On My Mind

My Method of Composing and Producing

I'm sharing my method of composing and producing music recordings in case other composer-producers like me might find ideas worth exploring in their own work. I use this method for Classical, Avant-Pop or Neo-Folk Instrumental genres, not for Ambient and Soundscape pieces. Non-composers might find this explanation interesting, but having a bit of music theory background will definitely help. I consider myself a humble learner when it comes to music theory. 

I owe a debt of gratitude to British musician and educator Gareth Green, whose Music Matters online courses and free YouTube lessons have taught me so much over the past few years. Thanks to his instruction, I’ve moved from struggling to compose music by trial and error to something more enjoyable and productive. The knowledge I've gained has taken my work in new and expanding directions. As the saying goes, “Theory is not a cage — it’s a map. It doesn’t make the journey for you, but it keeps you from getting lost.” 

When I start a new piece, I begin by choosing a key, and picking a scale drawn from one of these sources:
 
1) Western Tonal / Functional Harmony - major or minor chords I II III IV V VI VII
2) Modal Harmony - Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, etc.
3) Slonimsky's "Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns" 
4) Messiaen’s "Seven Modes of Limited Transposition" 

For many pieces, I also decide on a progression, one as a simple as I IV V, or something more elaborate.  

Next I create a "scales and progressions" piano track in my DAW (digital audio workstation software) and enter the chords I to VII in my chosen key. These harmonized scales serve as a basis for writing multipart harmonies and finding pivot chords for key modulations. 

At the start, I know what instruments I want to use, making adjustments along the way. I tend to write chord parts first, then melodies created through a mix of improvisation and direct input in the DAW. Sometimes I start with a melody.

I develop melodies and variations of a phrase by some combination of: a) passing it from one instrument to another, transposing it by an interval that sounds pleasing, b) reversing it, c) inverting it around the tonic (first) note of the scale. These are well-known methods. 

After completing a section, I choose another scale and maybe a new key and repeat the process until I have a draft of the entire piece. Then I export a recording and listen to it “offline”, take notes of errors and new ideas, and incorporate them back into the piece. Often this “compose / listen / compose” cycle is repeated many times. These iterative cycles include adding new ideas, polishing transitions between sections, changing the arrangement, and incorporating expressive details like accents, and articulations (staccato, sustain, portato etc.). I’m often working several different pieces at once. 

Last is mixing and mastering: balancing the loudness between instruments and adjusting elements like reverb, compression, and equalization. I tend to mix as I compose, even though many producers frown on that approach. I find mixing as I go helps me envision the completed piece and make adjustments to the choice of instruments; it self-inspires me when the piece is starting to sound good.  At the end I do a final mix, but as the saying goes, “A mix is never finished — it’s surrendered.”

In the end, this method gives me a basis for exploration and creativity and helps me stay focused. The goal is always to make a piece of music that feels expressive, cohesive, and emotionally resonant.

Suite for Woodwinds and Percussion No. 2

Tiristor

Cast of characters:

Surfers Like Us– @user-411502040 –Artur–composition, arrangement, and Fender Jaguar foundational rhythm guitar

J.J. Terrell– @j-j-terrell – organ, envelope synth, vocals along with Josh

K2 and the Three [and the Four]-- @k2andthe3, @k2-kara –Ken–drums

Entheogenic Psychonaught (Josh Clary)– @josh-clary-1 –four string fretless bass

Llanpsych– @llanpsych –Tez– Fender Stratocaster electric guitar

TexMex Shaman– @texmex-shaman –Stephen–Fender Nashville Telecaster electric guitar, sitar, mix, master, and production

This song began its life in Poland, where our resident surf rock specialist, Artur, composed it on his giutar. He is a brilliant composer and expert player, so we're always glad to receive music from him.

Artur gave it to JJ to start the project, so JJ was first to the trough here, adding his breathy, moving organ and envelope synth throughout. Ken came along shorly after to give the song its heartbeat, adding his triumphant drums. As soon as he had a beat to play to, Josh added his four string fretless bass to the mix, completing the rhythm section.

Now it was the other guitarists turn to take a whack at it. Tez was first up, adding the magical the first and third solos, in the verse sections. He also lit up the intro and outro sections with some dynamic guitar solos, as well. Stephen went last, filling in the second and fourth solo sections in the choruses, as well as a textural guitar that you hear through most of the song. He also added the exotic sitar you hear in about the middle.

Once we had it in the bag, we asked Stephen to produce it for us, which he did in his always trained, professional manner.

This is the eighth song we've done with Artur over the past about year and a half. We adore his music and him as a person, too. If you dig this song, you should hop over to his page and have a listen in case you're not already familiar. He loves surf music, and wanted to note the passing of surf rock legend, Brian Wilson this week. Wilson was more than just Pet Sounds, although that album is top class. He was a surf rock pioneer, who influenced a whole genre of music; a genre that's near and dear to Artur's heart.

We hope you enjoy listening to this song as much as we enjoyed creating it.

Original lyrics by Surfers Like Us:
We all live between Sun and Moon
Love and Peace
That's all what we do

Between Sun and Moon (Eclectic Collective)

I came up with this during lock down a few years back, I thought I'd muck around with it...

From the Orange Tree (2021) remixed demo

Cast of characters:
Jack Karasek — beats and seed idea
K2 and the Three [and the Four] -- @k2andthe3, @k2-kara –Ken–beats
Entheogenic Psychonaught (Josh Clary)– @josh-clary-1– Roland Phantom workstation
Llanpsych–@llanpsych –Tez– electric guitar
Tea R. Sea @tea_are_sea -- Terry – Synthesizer
TexMex Shaman–@texmex-shaman –Stephen– mix, master, and production
This song began with Ken's oldest son, Jack, who laid down the basic rhythmic beat. Ken took over after that with the rest of the beats, though. Jack just graduated high school last week, and he's into hip hop and trap music, so he wanted to share some of it with his musician father, who is very proud of him.
  Tez was first up on this one, which surprised me when I went back and checked the workflow. He added the perfectly placed guitar hits throughout. Josh was next up, using his synth to add the falling bass line. Last, but not least, Terry came aboard, adding the moody, melodic, high register synth.
  When it was all finished, we asked out resident pro mixer, Stephen, to mix it for us. 
  This song was in its current form for about the past eight months. It was originally part of a series of vehicles Eclectic Collective composed for The Mysterious Decibel. He got caught up in life, though, and had to abandon the project. So, we sat on it, asking all the rappers we know if they'd be interested in having a go with it, but no one bit. So, with Jack's recent graduation, Ken revived it as a celebratory song for his son. It could still use some vocals, too, so think of this as an open invitation to anyone who want to do the honors. 
  We hope you enjoy listening to this as much as we enjoyed making it. 
  Oh, and just a side note for all of our friends who follow along with us, we won't be releasing a song this coming Friday, the 4th, but will have  new one for you, the following Friday, the 11th. Thank you for keeping up with us!

Throwing Rocks (Eclectic Collective)

In the previous version (https://soundcloud.com/michele-ansani/gamma-o) there was excessive sound saturation. I kept only the vocal part (remixed) and redid the piano backing, aiming for a more minimalist result.

Gamma Ø: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamma_Island_(Greenland)

I think a good English translation of the original lyrics isn’t easy, but I’ll give it a try.

Lyrics [ENG / ITA]

And so we go on
along these parallel routes,
we’ll go farther
without ever moving forward,
for how much longer 
will you walk with me?

And so we sink
into this whirl of sensations,
and over us, you’ll see, 
the water will close again,
for as long as
it will still be enough for us?

And we stay like this
we’ll be fine together,
we’re already far away 
without ever having left

["Willkommen in Düsseldorf, meine Damen und Herren. 
Nach 11 Stunden und 59 Minuten sicher gelandet"].

-----

E proseguiamo così
su queste rotte parallele
andremo più lontano
senza avanzare mai
per quanto ancora
mi accompagnerai?

ed affondiamo così
in questo vortice di sensazioni
e su di noi vedrai l'acqua si richiuderà
per quanto ancora ci basterà

e rimaniamo così
staremo bene insieme
noi siamo già lontani
senza essere partiti mai

["Willkommen in Düsseldorf, meine Damen und Herren. 
Nach 11 Stunden und 59 Minuten sicher gelandet"].

------

Lyrics and music by Michele Ansani (1982). Recorded in 2018 and 2025
Posted on SoundCloud on 2025, July 3.

Gamma Ø *

Above (2025) Remastered

void

I mean to try 
But im no good for you
And if i could
I would 
Give you all you want
I mean to lie
But im no good to you
And if i could
I would 
Give you all you want

Said shed wann die w me

We both have anxiety

Said shed spend her life with me

They all same the same its all the same to me

grave- kyszenn ft dedfaces (no good) snippet

Some unreleased shit cause i dont wanna finish this shit mb gng

(prod. gusuck)

Lyrics

It’s fall again but now your gone
You try to act like your the one 
It’s fall again but now your gone
You try to act like your the one 

I guess i’m not the one for you
You should’ve told me sooner
And you didn’t wish me well
I’m tired of it all
Fall again
Let’s go again

It’s fall again but now your gone
You try to act like your the one 
It’s fall again but now your gone
You try to act like your the one 

I guess i’m not the one for you
You should’ve told me sooner
And you didn’t wish me well
I’m tired of it all
Fall again
Let’s go again

Fall again (DEMO)

Purveyors of English Rock, Pop, Psychedelia and Various Other styles since the early 1990's...

From the Orange Tree (2021) remixed demo

Orbiting Freakshow Orch