Does size matter?  

I am probably not the person who should answer that question, but it certainly does FEEL like it matters when you feel small.  

That's the emotion behind this latest Interbay track, "Immense."  It isn't about one's actual size, but how people imagine themselves in the eyes of others, or by their own sense of self or how much that sense of self is lacking.  

So, to represent this sense...there are huge sounds on this track.  Tribal drums, orchestral strings and brass, pressure waves of bass.  But there are also some tremulous light synths and some pizzicato strings for contrast.  

By the end when suddenly Buddy Rich jumps behind a drum kit and demands a brief and chaotic solo (I'm talking metaphorically here)...it's been quite a journey (including a cheeky nod to one of my favorite Paul Weller songs.)  

I like playing with big ideas--both emotionally and musically.  Not sure if I have any right to...but as long as no one is stopping me, I'm going to produce the kind of music that I am moved to make...and all I can do is be true to that, and do my best to realize that, here, for you.

As always, I appreciate those of you who listen to Interbay tracks...and am thrilled when you give them a like or repost/share them.  And I would love it if you followed this page for more Interbay, as tracks are dropped here EVERY SINGLE DAY (so far!) and you never know what you might discover on any given day.  (Bound to be some punk rock or acoustic guitar ballads coming up sometime...not that I specifically know about any of the tracks that might escape the Labs in the next few days, just knowing that ANYTHING can be an Interbay track, and we haven't had much punk rock or acoustic guitar ballads lately.  Gamblers fallacy?  Perhaps...but, I'm probably not wrong.)

And, as ever...thank you!  (I mean, if you've read this far, you might as well listen to "Immense" or take a peek into the voluminous back catalog, waiting patiently for you to check out!)

"Immense" *SoundCloud Exclusive*

I do love it when your brain just locks into an idea and it feels effortless to create something.  

I also like it when MY brain does that, too!  And that's what happened with "Quibble"--the latest Interbay track to drop exclusively here on SoundCloud.    

At 114bpm, it grooves instead of sprints.  The palette of sound colors is limited to just a few and the grind of repetition is a feature on this track, not a bug.  There is progression and there is acceleration, as the energy level of the song does built throughout the tracks length.  

And the lyrics construct a narrative that is about storytelling techniques and escaping a seemingly inevitable fate--"the magic of quibbles."  That sure feels like a worthy topic to make an Interbay song about!  

Is there at least a little bit of Rufus Du Sol influence here?  I think so.  Your mileage may vary, of course.  

"Keep your eyes out for those sly quibbles."  

Heading into the weekend, this slightly dark but still worthy of an enthusiastic dance track feels perfectly timed.  Hopefully you'll give this one a listen, a like, a repost and share.  Add it to a groovy dance playlist.  Leave a comment.  

Most of all, please give this page a follow.  If you'll look, there's nearly 500 original tracks in the back catalog of Interbay here--and all of these have been posted one per day for nearly 500 consecutive days.  That means, so far, every day brings a new surprise present for you to open up and check out--of course, it's always the same...a new Interbay track...but, those tracks sure aren't going to sound the same as each other!  

Worth it?  I think it is...though some may quibble with that admittedly biased opinion.

You should make your own decision.  To do that, you need to listen...and you should follow!

"Quibble" *SoundCloud Exclusive*

You've got your dance pop in my metal/punk!  

Well, you've got your metal/punk in my dance pop!  

Yes, once again...Interbay has become the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup of music, shared exclusively here on SoundCloud.  So, let's kick up the tempo, turn those amps up to eleven, overclock the synthesizers and make Icarus VERY nervous...for today's latest drop, "Xelebration."  

(And yes, we are at the point where most of the tracks that have titles that start with the letter "X" are more and more likely going to be made-up words...but, in this case, I do think it actually sounds like the title in the processed vocal sample used.)  

So, Interbay has dropped synthpunk tracks in the past--this time, I think there's more of a metal vibe in the guitars, rather than strictly punk.  I grew up in the Midwest, the metal thing is part of who I am, even if I leaned more towards the punk/post-punk and pop/dance scenes.  

And, as you already know if you've been following Interbay for any length of time, I do love tossing lots of ingredients into the pot as it cooks on the stove...even those that you wouldn't think should go together.  

Even if those ingredients really don't go together--how else can I learn?  

If you're feeling slightly sluggish this weekend, this might be the injection of energy you need to kick start your day and get to the projects you've been putting off too long.  Hook up your bluetooth speakers (which, being bluetooth, really don't need to be "hooked up"--I am so old) and crank up a little "Xelebration" and see if that doesn't put a little pep in your step.  (I just used the word pep--again, I am so old.)  

Give it a listen, at least.  See if you like it (and give it a like if you do!)  You could repost it, share it,  add it to a playlist, leave a comment on it.  

And follow this page--even if "Xelebration" isn't your particular cup of tea.  Every day, there's some new tea, perhaps a flavor you'll like.  We're only a handful of tracks away from 500 consecutive days of dropping an original Interbay track here on SoundCloud.  

That's probably worthy of a Xelebration, right?

"Xelebration" *SoundCloud Exclusive*

Today's track is not only a change of pace from recent Interbay track drops here on SoundCloud, but it is possibly one of the most personal tracks I've produced since debuting as Interbay a couple of years ago.  

A bit too real, perhaps...as I had intended on singing the lyrics on this track.  It meant that much to me, but in the end, I found it difficult to gather myself up to do as good of a job as I thought this track deserved.  

I might revisit this in the future and give it another go.  Maybe refine the lyrics a bit, even as a spoken word poem, there are parts that are a bit clunky.  

I wanted to make a sad piano ballad--and, as always, I didn't so much make what I wanted to make as I ended up making...Interbay.  The pianos started to sound like music boxes, the horns and strings got all filtered...and then some glitchy echo effects made it clear that this wasn't going to be a ballad at all.  

I have been searching for almost five years now for a notebook where I'd jotted down some song lyrics that I wrote while I was with my wife as she died, following a six year battle against cancer.  I've wanted to commit that song to tape--possibly for the anniversary of her passing, which will be five full years just after Christmas.  

I haven't found them yet.  Buried under five years of accumulated and unsorted flotsam and jetsum, I'm sure.  But when I heard the sad chord progression and the music box plinks and plunks, it felt like this might end up sounding a lot like what I'd imagine that other song could have sounded like.  

The words are new.  I tried to keep them simple.  I think there's really only one detail in the lyrics that only makes sense if you know the story ahead of time--but it works as more of a vibe thing.  

I have a feeling that this won't be the only track inspired by this loss in my life--and I know that everyone, at some point, experiences their own losses.  Perhaps expressing this grief could be helpful?  I'm never sure.  But, this is the song that I found myself working on last night and tonight...and I hope you give it a listen.  

It means a lot.  

(Also, follow this page for more Interbay.  Thanks.)

"Just Rest Now" *SoundCloud Exclusive*

It is Monday again (man, it feels like there's a Monday every seven days or something) and again, we're dipping into the trove of early Interbay experiements that were originally posted on Facebook to Rethink, Remake, Remix them into something new...something that fits with the framework and demands of the tracks that are original to SoundCloud.  

Originally known simply as "Experiment 11", "Crowds and Their Behavior" was an attempt something organic, something acoustic, something with swing.  So, the risk for me now is not being able to find any reason to give this the "Electronic" main tag...as there are no synths on this track, the drums are mostly acoustic--with any drum machine use being as accent sounds, not the main beat.    

Typically, when I can't use "Electronic" as a main term, the numbers (listens, likes, etc.) are much lower than when i can.  I know, I know...I shouldn't focus on these rather arbitrary metrics--but it hurts when a song doesn't get heard.  So weird to say that out loud--but it's like going to your local animal shelter.  You want to take everybody with you, make certain that they're cared for and loved, because they all deserve it.  

In Rethinking, Remaking, and Remixing this track...my obvious first change was that I had to add a vocal element to the track--as it is a rule I follow that EVERY track posted on SoundCloud must have a vocal element to it.  I used to post a lot of instrumentals in the Experiments that I found their way onto Facebook, and I got a lot of comments that it was harder to "feel" the tracks that didn't have some words or even vocalization to anchor them.  

As the inspiration for this track, a real short film released by the FBI (and thanks to Joel Hodgson for understanding where to find public domain content) did not have sound (or, at least, the version that I used for the video of Experiment 11--all Experiments on Facebook had their own homemade video for them,) there was no singing or spoken word for me to find the vocal element there.  

I constructed the narrative about how this track is part of an archive, and as such, would have an explanation appended on to it.  That happens, right?  

And, at the end of the track, you hear what sounds like a police officer trying to usher people away from a closed beach (it does make sense in the context of the track and the film that inspired it).  That was inspired by The Replacements--the first thing you hear on their ep "Stink" as the intro to their song "Kids Don't Follow."  

The song itself?  It is a jazzy swing tune with some 60s beach vibes.  Centered on piano, bass guitar, and horns...there are little details that amuse me.  At one point, the percussion sounds like bouncing a racquetball on a racquetball court.  Why?  Because Interbay...duh.  

I like this track.  I extended it...I added some saxophones to it.  And just enough of a vocal element for it to pass SoundCloud muster.  This is fun!  It is full of swing and bounce...with occasional hints of menace (much like the film that inspired it.)  

I hope you give this a listen--even if it can't be easily placed into the sounds that you might expect to come from Interbay (it isn't synth pop, it isn't edm, it isn't post-punk, etc.)  I keep saying that Interbay isn't any one thing...it could be anything.  Here's proof.  :)  

So, yeah--the usuals...listen, like, repost, share, playlist, comment...and follow this page for daily drops.  :)

"Crowds and Their Behavior (exp11 RRR)" *Exclusive Remix*

(Thank you for you who gave yesterday's track, "Crowds and Their Behavior", a listen.  It is appreciated that when I stray from what you might be used to from Interbay, that you'll give it a chance.)  

So, today's Interbay track definitely deserves the main tag of "Electronic"--but don't let that fool you, there's still a ton of stuff happening here that you might not expect.  

Like what?  How about Flamenco guitars?  Just tossed in as flavor on top of everything ele!  

This is mostly an electro/electro house track--definitely constructed, at least musically, for major dancefloor response.  Which I then compromise by taking the usually ebullient and positive vibe from dance music and flip it on its head by titling the track "No (You Can't)" 

The fact that the track ends up being filled with positive energy is almost beside the point.  ;)

(I do love to amuse myself.)

This is the radio edit of this track--though, it remains rather long.  The only thing you're missing from the original mix is a bunch of movie snippets--characters saying "No!" repeatedly.  It makes the track more fun, but it makes the bots unhappy.  I think the track works without it...and I hope you agree.

All I ask is that you give the track a listen, a like if you do.  You can also repost it, share it, add it to a playlist, comment on it--all of that is welcome (and helpful!)  

Most of all, I'm hoping that this inspires you to follow this page for more Interbay!  (Did you know that we're only a few days away from having posted tracks exclusive to SoundCloud, once per day, for 500 consecutive days?  Yeah...it'll happen this week!)  The only way to surf on top of the wave of musical content being produced here is to follow the page and stay up on Interbay releases as they come.  

"No (You Can't) radio edit *SoundCloud Exclusive*

Here there be tygers.  (And, by tygers, I mean, a lot of industrial techno noise.)  

Grinding along at 108bpm, "Zirconium" is the latest track to drop here on SoundCloud from Interbay.  I can share with you that this track does (gulp) feature me singing part of it.  

Yes, actually me...my voice.  (Through about eighteen effects--but still me!)

And yes, at the end of the day, I think you can tell that there is a strong influence on this track AND my singing on from a famous musician who might or might not be named after a company that makes industrial and commercial heaters.  

(I almost called this track "4 Inch Nails" but...obviously a joke (I don't measure), I am single..so, maybe that's not a joke I want to put out into the world--that's just basic marketing.)  

I have long mentioned that I was intending on being the vocalist on more Interbay tracks (I'd have to check to see for sure, but I think this is the fourth track to feature my voice in ANY capacity, but only the second one where I think you'd know which of the various vocals are mine in those tracks.)  I recorded it VERY dirty--which, in this instance was a feature, not a bug--but I won't want to do that for every Interbay track.  

So...still some work to do--including on my own self-confidence.  (But, I'm happy with how these vocals sound on this track...distorted and blurry.  Ooooh, good album title!)  

This isn't one of the pretty Interbay tracks.  It is a grindy and noisy industrial track, but with that Interbay mutant pop feel to it.  I hope you like it--or, I hope you bookmark it to play it when you're feeling angry or aggressive, as this might make for a better soundtrack to that than a peaceful evening out on the water.  ;)  

And, as always, your attention is always appreciated to this crazy Interbay music project.  It would mean a lot if you listened, liked, reposted, shared, playlisted, commented, and followed.  

(Only a couple away from 500 consecutive days with an Interbay track being posted here on SoundCloud.  We should have a party of some sort...  :) )

"Zirconium" *SoundCloud Exclusive*

Imagine shopping in one of those incredible record stores that seems to have everything that was ever made hiding, unorganized, in a series of crates barely kept safe in a damp basement that smells exactly as you'd imagined wet cardboard and dusty vinyl would smell like.  The crates are stacked so high, and the space between rows is so narrow, that catastrophe seems inevitable and you're wondering if those towers of music would happen to fall on top of you, how many years would it be before someone found your body?  (And would that improve the smell?)  

And imagine, in a treasure trove that would make the most niche northern soul trainspotter squeal with joy, you find a record that you'd never heard of before.  A female vocal'd mellow soul classic, coming in at a shuffling 105bpm and featuring organs, strings, and a rather psychedelic guitar.  The track is rhythmic, but not in your face.  It definitely feels like a smart European soft soul track from the 1960s--just enough of that mellow pop sheen (and plenty of reverb) all over it.    

The name on the faded label says that the song title is "Goodbye My Love" by a band you've never heard of before.  Interbay.  Not a lot of other information can be found on the label, other than it seems to be the product of PLW Records, which you also have never heard of.  

You take this curious thing to a nearby listening station and you drop the needle on it.  The vinyl has definitely seen some wear, so even a good cleaning to make it a bit less dusty might not make it sound pristine.  Being a production of a certain time, there are interesting choices made when it comes to the stereo spectrum and an almost haphazard attention to the mix overall, at times.  

But, you think it is rather charming...and you decide to add it to your pile of precious vinyl you'll be purchasing today.  You can't wait to bring it home, where you can start to do some research on it--but before you do, the cashier does something interesting.  

He doesn't charge you anything for this particular track.  You don't want to alert him to his mistake, but he volunteers that "that one isn't what you think it is...so, you can just have it."

As long as it is a groovy retro soul pop tune, you're quite happy to take it off their hands.  

(And, if you haven't found one of these Interbay "Goodbye My Love" 7" singles out there in the wild--and, I have to say that it would be extremely unlikely that you would--at least now, you can listen to it.  Find out if you like it, and if you do, you should give it a like--repost it, share it, add it to a playlist, leave a comment, etc.  And follow this page for more Interbay.  This is the 499th day that a never-before-heard Interbay track has been posted here on Soundcloud, so it does make a difference for you if you follow along and can keep up with it all--AND it helps me, as you can imagine.  (Though, not monetarily...just in vibes, at least for now.))  

I really do hope you like this one!  (I mean, I hope you like EVERY Interbay track--but this one in particular, especially considering the positive response that "Kick Off Your Shoes"--the most recent soul-style Interbay track--has received over the past couple of months--it is, after all, the most listened to Interbay track of all time.)

"Goodbye My Love" *SoundCloud Exclusive*

This is the 500th consecutive day where a never-heard-before Interbay track has been posted to SoundCloud.  

Often, when I hit a big round number like that, I try to challenge myself to write something at the top of my skill set.  The 100th Interbay music video posted to Facebook had me crafting a track that was inspired by The Beatles' Abbey Road Medley (but ended up sounding nothing like The Beatles and very much like Interbay.)  The 160th SoundCloud Exclusive song, which, when combined with the 140 tracks originally posted to Facebook meant it was the 300th Interbay song had me inspired by Billy Joel's "Scenes From an Italian Restaurant" (though, it sounded more like Interbay.)   The 340th SoundCloud Exclusive song, the 500th Interbay song ever let loose from Phantom Laboratories West, was an homage to an early Prefab Sprout song (say it with me, "that sounded more like Interbay.")    

So, I was thinking that I should do the same for today's Interbay track, the 500th SoundCloud Exclusive (in 500 days.)  I was inspired by a YouTube video where David Bennett explained "Negative Harmony" and I wanted to incorporate that in some way--so, I thought I'd be writing a piano tune (as David is, mostly, a Pianist/Composer/YouTuber.)  

However, I opened an Electric Piano instead, figuring I would swap it out for a proper piano once I got the chord progression sussed out.  Except, when I HAD figured out the chord progression, I looked through of the preset sounds and found something that, to me, sounded very interesting--not like an electric piano at all...  

...and then everything went all Interbay on me.  And, honestly, maybe that's more representative of this journey that you've been taking with me.  I'm not really much of a piano player, so why would I commemorate this big round number with a piano composition?  It would be far more "like Interbay" to do some crazy synth pop influenced song that doesn't really sound like synth pop or the 80s or synthwave from recently.    

It just sounds like Interbay.  As it always does.  

For words, I wanted to come up with something profound, but, like the music, I went with my gut instead--and as a few of the songs lately have been written with words a bit more personal, I continued that trend by writing lyrics that described my feelings as having produced and shared my own music for each of the past 500 days.  

And, in case you're curious...I DID write/produce/post 500 songs and I MIGHT write/produce/post 500 more.  (Hopefully that doesn't result on me falling down on anyone's floor.  Da da-la daaaaahhhh!)  

Pardon me, I happened to haver just there.  

No music samples on this track.  Just me, making me-style music. 

It might not be what I'd intended to produce for today...but, I can't imagine anything more appropriate to celebrating so much Interbay with even more Interbay.    

Thank you to you.  If you've ever listened to an Interbay song or given a like, repost, share, comment, playlist or a follow--you've helped me do something that for decades I'd thought impossible--to get back to making music and sharing it with people.  This is becoming my legacy, I suppose...and I'd certainly like to not be forgotten the minute I stop breathing.  

If you feel like helping me do that--follow this page.  And check out some of the Interbay back catalog (you have a LOT to choose from...like 499 other tracks as of today!)  Listen to yesterday's track, "Goodbye My Love," which I think has been unduly ignored by some of you...probably because I didn't tag it as electronic until this morning, when honestly, it IS an r&b/soul/60s pastiche.  I think most people would like it, if they listened to it.  So, I'm asking you to listen to it.

...and this, of course.  Would be ironic if nobody bothered to listen to the 500th SoundCloud Exclusive Interbay track.  Ironic, but not in a good or pleasant way...so, help me avoid that, if you'd be so kind.  

And we'll see you back here tomorrow.

"Missing the Point Entirely (500 Days)" *SoundCloud Exclusive*

...and the next 500 SoundCloud Exclusives begins with this steam-punk meets carnivale construction, "Mecharnival."  

I mean, metal men need their elephant ears, too, right?  

Fairly simple concept.  Lots of drums, a few whistles, techno synths and bass...all tossed into the Interbay blender and...voila!  "Mecharnival."  

For a change, I don't have a lengthy description on this one.  I think it speaks for itself and it is what it says on the tin.    

In exchange for the blessing of my brevity, all I'd ask is that you give this latest track a listen.  Give it a like if you do.  Consider reposting it, sharing it with a friend, adding it to a playlist, leaving a comment on it.  

...and please follow along for more Interbay, fresh tracks are being cooked up and served daily--and this is the place to find them!

"Mecharnival" *SoundCloud Exclusive*

Post-punk, dance, indie, electronic, and mutant pop in various styles (seriously!)--new tracks being posted daily (every day for over a year, so far!)

Interbay is the new project of Peter Greyy (previously of Cremation Dance and DangerScience), based out of Seattle and Phantom Laboratories West.

New tracks tagged #Mutant Pop