Kenwardtown » Music

Creating music on Android

Kenward — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 17:23:12 +0000

Lately, I've been looking into music composition apps on the Android. I've found a few that I like. Electrum is a straight-forward drum machine. I like that it is very similar to typical drum machine programming, so if you are familiar with that, then it will be easy to pick up. It comes with some built-in drum sounds, lets you download some, or add your own. Reactable (see screenshot to the left) is a fairly experimental composition tool High learning curve. You connect samplers, loops, sequencers, delay effects, etc, to make music. I can see making decent electronic music with this, but I'm still learning. I'm also experimenting with NodeBeat (fun and easy to use but creatively limited) and SPC (looks like a loop sequencer mostly but I haven't spent much time with this one). I'll probably write more on these later after I've had a chance to use them some more. Maybe even post some MP3s.

Phockal– Twinkle Elf MP3

Kenward — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 01:24:08 +0000

Download an MP3 of Phockal, a tune that’s been kicking around. Kinda slow, but interesting/weird sound.

Svibice – 511 Vibrations Per Second MP3

Kenward — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 15:21:06 +0000

I decided to participate in the Wikipedia names your band (and album cover) game which directs you through randomizing sources for your fake album cover. And them you mash them up using Photoshop, or in my case, GIMP. All fun and games until Vic required me to make the music to go along with the art. This is almost what I had in mind, download the music here: Svibice – 511 Vibrations Per Second

[The song is hyper fast, 160 BPM is fast for me, with distorted bass and waves of fuzzy guitars. Chanty cut up drone vocal.]

(source photo by Joao Carlos Alves, licensed under creative commons)

Nobody beats the drum – “The Drum”

Kenward — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 23:13:32 +0000

Awesomely hilarious fighting giant robot inspired video from Nobody Beats the Drum (Dutch breakbeat)

iTunes store to drop DRM

Kenward — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:18:38 +0000

All songs DRM free
“… three price points—69 cents, 99 cents and $1.29—with many more songs priced at 69 cents than $1.29″

Linky

Download MP3 of my song “Geb”

Kenward — Sun, 04 May 2008 03:27:29 +0000

I dug up this MP3 of “GEB” that I did a while ago. Mid tempo Electronic tune. Typically bleapy. Neat use of sliding EQ near the begining (If I can be immodest enough to use the word neat describing my own work). I’m pretty sure this was done 100% in Jeskola Buzz. Weird slow-mo dream sequence near the end. I’d like your opinions.

“Chocolate Rain” Original Song by Tay Zonday

Kenward — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 03:39:20 +0000

Oddly transfixing. This guy kinda reminds me of Zappa.

Chocolate Rain
Some stay dry and others feel the pain
Chocolate Rain
A baby born will die before the sin

Chocolate Rain
The school books say it can’t be here again
Chocolate Rain
The prisons make you wonder where it went

More of Tay Zonday

Review of Electric Six’s Album “Fire”

Kenward — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 02:54:53 +0000

ElectricSix.Album("Fire") = AVERAGE(Nirvana.Guitar, Pixies.Guitar, Genre("Funk").Guitar) + Genre("Disco").Bass + Blondie.Drums + (BrianFerry.Vocal % Genre("Punk"))

Godfather of Soul, R.I.P.

Kenward — Mon, 25 Dec 2006 18:00:33 +0000

James Brown died this morning, Christmas 2006. One of the most influential people of modern music… Billboard, CNN, NME, NYT.

The Bastard Fairies

Kenward — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 17:17:44 +0000

I like The Bastard Fairies a lot, they are sort of bliss pop/twee, slightly strained, good vocals & lyrics. I’m hooked. Their album “Momento Mori”, as MP3s, is a free download from the band, either all in one ZIP or individually. They have a bunch of videos on YouTube.