Industrial-infused pop: Art Factory

1685 posts · Sat Apr 26, 2014 3:51 pm

I was traveling, which meant no guitar and no keyboard; just a laptop and a set of earbuds. The minimalism was leaving me dry of ideas. I had two choices: work on actual projects with actual deadlines, or try something out of my comfort zone and see if that would inspire. So, uh, I did the second one :oops:

. The vocals were recorded after I got home.

https://soundcloud.com/nine-of-kings/art-factory

4224 posts · Sat Apr 26, 2014 4:20 pm

Wow! Somehow you fused your pop songwriting skills with something more like NIN than 9k. You pulled it off brilliantly too. Good production. Great verses and choruses. Interesting lyrics. Not a dull moment. Catchy as f*ck. :clap:

8456 posts · Sat Apr 26, 2014 4:33 pm

Wow, indeed! Great tune, catchy as hell chorus! I was hooked in by that marvelous intro!

1685 posts · Sun Apr 27, 2014 4:19 pm

Thank you for your kind comments! NIN was definitely one of the biggest influences on this, which I'm sure is pretty obvious.

1685 posts · Tue Apr 29, 2014 5:46 am

This thread has a respectable number of views, but less than a quarter of those led to soundcloud plays. Hm.

2873 posts · Tue Apr 29, 2014 5:58 am

I've been listening to your tune on and off for a couple of days.

Personally, I would have said it's more like some of the older industrial stuff, with a modern twist.

As opposed to NIN - that's a complement btw, as I don't like NIN at all.

The synth sounds very 80's (nice and swarm). Especially as it slows and you vox annunciates certain phrases (like the 't's', etc.).

Gotta' say, I really really like that track, the chorus and the synth lines are great. Very catchy, I mean in a good way.

If that was for sale I'd buy it.

9543 posts · Tue Apr 29, 2014 6:12 am

Interesting song but it sounds a bit raw, I liked your other songs much more, especially those with the "Blur"-like vocals...

But as always, when I listen to your songs, it's well-crafted pop music with a catchy chorus line. :wink:

(Now finally admit where you made this damn pop songwriting course!!!

)

2873 posts · Tue Apr 29, 2014 6:21 am

Tricky-Loops wrote:Interesting song but it sounds a bit raw, I liked your other songs much more, especially those with the "Blur"-like vocals...

But as always, when I listen to your songs, it's well-crafted pop music with a catchy chorus line.

I'd agree, I think the mix needs to be sharper. If you get that sorted you'll have an even better tune.

4224 posts · Wed Apr 30, 2014 7:30 pm

FWIW, I think the mix is fine. I still think it's a great tune. One of my Nine of Kings favorites.

6447 posts · Wed Apr 30, 2014 7:35 pm

nice vocals!
It's mixed pretty well too, seems to come through my laptop speakers pretty well. Nice job!

1539 posts · Thu May 01, 2014 12:41 am

nice track...for what its worth, i get more a depeche mode feel than a nin feel...which is just fine by me.

3649 posts · Thu May 01, 2014 12:47 am

This is a cool song! I didn't think NIN. I thought way more of late Depeche Mode, like Ultra or Playing the Angel. Your vocals reminded me of David Gahan (definitely a plus, IMO).

Agreed with everyone else: this is catchy as hell. I like the lyrics a lot, too.

My only comment on the technicals is that maybe the vocals could sit a little deeper in the mix. Not a lot more. That's all. I do love the vocals. Great voice and execution!

More please!

EDIT: on second listen, nah, ignore what i said about the mixing.

1685 posts · Fri May 02, 2014 4:06 pm

I'm gonna take the mixed (hah) opinions on the mixing and tell myself they cancel out. Besides, a little roughness is part of the sound. The DM references didn't even occur to me, but then again I haven't heard much of their later stuff. I'm flattered, though; it's not often my voice is a strong point.

3649 posts · Sat May 03, 2014 2:54 am

I took a listen to some of your other stuff and it's all quite good. This one just happens to be really up my alley though! :-)