Musicians In SL (and a confession...)

Excellent thread - It's great to see so many active musicians in SL. I've been listening to bits and pieces - there's a lot of talent here.

I'm an obsessive musical hobbyist - though my activity level with it fluctuates quite a bit. I play irish bouzouki, guitar, keyboards / synth, electronics, percussion - and anything else I can get my hands on (especially exotic or archaic instruments). I've done a lot of home recording / creation over the years with 2-track, 4-track, and computer-based multi-tracking / virtual studios.

Genres I've done stuff in: electronic, ambient, experimental, noise, industrial, space-rock, improv, ethereal gothic, folk, psychedelia. Lately I've been getting more into underground metal (black metal and doom especially) though I haven't done much in that area yet.

I currently don't have much of my stuff online.. just a few things that are little more than recent "sketches". Mostly in the vein of moody instrumental acoustic stuff using the irish bouzouki (with some occasional effects for atmosphere). One track is a bit different (Radiant Petal Storm) - more of an ambient / electro-acoustic drone-fest. Here's the music folder on my site if anyone's interested: http://spiralmagus.com/music

Please keep in mind they are mostly just sketches / ideas - not fully realized compositions... and they are only a small facet of my musical interests.

Oh I just wanted to add..

Moopf - I've been listening to your stream in depth all morning and have found it quite enjoyable! You've done a great job on these... really nice ambience and moods.

I play guitar... although I will freely admit poorly! I'm about 5 years self-taught, but I don't practice as much as I should/could, so I maintain an level relative of suckage.

To call myself a "musician" would insult the REAL musicians out there!

Peace!

Arti

I was a music major the first time I went to college (digital arts the second time if anyone cares). My main instrument is guitar, although I can get by on the keyboard, and I played double bass in school as well. I've been meaning to upload some of my stuff to the web. Maybe this thread will inspire me to finally get around to it. If so, I'll post again.

Thanks Devyn, much appreciated I'm just downloading some of yours at the moment

I've done a number of tracked and sequenced tunes, though I don't compose as much nowadays. You can check out my music at my homepage. Probably my most well-known tune among demosceners is "Celestial Fantasia", which was used in Michael Tirtasana's "Tirtanium" 3D benchmark, as well as a couple lesser-known demos.

As far as instruments go, I have done marching band drumline, timpani and other symphonic percussion, jazz alto sax, and choral singing in various high school, college, and church ensembles. I also have some piano/keyboard knowledge.

In '98, I started out as a Music Compositon major, but I changed to Computer Science after a year since I couldn't really see myself composing full-time. Still doing choir and jazz band, though.

Six years and three college-changes later, I'm finally on my last semester before I get my BS. Hoping to start a career in game dev.

Hi Beatfox,

your music is awsome!

Kali

Beatfox, just taken a listen to your stuff and I like it a lot.

And Devyn, sorry I meant to post back here yesterday after downloading and listening to your music. If I start writing again I'd love to get hold of some phrases of your playing on the bouzouki Oh and fantastic art as well btw

Moopf - I'd definitely be into letting you sample some of my bouzouki playing for your compositions. I've really enjoyed your stuff so I'd be curious to hear how that would turn out. I haven't been doing a lot of music lately but next time I get in the recording mode I'll see about getting some phrases down for you.

Thanks for the compliment on my art

Back in the early 80's, I had my second Software Engineering job with Wang Labs (anyone else remember these former high fliers?) and worked on a project with a Project Leader who was a grizzled veteran of coding.

He had a music degree, and got into programming back in the 60's, long before colleges and universities had Computer Science programs. In those days, IBM specifically looked for music majors to train in programming.

IBM's thought, according to my colleague, was that musical types had the aptitude needed to be a good programmer. Music, like programming, takes a certain creative flair, while requiring one to work within a well-defined structured format.

So its not surprising to hear that you went from being a Music Composition major to a Computer Science one. In many respects, they are both two sides of the same coin.

- Ace

http://www.thereminworld.com/

You KNOW you want one!!! Someone is actually selling NEW Theremin models with much fancier controls than the original had...

Arti

I have always thought that this was facinating...

http://www.ttmethod.com/about.htm

Yes an actual music transcription method for Turntablism/Scratching!!! Awesome!

Arti

Yeah, especially in the realm of electronic music - there's literally a lot of "programming" involved (sound synthesis, pattern programming, etc). There are even some genres of music where the composers write entirely in C-like languages. I've known a lot of programmers that were also musicians.

Yeahhh!!! The beats go on

Devyn Grimm: What you said suddenly conjured a big picture of Booth & Brown of Autechre getting jiggy with it. I wonder what that kind of music with bouzouki might sound with, or even Britney Spears and bouzouki. One of my fave pieces with bouzouki is Greek champion Yanni's "Magus".

As for programming sounds, the wonder that is:

http://www.symbolicsound.com/

I think if you have a passion for computers and a passion for music, here is where they intermix.

Artillo Fredericks: I heard DJ Q-Bert speak about that once.

http://www.djradar.com/urb100.html

It's great when stuff like this comes up, because as handy as "standard notation" has been, it won't cut it when it comes to a lot of this newfangled stuff.

Ahh.. Autechre - one of my favorite electronic groups of all time. I would let them mangle my bouzouki sounds any day.

That Kyma system looks very sweet indeed. The price tag looks prohibitive though..

I can't wait 'till they have a bargain basement Kyma "for the kid in you", i.e. easily accessible to a lot of people. Computer music is getting increasingly common and it's exciting to see the plethora of tools and methology for so many people to choose from. Of course, technosnobs -- seeking fascist control of the tools yet again -- will cry foul (or fowl with poultry, not poetry in their mouths), but that'd be redundant.

Yes I agree completely... the designers of TTM actually acknowledge this and encourage the turntablism community to add to the repotoire of notations

I saw DJ Q-Bert at the Scratch 2003 tour in Philadelphia, actually got his autograph. The guy is a friggin genius!!! During his turn on stage, he did more amazing things with only ONE turntable than anybody else did in the entire show! I just sat there with my jaw dropped to the floor watching him do his thing. It was unbelieveable! BRILLIANT. He is a GOD!

By the way, anyone wanting to see a VERY good movie, rent, no BUY Scratch (http://scratchmovie.com/). And for fans of DJ Q-Bert (and a lot of other excellent turntablists), Wave-Twisters (http://www.hiphop-network.com/archives/outsidevideos/wavetwisters/wavetwistertrailer1.asp) is a must... it's a genuine a piece of art!

Arti

Yup, I like Scratch the movie a lot too. Very fun, very informative. And Q-Bert seems like a very nice guy too! He's got a great smile and a great way of explaining things. I like the part where he's taking about using scratch turntablism to reach out to aliens.

Um, yeah, here's a post from me. Sorry, I don't read the forums much. Hope to talk to you in world at my next gig, though, check Events.

I got the opportunity to hear Devyn play a live show on his bozuki(sp?) in my living room... and it rocked!

Also (and i'm not being biast - countless people can back me up here) Torrid is an extremely talented vocalist (in the style of Slayer).

Kidding about the slayer comment

As for me: Guitar, trumpet, sax, french horn, piano, VALVED-trombone (yeah yeah..), and the triangle all fluently.

Glad to see these kind of threads out there! Hope to hear some more of these other talents sometime

--Water

I havn't produced in a couple years but I still have my album and other tracks online...

Abstract feel good electronic music you may have heard of under the name LoopSouth...

There is a long story as to why I am not making music currently... though... I am still writing down ideas.

My FTP Site

Torley.... I have still yet to listen to your music... I suppose I should... I know I told you I would and I havn't... yet so I am sorry about that. And what's with the female av?... anyway...

And... DJ Q-Bert... man... I met this guy at a party one time... and he is one of the most egotistical assholes I have ever met. When I met him I had yet to release my 2nd album and he treated me like I was a worthless peice of shit because I am not exactly in the image of rave/dj culture.

1) Yashu, heya... the story behind the "female av" is on my blog. No worries. I'm Torley Jr. now so yes, it's fine to refer to me as a she for the purposes of Second Life.

2) sorry to hear that, that's completely counter to anything I've seen of him before

actually I just listened to some of your tracks... and I saw the explaination for your... ummm... what should we call it if not experiment?

Anyway, the tracks...

Great production quality.... you seem to have a quality collection of samples and good synths/plugins ect... There are several sounds where I am jelious that you are able to make... one I have been trying to figure out for a while now and another effect, where for me, it's very hard/annoying to do.

I only wish there was more melody... but being more progressive tracks (you referenced James holden... Nice) I understand where you are coming from.

Perhaps we can swap shop tips sometime... well... because there will come a day when I will go back to creating again and I want to stay current.

Thank you graciously, Yashu.

It's cool you mention that because I am accused by technosnobs of "too much melody" (the clip in my sig pretty much sums that one up), LOL... I never give much thought to it though. I have much respect for Border Community, and James likes my piano playing, so I am honored.

As for samples and stuff, I am no technical maven and I traditionally used a mix of just going by ear, doing various calculations on resonant filters and whatnot, and hitting the RANDOMIZE SOUND button a lot. A LOT. I don't really talk about music a whole lot. I'm more of a listener, especially nowadays (at low volumes, albeit).

Take care.

I wish I had a "randomize sound" button...