TA is at it again with a new darker rock tune...

Sup ATSers,
Here is a brand new dark, Ozzy-like rock tune I just released. It is called The Sooner The Better and can be heard on Youtube here:
www.youtube.com...

It incorporates a very rarely heard drum fill in quintuplets, which you might find interesting.

Figured I'd post it here seeing as for a lot of years I have shared and listened to a lot of ATSer's music.

I hope everyone is doing well!

TA

that took me back. it reminded me a little of early deep purple and uriah heep. i liked it.

a reply to: TrueAmerican

Is this all you? or do you have a band?

I love the lofi sound, so easy on the ears!


A metal band I used to play in,

Thanks you guys!

And yes, as is my style, I did everything on this tune, including all instruments, vocals, recording, mixing, and mastering. I got a little home studio I mess with, and have for years. I'm just a dabbler! But it's a lot of fun for me.

And umm, your video did not play back....might recheck your url?

And if you liked that one, here is another more pop/rock type tune I did a couple years ago that I don't think I ever posted here:
www.youtube.com...

fixxed

do you do your drums live? or do you program them?


i really like how you mix/master, it has a dream like quality to it all, so refreshing.

originally posted by: wheresthebody
fixxed

do you do your drums live? or do you program them?


i really like how you mix/master, it has a dream like quality to it all, so refreshing.

Oh yeah, I'm pretty much a purist, all live drums, live guitars, bass, and keys...

And that tune of yours is cool! Cool video too. That is one kick ass drummer you got on that song!

a reply to: TrueAmerican

I can't listen now lest I wake my wife and newborn but I will later.

What's your studio setup?

I like to record "program material" which is sometimes music and sometimes "other". I use a Yamaha AW1600 as my multitracker and have a rolling 20U rack with outboard pre-amps and compressors. The AW1600 is a "studio-in-a-box" unit made in 2005 (iirc) just before computer recording became the standard. If you can imagine running ProTools on an old Commodore computer, that's what the AW1600 is.

a reply to: TrueAmerican

Thanks, he's been my main musical compadre for over 20 years now, through psychedelic, metal, rock, country, pop, noise, I've been pretty spoiled having him around.

Do you ever do collaborations?

DictionaryOfExcuses:

Yes, am familiar with that unit! I am pretty much Reaper all the way on a beast computer with a zillion plugins, and a Midas Venice F32 as my board/32 channel interface. Extremely powerful yet pretty compact setup! I run all mix stems out and sum through the Midas.

wheresthebody:

Yep, be interesting if you played him this tune without saying a word, and see if he catches those quintuplets! That fill should make him pause, and say "Wait a minute... what was that???" He's clearly an accomplished ripping drummer.

And yes have done collaborations, but I simply find it easier and quicker to do stuff myself... Been at it forever.

a reply to: TrueAmerican


Whee! TrueAmerican!

You are really an artist

Is this like a "hobby" thing you do just to have fun, or is there any commercial channels open, record labels interested or something like that?

originally posted by: Finspiracy
a reply to: TrueAmerican


Whee! TrueAmerican!

You are really an artist

Is this like a "hobby" thing you do just to have fun, or is there any commercial channels open, record labels interested or something like that?

Yeah, pretty much a hobby, and I make extremely little from any of my music. So obviously any direct downloads from CD Baby are very appreciated!
store.cdbaby.com...

Record labels? haha, lord no, I don't consider my music to be that worthy. Never even approached one. Instead, I release it myself, and make next to nothing. It's still better than being abused by music industry wolves!

originally posted by: TrueAmerican

Record labels? haha, lord no, I don't consider my music to be that worthy.

I wouldn't put it that way. There are plenty of low quality artists and bands who have record deals. And you are not low quality. But somehow i sense that the process of making the music, and then listening the final product, is what gives you the greatest reward.

originally posted by: Finspiracy

originally posted by: TrueAmerican

Record labels? haha, lord no, I don't consider my music to be that worthy.

I wouldn't put it that way. There are plenty of low quality artists and bands who have record deals. And you are not low quality. But somehow i sense that the process of making the music, and then listening the final product, is what gives you the greatest reward.

Lol, of course, cause it darn sure ain't the money, cause there is practically none. Would be nice, but nah, it is a challenge. Every tune is a challenge. And takes work and persistence in experimenting with riffs, licks, melodies, arrangements, parts, and overall sound. But yeah, there is nothing cooler than when it's done and you can look and listen back with a sense of accomplishment!

a reply to: TrueAmerican

I forgot to come back and listen yesterday. But I just finished the song over at youtube. I have serious respect for your abilities.

How long does a project like this take you, start to finish?

originally posted by: DictionaryOfExcuses
a reply to: TrueAmerican

I forgot to come back and listen yesterday. But I just finished the song over at youtube. I have serious respect for your abilities.

How long does a project like this take you, start to finish?

Of course, songs vary. But the last couple, from blank sheet of paper to finished master about 30 - 40 hours per song. A lot of rewriting takes place as I edit and re-edit lyrics, replace, rearrange, mix, remix, but most of all: experiment. Experiment with melody. That's CRITICAL! Experiment with parts. Experiment with arrangement of parts in the song.

This one started with writing the lyrics and getting them pretty done, then writing a base chord progression, then expanding on it. Then came the top guitar parts, before ever writing any vocal melodies. I pretty much invented the top end guitar part chords, and they are finger-stretchers, for sure. But the SOUND of them against the base distorted rhythm parts then gave me and sort of directed ideas for where the melodies should go. First came the chorus, and then the verses and prechoruses.

Doing other things like first putting down a simple drum part to MIDI in Reaper from my Kronos keyboard let me work up those other parts, and once an arrangement was complete, only then did I mess with tracking the real drums in one full take. I basically had 95% of the track finished before the first vocal melody was ever experimented with. And of course then I spent hours and hours playing with vocal melodies until I came up with what you hear. I find it is real important to record all ideas as you try them, because if you don't those ideas will be gone forever the next day.

Thanks for the compliments!