Summary:
The song is about how things aren't what they seem to be on the surface. How people try to hide their imperfections with perfect facades.

In the song, it speaks of a beautiful person, whom as the song progresses becomes more of a stranger and alien, rather than being expected as someone whom the composer use to "know".

Delivery / Differentiation factor:
The excessive use of pitch correction is intentional to create a false sense of perfection. Beneath the perfect pitch lies the ugly imperfections we try to hide. 

The long introduction is put in place to represent the entry from the superficial level, through all the noise (represented by the vocal effects), right into the real-ness of the heart.

The heavy harsh bass is used to represent the "shocked" or sudden realisation of discovering the truth about someone not being who they really are.


Vocals: 
Denise Fong (SM58)
Tim(SM58)

*rest of the instruments are MIDI

Lyrics: Denise & Tim
Inspiration / arrangement: Denise & Tim



Verse 1:
I was dreaming bout you the other night 
You drew me close and you held me so tight 

Your honest smile, your eyes your gaze 
left me hanging in a sweet summer daze 


Verse 2:
I was dreaming bout you the other night
It felt real but I know ain’t right 

Something’s off 
and I’m afraid
I didn’t recognise you anymore 


Verse 3:
I was dreaming bout you the other night 
the same old smile but now in a different light 

our memories, now left behind 
we’re just strangers of the night 
just strangers of the night
just strangers of the night

just strangers 
just strangers 

just strangers of the night 

Chorus:
Oh, We were once so dear
You set me free from reality 

oh our lines now drawn so clear 
Two different paths for you and I

Just Strangers2

Chicago song

Summary of idea:

The song is about freedom. More specifically in this song, it is the freedom to not be controlled by emotions, to be able to forgive, love, let go of the past, move on, live on and keep walking on from past mistakes, along with the joy that comes with it.

Differentiation factor:
Freedom feels unrestricted, yet it also brings about a lingering / lost sensation, whereby there is suddenly a huge increase in options, choices, decisions, space, time etc etc. Yet, for some people, freedom is short lived because they keep returning to their own mistakes.

The song stands out by being in a relatively high key for the vocals not only to uplift, but to also replicate the sensation of relief and tension whenever she sings. The use of a pop rock genre, to represent youthfulness, relating to how young people always want their own personal freedom.


Lyrics: Tim
Arrangement: Tim
Vocalist: Jaslyn 
Guitarist: Tim (DI)
Bass: Tim (DI, logic amp)
Drums: Kyle (logic drummer)

Verse 1:
I found freedom in your presence
I found freedom in your love

I found there is nothing better
when you freely came to earth

Verse 2:
I am free to say I’m sorry
I am free to love again

No longer unashamed
Now Im free to live again

Chorus:
no longer afraid, walking out of my shame
I am free

Wuuoohhh

Freedom3

Summary:
This song is about a friend called mark, inspired by a real person. This song came about due to a personal experience with a real friend (who will not be named), but who probably knows its about him. Its about how he sneaks out of class for food, and it inspired me to come up with other reasons as to why he might or could have sneaked out of class for :)


Differentiation / Concept:
The concept of the song explores the contrast between stable melodies and lyrics, with unstable content. This means that the song is intentionally designed to be generally "boring" due to the over-stability, but is done to highlight the content, allowing the story to take the interest of the listener.

Delivery:
Simple acoustic, country genre, along with a harmony backing, to over-simplify the arrangement, giving way for the content.


Guitar: Tim
Vocals: Jaslyn 
Lyrics/Arrangement: Tim
Inspired: Mark 


Verse 1
Just another day at school
Class just started, it was cool

My friend, Mark sat right next to me
His stomach rumbled and looked at me

he said
“Let’s grab some lunch together”
I was full but I said “whatever”

I just want to buy some donuts
While he went to buy a big duck


Chorus:
Mmmmmm So we snuck out of class
mmmmmmm While the cher turned her ass 
Mmmmmmmm We ran as fast as we could last

Mmmmmm So we snuck out of class

Verse 2
The next day it was usual
Mark was late, so typical

He sat down and he whispered to me
“Dude I’m dead” he pleaded with me

“What’s up man?” I asked him twice
“My girlfriend’s pregnant! JESUS CHRIST!”

“Why didn’t you use a condom?”
“Cuz I found a hole at the bottom!”


Chorus:
Mmmmmm So we snuck out of class
mmmmmmm While the cher turned her ass 
Mmmmmmmm We ran as fast as we could last

Mmmmmm So we snuck out of class


Verse 3:
I went to visit Mark at work
He dropped out of school, for being a jerk

I asked him “How’s the wife and kids?”
He looked up with a mouth full of ribs

And smiled at me and said one thing
We both laughed and we cheered our drink

We won’t forget the memory
when we were both criminal accessory

Chorus:
Mmmmmm when we snuck out of class
mmmmmmm While the cher turned her ass 
Mmmmmmmm We ran as fast as we could last

Mmmmmm So we snuck out of class

Snuckoutofclass4

Summary:

This song is about a cheerful little girl that attends her first day of school. Initially, it turns out fun and bubbly, with many new friends and people to hang out with. However, as the time passes, she begins to get stressed. Her mind starts to contort, and her happiness is twisted into a deformed distorted image of what happiness really is. It materialises into a demon agonising her everyday.

Inspired by a real story

Delivery:
Every sound, note in the song is created by 1 person. This is to signify that the whole song revolves around this 1 person. There are harmonies in the song that is used to represent the friends, yet in the chorus only the lead melody and bassline remans. This signifies that her "friends" in the verse aren't real, that she is simply hallucinating about company.

The "ride" in the "drumkit" of the song repeats "TINK" which sounds alot like "THINK". This was intentional to emphasise how much pressure the girl is giving herself, forcing herself to think her way out of stress and situations.

The slight pitch bend at the chorus signifies the start of her mental breakdown and her distorted view of what happiness really is.

The "digitalised" touch of the vocal tracks are use to contrast the humanly nature of the sound. This is also use to signify that there is imperfection in the little girl's humanly ability, so she tries to pressure herself beyond what is humanly possible. 

Differentiation:
Instead of using conventional instruments, I chose to sample my vocalist's voice and used it to replace instruments, which gave the song a more " human" and "fleshy" feel.

Vocalist: Jaslyn

Nylsaj5

Summary:
This song is about how an old man outlived his friends, and celebrated his last birthday on his own by playing himself his last piece on the piano while the phonograph runs in the background to accompany him.

Concept:
The idea is to explore how to use certain typical motifs in an unconventional manner, in this case how to dissociate the "happiness" from the "happy birthday" motif. 

Delivery:
In order to dissociate the "happiness" linked to the motif commonly attached, I use reharmonization to alter the perceived emotion as sad rather than happy. I also transformed the motif and reshuffled the rhythmic motif (interchanging between 3/4 and 4/4 to make it unstable and weak like the old man), while still retaining the melodic sequence. However, I retain part of the motif to trigger a sense of familiarity in the song.

Differentiating Factor:
I gave the piece a post-war 90s american feel, as the story is about an old man, thus creating a vintage sensation that gives it a unique story focal point. The addition of scratching vinyl sound and distorted EQ of the vocals make it possible. The imperfection of the piano is also intention to portray the venerability and weakness of the old man. The "undistorted" piano is to signify the old man's real life playing in contrast to the "recorded" phonograph running in accompany.


Vocalist: Jaslyn
Piano: Tim
Vinyl scratching noise: The Samplist (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41lrxMvhBdc)
 
Lyrics:

Verse 1:
Every once a year 
There’s a special day

That I celebrate
And I eat my cake

But this year was lonelier 
As I grew up much older


Verse 2:
All around
are empty cheer

No more joy
just simply fear

No one would remember
If I were to disappear 


Verse 3:
Simply put
All my friends are dead

I am old 
And very cold

Soon I will join them
My life reached the end

Happybirthday6

Summary:
This song is about how my home is probably the most expensive thing I can buy in Singapore for my lifetime. 

Concept:
The idea is to explore the concept of "parody". Defined as an imitation with great exaggeration for comedic effect, how does an imitation differentiate itself from the original? 

Delivery:
For a song to become a parody, it has to have certain characteristics that are similar if not the same as the original. For my piece, I've transformed certain melodies, only retaining the original motif to mirror the original. The guitar "solo" was also one that imitated the original, as well as the orchestral strings.

To avoid being a complete rip-off, as a parody can potentially become, there is a need to change the message, conceptually.

While, still retaining the Singaporean vibe, the content of the song has nothing to do with "sense of belonging" nor "loyalty to country", but rather strikes the more "realistic" down to earth side of Singaporeans, which is "money not enough" "everything so expensive" vibe.

Differentiating factor:
The piece is made with a comedic effect, with an expectation of the original but with a very different storyline.


Vocalist: Jasyln 
Guitarist: Tim
Synth / strings: Tim
Kids sound: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGL90vfo680
Inspired: "Home" by Kit Chan

Lyrics:
Verse 1:
Whenever I am feeling low
There’s a place I like to go

From Bishan to Toh Payoh
I stay somewhere in the middle 

I can take bus fourty Seven
Down to East Coast park

Eat satay and nasi lemak
Reach home before its even dark

Chorus:
Its my home, really
I bought with my own money 

It really expensive
Cuz its a resale executive 


Its my home, really
Can’t believe I bought it

Now I owe my bank forty K 
Im eating grass for the rest of the day 


Verse 2:
All the costs are going up
From COE to parking fees

Thankfully I take public transport
cuz thats what I can only afford

No more shopping at Fairprice finest 
Not even Cold Storage too

The most I can do is sheng siong
Even then I fish for coupons too

National7

Vocalist: Jaslyn
Lyrics/Composer: Tim


Verse 1
The universe hangs by a thread
Surrounded by a cloud of dread

How many lives can we forget
Before our guilt becomes regret


Verse 2
The memories that we hold dear
Now fades away amidst the fear  

With few and little that are left
We’ve got no choice, we need to act


Chorus
This is the endgame
There is no more hiding
We are all that’s left now
Put us to the test

We’re in the endgame
There is no escaping
Freedom is at hand, now
We fight until the end

We fight until the end

Woah Woah

Endgame

Contrast exists everywhere. This playlist features 2 of my favourite genres, displayed in contrast of each other. 

What started off as an school assignment, slowly turned into a passion project. From taking my first steps in producing these various genres, I've learnt so much from the people around me, that I believe these will be stepping stones towards something greater in the future!

timchoo43