![Jacob Grevatt – WB03 Reflection
Overall, Sympathy Empathy (my 2nd track) has allowed me to explore the alternative
rock/ indie genre style drawing inspiration from bands like sonic youth. Firstly, the
song is in G# (sharp) just higher than G by a semitone, illustrating the songs
offsetting atmosphere, a technique similarly used by Thurston Moore from Sonic
Youth1 in his song writing. Sympathy Empathy has a 4/4 time signature quite
standard of most songs, and yet the lack of space within the song highlights the
alternative mood throughout the song. The rhythm is simple and stays constant
throughout the track, this is because I used one singular drum loop for the whole
song similar to Nick Rattigan’s style from the early days of Current Joys2. Likewise
the melody is also very simple, but I tried to express diversity in each break leaving
space for a melodic riff to keep the listener interested. The structure follows a simple
pattern of verse, break, verse, break, chorus, verse, break and finally a large climatic
chorus. Therefore, the song is understandably quite long, however this is also a
common trope among alternative music like Title Fight. The songs slow tempo is to
help illustrate the sombre mood highlighted by the lyrics. For Sympathy Empathy I
used an electric guitar, bass and my DAW Ableton live 10 lite on which I did all
mixing, and mastering. For example, controlling EQ, using a multi compressor and
adding a slow pan chorus plug in to the lead guitar like “Do you believe in Rapture?”
by Sonic youth3. Using instruments available to me at home and my USB Samson
condenser microphone.
To make it clear, all 100% of the work on both tracks was done by me so it was
important to divide focus on both tracks which needed to be an even amount of time
to ensure equal quality. Planning and researching for both tracks occurred within the
first few weeks of the course. To plan how I was going to handle the project after the
formative. Once I decided on my genres, research mostly consisted of listening to
artists from that genre so folk/country and alternative/indie, Current Joys, Sonic
youth/Thurston Moore, Mac Demarco, and Townes Van Zandt. Also researching the
artists, themselves such as Nick Drake4 (Lacking Credibility) and Title Fight5
researching how they write but also reading online reviews to view a different
perspective and gain a better understanding of the genre and to use that knowledge
in my own track. Conducting the research led me to other topics such as how to
effectively use midi data6 for both of my tracks but came into more use in Streamline.
1
Thurston Moore Interivew 30th September 1988 [ Online ] Accessed 27/02/2021 - Primary SOURCE
2
Current Joys -Nick Rattigan Writing Style (interview) 1st
May 2018 [Online] Accessed 20/03/2021 -
Primary Source
3
(145) Sonic Youth - Do You Believe In Rapture? - YouTube Uploaded 8th
October 2009 (C) 2006 Geffen
Records [ Online ] Accessed 20/03/2021 - Primary
4
h2g2 - Nick Drake - Singer/Songwriter - Edited Entry - Jan 14, 2002 [ Online] Accessed 27/02/2021 -
Secondary
5
Deller, Alex. "Title Fight Floral Green Review". BBC Music. BBC. 5 June 2013 Accessed 27/02/2021
[Online] - Secondary
6
Midi Source - "Michael Hahn [Online] Accessed 27/02/2021 written 13/01/2020 - Primary](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/reflection-210430135834/85/Reflection-1-320.jpg)
![Jacob Grevatt – WB03 Reflection
I also began research into the sound of Sonic youth and what Lee Ranaldo7 (one of
the main heads behind Sonic youth) uses to get his sound.
With Streamline, I was able to further explore the folk singer songwriter genre,
slightly straying away to create an spacey atmosphere throughout the song
especially prevalent within the chorus. Streamline was recorded in EM with a capo
on the 5th fret, I moved the capo up a semitone compared to the demo to lighten up
the mood of the song this with the added midi harmonies and piano changes the
mood of the whole song, yet I believe the song should still be classified from the Folk
genre the prominent acoustic guitar is still similar to “Dead Flowers” by Townes Van
Zandt1, which inspired the artistic direction of the song. Following a standard
structure verse, breakdown, chorus, verse, chorus, and outro a short and simple
structure attempting to capitalise on the climax at each chorus seen with the use of
melody and harmonics. This can be reflected in the melody and rhythm of the song,
the picking style which can be heard is common among other folk styles like the work
of artist Blaze Foley8, the rhythm is sustained by the acoustic guitar throughout
opting for a strumming pattern during the chorus speeding it up on the last bar of the
first chorus. All production and midi aspects of the song on my DAW using an
acoustic compressor and EQ for the acoustic guitar and adding harmonics/ a chorus
choir sound to enhance the spaced, almost psychedelic aspect of the song. To
complement the harmonics and add emphasis, I added a grand piano but also to
give the song more melody instead of having a guitar solo.
It is unlikely my music would receive credibility from either genre, granted they may
find a small following. This is due to both songs straying from their genres, although
the difference is not drastic and so one may anticipate the possibility that they may
find credibility from their target audiences. Throughout the course I have learnt many
new skillsets, one of which I have used is production techniques learning about
different plug ins and techniques to enhance my mixing on a DAW. For Example,
Multi compression a tool vital to how I mixed Sympathy Empathy.
In conclusion, one of the most important things I have learnt about myself as a
musician is that I can create music I am proud of with enough time and effort put in.
Listening back to my tracks I am proud of Streamlines mastering as well as the
recording of the song capturing the acoustic guitar perfectly. Since the beginning my
demos and development of the track felt half hearted and lacking until around week
10.I decided to dedicate myself completely to my tracks and the outcome was
something I could take pride in. My attendance to some lessons was lacking
throughout the module due to various issues with covid 19 and lockdown. I feel as if I
were to do this again, I would attend more lessons learn more so I can put that
knowledge to good use and reflect it in my own music, ultimately benefitting me.
Furthermore, I would also contact someone to record a live drum track for Sympathy
Empathy, I believe this would utterly enhance the track.
7
Lee Ranaldo - Kit tour 13th Nov 2018 "EarthQuakerDevices" [ Online ] Accessed 27/02/2021 -
Primary
8
Blaze Foley – Clay Pigeons Live – Uploaded by Dave HJ 3rd
May 2015 [ Online ] Accessed 20/03/2021](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
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Reflection
- 1. Jacob Grevatt – WB03 Reflection Overall, Sympathy Empathy (my 2nd track) has allowed me to explore the alternative rock/ indie genre style drawing inspiration from bands like sonic youth. Firstly, the song is in G# (sharp) just higher than G by a semitone, illustrating the songs offsetting atmosphere, a technique similarly used by Thurston Moore from Sonic Youth1 in his song writing. Sympathy Empathy has a 4/4 time signature quite standard of most songs, and yet the lack of space within the song highlights the alternative mood throughout the song. The rhythm is simple and stays constant throughout the track, this is because I used one singular drum loop for the whole song similar to Nick Rattigan’s style from the early days of Current Joys2. Likewise the melody is also very simple, but I tried to express diversity in each break leaving space for a melodic riff to keep the listener interested. The structure follows a simple pattern of verse, break, verse, break, chorus, verse, break and finally a large climatic chorus. Therefore, the song is understandably quite long, however this is also a common trope among alternative music like Title Fight. The songs slow tempo is to help illustrate the sombre mood highlighted by the lyrics. For Sympathy Empathy I used an electric guitar, bass and my DAW Ableton live 10 lite on which I did all mixing, and mastering. For example, controlling EQ, using a multi compressor and adding a slow pan chorus plug in to the lead guitar like “Do you believe in Rapture?” by Sonic youth3. Using instruments available to me at home and my USB Samson condenser microphone. To make it clear, all 100% of the work on both tracks was done by me so it was important to divide focus on both tracks which needed to be an even amount of time to ensure equal quality. Planning and researching for both tracks occurred within the first few weeks of the course. To plan how I was going to handle the project after the formative. Once I decided on my genres, research mostly consisted of listening to artists from that genre so folk/country and alternative/indie, Current Joys, Sonic youth/Thurston Moore, Mac Demarco, and Townes Van Zandt. Also researching the artists, themselves such as Nick Drake4 (Lacking Credibility) and Title Fight5 researching how they write but also reading online reviews to view a different perspective and gain a better understanding of the genre and to use that knowledge in my own track. Conducting the research led me to other topics such as how to effectively use midi data6 for both of my tracks but came into more use in Streamline. 1 Thurston Moore Interivew 30th September 1988 [ Online ] Accessed 27/02/2021 - Primary SOURCE 2 Current Joys -Nick Rattigan Writing Style (interview) 1st May 2018 [Online] Accessed 20/03/2021 - Primary Source 3 (145) Sonic Youth - Do You Believe In Rapture? - YouTube Uploaded 8th October 2009 (C) 2006 Geffen Records [ Online ] Accessed 20/03/2021 - Primary 4 h2g2 - Nick Drake - Singer/Songwriter - Edited Entry - Jan 14, 2002 [ Online] Accessed 27/02/2021 - Secondary 5 Deller, Alex. "Title Fight Floral Green Review". BBC Music. BBC. 5 June 2013 Accessed 27/02/2021 [Online] - Secondary 6 Midi Source - "Michael Hahn [Online] Accessed 27/02/2021 written 13/01/2020 - Primary
- 2. Jacob Grevatt – WB03 Reflection I also began research into the sound of Sonic youth and what Lee Ranaldo7 (one of the main heads behind Sonic youth) uses to get his sound. With Streamline, I was able to further explore the folk singer songwriter genre, slightly straying away to create an spacey atmosphere throughout the song especially prevalent within the chorus. Streamline was recorded in EM with a capo on the 5th fret, I moved the capo up a semitone compared to the demo to lighten up the mood of the song this with the added midi harmonies and piano changes the mood of the whole song, yet I believe the song should still be classified from the Folk genre the prominent acoustic guitar is still similar to “Dead Flowers” by Townes Van Zandt1, which inspired the artistic direction of the song. Following a standard structure verse, breakdown, chorus, verse, chorus, and outro a short and simple structure attempting to capitalise on the climax at each chorus seen with the use of melody and harmonics. This can be reflected in the melody and rhythm of the song, the picking style which can be heard is common among other folk styles like the work of artist Blaze Foley8, the rhythm is sustained by the acoustic guitar throughout opting for a strumming pattern during the chorus speeding it up on the last bar of the first chorus. All production and midi aspects of the song on my DAW using an acoustic compressor and EQ for the acoustic guitar and adding harmonics/ a chorus choir sound to enhance the spaced, almost psychedelic aspect of the song. To complement the harmonics and add emphasis, I added a grand piano but also to give the song more melody instead of having a guitar solo. It is unlikely my music would receive credibility from either genre, granted they may find a small following. This is due to both songs straying from their genres, although the difference is not drastic and so one may anticipate the possibility that they may find credibility from their target audiences. Throughout the course I have learnt many new skillsets, one of which I have used is production techniques learning about different plug ins and techniques to enhance my mixing on a DAW. For Example, Multi compression a tool vital to how I mixed Sympathy Empathy. In conclusion, one of the most important things I have learnt about myself as a musician is that I can create music I am proud of with enough time and effort put in. Listening back to my tracks I am proud of Streamlines mastering as well as the recording of the song capturing the acoustic guitar perfectly. Since the beginning my demos and development of the track felt half hearted and lacking until around week 10.I decided to dedicate myself completely to my tracks and the outcome was something I could take pride in. My attendance to some lessons was lacking throughout the module due to various issues with covid 19 and lockdown. I feel as if I were to do this again, I would attend more lessons learn more so I can put that knowledge to good use and reflect it in my own music, ultimately benefitting me. Furthermore, I would also contact someone to record a live drum track for Sympathy Empathy, I believe this would utterly enhance the track. 7 Lee Ranaldo - Kit tour 13th Nov 2018 "EarthQuakerDevices" [ Online ] Accessed 27/02/2021 - Primary 8 Blaze Foley – Clay Pigeons Live – Uploaded by Dave HJ 3rd May 2015 [ Online ] Accessed 20/03/2021
- 3. Jacob Grevatt – WB03 Reflection 1000 words Evidence This is all the equipment I used laptop, headphones, amp, microphone, instruments. I also have screenshots from each DAW/song.