this post was submitted on 29 May 2025
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c/musicmaking
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Ehehe I have to admit it's kinda hard to love your creations when the more you learn the more you hear what's wrong in them
would you be willing to share a bit of your work?
Of course! Here's some of my stuff.
https://iamhector.bandcamp.com/track/into-the-void
+ great chords
+ good mixing (I like how shoegazy the guitar sounds)
- the track, like all my stuff, is too short because I don't know yet how to finish a musical project (I'm currently trying to adress that)
https://on.soundcloud.com/zlIiICEVe5pljPN3ve
+ great souding simple which is also simple so I managed to layer another sample on top!
+ great sounding drums
- too repetitive; I didn't know how to extend it more or I didn't have the sounds to do the ear candy
https://on.soundcloud.com/8Unk7bT1Vjlj5ynTL4
+ great sound design for the synths
+ there's some effort for the arrangement
- shitty drums (repetitive, stale, badly mixed)
- the 808 doesn't hit at all, this is dark magic I swear
https://on.soundcloud.com/gyGaT1T3Y9Vcr0pahr
+ amazing sound design, pretty proud of this one
+ the rythm is so beautiful
- repetitive (the drums are so bad for this)
- didn't know how to expend it
- sounds way to busy and wide (bad mix, I didn't know what a clipper was at the time lol)
https://bsky.app/profile/khector.bsky.social
You can go on the video part to see all of my unfinished loops (well a tiny part but still)
Overall, everything doesn't sound quite right and finished, perpetually demo-ish. I gotta find better source material, learn more mixing concept, use simpler sound and layer them, etc..., etc... But this process is pretty hard because I'm quite tired at the moment with my job and everything
Thanks
Did you like some of them ?
Ok, so I have had some time to sit down with some headphones and listen to this stuff
When I said I listened to the first link first, I actually listened to the second. The second track linked, "Ain't No Love" gives off serious Nujabes vibes. It is a good little jam, and if someone likes Nujabes, they will likely like this. I didn't really see it as overly repetitive as you note, though I can see how you would feel that way. Maybe a little more variety with the vocal sample?
"Into the Void", when I first looked at the page, the look of it made me think this was going to be vaporwave. While I can see an argument that there are elements there, I think it sounds more influenced by acts that do more "dreamy" kinda sounds, Boards of Canada being the most well known. Not saying it sounds like them, it doesn't, just that there is an element of that blurry, dreamy, kinda thing. However, it has more energy, and the guitar synth(?), sample(?), just felt like it was nudge to the power nob that pushed it up a notch or two. I think I liked this one the best of them. I don't think it is too short, necessarily, however I do agree that work on track ending would benefit it.
"Spiritual Zenith" I largely agree with you on. It sounds mostly like you had an idea for synths and then tried adding drums to it, but with less care. Not saying the foundational idea of the drums' composition is like, bad, but definitely needs some work.
"Even if We Die We Gon Be Alright" This might be my second favorite of these. It sorta sitting there with Ain't No Love, as I do like Nujabes, so kinda a tie. This track hit this balance where it is the kind of thing that is great for listening to while focusing on something. My biggest critiques is that near the end it gets a bit repetitive, though the drop was done well. It also kinda feels like the first act of a larger composition. At least I kinda felt like it was going to transition into something else by the end.
But, yeah, that's my take on your tracks. Hope you find them useful, in some way.
This was super helpful to hear because it gives me a little confidence boost; if I keep putting the work in my music I might make something that people want to revisit ehehe
Those tracks are pretty old and I feel like I got so much better. Recently it got pretty hard to make music because now that I have more knowledge, it feels like I'm doing everything wrong.
What I want to learn onward is to iterate over a long time on the same musical piece and not have a short-lived effort! I want to be able to make several versions, experiment with the sound and the mixing!
The second part I would really move to master is being able to write more diverse chords ! I've been relying only on my ears so long (I've been blessed on this part), but the problem is that I only write the same chord and I'm not able to create those mesmerizing jazzy, wide chord progression.
Those 7th and 9th, I know how to write them individually using my ear but I don't know more: add9, sus4, perfect 5th etc... I don't know how to give purpose to my tracks and direction! I want to be able to read the roman numeral for chords and apply them creatively. Do you have any experience or tips on that?
unfortunately I do not. I used to know a lot of musicians and so I made a recording studio space in my house. I learned via editing, mixing, etc. for them, or with them. Though I was, fairly recently, taking piano, and music reading, lessons because my neurologist said learning new fine motor skills could drastically slow a neurological issue I have. Unfortunately that teacher kinda vanished on me. I am looking for a new one though, but not much money for it.
My friend that i linked you to is far more well versed in music. He is super busy, but I could ask if he would let someone pick his brain a bit. Don't count on that though, his life is chaotic. However, you are not bad, at all, and if this stuff isn't good compared to where you are now, then you are definitely decent. I personally suggest, if at all possible, lessons in some sort of instrument, and reading music. However, don't know if that is possible for you.
Keep at though, you are doing some good shit.
So far I have only had time to listen to one in an attentive way, the first link. I did like it, not exactly my style of music, but I don't understand where you get that it isn't very good. It sounds pretty well produced to me. I will get back to you when I get a chance to really listen to the rest of the stuff.
Listen to Genghis Tron and Yip-Yip. You’re welcome.