Weeklybeats is a 52 week long music project in which artists compose and publicly release 1 song a week for the entire year.
Starting January 1st 2024 GMT each participant will have one week to upload one finished composition. Any style of music or selection of instruments are welcomed and encouraged.
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You asked for it, you got it! Welcome to the MIDNIGHT COCKTAIL BAR where there are well dressed CREEPY men lurking in the corners. Oh and welcome back Levi on the drums, me on bass (recorded take), and live electric piano and vocals.
This track is inspired by all your lovely weeklybeats comments where you said I'm playing like someone at a midnight cocktail bar. Now I invite you with me into the conjured place!
I recorded the performance, it was actually only the 2nd take, you can watch it here:
E N J O Y ! ! !
› PROCESS
‹ PROCESS
Yesterday I set up live recording in my room, using my phone as a webcam so I can record on the mac and get the sound directly from the DAW. This way I have video and audio from the right source, and I don't have to do any editing afterwards. At least that's if I do a full live take with good sound, of course if I wanna do mastering and whatnot I have to go back and do it - but honestly this sounds pretty much the same to me. I don't know if the sound is exactly the same as if I bounced the tracks rather than realtime playback, but I don't see why not.
### First track
The first track I recorded with this setup I did using some text I wrote this week. I kinda like the text but not 100%, and it's vaguely political but not in a smart way. So I scrapped it.
I constantly ran out of storage cause recording with quicktime takes about 1 gb per minute, and I have long ass songs.
I recorded a new improvised track with the modular synth, electric piano and vocals setup (full live take), and was gonna post that one for WB.
Here is the link to the first, less cool track for those who can't get enough of my shit:
Once I finished that one I kept experimenting, more relaxed, and that's when I did the REAL track....
### The REAL track
I did a lot of screwing around with midi and connecting my devices together, etc. I finally learned how to properly connect the knobs on my midi controller with values in Logic, however only after making the track I learned how to also record that part hahah. I thought it "just worked"...
I added Levi the drummer (by the way for those who don't know, Levi lives in Logic and GarageBand on apple devices, and he is a Songwriter Funky drummer) and played an improvised sesh with the piano, doing the story with the cocktail bar. It sounded fun but it was still a bit too raw, so next up I laid down a sick bassline with my usual moog preset from this year, and also added some more weird parts to Levi's track so he does a lot more crazy fills.
Short Levi tutorial: Basically if you set him up for 8 or 16 bars, he plays normally and does a fill at the end of 4 or 8 bars. However if you interrupt his track at 7, then go for another 2, or maybe do halfs and weird number of beats/bars on his track, he goes quite berserk and that's when I really like how he plays! Of course none of this would be an issue if I actually had a real drummer but I gotta work with what I got. Besides I am really starting to like Levi!
After the drums and bass were laid down, I hooked up the wah pedal on the MOD WHEEL (lol) because I don't have a toggle button (yet) and the next 7 minutes you can see in the video. However, afterwards I was in big danger of losing the take because of disk space, but luckily the first thing I did was save it, so it was safe. Another small problem was that Logic didn't save the automation on the wah pedal on/off switch, altho it did save the wah pedal itself, so I can recreate it but not tonight. I rescued the audio from the video and that's what you can hear.
Well, hope you enjoyed my track and thanks for reading so far!
This one actually makes me want to down a couple drinks at a cocktail bar, put on my trench coat and then wander through the dark city streets and seeing what adventures I can observe while this plays in my head.
This one actually makes me want to down a couple drinks at a cocktail bar, put on my trench coat and then wander through the dark city streets and seeing what adventures I can observe while this plays in my head.
Fascinating and beautiful. Instead of being the piano player at a cocktail bar, you describe one instead.
I don't entirely agree you'd make a great cocktail bar piano player, your vocal performance style doesn't fit. Your piano performance on the other hand is definitely top of the line among them all.
- Devieus
Fascinating and beautiful. Instead of being the piano player at a cocktail bar, you describe one instead.
I don't entirely agree you'd make a great cocktail bar piano player, your vocal performance style doesn't fit. Your piano performance on the other hand is definitely top of the line among them all.
- Devieus
You should go way out there and try to make a lonely island type song for one of these. I feel like your deadpan vocals with the accent would be hilarious
You should go way out there and try to make a lonely island type song for one of these. I feel like your deadpan vocals with the accent would be hilarious
This one actually makes me want to down a couple drinks at a cocktail bar, put on my trench coat and then wander through the dark city streets and seeing what adventures I can observe while this plays in my head.
I appreciate the comments, esp knowing that secretly one of you is the creepy guy XD
thanks for listening!
blighters_rock wrote:
Lol section about his cigarettes and meal really made me chuckle. Great playing, as always.
too real! thanks!
ViridianLoom wrote:
Some really sick piano skills on display once again, and the monologue and story is awesome.
thanks! the faster I play the faster I can play
Devieus wrote:
Fascinating and beautiful. Instead of being the piano player at a cocktail bar, you describe one instead.
I don't entirely agree you'd make a great cocktail bar piano player, your vocal performance style doesn't fit. Your piano performance on the other hand is definitely top of the line among them all.
- Devieus
hahh thanks Dev - I know I wouldn't be because of the damn smoke
but one can dream...
prophisee wrote:
“His hat… 🤔 it’s actually a fedora” “who is this man???” 😆
Bass tone is fat. EP is incredible 🤌🏽
thanks! now that I relisten bass could be a bit more distorted to sound more acceptable on phones and such. but on speakers and headphones this minimoog is a great sound, I love it
prophisee wrote:
You should go way out there and try to make a lonely island type song for one of these. I feel like your deadpan vocals with the accent would be hilarious
How do you mean? just like more dance pop and kinda badly rapping? I only know a couple of their most famous ones but never got into it. feels like the ratio of humor and music is too far towards the humor and less towards the music on their stuff. it can be pretty catchy tho. I'll consider it thanks again!
[quote=Vivi]It is. 2am.
Thoroughly enjoyed <3[/quote]
[quote=Ninefingers]This one actually makes me want to down a couple drinks at a cocktail bar, put on my trench coat and then wander through the dark city streets and seeing what adventures I can observe while this plays in my head.[/quote]
I appreciate the comments, esp knowing that secretly one of you is the creepy guy XD
thanks for listening!
[quote=blighters_rock]Lol section about his cigarettes and meal really made me chuckle. Great playing, as always.[/quote]
too real! thanks!
[quote=ViridianLoom]Some really sick piano skills on display once again, and the monologue and story is awesome.[/quote]
thanks! the faster I play the faster I can play
[quote=Devieus]Fascinating and beautiful. Instead of being the piano player at a cocktail bar, you describe one instead.
I don't entirely agree you'd make a great cocktail bar piano player, your vocal performance style doesn't fit. Your piano performance on the other hand is definitely top of the line among them all.
- Devieus[/quote]
hahh thanks Dev - I know I wouldn't be because of the damn smoke
but one can dream...
[quote=prophisee]“His hat… 🤔 it’s actually a fedora” “who is this man???” 😆
Bass tone is fat. EP is incredible 🤌🏽[/quote]
thanks! now that I relisten bass could be a bit more distorted to sound more acceptable on phones and such. but on speakers and headphones this minimoog is a great sound, I love it
[quote=prophisee]You should go way out there and try to make a lonely island type song for one of these. I feel like your deadpan vocals with the accent would be hilarious [/quote]
How do you mean? just like more dance pop and kinda badly rapping? I only know a couple of their most famous ones but never got into it. feels like the ratio of humor and music is too far towards the humor and less towards the music on their stuff. it can be pretty catchy tho. I'll consider it :D thanks again!
This rules. The story unfolds so slowly, but the music keeps it interesting. I want somebody to make a flash animation to go along with it.
I like the bonus track a lot too! Reminds me of Raymond Scott + Jim Henson.
This rules. The story unfolds so slowly, but the music keeps it interesting. I want somebody to make a flash animation to go along with it.
I like the bonus track a lot too! Reminds me of Raymond Scott + Jim Henson.
WOW!! Your performance is incredible. Every note fits, no mistakes. The sound of your epiano is so close to the originals. Your storytelling is enjoyable as always. Very very good job.
WOW!! Your performance is incredible. Every note fits, no mistakes. The sound of your epiano is so close to the originals. Your storytelling is enjoyable as always. Very very good job.
I can't believe you play and sing at the same time. You are hella talented.
GUESS WHAT?
THE HORSEMAN NEIGHBOR IS ONE OF THOSE CREEPY MEN
NOT EVEN KIDDING, 100% REAL
I can't believe you play and sing at the same time. You are hella talented.
WHATAJAM. This is the sound of the cocktail bar at the end of the universe (from Douglas Adams books). It's nice to have the video on top of this, and see this is all live. Sweet and tasty! Your music is somewhere between Zappa and Barry Adamson, with a pinch of The Doors (Ray's haunting that synth). Loving this!
WHATAJAM. This is the sound of the cocktail bar at the end of the universe (from Douglas Adams books). It's nice to have the video on top of this, and see this is all live. Sweet and tasty! Your music is somewhere between Zappa and Barry Adamson, with a pinch of The Doors (Ray's haunting that synth). Loving this!
Can we take a moment to talk about what a great period piece this is? The "band" is fantastic! Aside from the voice of horatioromantic himself, my parents have 60s/70s records that sound like this and they are cool as hell (the records are good, too). It's staggering you did this all in a week. Special callouts to the bass―which really works for a living, the key performance (as always), and the masterful use of distortion and modwheel WAH on those keys!
Never did find out what that guy wanted, though.
Can we take a moment to talk about what a great period piece this is? The "band" is fantastic! Aside from the voice of horatioromantic himself, my parents have 60s/70s records that sound like this and they are cool as hell (the records are good, too). It's staggering you did this all in a week. Special callouts to the bass―which really works for a living, the key performance (as always), and the masterful use of distortion and [i]modwheel WAH[/i] on those keys!
Never did find out what that guy wanted, though.
"He at it raw", "He didn't even use his hands, just RAwRGRGRGRGRG" hahaha
yahhhh thank you. he was a beast
NeonRebar wrote:
The distortion on the piano is the greatest! This made me think of Bitches Brew which is a tall compliment in my opinion
oh amazing compliment thank you v much. BB is a big inspiration for me in general.
ineff wrote:
Can we take a moment to talk about what a great period piece this is? The "band" is fantastic! Aside from the voice of horatioromantic himself, my parents have 60s/70s records that sound like this and they are cool as hell (the records are good, too). It's staggering you did this all in a week. Special callouts to the bass―which really works for a living, the key performance (as always), and the masterful use of distortion and modwheel WAH on those keys!
Never did find out what that guy wanted, though.
thanks for the big compliments. 70s is the period I'm aspiring towards, good to hear it comes across that way.
XC3N wrote:
it's fun to watch you work!
Thanks, creepy guy in a corner
Kedbreak136 wrote:
WHATAJAM. This is the sound of the cocktail bar at the end of the universe (from Douglas Adams books). It's nice to have the video on top of this, and see this is all live. Sweet and tasty! Your music is somewhere between Zappa and Barry Adamson, with a pinch of The Doors (Ray's haunting that synth). Loving this!
YEA that cocktail bar! I'd like to play there.
I gotta check out Barry Adamson, he looks v cool in a picture on google which is a good start.
orangedrink wrote:
GUESS WHAT?
THE HORSEMAN NEIGHBOR IS ONE OF THOSE CREEPY MEN
NOT EVEN KIDDING, 100% REAL
I can't believe you play and sing at the same time. You are hella talented.
Thank you! Yea I can confirm the horseman goes to this bar.
agesixracer515 wrote:
Great job
Thanks!
Devieus wrote:
I'm sure you can find an establishment that bans smoking.
I can find one that bans smoking in a room that you get to by going through a bigger room where they are smoking twice as hard.
Q-Rosh wrote:
WOW!! Your performance is incredible. Every note fits, no mistakes. The sound of your epiano is so close to the originals. Your storytelling is enjoyable as always. Very very good job.
Thank you! Yes, every note was exactly what was foretold that I shall play from the day I was born.
This e piano is the best sound I have ever played, they did a great job with it and the effects.
emu wrote:
This rules. The story unfolds so slowly, but the music keeps it interesting. I want somebody to make a flash animation to go along with it.
I like the bonus track a lot too! Reminds me of Raymond Scott + Jim Henson.
thanks for listening to both! I'm glad I made them.
An animation would be amazing! at some point it will be fun to do some live action music videos for some of these too.
[quote=haleja]What a great tune and story! 10/10.
"He at it raw", "He didn't even use his hands, just RAwRGRGRGRGRG" hahaha[/quote]
yahhhh thank you. he was a beast
[quote=NeonRebar]The distortion on the piano is the greatest! This made me think of Bitches Brew which is a tall compliment in my opinion[/quote]
oh amazing compliment thank you v much. BB is a big inspiration for me in general.
[quote=ineff]Can we take a moment to talk about what a great period piece this is? The "band" is fantastic! Aside from the voice of horatioromantic himself, my parents have 60s/70s records that sound like this and they are cool as hell (the records are good, too). It's staggering you did this all in a week. Special callouts to the bass―which really works for a living, the key performance (as always), and the masterful use of distortion and [i]modwheel WAH[/i] on those keys!
Never did find out what that guy wanted, though.[/quote]
thanks for the big compliments. 70s is the period I'm aspiring towards, good to hear it comes across that way.
[quote=XC3N]it's fun to watch you work![/quote]
Thanks, creepy guy in a corner
[quote=Kedbreak136]WHATAJAM. This is the sound of the cocktail bar at the end of the universe (from Douglas Adams books). It's nice to have the video on top of this, and see this is all live. Sweet and tasty! Your music is somewhere between Zappa and Barry Adamson, with a pinch of The Doors (Ray's haunting that synth). Loving this![/quote]
YEA that cocktail bar! I'd like to play there.
I gotta check out Barry Adamson, he looks v cool in a picture on google which is a good start.
[quote=orangedrink]GUESS WHAT?
THE HORSEMAN NEIGHBOR IS ONE OF THOSE CREEPY MEN
NOT EVEN KIDDING, 100% REAL
I can't believe you play and sing at the same time. You are hella talented.
[/quote]
Thank you! Yea I can confirm the horseman goes to this bar.
[quote=agesixracer515]Great job
[/quote]
Thanks!
[quote=Devieus]I'm sure you can find an establishment that bans smoking.[/quote]
I can find one that bans smoking in a room that you get to by going through a bigger room where they are smoking twice as hard.
[quote=Q-Rosh]WOW!! Your performance is incredible. Every note fits, no mistakes. The sound of your epiano is so close to the originals. Your storytelling is enjoyable as always. Very very good job.[/quote]
Thank you! Yes, every note was exactly what was foretold that I shall play from the day I was born.
This e piano is the best sound I have ever played, they did a great job with it and the effects.
[quote=emu]This rules. The story unfolds so slowly, but the music keeps it interesting. I want somebody to make a flash animation to go along with it.
I like the bonus track a lot too! Reminds me of Raymond Scott + Jim Henson.[/quote]
thanks for listening to both! I'm glad I made them.
An animation would be amazing! at some point it will be fun to do some live action music videos for some of these too.
i'd be lulled to the bar by the lovely music but that creepy man would make me dip pretty fast & probably after i dumped a cocktail on him...
i don't belong here...
i'd be lulled to the bar by the lovely music but that creepy man would make me dip pretty fast & probably after i dumped a cocktail on him...
[img]https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.giphy.com%2Fmedia%2F11AgmaXzTegBnq%2F200.gif&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=01585f889ec2d862998fd227d6770445358d302dea4723e0055fb4be8744ae73&ipo=images[/img]
i don't belong here... ;)
[img]https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2F31.media.tumblr.com%2F070ee633a4f5bb42c36bf88c9c465ee8%2Ftumblr_mkc1efujkI1qe5qhuo1_500.gif&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=dad8796c86bb134f48ff97c14eef4fcbbbf8b1abcd431d4b31a36f13f3287db6&ipo=images[/img]
Dude, this is awesome. gotta tell you though, I wouldn't be sticking around that long if some creepy, starving, meat guy was eying me in a cocktail bar.
Dude, this is awesome. gotta tell you though, I wouldn't be sticking around that long if some creepy, starving, meat guy was eying me in a cocktail bar.
thanks again!
