewn
can’t compare to the words they’ve used

PRE-CHORUS
I’ve lived all my life in a cage
I am bruised, beaten and brazed

CHORUS
This feeling so blue
but I’ve got no reason
to carry on in the season

I‘d pray to the Gods 
that they would save me
from this common enemy

My master’s bidding
They’d raise their flogs
they’d beat us because they’re bored

We are the children
of absurd use
and this is the message to the Grassroots

VERSE
Oh blue
yes I’m talking to you
my sister’s crying again in the dark

Oh blue
have you seen how my master fume
when he found out I’ve been talking to you

PRE-CHORUS
I’ve lived all my life in a cage
I am bruised, beaten and brazed

CHORUS
This feeling so blue
but I’ve got no reason
to carry on in the season

I‘d pray to the Gods 
that they would save me
from this common enemy

My master’s bidding
They’d raise their flogs
they’d beat us because they’re bored

We are the children
of absurd use
and this is the message to the Grassroots

BRIDGE
Underlying
Hope is rising
Help is on it’s way

Soldiers you’d bring
Freedom we’ll sing
blue, you’ve promised me

credits:
piano arrangement: Martina Ng
lyrics and melody: Rachel Koh

vocals: Rachel Koh
(vocal)mic used and location: MXL 2003A condenser microphone in my room
piano midi: Martina Ng
everything else: Nur Aswati

Summary:
This song is about kids living in poverty and are abused. I had this idea while thinking of how I could show a story about hope. The underlying thing that makes us having that small belief that hope is there even though things are clashing and helpless. The perspective of this song is based on the black children that's living in fear and sorrow. It is made to voice out to the adults who are in the political side about this issue and to make them realise how cruel and devastating the whole situation is and how the children are suffering. 

The part where the lyrics says “and this is the message to the grassroots" is meant to refer to the speech that was given back in 1963 where they talked about the differences between the revolutions. The children are wishing this phrase, “we are children of absurd use” could be recognised in the speech again. It’s like a pleading of help. The way I approached the song is by stating out the negatives and suffers that they faced to tell the story. Then for the bridge at the end was where the underlying hope is introduced. Where the children beliefs that someone will do something, the government will send down help to rescue this children out from poverty and slavery. The song has “blue” as a reference to the moon since it’s from a perspective of the children, I wanted to show the innocence they have. So throughout the song it tells about how they talk to the moon as a friend and to seek refuge from those evil people.

I decided to have tensions in the chorus as I wanted to show and emphasise more on the lyrics about how tense the situation is. At every end of the chorus too, there is like a short legato that plays to make the phrase powerful and since its about making a stand, the rhythm suited the arrangement. The drum and bass rhythm too was more active and emphasised more in the chorus to support the stand.

The differentiation factor for this song is the way the lyrics are presented. At the chorus, it is presented like a pledge with the word “we” used in the song. It’s like a plead for help and making a stand on their own through a song. Also, instead of taking a direct approach to this topic about hope, I went to talk more on the difficulties and fears where everything clashes with the word but in the end I brought up the word about hope. The whole story of it is the journey/process to show the underlying thing that pushes the children forward to belief that hope is there and to persevere on.

Blue

VERSE
I remember I was 17 
my life started changing 
used to feel weak and helpless 
hiding behind these fences, 
feeling so clueless
didn’t dare to step out to the world 
but here I am now crossing over,   
making a change 
 
CHORUS
I’m not who I used to be
gonna pave my own road
although it may be tough
but I ain't gonna quit

I'm not gonna turn back
I'm not gonna look back 
I'm coming back stronger 
gonna prove them wrong  

VERSE 
four years back, 
had no dreams nor pride 
was I a rebel 
naive and unthinking 
had no hope, no conscience 
afraid of stepping out 
so, I trapped myself within these four walls 

CHORUS
I’m not who I used to be
gonna pave my own road
tho it may be tough
but I ain't gonna quit

I'm not gonna turn back
I'm not gonna look back 
I'm coming back stronger 
gonna prove them wrong  

VERSE 
had to make a choice 
didn’t know if it was right or wrong 
lying over guilt and regret
broke the heart of my loved ones 
because of selfishness, it came to this
if I was serious,
would I’ve got...what I wanted?
would I’ve been happier?

BRIDGE 
though the past is hard to forget 
but I've got no more regrets
two years felt short 
but it taught me a lot 
it gave me a stage to prove myself
it gave me the courage to move on
to a new beginning 

CHORUS
I’m not who I used to be
gonna pave my own road
although it may be tough
but I ain't gonna quit

I'm not gonna turn back
I'm not gonna look back 
I'm coming back stronger 
gonna prove them wrong  


Lyrics By: Nur Aswati 
Arranged By: Nur Aswati and Martina Ng
Melody Arranged: Nur Aswati and Lara Johnson
Mixing & Mastering Engineer: Don Ignatius 

Performed by:
Vocals: Lara Johnson
E.Guitar: Aloysius Au
Bass: Megan Neo

A New Beginning (POD 1st SONG)

VERSE
Walking around
her head held down
heart uneasy
in this crowded place
she’s a lone flower
withering slowly
as the day pass by
through endless nights

PRE-CHORUS
but she 
doesn’t know
how 
beautiful she is

CHORUS
I think it’s time      
for you to step out of the dark
don't have to hide who you are
throw those feelings away
there’s hope waiting for you

so just hold on and count to ten
don't have to play pretend 
you know you’re beautiful
you got to be strong
to show who you are

VERSE
she closes her eyes
but little voices
playing her mind 
driving her insane 
drowning in the sea
filled with misery

PRE-CHORUS
but she 
doesn’t know
how 
beautiful she is

CHORUS
I think it’s time      
for you to step out of the dark
don't have to hide who you are
throw those feelings away
there’s hope waiting for you

so just hold on and count to ten
don't have to play pretend 
you know you’re beautiful
you got to be strong
to show who you are


Lyrics By: Nur Aswati
Arranged By: Martina Ng and Nur Aswati

Performed By:
Vocals: Snowi Kwan
E.Guitar: Aloysius Au
Bass: Elliott Tan
Drums: Don Ignatius

Beautiful (POD 3rd Song)

VERSE
lonely nights
is now easier to get by
working past the midnight hours
all day, all night

VERSE
she feels suffocated
she just wants to run and hide
from all these burdens
that's pulling her down
crushing her life
 
PRE-CHORUS
these late, late nights 
have never been easy
emotions that cant be described 
these crazy late nights 
let's just have some fun
forget about the world

late nights X3
Just hold onto,
Just hold onto the edge of the night
 
VERSE
Its 3 am and she just got off
burning her midnight again
anxiety creeps in 
as the deadline comes in
pushing herself off the cliff
 
PRE-CHORUS
these late, late nights 
have never been easy
emotions that cant be described 
these crazy late nights 
let's just have some fun
forget about the world

late nights X3
Just hold onto,
Just hold onto the edge of the night


Lyrics by: Nur Aswati
Arranged by: Nur Aswati and Martina Ng

Performed By:
Vocals: Alicia Tan

LAte NiGhTs (POD 2nd Song)

I'm a little late in this but here's my first try XD

As night turns to day, he started to understand the truth

The Locked Door Opens

Made Me Smile.

When I was doing this track, I was constantly looking out at my window to imagine a scene that I had in mind. Pretty much tried to do this track after changing it three times...Enjoy>.<

Nur Aswati

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