The Smiley Smile Message Board

2/21/16 update: As promised, and without much ado, here is the full version of the instrumental I posted last week. There's a Beach Boys sample in the song- see if you can identify it. First correct answer wins a cookie  :o

https://soundcloud.com/orange22222/nervous-shakedown

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2/17/16 update: This newest track is a bit of a banger, if you will. Yes, more electronic-based aural pleasure (or pain, depending on your definition). Since I feel my last song got lost in too many effects and tinkering, on this one I tried to focus on simplicity and sound quality. I tried a few new things- sounds nice on a good system or in a car if you’re willing and able to try. This is the instrumental, I think I’ll have the full vocal version up next week. As always, any comments are fully appreciated.

https://soundcloud.com/orange22222/nervous-shakedown-instrumental

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2/8/16 update: My first released track of the new year is an experiment in something, but I don't quite know what. To be musically snobish, I'll call it a trip-pop/EPM (electronic prance music) mash-up. If you have a better description let me know! Instrumental version up as well for all you daytrippers out there.

The Boy / The Wolf: https://soundcloud.com/orange22222/the-boy-the-wolf
The Boy/ The Wolf (Instrumental): https://soundcloud.com/orange22222/the-boy-the-wolf-instrumental

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12/14/15 update: I’m back with some chip tunes arrangements of 2 Christmas classics. If you’re wondering what the heck a “chip tune” is, it’s a song that sounds like the video games of the 80s and early 90s (i.e. think “Nintendo”). A lot of producers these days use elements of chip tunes combined with more modern sounds, and it’s quite an interesting combo. However, these 2 are straight up recreations of the Nintendo sound, and were actually intended for an update to a Christmas themed video game, before the project got shelved. Merry Christmas!

https://soundcloud.com/orange22222/angels-we-have-heard-are-high-angels-we-have-heard-on-high
https://soundcloud.com/orange22222/o-holy-fright-o-holy-night


Also, with slightly less ado, is this organ-based instrumental that I put up last week, but figured not worthy enough to post here :'(  So, you know, if you’re quite bored here it is!

https://soundcloud.com/orange22222/organ-donor

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12/1/15 update: The music continues! Another in my series of existential love songs, this one literally so. I did a little vocal break in the middle of the song that is probably my favorite part. This is a chilled song, definitely a good one for headphones :)

https://soundcloud.com/orange22222/exist

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11/24/15 update: It's been awhile, but I've got a new one. This one is neo-folk (a real term I assume?!), acoustic guitar based with some other fixins, but still a pretty sparse "demo" though. Warning that the lyrics start out NSFW, but it's a reference which forms part of a mini lyrical theme. There's also a bonus stripped down acoustic mix for your optional auditory perusal. If you take the time to listen it's genuinely appreciated, and of course any thoughts or criticisms are more than welcome:

https://soundcloud.com/orange22222/dont-you-think-that-i-would-like-to-demo
https://soundcloud.com/orange22222/dont-you-think-that-i-would-like-to-acoustic-mix-demo

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10/12/15 update: New song time. This one is called "Isabelle". It's a bit of a strange vibe on this one, goes through a few different emotions and feels. Mostly electronic based, but with some electric guitars as well. I'm quite a bit self conscious about my singing on this one, so I'll post the vocal version as well as the instrumental for you to pick and choose from! Thank you so much to anyone who listens. All comments and critiques welcome.

https://soundcloud.com/orange22222/isabelle
https://soundcloud.com/orange22222/isabelle-instrumental

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Original Post: There are a lot of talented musicians sharing their music here, which I've quite enjoyed listening to, so I figured I'd throw my hat into the ring. Here's something I finished recently, it has quite a few vocal harmonies, nothing complex, and I'm not the greatest singer  8)  I'm getting into lyric writing more than I ever have before, and I think this one ended up pretty good. Any thoughts or opinions or rants or raves are more than welcome.

https://soundcloud.com/orange22222/im-in-a-band-rough-mix

Very nice, reminds me of Teenage Fanclub/Weezer.

Aye, thanks Woody. You nailed it. I actually wrote it mostly on bass and it sounded more like a country song almost. Then I recorded the bass first off, added some fuzz and it was a totally Weezer feel, so I just went with that. The drums especially have the Weezer feel I think.

New song time. This one is called "Isabelle". It's a bit of a strange vibe on this one, goes through a few different emotions and feels. Mostly electronic based, but with some electric guitars as well. I'm quite a bit self conscious about my singing on this one, so I'll post the vocal version as well as the instrumental for you to pick and choose from! Thank you so much to anyone who listens. All comments and critiques welcome.

https://soundcloud.com/orange22222/isabelle
https://soundcloud.com/orange22222/isabelle-instrumental

I enjoyed both songs--quite a bit, actually. If I were to give you any tip, it would be to stop being self-conscious about your singing. It's more than adequate for pop/rock music, and it'll only be better if you deliver it without a second thought about how it's perceived. Just aim for what you want to do.

Isabelle instrumental is really nice!

captain and d@rnomite- thank for for the comments! captain, I usually have that feeling, but sometimes it's easy to question yourself when you're working somewhat in isolation, you know? And d@rn, thank you, I like to put up the instrumentals to some songs since they can work as their own separate piece- as we well know being Beach Boys fanatics.

see below!

11/24/15 update: It's been awhile, but I've got a new one. This one is neo-folk (a real term I assume?!), acoustic guitar based with some other fixins, but still a pretty sparse "demo" though. Warning that the lyrics start out NSFW, but it's a reference which forms part of a mini lyrical theme. There's also a bonus stripped down acoustic mix for your optional auditory perusal. If you take the time to listen it's genuinely appreciated, and of course any thoughts or criticisms are more than welcome:

https://soundcloud.com/orange22222/dont-you-think-that-i-would-like-to-demo
https://soundcloud.com/orange22222/dont-you-think-that-i-would-like-to-acoustic-mix-demo

Nice.

Thanks cap'n.

I have another in my series of existential love songs, this one literally so. I did a little vocal break in the middle of the song that is probably my favorite part. This is a chilled song, definitely a good one for headphones  :)

https://soundcloud.com/orange22222/exist

If anybody's listened to Exist, what did you think of the acapella section in the middle? I'm thinking the vocals might be a bit buried, until it gets towards the end. I might have mixed some of the effects there too high.
Or any other thoughts you have...even to say "it sucks"   8)

I’m back with some chip tunes arrangements of 2 Christmas classics. If you’re wondering what the heck a “chip tune” is, it’s a song that sounds like the video games of the 80s and early 90s (i.e. think “Nintendo”). A lot of producers these days use elements of chip tunes combined with more modern sounds, and it’s quite an interesting combo. However, these 2 are straight up recreations of the Nintendo sound, and were actually intended for an update to a Christmas themed video game, before the project got shelved. Merry Christmas!

https://soundcloud.com/orange22222/angels-we-have-heard-are-high-angels-we-have-heard-on-high
https://soundcloud.com/orange22222/o-holy-fright-o-holy-night


Also, with slightly less ado, is this organ-based instrumental that I put up last week, but figured not worthy enough to post here :'(  So, you know, if you’re quite bored here it is!

https://soundcloud.com/orange22222/organ-donor

My first released track of the new year is an experiment in something, but I don't quite know what. To be musically snobish, I'll call it a trip-pop/EPM (electronic prance music) mash-up. If you have a better description let me know! Instrumental version up as well for all you daytrippers out there.

The Boy / The Wolf: https://soundcloud.com/orange22222/the-boy-the-wolf
The Boy/ The Wolf (Instrumental): https://soundcloud.com/orange22222/the-boy-the-wolf-instrumental

I like this, especially the tag. The song is a bold vision and I like that you didn't compromise on that when you produced/ recorded it

Tharnk d@rn, I agree that the tag is probably the best part. I think I overdid a bunch of things and lost some of the vision on this one. So my newest track (below) is more focused and simple, and follows the feel of the tag from "The Boy / The Wolf."

This newest track is a bit of a banger, if you will. Yes, more electronic-based aural pleasure (or pain, depending on your definition). Since I feel my last song got lost in too many effects and tinkering, on this one I tried to focus on simplicity and sound quality. I tried a few new things- sounds nice on a good system or in a car if you’re willing and able to try. This is the instrumental, I think I’ll have the full vocal version up next week. As always, any comments are fully appreciated.

https://soundcloud.com/orange22222/nervous-shakedown-instrumental

As promised, and without much ado, here is the full version of the instrumental I posted last week. There's a Beach Boys sample in the song- see if you can identify it. First correct answer wins a cookie  :o

https://soundcloud.com/orange22222/nervous-shakedown