Diorama:  A miniature scene depicting figures in a naturalistic setting.  

I started writing this song in the dead of winter.  There was a very brief moment where inspiration struck and I had some motivation to pick up the guitar.  In my mind, this song really was like a miniature scene, or a small snapshot if you will, of a productive time in the midst of a long winter (are you seeing a theme here? More to come....) so, I think the name fits perfectly!  The song is surprisingly up-tempo, so that is out of the norm for me.  :)  We play it in 'double time' so it may clock in around 145 beats per minute or so.  What IS in the norm is Troy playing the drums like he has sticks made of thunder. 

Regarding the video.... funny story.  I get a call from Troy.  He tells me he has the video done and asks why I decided to call the song 'Dino-rama'.  I told him, I never called it 'Dino-rama'. After a long pause, he says that I may be in for quite a surprise when I watch the video.  Turns out he never heard of a diorama and thought I was spelling Dino-rama wrong (or auto-correct was changing the spelling).  In all fairness to Troy, our 'titles in progress' tend to be dino related for no apparent reason (Stop, Stop Dino... for example).  Kristine and I loved the randomness and quirkiness of the whole thing, so it has become a keeper.  So, I present to you for your listening pleasure -  Diorama.

Thanks for listening and all your support!

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Diorama

Hello Family and Friends!

I have recently mentioned that I wanted to start sharing more of these 'moody, atmospheric' pieces that I work on.  This first one is called 'Goodbye, Winter' and, quite fittingly, I began this project right around my birthday in March.  These tracks take me a little longer to put together than some of the other ones.  Part of that is because I do enjoy (and get lost in) the sound design aspect.  I throw some sounds down on tape (virtual, real and/or digital) and loop and cut until something sounds cool.  Then those sounds get a healthy dose of 'secret effects' until they are transformed further.  

The original seed for this track was a guitar part playing notes out of a major/happy sounding chord and was originally intended to be a bit more 'uplifting' from the get go.  Per usual the song had its own ideas and I was just along for the ride.  :)

For the visuals, I used my favorite program called Magic Music Visualizer (https://magicmusicvisuals.com/) to make the elements reactive to the music.  I quite enjoy putting together these, what I like to call, 'Sonic Postcards'.  However, Kristine (and Troy for that matter) typically prefer the visuals to have a little more story behind them.  :)  If any one out there is interested, drop us a line and we can get you a version of the track to use!

Anyhow, enough yakin'.   

As always, thanks for listening and all your support!

If you want want to be kept in the loop, follow the Sound Den here:

YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/wuzbb9tc

https://youtu.be/fe_0UO-lUs8 - Video Link on youtube

Goodbye Winter

Weep For The Storm Mix 1 8.2.21

This is a demo song I created using the new MIDI generation plugin from WA Productions called InstaComposer. The plugin uses AI to dish up ideas for chords, pads, melodies and bass that you can take and mold into your own creation.  

This song falls more into the moody/atmospheric camp as opposed to EDM/Electronica.  I wanted to put a track together in a style that is potentially 'out of the norm' as it relates to these MIDI type tools. I am hoping to show that these tools can inspire creations in any number of genres.

Thanks for listening!

Traces In The Shadows - Demo Track for WA Productions InstaComposer

Hello Friends!

We have a special treat for you all (no tricks here!)....  Another track released in October.! This song is titled 'Haunta'.  The naming of the track took place a while ago, so it is just coincidence that Halloween is right around the corner.  What may not be a total coincidence is that the visuals on this one are decidedly 'Halloween-like'.  

When I first sent the scratch idea to troy (it was a vert basic piano sketch) his 1st words were 'What do you expect me to do with this?'  I replied, 'I have zero ideas.'   Needless to say, this little song had a rough start. Fast forward an indeterminate amount of time....  Without any warning I get word that new tracks have been uploaded to the cloud with a message from Troy: 'How about something like this?'  Well, that was clearly the jumpstart this track needed.  After a large number of 'back and forths' Haunta is finally ready to be turned loose.  

Enough yakin'.... Enjoy Haunta!


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YouTube:  https://youtu.be/W-up_xtGFpg  (Direct Video Link)

Haunta

Hello Friends!  

I hope you are all well.

This song could have easily been called 'The Little Song That Could'.  This song just really wanted to be written even after starting life as a short idea I had no intentions of  keeping.  

The kids and I were working from home this week and I wanted to create a nice atmosphere for us to work in.... I suppose something in the vein of 'Music to Study By'.
      
I put together some tracks and set them to loop (pretty much indefinitely!). After the second day of listening to the unfinished loops, the kids looked over and said they hoped I had written the music because they really liked it.  They did comment that the track could use some 'smooth beats', so I got work on  that toot sweet. Pretty soon, one thing led to another and this track came together in about 3 days (including my usual 'Aural Postcard' video).  

I hope you enjoy this as much as we do!  Thanks for listening!

The GIF used in the animation is from here:  https://giphy.com/channel/nikitaliskov

The 'lonesome piano' and strings are from midi data captured and edited from Wotja 22 (https://intermorphic.com/wotja/22/)

The additional melodic & noise elements are midi data captured and edited from Rast Sound's R.I.G and Motif (https://rastsound.com/downloads/generative-collection/)

If you want want to be kept in the loop, subscribe and follow the Sound Den here:

YouTube: https://youtu.be/C_KtJ78oUw0 (Direct Video Link)

Confessions Of The Ocean (Demo for Wotja 22 & Rast Sound Generative Collection)

Hello Friends!  

I hope you are all well.  It has been a while since we have released some fresh music, but the wait is over!  Our latest song is called Runaway.  Honestly, there is not a lot of interesting back story to this song. :)  I was keeping my typical 'music office hours' (middle of the night, basically) when the ideas just fell out of my fingers.  The guitars had a feel that reminded me of the 80's, so I ran (see what I did there?) with that and gave a nod to a few of my favorites (The Cure, The Police).  Troy put some meat on the bone with his drums (per usual) and bingo-bango we had a track!

I hope you enjoy and, as always, thanks for listening!


If you want want to be kept in the loop, subscribe and follow the Sound Den here:

YouTube: https://youtu.be/iopgwvjfaRc (Direct Video Link)

Runaway

Hello Friends!  

I hope you are all well.  I have some fresh, 'moody electronica' to share with you all.  Interestingly, this is another track that does not have much of a back story.  This one came to gether over time... little by little.  I was looking for some background music while doing work around the office and came up with the main (and basically only) chord/harmonic progression.  These early tracks started life soley as piano tracks, but every few days or so I would revisit this (to see if I still liked it!) and worked on creating and adding these atmospheric background pad sounds.  I used all manner of bits at my disposal for those sounds .....  synthesizers, samplers, noises... you name it (with generous helpings of effects of course)!  

The acoustic guitar part was last piece added and it came together late in the game.  The song was sitting 'idle' for a month or so until I picked up the acoustic guitar, and for no real reason, started playing ideas based around this song.  I decided that the acoustic guitar was the missing piece and quickly added the part.  After that, the last small bits came together quickly and ....voila!  We have a song.

I hope you enjoy and, as always, thanks for listening!

If you want want to be kept in the loop, subscribe and follow the Sound Den here:

YouTube: https://youtu.be/GDorRasJUtY (Direct Video Link)

Reach of the Fire (Feel Your Sound Chillout Engine Demo)

Beyond Eternity's Reply - WIP 12.1.22

Hello Friends!

I hope you are all well.  

Nothing says Merry Christmas like an (allegedly) space themed tune.  Well, I mean the visuals are at least spaced themed... Troy was on a 'space thing binge' and here we are.....think of it like Troy's 'blue phase'.  Actually, there is a trio of songs that have spaced themed visuals.  This is the 1st... the rest will follow in due time.

This song started life like a lot of others....I was just plunking out ideas on the piano when the kids said 'hey, thats cool'.  So, I added some piano, a dash of guitars and big pinch of drums and before I knew it 'The Landing' was complete.  

As always, thanks for listening!

If you want want to be kept in the loop, subscribe and follow the Sound Den here:

YouTube: https://youtu.be/DOxfWBLwp14 (Direct Video Link)

The Landing

Hi Friends!

I hope 2024 is treating you well!

I am involved in yet another side project.  This one is based on my appreciation of (older) video game music.  Now, before you start thinking 'great, more chiptunes', I have to say that these tracks are very, very loosely based on any specific style.  Some will have a nod to that older style.... some won't be similar at all... in any fashion.  :) The projects will still be under the Sound Den umbrella, but the new project name will (eventually) be Shift Control.  

Most of the tracks I've been working on for this project could still be considered 'moody electronica' generally speaking, but overall the songs are much more straightforward and clock in at somewhere between 1-2 minutes... usually.  

This first track is called Unaware Thawing.  Interestingly, this is the most recent track I completed (just this past weekend while snowed in) and pretty much has zero in common with older style video game music.  As usual, I just let the songs progress as they see fit and try to stay out the way.  

Ace 'Ok'd' the music bit and Olivia green-lighted the animation/vid. So far, the review of the day goes to ACE... "Sheesh.... that's good!"  I hope you like it as well.  :) This one clocks in at a whopping 1:06 long, so make sure you listen on repeat!

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Unaware Thawing (Karanyi Sounds Lofi Keys & Vapor Keys)

Worked on in collaboration with the talented Jesse Kirkwood (soundcloud.com/jessekirkwood), this is part 2 of a possible 3 part musical trilogy.

The Golden Thread Part 2

Written during the height of a Pacific Northwest winter.  Chilled to the bone and encased in snow and ice.

A Winter Requim

This one is a very special song as it was truly a group effort!  Many thanks to the ever growing 'Sound Den' family.  :)

This song is a blend of guitar driven 'post rock' influences, finger picked acoustic guitar and  small ensemble string writing.

Seeking Horizon

2020 - 21 saw a resurgence of creative output from the Sound Den. Especially since regrouping with my favorite drummer.  

This particular playlist contains the music we worked on.  The styles of music in this particular playlist are (and will be!)quite varied.

More to come, so stayed tuned!

The Sound Den

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