Skylander - My Fairlady

[Skylander]

It has been a long time since I've last posted my music here, but I had a valid reason for that

Firstly, I was busy with my personal stuff: graduation, new job as a financial auditor, love drama lol (not exactly a drama but a complicated sweet n sour love story heheh).

Secondly, I was struggling with writing this track. Yeah, it was that bad that it took me TWO FREAKING YEARS to finish the intro.

Background: two years ago my friend dared me to write a 90s Eurodance (it didn't have to be a full demo but some decent project). I don't have to say that I won lol. The project was 150 BPM, it featured jumpy sub bass and cheesy piano melody. Then I decided to work on it more to make it trancy. At some time I decided that 150 BPM is too fast and reduced it to 140. I changed piano to supersaw, made melody... less cheesy ahahahah, made a solid break, and voila, the main part of the song was ready. All that in span of three days. But intro... OH MY DAYS IT WAS PRODUCTION HELL... I hated myself for using solo sub for a baseline, and because of that nothing really worked with that bass. And on top of that I wanted to make an epic intro break. MY STUPID BRAIN. Anyway, now I've finally found the key to this song, and wrote this new intro within a week. Finally my torture is over, and you can finally hear the result of a BDSM session between me and my DAW. This track was inspired by Japanese racing games OST, especially Wangan Midnight: Maximum Tune. Perfect track for racing +300 kmph. And the name of the track? It was inspired by Nissan Fairlady Z, the title car fot the same WMMT game. Hope you'll like it!


But wait, here's more!

I am thinking to use this track as a B-side for another track of mine Tokyo Lights, but I'm not sure if it'd be great idea since those tracks have completely different styles despite common Japanese and racing roots, one is Anjunabeats style, another one is clear 90s. Tell me your thoughts about that guys!

 

[4strings]

honestly in my humble opinion the fairlady one is missing some female vocals, maybe Japananse or somthing iconic like many famous trance hits like Amsterdam ( smith & pledger) or Can't sleep by A&B. its amazing tho and if you may i downloaded it so i can listen to it more

 

[Hensmon]

Fairlady is quite good. It's not a style I gravitate towards today as a bit on the cheesey side for me, but can appreciate what you've done. The sound design is nice and I def hear the Japenese influence. Nice one.

As for Tokyo Lights, I always liked the melody in that one

Btw did you ever listen to the album Pleasure, by the Originators? Some of my favorite Japenese sounding trance.

 

[Skylander]

Fairlady is quite good. It's not a style I gravitate towards today as a bit on the cheesey side for me, but can appreciate what you've done. The sound design is nice and I def hear the Japenese influence. Nice one.

Thx for the feedback! Is there anything I can improve in that one?

As for Tokyo Lights, I always liked the melody in that one

Yeah I know that. I was just putting this as the reference. I just wanted to know whether they'd fit together in one EP release, since they have different styles

Btw did you ever listen to the album Pleasure, by the Originators? Some of my favorite Japenese sounding trance.

Never did, gotta have a listen to that one

 

[Hensmon]

Yeah I know that. I was just putting this as the reference. I just wanted to know whether they'd fit together in one EP release, since they have different styles

They definitely could. Back in the day you'd get release packages with a whole bunch of styles depending on the remixes. That's always nice imo. Even some of the TF Forum EPs weve put out can feel mixed.

 

[Skylander]

Btw, the concept art for a cover. Ofc made in AI so I won't use that, but this is something I imagine. Like a reference

 

[Skylander]

Btw did you ever listen to the album Pleasure, by the Originators? Some of my favorite Japenese sounding trance.

OH MY DAYS! I have just listened to one. This is pure and authentic J-Trance, thank you a lot for sending me this!

 

[Hensmon]

Maybe try something a little more abstract for the art?. I would search unsplash and other free image sites and see what you can crop in terms of more aesthetic and interesting angles. Showing a full car in a nighttime environment is just too literal and maybe a bit generic in my opinion.

You can then always take the crops and ask AI to apply to some processing for addition flair, i.e "make it night time", "add grain effect" "make it nostalgic". Here's very quick example. Maybe a bit too modern feeling due to how clean it is, but with some nostalgic tweaks could feel more like trance

 

[Hensmon]

OH MY DAYS! I have just listened to one. This is pure and authentic J-Trance, thank you a lot for sending me this!

Thanks to @Ishiro for introducing me to it last year. Btw, I spent months trying to find a download link for this so we can listen in 320kbps (or more), and had no luck. Luckily I found a seller in Japan who had one and bought the CD so should be arriving in a few weeks. Bit pricey but worth it. Once I upload digitally will make available.

 

[Skylander]

Maybe try something a little more abstract for the art?. I would search unsplash and other free image sites and see what you can crop in terms of more aesthetic and interesting angles. Showing a full car in a nighttime environment is just too literal and maybe a bit generic in my opinion.

You can then always take the crops and ask AI to apply to some processing for addition flair, i.e "make it night time", "add grain effect" "make it nostalgic". Here's very quick example. Maybe a bit too modern feeling due to how clean it is, but with some nostalgic tweaks could feel more like trance

View attachment 3360

I see. Will think about that, thx for the advice

 

[Magdelayna]

Nice track name! I have a Nissan 370Z

 

[Skylander]

Thanks to @Ishiro for introducing me to it last year. Btw, I spent months trying to find a download link for this so we can listen in 320kbps (or more), and had no luck. Luckily I found a seller in Japan who had one and bought the CD so should be arriving in a few weeks. Bit pricey but worth it. Once I upload digitally will make available.

That's the dedication! It's now safe to say you're a top G in Trance

 

[Skylander]

Nice track name! I have a Nissan 370Z

Then you MUST help me with EP cover /hj

 

[Skylander]

Btw @Hensmon , I’m still dreaming of having my tracks released on vinyl, but now I’m ready to take it one step at a time. So I guess the next thing to discuss is how I should proceed from here. Maybe we got to have Daz's approval first

 

[Ocean Ye]

Thanks to @Ishiro for introducing me to it last year. Btw, I spent months trying to find a download link for this so we can listen in 320kbps (or more), and had no luck. Luckily I found a seller in Japan who had one and bought the CD so should be arriving in a few weeks. Bit pricey but worth it. Once I upload digitally will make available.

I guess Ishiro has the lossless files. Actually, we have been listening to them on Chinese music platforms for about 7 months. Maybe you could ask him for a copy?

 

[Skylander]

I guess Ishiro has the lossless files. Actually, we have been listening to them on Chinese music platforms for about 7 months. Maybe you could ask him for a copy?

It's not needed anymore ig since Hensmon already bought CD

 

[Skylander]

Btw @Hensmon , I’m still dreaming of having my tracks released on vinyl, but now I’m ready to take it one step at a time. So I guess the next thing to discuss is how I should proceed from here. Maybe we got to have Daz's approval first

@Jetflag @Archon @LostLegend I'd also like to know your opinion on this guys

 

[Jetflag]

Just had a quick listen, here are my thoughs.

The ideas are definitely there and the concepts recognizable. thats a big plus! you keep things simple which is also good especially if you're going for a 90's vibe. The drive's and beats are effective. and the song keeps stuck in my head the first minutes after listening to it. which is a hallmark for a recognizable, good melody/ theme.


I would however, now, start putting more effort into some of the specific choices you make for sounds/ sound design.

Maybe its the VSTi's DAW youre using..(I don't know what your production setup is) but a lot of the key-sounds (the ones that have the melodic theme in them etc. ) almost sound too basic/borderline Casio keyboard presety. if you know what I mean. Which is something I think you could fairly easily improve upon.

The "airwave"strings you start off with in Fairlady could imo for instance do with more layering, less attack, more release, defo more reverb.. and in the tokyo Lights track…1:26 the sine sound for instance sounds very basic and could be polished up with additional delay/reverb or better yet a more full pluck sound.

There are currently great and even free plugins on the market who, without any additional effect plugins, sound naturally fitting for trance tracks on their own. (Stuff by The Usual Suspect for instance)

All and all good to hear from you on the music front and you picking up production again m8, nice going! Hope these tips help.^

 

[Skylander]

Thank you for the feedback! You really gave quite a detailed feedback

Maybe its the VSTi's DAW youre using..(I don't know what your production setup is) but a lot of the key-sounds (the ones that have the melodic theme in them etc. ) almost sound too basic/borderline Casio keyboard presety. if you know what I mean. Which is something I think you could fairly easily improve upon.

I used only Sylenth and JV-1080, DAW is FL Studio, easy to write old school trance here.

The "airwave"strings you start off with in Fairlady could imo for instance do with more layering, less attack, more release, defo more reverb.

This intro was meant to be orchestral, these were actual orchestra strings from JV-1080

and in the tokyo Lights track…1:26 the sine sound for instance sounds very basic and could be polished up with additional delay/reverb or better yet a more full pluck sound.

Yeah, I was thinking about that, but I was afraid that it might've ruined the mix so I refused from this idea

 

[erickUO]

Nice Outback-esque mid bass on Tokyo Lights