Shock the Algorithm

Once in a while, I'll be posting short excerpts of songs I've done, either isolating on a single track like just vocals or a specific instrument, or a short section like a bridge or a solo. This is just a spot to keep all the isolated tracks in one place. I'd love to hear examples from other folks too!

Isolated tracks

some music I wrote and performed some time ago, around 2001, and some more recent stuff from after 2022.

Mark Myoozik (all originals)

a few songs where I take a turn at the singy part, either the lead, or backing harmony, or just a little noise here & there.


Playlist photo by John Curley; iPod Photoshopery by me

Singing stuff (songs with voices)

revisiting an old favourite with new & improved sound quality, mixing and arrangement. This is basically a repeating chorus, which is pretty catchy, but I’d love to eventually compose the rest of this tune, and have it played by jazz musicians with live instruments one day. This is probably still one of my top 3 favourite tracks, but there’s a couple other versions I’ve posted on here - one with a saxophone playing lead melody: 
https://soundcloud.com/user-432503709/jazzy-ditty-new-med-quartet?in=user-432503709/sets/bestest-ones

and a slower extended version:
https://soundcloud.com/user-432503709/jazzy-ditty-belle-curves-blues?in=user-432503709/sets/bestest-ones

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here's some pictures I took: www.flickr.com/photos/mark_boucher/
my best photos on 500px (safe site): 500px.com/p/mrmark?view=photos

Jazzy Ditty (trio - piano)

a 5 minute medley featuring my favourite 20 second bits (roughly) from 10 of my favourite older recordings.
I need to do an updated version to include post-2022 stuff…

TRACK LISTING: 
0:00  -  Jazzy Ditty
0:42  -  Aulde Europe
1:07   -  Multi2dinal
1:46   -  Variations
2:13   -  Belle Curves Blues
2:35  -  Saxofunk/Game Show/Pennywise  
2:56  - Sitar & Santur
3:24  - Funky Junk
3:54  - The Last Days of November
4:48  - Elementus-Mix III

full tracks can be found here: https://soundcloud.com/user-432503709/sets/mark-myoozik

All comments welcome, and don't be shy to be critical or suggest ideas to help me improve.   :)

mark music medley (top 10 tidbits -oldies)

After some Soundcloud trouble we are finally back with a new song.
Enjoy.

Obsessive torment

Had it all, but have let it fall
ruined everything that was my joy
-- i've lost my destiny
dark thoughts that plague my mind
the darkness that conceals my life
-- the pain is consuming me
no more choice, it's all my fault
last thing to do is end my life
--leave those ive loved behind

Give it up, don't look back
says the voice inside your head
take no stance just forget
make it end without regret

lying there bleeding on the floor
last memorys, some final thoughts
blinding light, finally at peace
fucked up again, wide awake

--the blade cuts/the blade cuts/the blade cuts
through the veins

lying there bleeding on the floor
last memorys, some final thoughts
blinding light, finally at peace
fucked up again, wide awake

can't do anything right,
not even capable of controll over my mind
can't do everything right,
not even capable to take my own life

Obsessive Torment

can't do anything right,
not even capable of controll over my mind

want to end this life
so many times ive tried 
lost count of the selfinflicted scars
Hope i wake up dead
delivered of this torment
Set me free, release me from this agony
i am a slave to my own misery

i want to hurt you, like you did me
i deserve you, but you wont fucking see
now i will haunt you in your dreams
I will do it, Slit my wrists!!! you will see!!! 
you will suffer like me!!!

thoughts are like a broken record
think about you every second
I can't bear to deal with your loss
repeating the memorys over and over
Mental overload, does not recover
to much pain from the past
Words locked up remain unspoken
this is my time to be a token
disgusted that we are apart

obsessive torment

Obsessive Torment

Selkie

an excerpt of the intro of a song written by my good friend Dyniss from back in the day when we were in a band together (lead vocal - Dyniss, harmony - me). It's a good example of our vocal tandem when we sang together. 

Here is a cover of Dyniss's band covering "We Can Work It Out", with me on vocal lead: 
https://soundcloud.com/user-432503709/we-can-work-it-out-with-dyniss-vocal-mark?in=user-432503709/sets/singing-stuff

Here is a medley of Dyniss tunes recorded from our rehearsal sessions:
https://soundcloud.com/user-432503709/dyniss-ditties-bestest-bits?in=user-432503709/sets/compilations

For more about Dyniss, visit http://dyniss.com/

Live in the Studio

Less Than Me (intro harmony / song by Dyniss)

one of my favourite tracks from the older batch written around early 2001. Or at least it was a favourite for about 20 years until I started writing new stuff in 2022. The violin solo near the beginning is one of my favourite bits I've recorded, but the middle section could use some work since I don't play guitar - everything on this is played on keyboard. I'd love one day re-do this with better sound quality, or even with real violin and guitar.
 
instruments include drums, bass, piano, electric piano, violin, electric guitar, xylophone, organ (all played on keyboard).

All comments welcome, and don't be shy to be critical or suggest ideas to help me improve. :)

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here's some pictures I took: www.flickr.com/photos/mark_boucher/
my best photos on 500px (safe site): 500px.com/p/mrmark?view=photos

Multi2dinal

re-uploading an old tune from around 2001, remastered from original tape. This is definitely one of the ones I'd love to hear played on real orchestral instruments.

instruments include violin (bowed & plucked), cello, clarinet, accordion, percussion - all synth sounds. 

All comments welcome, and don't be shy to be critical or suggest ideas to help me improve. :)

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here's some pictures I took: www.flickr.com/photos/mark_boucher/
my best photos on 500px (safe site): 500px.com/p/mrmark?view=photos

Aulde Europe

This was one of my earliest compositions - from around 2001 - of what I would consider a 'full' song... i.e. not the usual recording of me noodling on a part to build on later and never finishing. The main chorus & verse theme are pretty straightforward and remind me a little of the 'Winter Games' theme by David Foster. But the bridge section in the middle and especially the arpeggio in the closing section are something quite different... arguably my favourite minute or so of anything I've recorded.

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here's some pictures I took: www.flickr.com/photos/mark_boucher/
my best photos on 500px (safe site): 500px.com/p/mrmark?view=photos

The Last Days Of November

I think this was the only cover tune we did back in my band days playing with my great friends Dyniss, Morris, and Alex. Here I take a turn at lead vocals with Dyniss on harmony. This is a ‘live’ version recorded in Dyniss’ studio (I believe in one take), though we performed it live on stage often.
Them wuz some good ol' times.

Dyniss Band members:
Dyniss - acoustic guitar, backing vocal
Mark - keyboard/accordion, lead vocal
Alex - 6 string fretless bass
Morris - Drums

Written by Lennon, McCartney

We Can Work It Out (cover; vocal mark)

My grandma's favourite song. that's papa on guitar, me taking a turn at vocal. I also do a pretty lame job trying to strum accompaniment while dad plays the middle solo. Originally recorded around 2014 with my phone mic, I also recently (in 2024) used AI tools to isolate the vocal & guitar into separate tracks so I could better adjust the balance. happy with the result. 

This song’s got a lot of meaning in our family. About as close to a perfect country song as it gets for me. 

(written in 1946 by Fred Rose. covered by the likes of Hank, Roy, Charlie, Elvis, and of course, Willie.)

Here's one other song we did together around the same time: 
- Back Home Again: https://soundcloud.com/user-432503709/back-home-again-cover-take-2-collab-with-dad 

All comments welcome, and don't be shy to be critical or suggest ideas to help me improve. :)
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here's some pictures I took: www.flickr.com/photos/mark_boucher/
my best photos on 500px (safe site): 500px.com/p/mrmark?view=photos

Voice Memos, country

blue eyes crying in the rain (cover, with Dad)

Thyrsus
Dark Legion Tyrol
Kalthallen Studios

A dark grey cloud, lit by bright lightning
Hailstorm approaches 
Storm drives icy wind into the face
Too late to return

Grab stick and rifle rapidly
Heavy hail hammers down 
And soon spurred to gallop
To reach the wizards ostracized shelter

THYRSCHENBLUT --- 4/6 --- Eisfall

This upload is only the 'drums & sound effects' track, of the full song Cut 2: "The Chase" (movie/car chase version). Here's a link to that full version, with the description of the movie & car chase concept explained:
https://soundcloud.com/user-432503709/cut-2-the-chase-1

I'm going to upload 4 versions of this song:

1) The full 'movie/car chase' version (including story/concept)
https://soundcloud.com/user-432503709/cut-2-the-chase-1

2) the 'drums & sounds effects only' version (no music)
    (this track)

3) the 'music only' version (no sound effects)
    (upload pending)

4) the 'original' music only version (recorded around 1999 or 2000)
    (upload pending)

I thought some folks might find it interesting to see this thing deconstructed and evolving from original to now. maybe not, lol.

I strongly recommend listening with headphones to get the full panning effects. The image is a combo of AI generated and cut & paste from my photos.

All comments welcome, and don't be shy to be critical or suggest ideas to help me improve. Like, “hey Mark, your car chase idea really sucks”. 😜

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here's some pictures I took: www.flickr.com/photos/mark_boucher/
my best photos on 500px (safe site): 500px.com/p/mrmark?view=photos

Cut 2: "The Chase" (FX only) [*see description for story]

Enjoy the BRAND NEW single from Shock the Algorithm, "RAMONA".
Taken from the forthcoming debut album (Slated to be released mid-2024).
Go grab it digitally via #bandcamp y'all>>> https://shockthealgorithm.bandcamp.com/

Youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGvWZ_Gp7Ao&ab_channel=ShockTheAlgorithm

(p) & (c) 2023, All rights reserved.
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lyrics:
Ramona? is this what u really wanna?
Is this the life you have always dreamed of?
Listen your heart and go on!

Ramona? you gotta fight for what u really wanna
maybe you're the new madona
a mother, an actor in "Lavapies"

You don't need to get scared, don't be afraid you're almost there
these bright lights, the diamonds on your dress

Forget the past and make it last, we are getting old you gotta move fast
the whole universe is almost on your feet

Rock and Roll Kills

Ramona

Arrite... dusting this one off again for another year.
First, to answer the question I know everyone wants to know about this one - "Is that your real hair?!?" 
No. No it's not.   😎 
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I lived in Japan for a year between 2002-2003 doing the teaching English thing, and made some good friends at one of the schools I worked at. We sometimes went out for Karaoke (of course!) and on one such night around Christmas I took a turn to sing one of my faves - Blue Christmas, the Elvis version. 

This is a live recording of me that night. The exuberant reaction from the group is partly due to the fact that I was/am normally a pretty quiet & reserved fellow, especially in crowds, and they were both shocked and seemingly quite impressed by my getting up to sing Elvis, and by how much I apparently sounded like him. 

I could translate some of what they're saying here, but you'll get the idea. For example though, the word "Sugoi" means "Cool!". In another spot, someone walks into the room mid-song, and another person says "hey hey, this is cool, it's Elvis!... watch this..."
See what you think.  ;)

Happy holidays everybuddy!

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here's some pictures I took: www.flickr.com/photos/mark_boucher/
my best photos on 500px (safe site): 500px.com/p/mrmark?view=photos

Blue Christmas (Karaoke in Japan)

back when I was recording the John Denver song "Take Me Home, Country Roads" with the fine gentlemen in The Eclectic Collective, my 8 yr old daughter loved the song so much she began singing it ALL THE TIME. This is a quick little recording of us harmonizing the chorus. Pretty amazingly expressive singing for a youngster if I do say so myself! 

Here's the full recording with The Eclectic Collective:
https://soundcloud.com/user-432503709/take-me-home-country-roads-eclectic-collective?si=124fd64d50bb42bca0caa9b197a975c2&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

Country Roads  (daughter & dad harmony)

excerpt of the song "Clyde's Glide", isolating just the horn section with some percussion (shaker & claps). The horns are played by me using VST instrument through my keyboard. had a lot of fun with this!

Here's the full song, where I'm joined by some friends from the Eclectic Collective:
https://soundcloud.com/user-432503709/clydes-glide-bl-mastered

More goodies in the "ISOLATED TRACKS" playlist:
https://soundcloud.com/user-432503709/sets/isolated-tracks

Clyde's Glide (ISOLATED HORNS)

Dad & me making music together. took us over 40 years but we did it! This was recorded around 2014 or so I think. 

dad - acoustic guitar
me - voice

We tried this in 2 takes. The 2nd take had a bit louder, stronger sounding vocals, but the singing wasn't quite as subtle and soulful as this one, which is the 1st take. Even with the funny botched ending, this was always my preferred of the two versions. Unfortunately the vocal recording on this 1st take was too quiet (gotta find a better way to record singing than in the basement with my phone mic!). But after looking for years for a way to bump up only the vocals, I finally made use of one of the many AI tools popping up these days for isolating instruments from audio recordings. The tool I used is called 'Splitter AI / vocal remover', but there are others out there. Finally, I was able to isolate the vocals & guitar into separate tracks and make the voice  louder. 

(Song by John Denver)

I'm happy to be sharing these examples of my family making music from back in the day. :) Here's the other song we did around the same time. This is a very special song in our family, and I was super glad I got to sing it with my dad playing.  

Blue Eyes Cryin' In the Rain: https://soundcloud.com/user-432503709/blue-eyes-crying-in-the-rain?si=29d81db0b84147ab9c54e6a0062a498f&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

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here's some pictures I took:
https://500px.com/p/MrMark?view=photos

Back Home Again (cover - take 1) [collab with dad]

Once in a while, I'll be posting short excerpts of songs I've worked on, isolating a particular section like just vocals, sound effects or, like in this case, a horn arrangement (something I'm trying to learn more about these days).

This is the closing chorus section of one of my favourite songs I've done, Pick Me Up. This section features a sax solo, accompanied by a horn arrangement (trumpet, sax, trombone), with a bit of organ, bass and drums. All horn sounds are VST instruments, from Acoustic Samples (great company for high quality instrument sounds).

And here's a link to the full song; thanks for listening!
https://on.soundcloud.com/NvLvbJNAFqMABMpf6

More goodies in the "ISOLATED TRACKS" playlist:
https://soundcloud.com/user-432503709/sets/isolated-tracks

Pick Me Up (FEATURED HORNS)

Occasionally I'll be posting short clips of an isolated track or focusing on a specific section/detail in a previously uploaded tune. In this one, it's a funky little breakdown that appears in a couple other songs. 

The clavinet & drums were previously used in 'Scaing the Riverbank' by the Eclectic Collective:
https://on.soundcloud.com/whFBfyetPMdsMwMKA

and the vocal part was used in 'Splice of Life':
https://on.soundcloud.com/qNCfidQ5RwG2JRkK7

More goodies in the "ISOLATED TRACKS" playlist:
https://soundcloud.com/user-432503709/sets/isolated-tracks

funky clavinet & vocal breakdown (ISOLATED SECTION)

Another example of a previously uploaded song where I'm just isolating one instrument in the mix, this time the vocal track, with a bit of organ backing. Just some fun hootin' & hollerin' in the closing chorus section. And here's a link to the full song with the details, which is still probably one of my top two or three fave things I've recorded. 
https://on.soundcloud.com/KDuTKXBd2dyfYjnKA

More goodies in the "ISOLATED TRACKS" playlist:
https://soundcloud.com/user-432503709/sets/isolated-tracks


Pick Me Up (ISOLATED vocal chorus)

Track used for Season 3 Trailer of Netflix's Peaky Blinders

Written and produced by Erick Serna
Additional production by Daniel Nigro
Additional background vocals by Colby Cecca
Artwork by Daniel Zetterstrom

IG- http://www.instagram.com/eserna/
Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/album/17EAmlr3OFNCPADtPlQi1H
iTunes- https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/march-of-flames-single/id1122165670

Cut 2: "The Chase" (FX only) [*see description for story]

mistermark