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WeeklyBeats.com / Music / horatiuromantic's music / NGJ Melodica Jam #3456

NGJ Melodica Jam #3456

By horatiuromantic on April 21, 2024 10:32 pm

This weekend I was very busy at Nordic Game Jam, where I was both organizer and jammer! It was super nice and tiresome, as I tried to jam while helping out with the event.

I teamed up for the jam with my friend Gabriel of Museum Monsters fame, and Tadhg, a new friend, who kicked off the idea of making a vibey cozy game inspired by the theme "Sense of belonging" (pure coincidence that it has the same name as my song from 2 weeks ago).

We didn't manage to finish the game, due to distractions (my fault really). But we had fun working on it, and we did a lot of jamming while jamming. Here's the game if you really want to check it out, but beware: there's not much to do and it's not really fun.
https://horatiuromantic.itch.io/alien-duders

The song is recorded during a longer jam we did. I started recording while playing because I figured it's too good to miss, and it's the only recording I made. But I think it sounds pretty nice and it captures the essence of our vibe for the weekend.

I also have video:

Check out Gabriel's youtube for more of his stuff: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjgKm9r9-R3A8tfasvKv7dw

PS: I also played melodica on Gabriel's tune for another game, which is quite fun, and you can play here:
https://jasperlaureijs.itch.io/bunnychicken

This sounds like a fun time! Is that like a hackathon where you're supposed to create a video game?

And a Pianica! The best underrated instrument ever!

I really like  the vibe and the melodica is really cool. Very interesting guitar play also. What is the third guy playing?

HEADPHONE JUMPSCARE WARNING 1:42

this is beautiful!  i hope to visit you one day during this event!

how do you do the "trill" on the melodica?

lol love the ending - i stayed for the whole thing!

Kedbreak136 wrote:

This sounds like a fun time! Is that like a hackathon where you're supposed to create a video game?

And a Pianica! The best underrated instrument ever!


Yes, exactly! Hackathon but for games.


Pescadito wrote:

I really like  the vibe and the melodica is really cool. Very interesting guitar play also. What is the third guy playing?


Thanks! He is playing my iPad hooked up to a piano sound on the midi controller and the Borderlands granular synth on the touchscreen.  he's making noise from old samples and manipulating them, but it's hard to hear as there are noises coming from the room as well.

orangedrink wrote:

HEADPHONE JUMPSCARE WARNING 1:42


HahA! Sorry about that! I tried to"react" to that with a melodica line. I kinda like these random accidents tongue
Thank you for listening! heart

orangedrink wrote:

how do you do the "trill" on the melodica?


Try rolling your Rs while you blow into it. Like "HoRRRRRRRRRRatiu"

Great jam! And so many interesting techniques and textures going on in here.  I don’t think I’ve ever heard (or even thought of doing) a note bend on melodica!

Cool to hear your keyboard style adopted to the melodica! Feel like it forced you to hold back a bit. Also wild how many computer ppl there are here myself included 🤖

Do you usually play as monotonically in the right hand? Feel like I wanted to hear more chords and intervals. Love the melodica, though I can’t just leave things alone I also prefer it drenched in reverb 😆

Paisleyfrog wrote:

Great jam! And so many interesting techniques and textures going on in here.  I don’t think I’ve ever heard (or even thought of doing) a note bend on melodica!


Thanks! I discovered this technique during this jam ahha. just blow hard in it


prophisee wrote:

Cool to hear your keyboard style adopted to the melodica! Feel like it forced you to hold back a bit. Also wild how many computer ppl there are here myself included 🤖

Do you usually play as monotonically in the right hand? Feel like I wanted to hear more chords and intervals. Love the melodica, though I can’t just leave things alone I also prefer it drenched in reverb 😆


Thanks! I try to adapt my playing depending who I play with, to support the music. Still I only got so many chops but at least it makes for a somewhat recognizable style... maybe.

As for monotonic right hand, in this case a melody was needed because both guys were doing heavy textures and little melody, so I chose to go this way. But in another part of the jam when someone was doing more melody, I did more chords and rhythm to support them. Melodica has a gritty way of resonating when more notes are being played at once, but it can quickly get overwhelming so I try to use it sparsely for maximum effect.

I'll go ahead and take it with me tonight in case I jam again haha

orangedrink wrote:

HEADPHONE JUMPSCARE WARNING 1:42

haha, for real big_smile

The piece is nice and meandering. Makes for nice background when hacking on stuff.

Enjoyed catching up with this one 🕊

Nice jam from the jam. Jamming while jamming sounds fun, way to vary things, take a nice break! I like hearing a melodica, but seeing one played is more fun. I like your guitar playing!

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