The Wagtunes Corner (Featuring My Best Yet)

[vurt]

vocaloid aside, and im on my phone, it sounds like a more rounded pop song. lots of little flourishes give it a less robotic sound musically than some of your more recent bits.
but, your mixes are definitely improved from then.
maybe focusing on the mixes is unknowingly distracting you from the music side?
i dunno im no psychologist

[wagtunes]

I will say this much. These guys went back to my Soundcloud page and listened to everything up there and they did get back to me to say that I have definitely gotten better over time. Now, with the exception of "Sync", all those CDs were done in a month or less. I didn't suddenly start spending more time on songs and that's why I got better. I got better mostly because the mixes were better but maybe also because the writing was getting tighter. Also, and we can't discount this, the software I was using was getting much better. The brass and woodwind libraries I just got are amazing. So when things sound more realistic and/or of better quality, that has to help too. So it's not just one thing that made the improvement. It's a lot of things. But time, unfortunately, was not one of them. At least there is no evidence that it is.

[wagtunes]

vocaloid aside, and im on my phone, it sounds like a more rounded pop song. lots of little flourishes give it a less robotic sound musically than some of your more recent bits.
but, your mixes are definitely improved from then.
maybe focusing on the mixes is unknowingly distracting you from the music side?
i dunno im no psychologist

It is absolutely possible that at the time of doing "Sync" I was simply musically uninspired. Who knows? If I had an answer and a formula, I'd bottle it, sell it, and make a fortune out of turning everybody into a hit song maker.

[wagtunes]

This is the last track from volume 1 of my side project. I really pulled out the 70s schlock for this one, especially on the 1 minute fade out outro. I'll be starting volume 2 after I finish my Blink CD which will probably be today or tomorrow.

Torn Between Two Worlds

In the distance
I can see another life
One that's lovely
One that isn't filled with strife

But here in this world I am
With you and my destiny
For all the world to see
And so here I am
Torn between two worlds

Saw it coming
Didn't want to face the truth
See it fading
Clinging to forgotten youth

And here in this world I am
With you and my destiny
For all the world to see
And so here I am
Torn between two worlds

I know I have to make a choice
I know I have to raise my voice

Instrumental Break

Time has come now
Stay or go it's up to me
Hard decision
Suffering or set me free

Oh here in this world I am
With you and my destiny
For all the world to see
And so here I am
Torn between two worlds

Outro

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... two-worlds

[mindstuff]

Composition is pretty cool in Torn Between Two Worlds with lots of nice section changes...the synth that comes in the the 2/3 mark (3:20) is pretty cool with the modulations. Reminds me of 70s tv shows.

I have to be dead honest and say the vocals are weak and lack energy and are hurting your tracks more than anything else. As the composition, sound design, lyrics are more polished, I'd hire another singer to work with because otherwise your tracks lack any sense of professionalism with the current vocal track. None of us can do it all! I see this same vocals in some of your other tracks...it really the weakest link in every one I listened to. Why don't you try subcontracting a vocalist one time and see what happens .

[wagtunes]

Composition is pretty cool in Torn Between Two Worlds with lots of nice section changes...the synth that comes in the the 2/3 mark (3:20) is pretty cool with the modulations. Reminds me of 70s tv shows.

I have to be dead honest and say the vocals are weak and lack energy and are hurting your tracks more than anything else. As the composition, sound design, lyrics are more polished, I'd hire another singer to work with because otherwise your tracks lack any sense of professionalism with the current vocal track. None of us can do it all! I see this same vocals in some of your other tracks...it really the weakest link in every one I listened to. Why don't you try subcontracting a vocalist one time and see what happens .

I don't have money for a vocalist. End of story.

I can always go back to using Vocaloid.

[wagtunes]

12th and final track from my Blink 182 project. I have to admit, I am so glad this is done. Project was much harder to do than I expected for a number of reasons that I won't bother getting into. My next project is going to be a rather interesting one having to do with a specific aspect of music theory. The CD's title is "Chroma"

Anyway, here's the last track.

It All Comes Down To This

After all the fighting
After all the pain
After all the thunder
After all the rain
After all your nagging
Driving me insane
After all of this
I wanna fry my brain

I can't take anymore
This ain't what I signed up for
This was to be wedded bliss
Instead it all comes down to this

You just couldn't do it
You just didn't care
I gave you the warning
You gave me the dare
Then I called your bluff girl
Then I got the stare
Now I'm in a bad place
And you are nowhere

Repeat Chorus

Instrumental Break

Repeat Chorus

Outro

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... wn-to-this

[wagtunes]

1st track from my upcoming CD "Chroma"

Before I post the lyrics and song, thought I'd share how this CD came about and some music theory to go along with it that might help those of you who have problems coming up with melodies. This process will make it much easier.

CD is an experiment in chromatic harmony, thus the title "Chroma." It's not something I ever tried before because I've never had problems coming up with melodies but I thought to myself, "I wonder if my writing would be any different, better, worse, or whatever, if I gave this a shot."

Okay, so what is chromatic harmony?

The best way to explain it is with an example.

I chose the song "When I See You Smile" by Bad English and limited myself to just the melody for the main hook "When I See You Smile."

Okay, in the key of C (not sure what the original key is) the notes are E3, G3, C4, B3, A3. Looking at this sequence chromatically...

E3 to G3 is 3 half steps up
G3 to C4 is 5 half steps up
C4 to B3 is 1 half step down
B3 to A3 is 2 half steps down

Okay, so taking the chromatic progression and reversing the direction, we would have this sequence.

E3 going down 3 half steps would bring us to C sharp 3
C sharp 3 going down 5 half steps brings us to G sharp 2
G sharp 2 going up 1 half step brings us to A2
A2 going up 2 half steps brings us to B2

So we go from...

E3, G3, C4, B3, A3

to

E3, C sharp 3, G sharp 2, A2, B2

If you play the two sequences, they sound nothing alike. Plus, one is in the key of C and the other is in the key of E.

Rachmaninoff used chromatic harmony a lot.

I don't think it's a coincidence that the melody for this song is probably one of my better ones. It's just a shame that I can't sing ballads well. There is no question that is the weakest part of the song. But the rest I'm very pleased with.

Anyway, if you have trouble coming up with melodies, you might want to give this a shot. Just pick out a song that you like, make note of the sequence of notes and reverse it chromatically.

And now, the song. All comments are welcome.

Where The Angels Go

Where the angels go
When they need to see a face
Filled with love and God's good grace
They come to you and take your hand
Into the promised land
Where the angels go

Where the angels go
When they feel walls closing in
When they see this world of sin
They come to you and take your hand
Into the promised land
Where the angels go

You are the one light
That shines all around
You are the great might
Who always can be found

Where the angels go
When they need to be at peace
When they need all hate to cease
They come to you and take your hand
Into the promised land
Where the angels go

Where the angels go
Where the angels go
Where the angels go

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... -angels-go

[donkey tugger]

I have no idea what the letters and numbers stuff is all about - but nice song!

When the strings came in near the end it turns it into a bit of a 'James Bond theme' type of thing which is really nice.

Production bits- you've got a few clicky vocal noises on there which need gating out. One thing you might look at is messing with drum velocities - the drums appear to be quite constant, whereas for more impact and dynamics you'd want them at lower velocities in the quiet bits, and ramp it up in the more full on parts. Not sure how midi plug ins work in Cubase but using a velocity scaler plug in and drawing in automation of the scale control, rather than altering notes manually can be good - lets you gradually build up over time. Something like this perhaps;

https://bedroomproducersblog.com/2014/1 ... -codefn42/

Vocal sounds to be recorded fine, but is there some weird stereo 'widener' effect going on - sounds a bit strange and not centred? I think I've mentioned before that a lot of times it makes sense to put any kind of more 'esoteric' effect on a duplicate track so you have more control over it, rather than on a main vocal track, where it gets mushed up with other effects.

Anyway, enough technical jibber jabber - good song.

[wagtunes]

I have no idea what the letters and numbers stuff is all about - but nice song!

When the strings came in near the end it turns it into a bit of a 'James Bond theme' type of thing which is really nice.

Production bits- you've got a few clicky vocal noises on there which need gating out. One thing you might look at is messing with drum velocities - the drums appear to be quite constant, whereas for more impact and dynamics you'd want them at lower velocities in the quiet bits, and ramp it up in the more full on parts. Not sure how midi plug ins work in Cubase but using a velocity scaler plug in and drawing in automation of the scale control, rather than altering notes manually can be good - lets you gradually build up over time. Something like this perhaps;

https://bedroomproducersblog.com/2014/1 ... -codefn42/

Vocal sounds to be recorded fine, but is there some weird stereo 'widener' effect going on - sounds a bit strange and not centred? I think I've mentioned before that a lot of times it makes sense to put any kind of more 'esoteric' effect on a duplicate track so you have more control over it, rather than on a main vocal track, where it gets mushed up with other effects.

Anyway, enough technical jibber jabber - good song.

Thanks for the listen and the feedback DT. Not sure what I did with the vocal. I actually did have a gate on it. Not sure why any noises are coming through and worse yet, why I can't hear them. Shows you how shot my ears are.

Drums, I did a quick EZ Drummer thing on this one because MODO Drums, which are so much more realistic, suck the life out of my CPU so I gave them a rest for this one. Maybe I'll just bite the bullet and replace them down the road.

Anyway, glad you liked the song. Chromatic Harmony is a great cheat that can turn just about anybody into a songwriter. lol

[vurt]

i prefer it when wags is wags rather than someone else

[wagtunes]

i prefer it when wags is wags rather than someone else

Well that was all me. I can play you tons of songs I've done in this same style. All I did was use a tool to come up with a few notes. I wasn't being somebody else.

Here are two songs in the same style as this one.

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... 0th-avenue

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... of-the-day

Maybe what you don't like is when Wags does ballads. And that's fair. To pull off a ballad, you really need to be able to sing well, and I can't. But you're not liking this song has nothing to do with me trying to be someone else. Now, trying to be someone else? That was the last 3 CDs doing The Police, Queen and Blink 182, not that they really sounded like any of those groups. But this song was all me.

In short, me and ballads, not the best marriage.

[wagtunes]

One last thing and then I'll drop this. Wags is a lot of things musically. I have done songs in each of the following genres over the course of 42 years.

Rock
Pop
Easy Listening
Punk
Metal
Prog
Dance
Country
Goth
Show Tunes
Dance
Disco
Funk
Hip Hop
Rap
Reggae
Folk
Symphonic
Electronic
New Age

And I'm sure a few more that off the top of my head I can't think of.

To me, music has always been music. I've tried my whole life to never discriminate against genres even though there is some music I don't care for. But I have always been open to trying new things. If you go to my Soundcloud page and listen to a lot of the earlier stuff I posted, you'll find this out. That's why, growing up, I could listen to opera, symphonies and piano concertos and then turn around and listen to AC/DC, MC 5 and Frank Zappa. I had no music friends on either side because they all thought I was weird for liking what they didn't like.

Anyway, when I do a song, unless I'm doing a cover (which is rare if ever), it's me. That much I can assure you.

[donkey tugger]

In short, me and ballads, not the best marriage.

I dunno, it always seems to me that you have a knack for it, and the chord sequences etc are well thought out etc, more so than the more uptempo stuff (in general terms, not always of course).

Being philosophical, I think sometimes we've got to accept that what you're good at is not always what you want.. I like a lot of reeeally heavy, noisy stuff, but have a habit of turning out jangly indie shite (which admittedly I do like as well ), and seem to only very occasionally be able to write a good honest dirty riff.

[wagtunes]

In short, me and ballads, not the best marriage.

I dunno, it always seems to me that you have a knack for it, and the chord sequences etc are well thought out etc, more so than the more uptempo stuff (in general terms, not always of course).

Being philosophical, I think sometimes we've got to accept that what you're good at is not always what you want.. I like a lot of reeeally heavy, noisy stuff, but have a habit of turning out jangly indie shite (which admittedly I do like as well ), and seem to only very occasionally be able to write a good honest dirty riff.

Just to be clear, me and ballads suck not because I can't write them (actually I think I write them very well) but because I can't sing for shit. Listening to someone who can't sing do a ballad is painful. My singing for up tempo stuff, while still not great, is better. There's no question about it.