[Sketch] Swiftly (Sounds: Piano, Bells)

The progression of a thought. 

This nice loop-able piano sound. It’s a music doodle that was made a couple weeks ago and I came back again today to look at its unfinished potential. What’s very interesting to note is that each note here was input manually with mouse one by one here, and I think that it sounds pretty fluid for something that’s not being played on the piano. (Then again, I forget to mention that almost all my songs are input with a mouse regardless.)

(Marble) 

Everything is in the subtleties.

It’s a very short and simple doodle I made for the purpose of learning more about Ableton’s [my music program] functions and capabilities. It turned out ambient and sort of experimental. I kind of like it actually. I’ve been listening to a lot of these kind of sounds lately, and I realized Ableton’s potential is just sitting — dormant, in water — if I half-use everything without understanding the possibilities it could bring. On the plus side, I think I did some new things in this doodle alone.

I’ve been unknowingly (or knowingly) conforming and limiting myself to a songwriter ballad-type genre for a long while, so I haven’t been writing lyrics lest I end up as your stereotypical image of a songwriter. But — there’s more to that (and me, at least I hope so), and just knowing that there’s something out there to explore on my own means that it’s time to pull out of the comfort zone. One day, I’ll hopefully develop a unique and individual style, something that’ll make people go, “Oh, wow. That’s definitely Soulfully’s sound.”  For now, I search and I create. 

— Ch. 2: Storybook by Soulfully —

Walking around your whole life, got a story to tell
Before we say farewell
Follow along as you flip through the pages
Look at your imperfectly frayed edges
Take another look, you’re a storybook 

Try to erase the doodled daydreams, fix your broken seams
You tear and pages are falling 
But you know that there’s something you need
Yearning for The One to sit down and read
Take another look, you’re a storybook

Your life spent bound, but now you’re found
Choking dust surrounds, where even silence drowned
Your whole world has been monochrome
Only now you drip with color tones
Take another look, you’re a storybook

Read More -->

Everyone has a story to tell. This is a very simple and short acoustic-type song written in dedication to the people that come from all walks of life. 

— Additional Notes —

— Download —

backward.. drawkcab? #33/1000 

This is definitely one of those weirder things I’ve done, so expect weirdness with a bit of pleasantly interesting. I decided to take my voice and edit it to this unrecognizable state, well at least from usual. Where did I obtain the vocals? Aha! As a resourceful cheapo, I took it from something that I posted last week, then reversed it. (If you haven’t listened to the original, then it’ll be fun comparing them) The fun thing is that I didn’t use any midi or instrument sounds at all, everything is purely based on that (nearly) a capella audio file I made. 

And, I admit. I didn’t really make a song in the end because my neighbors cranked their music to the point I felt the bass from the walls shake in my headphones. (The party was eventually kicked out… after almost 4 hours.) Otherwise, this has been a late night post. Yaay! 

[WIP] Childhood 32/1000 7.14.12

Standing by the summer swing
Where it meant the world and everything
The shadows stay low, there’s sand between your toes
Remembering what was long ago

Dirty your cotton socks
Cus you’re climbing trees
Like Jack and the Beanstalk
Feel the light breeze brush upon your cheeks
Dappity doo daydreams

A lyric idea that that I had yesterday, and I came up with a second verse today. Might be completed later as a part of that Storybook project? (And darn, it might be catchier than the main song that I was going to complete.) The vibraphone sound is actually from my phone, I downloaded an app called “Suggester” recently. (It gives you chord ideas!) 

Remind me to not upload too much WIPs in the future and just stick to releasing completed things. Apparently, I get pretty finicky about showing rough drafts. Even rough drafts have to be spiffied up (harmonies…?) and perfect to show, which in turn gets counterproductive. D: 

— Ch. 1: Prelude by Soulfully —

She clasped her hands together; and she held thoughts in her palms as they fell like soft but ever fading snowflakes. Here she was, at the crosswalk, burdened with the forsaken feeling of choosing left and right. She finds comfort as nostalgic memories seep her cold hands with the warmth that she sought for — that time… and that time — her mind twirled and twirled as colors filled her mind like dizzying sunsets and sunrises. She quietly stopped and pursed her lips, stuffing her beloved treasures into a bag, and went on ahead. 

An instrumental track reminiscent of winter lights and dappling dropples of snowflakes. I made this with the scenery of venturing out on the streets in mind, but who knows what you will envision? 

( Download )

markinglifestyle:

Marking and Soulfully take you back to an old Vocaloid classic through their “Time Machine”…

Whoot whoot! :D It was great working on this. Thanks to you for taking all the time to carefully edit and produce this, Em. :D We should also put this before forgetting:

Based on: タイムマシン [Time Machine] 
Music: 40mP 
Lyrics: 164 
English Lyrics: Lucy 
Vocals: Soulfully 
Remix and additional production by Marking

(Lyrics)

(Download)

(via markinglifestyle)

#29/1000 Monday Mornings

Just a musical sketch I made this morning. I like to think it’s a pretty lazy song. It was also (subconsciously?) inspired by the Jungle theme song for those of you that know the show Mr. Monk. Hopefully the cheap midi saxophone sound is bearable to your ears. :D

sounds: saxophone, piano, cello (as usual) 

[#28/1000] Breeze (Revised) 

The non tone deaf version of a WIP. First version and description here.

[#27/1000] Breeze 6/23/12

It’s been awhile since I messed around on Ableton & this is the first little tune I’ve made in awhile. I was looking up the chords for a song that I was going to sing, (Happiness by the Fray) but then it turned into making a song for the last hour and a half. Since no one’s really up at this time, I’ll write just a little more. 

The tune is really simple and I like to think that it’s actually pretty catchy. When I think about it, I think I’m coming along with these things. If anyone’s ever confused or curious by the counter (#___/ 1000) that I put next to my audio files, here’s a brief refresher: my experiment as a music student is to continue to keep making tunes / songs like these in hopes that song #1000 will show innumerable progress and undeniable difference from #1. I guess it’s also because I feel a need to capture a sense of progress, which is something I never felt I really obtained while growing up. :l I also need to note, I actually have many other unreleased WIPs so the real number is close to 50 - 75.

I think this is sort of how I’m feeling at the moment. With things like this, I like to think of pretty scenery, people, or feelings and just try to put it down. My sister thinks of walking along some sunny beach, I just sort of think it’s reminiscent of this FF8 song called “Breeze” too. It’s the first few happy-tunes I’ve ever really made. 

Some last notes: Breeze was made with this gross computer keyboard since my midi controller is at home. I used to never be able to do that easily since it requires inserting notes one by one so it’s usually pretty inconvenient. But I’ve done it this time and it sounds decent, so that’s cool.

Sounds used: guitar, piano, marimba, cello (as an atmosphere)

[WIP] #26 / 1000

Inspired by a friend and a world called “Neureality” from a story I’m writing. I’m aiming for something restless, fast paced, dramatic, and almost angry. 

Pardon the broken piano sounds and awkward pause near the end. 

[WIP] #25/1000

I actually had this little tune for awhile now. And it seriously reminds me of some happy-dappy family theme, like you see this cartoon house dancing with the sun rising behind it and then bam ~*~♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪~*~ the show starts in all its chirpiness. 

Ahaha still thinking of a Father’s day song.

—Balloons by Soulfully —

My third completed lyric song. It was written from my personal feelings about how I relate to music — a balloon seemed to encapsulate the things I wanted to express. Enjoy, I think that it’s a stepping stone from the previous songs I’ve made.

[Verse]
Your head is up in the clouds
Working past these heavy doubts
But the rain cascades, starts to escalade
You start to burst — could things get worse? 

Thought I was kept safe at bay
But I was just carried away 
Down I go and it feels so slow
Falling into nothing, trying to call for something

[Chorus]
A thousand balloons, they bursted too soon
Pops and drops, trying to wait for June
A thousand hues, flooding like a monsoon
Drips and drops, below the summer moon

[ Read More —> ]

— Notes —

— Download —

The Only Constant #23/1000 

A simple introduction for a tune I’ve been trying to work on. And voila, this is a guitar sound! :D It was supposed to be another lyric song, but it’ll probably be instrumental again. :l I may upload a more up-to-date music sketch in 30 minutes. 

[WIP/tune] Languid Blues #21/1000

It seems like I’ve been having a burst of ideas lately. This one’s really a small little blues tune I came up with. I don’t know whether I can officially say blues since I have no knowledge or experience in it — this is much closer to me trying to ‘visualize’ blues. But it does have the feel, doesn’t it? (Lol, tell me if I’m way off) I imagine walking languidly near fields of hay. Either that or I’m just living up old blues’ images, hm.

PS: For memory’s sake, maybe it’ll be fun mentioning how it took me nearly 30 minutes to indecisively name this Languid Blues. I came up with many titles that were either taken or silly: “Daffodil Blues,” “Lavender Blues,” “Home Blues Home,” “Bluey the Dog.” :l