Bobby Summa - Flower [WIP]

Bobby Summa

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Sep 7, 2022
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Attempt at a deep house trance style. Ive never been able to get that sound and its one of my favourite styles. Anjunadeep style etc.

Closest Im getting is this latest WIP started yesterday. 7 hours work so far. 4 mins track presently but probably structure to add to
whats already been made, (whats there)

Is it a promising?
Does it have potential?

Flower.
 
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Daysleeper

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The sound is good. Musically its a bit dull imo. It depends if you just want to nail a certain productionstyle or if you want a more eloborate arrangement with more interesting song-structure and development ideas? If you just want this sound but make it a little bigger/longer I suggests just adding some more elemetns to the already exisiting arrangement/sound ideas without any form of break or middle ection, just play with the dynamics. Like removing/re-attach/build on the already exisiting pad/melody/fx/choirs. You already did that half-way through, but it just fades out instead of rebuilds. It should be done with subtlety in mind though, if you just want to expand a little on the already exisiting arrangement. This sound is often just building up to a one-section 6-7min piece with a minor soft:er "crescendo" and fading out. This style of sound is more like 2010-2015 anjunadeep I would say. Eieher just add a minibreak, and just add the already existing arrangement or build/add something to the already exisiting one without any form of break, and just add a proper intro maybe?

I mean, its hard to citique. It depends what you intentions with the track/s are.

tracks that come to mind to look into:



 

Bobby Summa

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Thank you man. Great advice. Will check those tracks out. Yeah its kinda supposed to be a relaxing uplifting mellow track so mustn’t have any drastic structural fx builds etc. (I think you’re saying this)

The creative process flowed very quickly and easily for me when starting this. 7 hours is good for me to get this far in a track (and 1.5 hours of that was wasted refining something because the synth was being odd. - I scrapped it and used a different one

I will off course lengthen it and master. Plus a few tweaks to whats there.

As I usually do long intros, i chose not too but i can try one.

As far as intention. I often leave that flexible and see what works or go with my feeling on that day. There can always be mixes / re mixes
 
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Daysleeper

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That intro is cool bug way too ambititous and too disconnected to the rest öf track. I think this track just need a stucture and buils like the tracks i posted above
 
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Bobby Summa

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That intro is cool bug way too ambititous and too disconnected to the rest öf track. I think this track just need a stucture and buils like the tracks i posted above
Yeah i was wandering if it really fit. Think il cut it and make a different track out of it . The vibe is dark for the intro so doesn’t fit i think your saying.
Incidentally do you like the Anjunadeep style? I wish it had a propper genre , not just anjunadeeep as thats a label. I see comparisons with some anjunadeep stuff and things like sebastian leger. I mean sometimes there are clear differences but sometimes similarities. I don’t think his stuff has a clear genre name either. (Not that i like genre - ing music but just for communication purposes it has to be done
 
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Daysleeper

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Incidentally do you like the Anjunadeep style?
I would call it either hipster coffe-house/ indie-house /nordic house / uk house /chill-house? It all have these home-made plastic mugs/kitchen utensils hitting/rattling/brushing/tapping percussion, acoustic "woody" type of kicks and basses thats utra-processed and clean. Simple one-dimensional rhytmic patterns, maybe a off-beat housey bass sometimes.The anjunadeep we have these days I feel is heavily influnced by 2010's hipster/indie beard/mustache coffe culture and indiebands but also uk/us pop singer-songwriter adele:ish type of vocal style. OFC this is not the only style they have signed these days, but still a big chunk is still in this style. I dont follow the label like a slave though. I dont know which style you refer to explicitly? The track you working on here reminds me mostly of like specific tracks from like 2009-2013 anjunadeep or more like the label spring tube/pre silk melodic prog(?) but its almost a little too "trancy" "new-agey"or dreamy for anjunadeep standards I feel. The style you have here would not (sorry) be signed to anjuna these days. Now when I hear this its actually not far from deadmau5 more mellow tracks from 2008-2010, that style. I could pinpoint it even more. It sounds like a bit of deadmau5,a bit of PROFF coupled with softer tingly "flowery" chord/notes from example THIS

I was a bit indecesive when they changed their genreformula back in..when was it? Post 2010 atleast. Back in the late 2000s i was mostly (still, but also frustrated with the trance-scene) into anjunabeats "trance" so didnt really care too much about the anjunadeep comps back then, but I remember there was sort of a split in 2011-2014 when they went from more bouncy late 2000s bouncy proggy electro-house "trancy" stuff to this slower more indie-house style.
 
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Hensmon

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This sounds really nice. You do have a great skill at putting beautiful sounds together and in an interesting way. But as usual my feedback is on structure/arrangement, sharing same thoughts as Daysleeper. Often your tracks build but dont come to anything and then fade out. You should follow the basic principle of intro, build-up, break, climax, build-down, outro, even just as a basic starting point. Currently you just make really nice 5 minute build-ups but dont release or lead to anything new or with a clear identity. All your tracks are atmospheric feeling so why not try a really characterful breakdown in that matter. Dont be scared to change direction in your tracks.

Around 4:40 when you change to outro mode, is actually when you should be swithing to break/climax mode, where the main idea of your track shines through.

I agree the intro is a little disconnected from the main section of the track, but its very nice. I like that it has a more gritty little synth and feeling in it, which would actually work well in the main track as a point of contrast to the more soft light stuff, if you can make that work.
 
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Bobby Summa

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This sounds really nice. You do have a great skill at putting beautiful sounds together and in an interesting way. But as usual my feedback is on structure/arrangement, sharing same thoughts as Daysleeper. Often your tracks build but dont come to anything and then fade out. You should follow the basic principle of intro, build-up, break, climax, build-down, outro, even just as a basic starting point. Currently you just make really nice 5 minute build-ups but dont release or lead to anything new or with a clear identity. All your tracks are atmospheric feeling so why not try a really characterful breakdown in that matter. Dont be scared to change direction in your tracks.

Around 4:40 when you change to outro mode, is actually when you should be swithing to break/climax mode, where the main idea of your track shines through.

I agree the intro is a little disconnected from the main section of the track, but its very nice. I like that it has a more gritty little synth and feeling in it, which would actually work well in the main track as a point of contrast to the more soft light stuff, if you can make that work.
Cool. I actually thought of putting the echoed distorted klangy middle eastern like bell sound from the intro later on too in the main section. Also wandered about making the vocal more distuned or darker.

I really have to thoroughly study structure and arrangement. It would be a shame if my assets of sound design and atmospheric creation were always let down by weak structures and thus, not releasing tracks that ‘could’ be good if that aspect was a lot better. I just have to listen, learn and experiment. But also cut and paste other artists tracks into my daw and pay proper attention to it. Although that feels a bit un creative. It is however worth it as theres no use having a really good track atmosphere created if it doesn’t end the story properly. Il have to change my feelings of what a track should do. As im confident enough in my other abilities and am told i have hyper focus, i should be able to apply the right attention. With the will to want to succeed in making great music, i should be able to shift my values towards the structure and arrangement. Incidentally I’ve just signed Daysleeper up for free coffee at a boutique coffee bar in Shureditch. Im sure he will appreciate it. 😉
 
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Bobby Summa

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I would call it either hipster coffe-house/ indie-house /nordic house / uk house /chill-house? It all have these home-made plastic mugs/kitchen utensils hitting/rattling/brushing/tapping percussion, acoustic "woody" type of kicks and basses thats utra-processed and clean. Simple one-dimensional rhytmic patterns, maybe a off-beat housey bass sometimes.The anjunadeep we have these days I feel is heavily influnced by 2010's hipster/indie beard/mustache coffe culture and indiebands but also uk/us pop singer-songwriter adele:ish type of vocal style. OFC this is not the only style they have signed these days, but still a big chunk is still in this style. I dont follow the label like a slave though. I dont know which style you refer to explicitly? The track you working on here reminds me mostly of like specific tracks from like 2009-2013 anjunadeep or more like the label spring tube/pre silk melodic prog(?) but its almost a little too "trancy" "new-agey"or dreamy for anjunadeep standards I feel. The style you have here would not (sorry) be signed to anjuna these days. Now when I hear this its actually not far from deadmau5 more mellow tracks from 2008-2010, that style. I could pinpoint it even more. It sounds like a bit of deadmau5,a bit of PROFF coupled with softer tingly "flowery" chord/notes from example THIS

I was a bit indecesive when they changed their genreformula back in..when was it? Post 2010 atleast. Back in the late 2000s i was mostly (still, but also frustrated with the trance-scene) into anjunabeats "trance" so didnt really care too much about the anjunadeep comps back then, but I remember there was sort of a split in 2011-2014 when they went from more bouncy late 2000s bouncy proggy electro-house "trancy" stuff to this slower more indie-house style.
Man. Did you just compare my sound to deadmau5. ? ☺️ 😊 I flippin love his atmospheric stuff like polaris and strobe. I do get your disdain for anjunadeep. I do. But I don’t like to be distracted by others who might like things for stupid reasons. So although im not a hipster i do like much anjunadeep. But we all like things for different reason’s. I don’t quite have the energy right now ( get exhausted a lot recently) to describe it brilliantly but will try. Although i think the anjunadeep your less critical about is my favourite anjunadeep era. But in reality i dont follow too much of any one genre/style. I like so many styles. (And maybe thats a problem when it comes to my productions in one way, but also a help in a different way.

Some Anjunadeep has a nice un-intrusive relax to it with great atmosphere and layers. Actually maybe a better example of a flowy atmospheric dance/electronic trance inspired thing is something from the In Search Of Sunrise albums. I think its vol 16 which at moments nails it for me. And is better than much anjuna. I just from whatever style i cant catagorise fairly get such a beautiful supporting accompaniment to various emotions triggered by the music of the tracks like this i like that its pretty in-describable if done right. Ie a ‘few’ of those on here. Something about the floaty atmospheres created by various fx.
Il check the track you linked tomorrow. Now its Sleep time.

 
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Bobby Summa

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I might actually have to attribute my synesthesia for some of the music i like. For example. Seeing every tone of a vocalists voice ( and all sounds) as a colour and shape probably has a reaction with my emotions.
 

Daysleeper

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Man. Did you just compare my sound to deadmau5. ? ☺️ 😊 I flippin love his atmospheric stuff like polaris and strobe. I do get your disdain for anjunadeep. I do. But I don’t like to be distracted by others who might like things for stupid reasons. So although im not a hipster i do like much anjunadeep. But we all like things for different reason’s. I don’t quite have the energy right now ( get exhausted a lot recently) to describe it brilliantly but will try. Although i think the anjunadeep your less critical about is my favourite anjunadeep era. But in reality i dont follow too much of any one genre/style. I like so many styles. (And maybe thats a problem when it comes to my productions in one way, but also a help in a different way.
Dont get me wrong, I dont really have a disdain/hate for it. I do listen once in a while when the mood fits, for their current catalog/releases aswell. I just like to analyse stuff :)

"Incidentally I’ve just signed Daysleeper up for free coffee at a boutique coffee bar in Shureditch. Im sure he will appreciate it. 😉"

Thanks, haha, im in!
 
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Daysleeper

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All your tracks are atmospheric feeling so why not try a really characterful breakdown in that matter.
which would actually work well in the main track as a point of contrast to the more soft light stuff
I dont think so, this track doesnt need a typical 00-era trance structure or big break. its just about working with what will work here. this track should just be built as the tracks i posted above IMO, in a sort of modern tech-housey structure. instead of typcial break it could just work with stripping the elements in the midsection and just have the vox pad doing something and then build up the already exisiting elements from the first section again, but just with a new stab,fx,drumfill,texture,melody etc.
 
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erickUO

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If I ignore the intro, the rest of track already sounds like climax and outro.
You could just build what comes before it and... done hehe
 
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Bobby Summa

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Thanks guys…decisions decisions.

Incidentally. Ive just bought some very small speakers for my ‘cupboard of creativity’ 🥰. I will post a picture soon in the studio pictures thread (not here so as not to piss off @Gagi )🧑‍💼 - (thats an admin / manager emoji)

It’s lovely using speakers again! I think it will help. My ears were getting issues as i have headphones on Sooooooooo much!
 

Hensmon

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this track doesnt need a typical 00-era trance structure or big break

For sure, think we are on the same page. Like in Nordfold track you shared at 3:00 the track has a break with the atmospheric/synthy elements, some of them develop a little more musically in this period, then comes back in again with percussion. Lasts about 45 secs. That's kind of break i'm talking about. The level of expression within that time could be as subtle or outspoken as desired, the latter could help the track be more musical but agree may not be needed.
 
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