My New Song: Inside Out

[Top Cat]

Just finished a new song Inside Out.

I'm just a retired guy having fun in his home studio wanting to share my musical ideas while I'm blessed to be able to.
Creating music is my release from this crazy world we live in and from the personal challenges we often have to face along the way.

Enough with the philosophizing already...lol
hope you enjoy and thank you for taking time to listen


Free Download in WAV format available,

[battema]

Nice! I like the chord shifts near the end in the coda in particular

Well done!

[Top Cat]

Nice! I like the chord shifts near the end in the coda in particular

Well done!

Thank you so much John. As a fan of your talent and music, I appreciate the positive feedback a lot.
A lot of times I'll continue playing while recording a finished part and improvise whatever feeling I have at the moment, and if it works then it's added, if not then nothing lost. That was one of the keeper moments.
Thanks again for listening, it means a lot to me.

[moecurlythanu]

As usual, I can't get Soundcloud links to play, and I'd really like to hear this, as I much like Top Cat's input on this forum.

[Top Cat]

As usual, I can't get Soundcloud links to play, and I'd really like to hear this, as I much like Top Cat's input on this forum.

Thank you so much for your kind words regarding my input, and trust me, the feeling is mutual.
I have a direct link to my Soundcloud and YouTube pages in my signature, so maybe try those and let me know what happens.The direct Soundcloud link will allow you to download the WAV file of this song(most of my other one's unfortunately were uploaded in mp3).
In the meantime moe, let me know if you can play this YouTube version.

[Rarebird]

Nice piece. A bit short.

[Top Cat]

Nice piece. A bit short.

Hi Renate, thanks for listening.
Well it doesn't clock in around 19 minutes like your new wonderful piece recently posted, composition for woodwinds, brass and synthesizers .

I abandoned my traditional intro, verse, chorus, repeat, end style of writing on this. The first half I wanted to be softer with the second part being different but the same(if that makes sense) and make it more powerful.
Years ago I would write 7 to 8 minute songs, but these days I believe less is more. Except in the case of your song which has quite a few different movements in the traditional sense.
thanks again.

[Rarebird]

Hi Renate, thanks for listening.
Well it doesn't clock in around 19 minutes like your new wonderful piece recently posted, composition for woodwinds, brass and synthesizers .

I abandoned my traditional intro, verse, chorus, repeat, end style of writing on this. The first half I wanted to be softer with the second part being different but the same(if that makes sense) and make it more powerful.
Years ago I would write 7 to 8 minute songs, but these days I believe less is more. Except in the case of your song which has quite a few different movements in the traditional sense.
thanks again.

My piece is also based on 'less is more'.

[Top Cat]

My piece is also based on 'less is more'.

yes it is, and that's one of the things I love about it.

[Buddhabreath]

Nicely produced and crafted TC, but is it prog? <ducks head>

[Top Cat]

Nicely produced and crafted TC, but is it prog? <ducks head>

no, not really, at least I don't think it is. So I definitely agree with your assessment but I've struggled to define it's genre, as well as most of my backlog.
In fact my last song Hold On I listed as Soft Rock, but I honestly don't know how to list it, and I sincerely would appreciate some help on where it should go.
So please, help me out, ok? I'd love nothing better than to change the tag on Soundcloud to how listener's perceive it.
I appreciate your honesty, and thank you for listening and for your compliments.

[Rarebird]

no, not really, at least I don't think it is. So I definitely agree with your assessment but I've struggled to define it's genre, as well as most of my backlog.
In fact my last song Hold On I listed as Soft Rock, but I honestly don't know how to list it, and I sincerely would appreciate some help on where it should go.
So please, help me out, ok? I'd love nothing better than to change the tag on Soundcloud to how listener's perceive it.
I appreciate your honesty, and thank you for listening and for your compliments.

It's rockmusic, I wouldn't care if it's prog or not. If it sounds good, what does the label prog add?

[Buddhabreath]

^^^

I agree, I was being snarky of course. Great music or great rock need not be "progressive". But taking TC's request seriously I would say Pop Rock. Now that is not at all a pejorative term. If we look at the Wiki definition under the Rock Genres entry:

Pop rock (also typeset as pop/rock[4]) is rock music with a greater emphasis on professional songwriting and recording craft, and less emphasis on attitude.

- that seems to reasonably fit the bill for the above track. Of course IMO.

[Top Cat]

It's rockmusic, I wouldn't care if it's prog or not. If it sounds good, what does the label prog add?

I agree totally. I only used progressive rock tag as it's all I really listen to, and I always felt my music is softer than rock, which I tend to think of with a harder edge, such as Aerosmith(who I like). Soft Rock sounded too fluffy. Since I wasn't selling it and it's just a hobby for me, I just used Prog Rock as a default setting.

^^^

I agree, I was being snarky of course. Great music or great rock need not be "progressive". But taking TC's request seriously I would say Pop Rock. Now that is not at all a pejorative term. If we look at the Wiki definition under the Rock Genres entry:



- that seems to reasonably fit the bill for the above track. Of course IMO.

Pop Rock, I think that's a great choice and I have no problem using that tag. Lyrics wise I tend to get a little deeper than most pop rock I can think of, but musically I think I come up with melodic phrases that can be earworms and easy on the ear.

And to be told "nicely produced and crafted" is a great compliment..

[moecurlythanu]

Hi Top Cat, apologies for not getting back to this thread sooner. I was able to play the YT video, as well as download the track from Soundcloud.

Nicely done. I do get your Soft Rock reference, but beefing up the bottom end some would help take care of that. Nice feel to the track though, and well executed.

[Top Cat]

Hi Top Cat, apologies for not getting back to this thread sooner. I was able to play the YT video, as well as download the track from Soundcloud.

Nicely done. I do get your Soft Rock reference, but beefing up the bottom end some would help take care of that. Nice feel to the track though, and well executed.

No worries, I appreciate every listen, comment and suggestion.
I agree about the low end, especially in the second half. I used my Korg Arp Odyssey for the bass and was going for a synth bass pedal sound. The original bass sounded rather muddy, so I used a bit of eq on the track to clean it up, perhaps a bit too much and I could probably raise the level a bit more.

I think the drum patterns I choose sometimes(especially first half) is an area I need to improve. This is my first song with EZ Drummer and the library of patterns I got with it is very limited. I also have Addictive Drums to use if I want.
I'm also using new recording software, Presonus Studio One Artist instead of my regular Cubase, and I'm in the process of learning my way around on this song. I've also been studying a lot of tutorials on YT for mixing. This is the first time I've used compression(Waves Chris Lord Algae Mix plug in) on the main out for exporting the song's final mix and master.

I will definitely be removing the Prog Rock tag and in the future tag each new song on a individual basis.

Thank you again for listening and for your kind comments and suggestion.

[mozo-pg]

I have no musical talent whatsoever so I admire your ability to create new music.

[Top Cat]

I have no musical talent whatsoever so I admire your ability to create new music.

Thank you mozo, I appreciate your comment.
I have no training,other than banging on a piano my dad had when I was growing up. When I went to Vietnam in 1968 I bought a cheapo acoustic guitar at K Mart of all places and carried it everywhere I went. I was fortunate to have a guy who knew how to play and showed me a few chords.
I've been plugging away at it ever since and when affordable 4 track cassette decks became available I've been recording.

My wife who is great at art has wanted a inexpensive keyboard to just play around with. I got her one for Christmas, a Casio for $55 and it's even PINK!! lol But it has a bunch of instruments and drum patterns in it. So that might be something you might want to try(they have other colors besides Pink), just to have fun with, no experience necessary. Or software like Garageband supports backing tracks already pre-made.
I'm certain you excel at something else, life has a way of equalizing things out.

thanks again

[mozo-pg]

Thank you mozo, I appreciate your comment.
I have no training,other than banging on a piano my dad had when I was growing up. When I went to Vietnam in 1968 I bought a cheapo acoustic guitar at K Mart of all places and carried it everywhere I went. I was fortunate to have a guy who knew how to play and showed me a few chords.
I've been plugging away at it ever since and when affordable 4 track cassette decks became available I've been recording.

My wife who is great at art has wanted a inexpensive keyboard to just play around with. I got her one for Christmas, a Casio for $55 and it's even PINK!! lol But it has a bunch of instruments and drum patterns in it. So that might be something you might want to try(they have other colors besides Pink), just to have fun with, no experience necessary. Or software like Garageband supports backing tracks already pre-made.
I'm certain you excel at something else, life has a way of equalizing things out.

thanks again

Yes, I remained impressed! Who knows, I could surprise myself. Thanks for the information.

[Rarebird]

Thank you mozo, I appreciate your comment.
I have no training,other than banging on a piano my dad had when I was growing up. When I went to Vietnam in 1968 I bought a cheapo acoustic guitar at K Mart of all places and carried it everywhere I went. I was fortunate to have a guy who knew how to play and showed me a few chords.
I've been plugging away at it ever since and when affordable 4 track cassette decks became available I've been recording.

My wife who is great at art has wanted a inexpensive keyboard to just play around with. I got her one for Christmas, a Casio for $55 and it's even PINK!! lol But it has a bunch of instruments and drum patterns in it. So that might be something you might want to try(they have other colors besides Pink), just to have fun with, no experience necessary. Or software like Garageband supports backing tracks already pre-made.
I'm certain you excel at something else, life has a way of equalizing things out.

thanks again

I still have an old Fostex X15, somewhere in a drawer.
Before I had that I worked with a tapedeck and a cassettedeck.

[Top Cat]

I still have an old Fostex X15, somewhere in a drawer.
Before I had that I worked with a tapedeck and a cassettedeck.

Several years ago I picked up a excellent/mint condition Tascam 246 4 track Porta Studio on ebay for $250. The seller bought it at an estate but it wouldn't play. I bought a new belt and it worked great. Then I pulled it out of storage last year and it started eating my tapes, so I took it in to Pro Audio in Tampa and they replaced the tire and did some lubrication stuff and it works great.
I keep it around since I find it a work of beauty when I look at it, and in case I want to do some minimal analog stuff. I also have a ReVox A77 2 track reel to reel here in the home studio. Love the direct drive it uses, no belts to worry about and marvel at the engineering ReVox used.
My Tascam 246.jpg
TASCAM 246

[Rarebird]

Several years ago I picked up a excellent/mint condition Tascam 246 4 track Porta Studio on ebay for $250. The seller bought it at an estate but it wouldn't play. I bought a new belt and it worked great. Then I pulled it out of storage last year and it started eating my tapes, so I took it in to Pro Audio in Tampa and they replaced the tire and did some lubrication stuff and it works great.
I keep it around since I find it a work of beauty when I look at it, and in case I want to do some minimal analog stuff. I also have a ReVox A77 2 track reel to reel here in the home studio. Love the direct drive it uses, no belts to worry about and marvel at the engineering ReVox used.
My Tascam 246.jpg
TASCAM 246

That is really nice stuff. I have an old tapedeck I got from a friend of my dad. Don't really use it much, only to play tapes with my really old stuff. I mostly us two tracks of a Korg D1200mkII

[klimbo]

^^^

I agree, I was being snarky of course. Great music or great rock need not be "progressive". But taking TC's request seriously I would say Pop Rock. Now that is not at all a pejorative term. If we look at the Wiki definition under the Rock Genres entry:Bluestacks Kodi Lucky Patcher



- that seems to reasonably fit the bill for the above track. Of course IMO.

completely agree with you you are said all things

[Top Cat]

completely agree with you you are said all things

Thank you klimbo and thank you buddhabreath. I've since updated my tags for most of my songs on Soundcloud to Pop Rock.
I don't care what it's tagged really. Tagging it Progressive Rock may just have been a case (to use an analogy)of the picture floating around social media of the kitten looking in the mirror and seeing a Lion. lol

I would like to thank everyone who has taken time out of your busy life to listen to my song. I realize not everyone will like it or my music in general, and that's fine, it's just the nature of things. It's something I have to do to let my feelings out. I've always said if I post a song and it connects with just one other person in the world than I'm happy.

Thank you again
TC

Kitten looking in mirror.jpg

[moecurlythanu]

It's a nice song, TC. Please don't take any mild criticism here as a slam, and definitely don't let it curb your enthusiasm.