I composed this track for The Radical Secular Podcast. We were using a licensed track that we'd paid for, but still got licensing hassles from YouTube. So I made my own. The version used in the show is edited and cut down for time.

The Radical Secular Theme 2021

The Radical Secular Podcast Theme

I composed this dance electronica track on July 4, 2021, while listening to the neighborhood yahoos try to outdo each other with louder explosions. So I called it "Freedumb." The opening seven chords are a little nod to the Gran Turismo theme. The track is heavy on the OPX-II software emulation of the Oberheim Matrix-12. I was also playing around with automating EQ resonance sweeps. There's a free Hohner Clavinet sample in there from Expanding Sound. Thanks, guys! The rest is all Ableton stock instruments and packs.

Freedumb

An homage to Deadmau5 aka Joel Zimmerman, a musical hero of mine. This took me more than a week, and doesn't hold a candle to the subtleties and brilliance of his 2009 original. But working through producing a cover helped me to refine my craft and appreciate what Deadmau5 does even more. This shit ain't easy. There's much more work that I could do with this track to make it more faithful to the original--but I'm onto other explorations.

FML Done!

This track came about as my composition teacher was introducing me to the circle of fifths. At the same time, I was doing Rick Beato's ear training course. And the Phrygian Triad (1,b2,5) really jumped out at me and caught my ear as being super cool, dark and dramatic. Kind of like a heart attack! I love blending the modern EDM/electronica sound with a classical orchestral approach.

Angina

A 42-minute relaxing minimalist trip-out track in three sections, that begins with a series of deep gong hits. The main anchor is a sometimes ominous shape-shifting, panning drone with wind effects, that morphs continuously between three pitches, C, F, and Ab. Echoing metallic hits, bells, synth effects, occasional horns, and static noise punctuate the soundscape. In the final section, phase shifting conga, bongo and timbale percussion float over a muted kick drum. Best on headphones!

Megadrone

A lifelong music enthusiast, television editor, and podcast host, I've recently started learning music theory and composition. I use Ableton Live and software synths. I'll be posting anything I come up with, that I think's worth listening to.

Sean Prophet

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