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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) + + + +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 new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f5c8930 --- /dev/null +++ b/docs/music/uncure-your-depression.md @@ -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> + + + +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. + + + +## Album Art + + + +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 |
