Stream

Electronic. 80's, 90's & 00's. Vintage music. Have been inspired by many different Artists & Styles.  I love all kinds of music and my taste is eclectic.

If you would like to receive a single track, an EP or an Album? Just send me a personal message with your request. And then I will make sure you will get it by using e-mail  and Wetransfer. Fred. 

(p) & (c) 1996 - 2026. 

It's my 30th Anniversary! 

Offering my music for free. No pay.

More personal info: frederikvdwerf@gmail.com

mtfbwy.

I am a composer and producer of instrumental music in several genres, including ambient soundscapes, electronica, orchestral and chamber music.  

Musical influences include John Coltrane, Igor Stravinsky, Gustav Holst, Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel, Tangerine Dream, Robert Prince, Frank Zappa, Brian Eno, Heinrich Ignaz, Franz von Biber.

My Method of Composing and Producing
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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.

a.k.a.  -..-
Pre-releases and Experiments
- Final releases via https://linktr.ee/dashdotdotdash (Apple Music, Spotify)
Support creativity through Bandcamp.

- Artists: 
  (1) -..- , xperimental 
  (2) XLab3 , xperimental
  (3) Ding Dong , vintage electronica

- xmachines: Logic Korg Yamaha Orchid Moog Teenage Engineering iApps ccMixter freemusicarchive field recordings radio
- Header Image Acknowledgement: (my silhouette in front of) an excerpt from the video, 'Plato's Alley' by Charles Atlas (2008)
- Profile Image Acknowledgement: 'Switching Marys' by Mike Kelley (2004-2005)

- History: 
1980s - Casio VL-tone, Wasp synth, Moog Concertmate MG-1, 2 track compact cassette recordings: tape to tape mixing ... emergence of Ding Dong. Revelled in the limitations in lo-fi sonic pallette and student budget...
1990s - Upgraded to 4-track compact cassette recordings... Casio CZ1000.
2000s - finally onto DAWs & xmachines & budget soft/hard synthesis & quirkiness in the Hikari Monos......Cakewalk>Sonar>Logic

I'm a photographer, writer/poet, musician, and teacher. I like nature, animal, reading, listening and playing music, and creepypastas. I love supporting new photographers, writers, and musicians. Please support my EDH, Rock, Metal and Country music on my YouTube, second SoundCloud and Third SoundCloud account https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2Zdw4VmwXs8TuubMhTBRuA , https://soundcloud.com/nikolas-eliason-132841192 , https://soundcloud.app.goo.gl/Piz2dabkGV8C3bVt7 I'm Tap Temple, EverChange and NeverLast.

I love all kinds of music and compose and play as often as I can, which is not as much as I'd like.  If you like what I do, or you think I'll like what you do let me know.

君のセーブデータにずっと住めますように。

Boy

Ulvo