DJ Recharge - Land Of Shamans
- Thread starter Recharge
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Manofearth
Senior Member
- Sep 24, 2020
- 551 Posts
- 343 Thanked
Reminds me more of the 80's than the 90's, not just the sounds but the sort of happy go lucky feel it gives me. I think all the synths sound nice, also rich. But the track doesnt really have the flow, build or energy of a Trance track, its more house type music. The elements are the, the arrangements not so much.
- Sep 26, 2020
- 1,177 Posts
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- 40
I don't know what compelled me to write this part 2. Definitely feels more weird and surreal. The chords are as always my most weak point they feel too lopped but other than that I wouldn't want to change a thing about it.
Edit: fixing chords atm and adding more drum variety...
Edit: fixing chords atm and adding more drum variety...
Last edited:
LostLegend
Elite Member
*EDIT*
Just noticed you've posted a new one - this post is referring to the first track!
Some very strong ideas here (like your previous track)
Like the percussion, the deep kick works for this one.
Also digging the vocal sample, reminds me of Enigma - Return to Innocence.
As mentioned above, not a fan of the chord progression. I know you've mentioned you're looking at improving your music theory skills.
You should definitely concentrate on that. The first chord in the sequence actually sounds nice and works, but not a fan of how it continues after that.
I think it's an E major for the first chord?
I hope you don't mind, but I sampled a bit of your tune and tried a different basic chord progression just as an example of where you could go.
You could definitely take your music to the next level if you work on your chords/scales and melodies.
Here's what it sounds like:
www.dropbox.com
And here's notes:
You should definately keep working on this oldskool inspired stuff though, I think you are onto something stylistically.
Just noticed you've posted a new one - this post is referring to the first track!
Some very strong ideas here (like your previous track)
Like the percussion, the deep kick works for this one.
Also digging the vocal sample, reminds me of Enigma - Return to Innocence.
As mentioned above, not a fan of the chord progression. I know you've mentioned you're looking at improving your music theory skills.
You should definitely concentrate on that. The first chord in the sequence actually sounds nice and works, but not a fan of how it continues after that.
I think it's an E major for the first chord?
I hope you don't mind, but I sampled a bit of your tune and tried a different basic chord progression just as an example of where you could go.
You could definitely take your music to the next level if you work on your chords/scales and melodies.
Here's what it sounds like:
Dropbox - Error - Simplify your life
www.dropbox.com
And here's notes:
You should definately keep working on this oldskool inspired stuff though, I think you are onto something stylistically.
LostLegend
Elite Member
OK, now for this one.
I really like the part where you bring in that second vocal chant and percussion sample around 2 mins in, it's pretty sick! It also gives the track a more uplifting vibe.
The chord progression is better on this track also. The bass notes sound good, the chords are a little odd, but the synth sound you've used is quite ethereal sounding, so they kind of work in their own way.
If I'm being uber critical, I'd say you could really have pushed the vibe of the vocal chants and brought in some more ethnic styled percussion. Maybe some bongo/conga loops in there. The 808 style hihat sounds a bit robotic (which isnt always a bad thing) but I reckon some more organic sounding percussion could take this to the next level.
Nice work.
- Sep 26, 2020
- 1,177 Posts
- 702 Thanked
- Age
- 40
I am uploading the final version I might of ruined it a bit. Added 2 more samples, gave more variety in the chords with changes at the end at 16 bars instead of 8. That's why I am always hesitant to go back to change a song I am always starting messing more with the song rather than just simple fixes.
*EDIT*
Just noticed you've posted a new one - this post is referring to the first track!
Some very strong ideas here (like your previous track)
Like the percussion, the deep kick works for this one.
Also digging the vocal sample, reminds me of Enigma - Return to Innocence.
As mentioned above, not a fan of the chord progression. I know you've mentioned you're looking at improving your music theory skills.
You should definitely concentrate on that. The first chord in the sequence actually sounds nice and works, but not a fan of how it continues after that.
I think it's an E major for the first chord?
I hope you don't mind, but I sampled a bit of your tune and tried a different basic chord progression just as an example of where you could go.
You could definitely take your music to the next level if you work on your chords/scales and melodies.
Here's what it sounds like:
Dropbox - Error - Simplify your life
And here's notes:
You should definately keep working on this oldskool inspired stuff though, I think you are onto something stylistically.
I love that chords progressions it sounds so uplifting.
- Jun 27, 2020
- 4,426 Posts
- 3,387 Thanked
Nice one Rechage. You do have nice ideas and an unothordox approach, which is great. Pt when 2:45 drops in the with the flute I thought that was very cool and your use of vocals interesting...dont over do those elements tho, use them more detailed and cleverly. Also like the Pt 1 it seems a bit random with the structure, and that repetition of the elements isnt following any type of bars or build/release and actually it kind of all sounds the same througout the track, no real change in moods. Pt 3 is probably my favourite, love the vocal chants again. Each one is better than the last actually. I think back to your first post in the forum and you already made big improvements. Overal the thing you could work on the most is the different synths and instruments which still sound like a preset or kind of executed by a beginner, lacking polish. Thanks for sharing.
Ever heard of Deep Forest. This track below isnt really the same genre of what your trying to do but uses lots of ancient vocals and organic flutes
Ever heard of Deep Forest. This track below isnt really the same genre of what your trying to do but uses lots of ancient vocals and organic flutes
- Sep 26, 2020
- 1,177 Posts
- 702 Thanked
- Age
- 40
Thank you, I guess in time I will need to upgrade to better synths. Atm I use a vst synth called Podolski mostly because it's free, but also It gives me very deep old-school vibes, it basically screams 90's and I love it for that.
I know the structure might seem random, but you can probably write math problems with the way I structure my songs. Everything happens in a very robotic way, it's the kind of person I am. Now compared to them my stuff fells more robotic, something I am still working at phasing a bit. A lot of people say they are OCD, but I am proper OCD and it definitely shows in my songs. While I do the structure I have the song kind of on repeat. I add an section and most times I start listening the song from the beginning. I also love to take/add elements here and there and that's why it sounds confusing in some parts I guess. But I love repetition and that's the main thing that always drew me to trance. And I try to make all my song very trancelike.
Also sometimes I have a hard time putting the hype aside and need a few days for the song to sink in. I never even imagined when I started djing that I might end up writing music. Learning djing was very humbling experience, it took me forever to get at a point where I can say with pride I am a DJ, same for producing, I still feel like I am bad at it, so every time I write a decent song I get superhyped.
I have this process let's say for the 4 parts I spend 6/8 hours writing the songs, that means 1/2 hours which is not bad and I do most of the mixing at that point too. I follow a method from EDM tips where I write the song in a 8/16 bars loop, but for the structuring I spend anywhere from 6 to 12 hours on each song even with some rewrites in the next few days. Now I rarely go back and redo a song because of this My biggest fail. This was supposed to be my masterpiece but after redoing it more than 10 times I lost the original idea and started to even hate it. Now the song is not that bad, but I spend probably more then 200 hours on it and upon realising I lost a whole month on a very mediocre song it made me very sad, a month of my life that I will never have back. Compared to this my best song Rhythm Of Life took 4/5 hours with very few adjustments in the next week totaling to less than 8 hours.
Now the name I am not sure. The song too, but it's possible I heard them and mistaken them for Enigma. Still rediscovering a lot of the 90s. Funny thing a lot of people shun technology, but back then I was lucky to hear occasionally Enigma or Era and I loved their music. I also had a Vangelis cd and oh man did I loved listening to it. And now we have all the music in the world at our fingertips, a truly magical era...
Btw that's the cd I had 1492: Conquest of Paradise (album), absolute masterpiece....
Last edited:
- Sep 26, 2020
- 1,177 Posts
- 702 Thanked
- Age
- 40
The final chapter of my Land Of Shamans project and the most experimental one that took the longest. I sampled another flute sound from the pack I have but this time wrote my own melody with it, made my own clap loop, added so many little details , but still kept it short and simple.