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@@ -69,3 +69,17 @@ Here is a list of music I made, in reverse chronological order.
 
 I recorded the ukulele, did the vocals, and mixed them in Ardour. Result
 is an acoustic cover of "Early Sunsets Over Monroeville".
+
+## Choker
+
+I recorded this with my friend Ryan in August 2023 but I haven't got
+around to writing a blogpost
+
+## [This Song Will Uncure Your Depression](uncure-your-depression)
+
+![Album cover. Glass with residues of glued flyers. Title "this song will
+uncure your depression" and artist "Frederick Yin" handwritten in
+beige](img/uncure-your-depression/album-cover.jpg)
+
+My first attempt at actual composition. Involves synthesized equipments,
+bass, rapping, singing, and samples.
diff --git a/docs/music/uncure-your-depression.md b/docs/music/uncure-your-depression.md
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@@ -0,0 +1,323 @@
+# This Song Will Uncure Your Depression
+
+2023-10-31
+
+[Take Me To The Song](#tswuyd-final-export)
+
+Download The Song (still haven't settled on which CC license)
+
+- [.ogg, 2.6 MiB](https://fkfd.me/static/Frederick%20Yin%20-%20This%20Song%20Will%20Uncure%20Your%20Depression.ogg)
+- [.wav, 16 bit, 48 kHz, 36.7 MiB](https://fkfd.me/static/Frederick%20Yin%20-%20This%20Song%20Will%20Uncure%20Your%20Depression.ogg)
+
+## Motivation
+
+I enrolled in a hip hop songwriting course and need something for the
+final project. I also happened to participate in #looptober on <abbr
+title="short for fediverse">fedi</abbr> for the first time.
+
+On 2023-10-14, I came up with some beats, chords and a guitar solo,
+despite me not able to play guitar irl:
+
+<audio controls src="../img/uncure-your-depression/looptober-v1.ogg"></audio>
+
+It was fire so i added a couple more things
+
+<audio controls src="../img/uncure-your-depression/looptober-v2.ogg"></audio>
+
+The sample you hear at the beginning is recorded by me as I landed at DTW,
+Detroit, to begin my two years of study at UMich. I also added some pitch
+bend to the guitar.
+
+## Jamming Time
+
+On 2023-10-17, I recorded a bassline for the solo. This version is
+recorded at 0.5x and sped up because I invented the bassline literally 10
+minutes ago. In the final product however I made it 1:1.
+
+<audio controls src="../img/uncure-your-depression/solo-bassline.ogg"></audio>
+
+There's also this distorted fuzzy guitar sound:
+
+<audio controls src="../img/uncure-your-depression/fuzz-guitar.ogg"></audio>
+
+Of course, this is no real guitar. It's actually my bass with effects in
+[Guitarix](https://guitarix.org).
+
+I am genuinely pleased by myself. It is the first thing I'm proud of since
+the omurice I cooked on september 24.
+
+At this point it's getting serious. I'm actually thinking about making
+this a full song. Especially when my hip hop professor got sick and asked
+us to submit something online, which seems like the perfect chance to
+drain every joule of energy into this song. It's healthy I swear.
+
+Long story short, this is the thing that came out of LMMS on 2023-10-27:
+
+<audio controls src="../img/uncure-your-depression/lmms.ogg"></audio>
+
+![LMMS editor window. 19 tracks in total.](img/uncure-your-depression/lmms-editor.png)
+
+Meanwhile, I took some training to use a studio we have in the library.
+I made a reservation on Saturday morning, 2023-10-28.
+
+## Lyrics Time
+
+It is Friday evening. I just realized I don't have the lyrics.
+
+Prior to writing, I made several yes's and no's for myself.
+
+- don't be passive aggressive.
+- don't blame innocent people.
+- don't overuse STEM metaphors.
+- don't make people suicidal.
+- do acknowledge your vulnerability.
+- do make the lyrics genuine and relatable.
+- do allow double takes and liberal interpretations.
+- do misspell a word just to sound good.
+
+What do I need? Well, four verses, one prechorus, one chorus, and one
+bridge. (Spoiler: I couldn't come up with anything for the bridge.) Just
+need to throw in eighth notes and triplets until they rhyme.
+
+Did I stick to the rules? [Well…](#appendix-i-lyrics)
+
+<audio id="tswuyd-final-export" controls src="../img/uncure-your-depression/tswuyd-20231031.ogg"></audio>
+
+What you are listening to is the final product, produced on 2023-10-31.
+
+I did:
+
+- acknowledge my vulnerabilities
+- make lyrics genuine
+- misspell words
+- use computer jargon once
+- allow interpretations
+
+Actually, seven lines were taken from my "museum of garbage". It's a note
+on my phone. When my brain's garbage facility fabricates a sentence that
+sounds like a lyric, I put it here.
+
+However, it seems I have failed to not be passive aggressive. Everything
+I wrote sounds negative. This is sadly very common in bands I drew
+inspiration from, such as Linkin Park. I will try to make it more positive
+next time.
+
+## Studio Time
+
+Ironically I missed the bus from my apartment to the library, so I had to
+wait twenty minutes for the next one. Anyway, I got in the studio on time.
+There is a Focusrite Scarlett interface, which had a whopping four inputs.
+I only need one though. The mic is Shure SM-something, and it's not bad.
+The Scarlett is plugged into the Mac on the desk and is not supposed to
+rewired. I rewired it anyway.
+
+I would like to thank PipeWire and people who do kernel stuff for handling
+audio flawlessly. But amdgpu crashed twice.
+
+The studio had the exact same headphones I use at home which is nice.
+
+After a two hour session my throat hurts, but it's impressive I had enough
+productivity to finish this.
+
+## Bass Time
+
+We're back from the studio! Heading back home to record bass. Although I'm
+not good at using a pick, I did it anyway for the punch.
+
+See [appendix](#appendix-iii-bass-tabs) for tabs and audio
+
+## Mixing Time
+
+I do not want to go into details because it's all guesswork. I *guess*
+that's loud enough. I *guess* that's enough reverb. I do *not* enjoy
+mixing audio. I had a version on 2023-10-28 which I *thought* could work,
+but turned out too quiet. I had to use another whole bunch of compression
+to get it as loud as possible while not raping your ears.
+
+![Ardour editor window. There are 19 tracks total.](img/uncure-your-depression/ardour-editor.png)
+
+## Album Art
+
+![See description below](img/uncure-your-depression/album-cover.jpg)
+
+The background is the glass wall of the Central Campus Transit Center bus
+stop, the busiest place on campus. It was plastered with posters related
+to Israel-Palestine days prior, then scrubbed, leaving heavy residue.
+I took this picture on my way back from the studio. Incidentally, I saw
+the first election poster this year, on the back of the wall (not
+pictured). I feel this photo captures the theme of the song.
+
+## Reflections
+
+I like this song as a concept. I really put my musicussy into it, and it's
+as good as I can possibly achieve.
+
+I would rate the music 4 stars out of 5. The guitar solo is obviously the
+single best thing throughout, but the bass and drums are just as good.
+Some room for improvement:
+
+- More spicy chords
+- Variable tempo
+- Time changes
+- The bridge sounds out of place
+
+Lyrically, I would rate it 3.5 stars. While I will not reveal the intended
+meaning, it reflects a period of cultural shock and unease as I adapt to
+a new environment. As said earlier I have fallen into the "rant about
+everything" trap, completely neglecting the positives in life. However one
+thing's for sure: I have surpassed Green Day's latest single, ["The
+American Dream Is Killing Me"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1TDvy7djJg).
+
+Vocal is not my forte, so I'm not gonna be overcritical of myself.
+However, in my next song I could work on putting more emotion into the
+rapping.
+
+## Appendix I. Lyrics
+
+[Verse 1]  
+Due to unfortunate circumstances, I'm in Detroit  
+Fourteen hours in the air my legs don't feel great  
+The violent vibration is worsening my condition  
+There's no way I'm already out of UTC+8  
+  
+[Verse 2]  
+I never ask for help, the things under my belt  
+The shame when I depend, the pride let me do it again  
+But when I close my eyes, when I cuddle my blåhaj  
+I wish it was someone, someone make me warm inside  
+  
+[Prechorus]  
+Why am I not getting what I deserve?  
+You said the grades won't be on a curve  
+Look at my algo it's big O(no)  
+Well in fact never mind now I see why  
+I'd rather spend a night with Turing  
+Than the silicon I'm abusing  
+And the patience I'm losing  
+Shut it down, you see we're cruising  
+  
+[Chorus]  
+Will you be  
+At the party after another divide?  
+I can't afford  
+The dawn's early light, oh yeah  
+  
+[Verse 3]  
+I woke up late and I missed the bus (fuck)  
+I guess that just what happens when you don't have a car  
+The more I learned, the harder it become  
+Your self esteem-ate only goes so far  
+  
+[Verse 4]  
+I'm walking (I'm walking)  
+I'm walking by the willow trees and watching (I'm watching)  
+Watching out for the stupid geese  
+Und ich kann davon erzählen, wie die Schmerzen fangen an  
+因为我在太平洋另一面三万三刀学费的地方辗转流浪  
+  
+[Prechorus]  
+  
+[Chorus]  
+  
+[Bridge (Instrumental)]  
+  
+[Chorus]  
+
+## Appendix II. Chord progression
+
+[Intro, Verses]  
+Am G Am Dm (6x)  
+  
+[Prechorus]  
+Am G Em Am Bdim  
+Am G Em F  
+  
+[Chorus]  
+Am G Am Dm  
+Am G C Am  
+  
+[Solo]  
+Am C Bdim Am  
+C Dm Am Bdim  
+  
+[Bridge]  
+Am C Bdim Am  
+C Dm Am Am  
+Am C Bdim Am  
+C Dm Am Esus4  
+
+(I'm not actually sure. I kinda butchered around)
+  
+[Outro]  
+Am C Bdim Am  
+C Dm Am C
+
+## Appendix III. Bass tabs
+
+[Chorus 1]
+
+<audio controls src="../img/uncure-your-depression/bass-chorus1.ogg"></audio>
+
+```
+G --------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|
+D --------|--------|--------|0-0---0-|--------|--------|--------|--------|
+A 0---0--0|--------|0---0--0|--------|0---0--0|--------|3---3--3|0-0-----|
+E --------|3-3---3-|--------|--------|--------|3-3---3-|--------|--------|
+```
+
+[Chorus 2 & 3] (first seven bars are the same as 1)
+
+<audio controls src="../img/uncure-your-depression/bass-chorus2.ogg"></audio>
+
+```
+  8
+G |--------|
+D |2-0-----|
+A |----3-0-|
+E |--------|
+```
+
+[Solo]
+
+<audio controls src="../img/uncure-your-depression/bass-solo.ogg"></audio>
+
+```
+G --------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|
+D --------|--------|----0033|22220---|--------|--------|--------|--------|
+A 0000----|--------|--22----|-----330|00000000|22222233|--------|--------|
+E ----0-00|001-3333|11------|--------|--------|--------|0000000 |111 1---|
+                                                            \3_/ \3_/
+```
+
+## Appendix IV. Musical influences
+
+Lyrics mostly inspired by Linkin Park, Bill Wurtz and twenty one pilots
+
+"The dawn's early light" line came up while singing Green Day's "21st
+Century Breakdown" in the shower
+
+Rapping style inspired by Linkin Park and twenty one pilots
+
+Guitar solo at 2:50 unintendedly sounds like "Thank You For The Venom" by
+My Chemical Romance
+
+## Appendix V. Tools Used
+
+### Software
+
+- [LMMS](https://lmms.io): synth instruments
+- [Ardour](https://ardour.org): recording and production
+- [Guitarix](https://guitarix.org/): virtual amp
+- [Krita](https://krita.org/): album cover
+
+### Hardware (Studio)
+
+- Focusrite Scarlett 18i8
+- Shure SM-48
+- Audio-Technica ATH-M20x
+
+### Hardware (Home)
+
+- Behringer UMC22
+- Squier Affinity PJ bass
+- Audio-Technica ATH-M20x