P R O W Journal

A Diploma in Music and Audio Technology student. Currrently on a journey to better myself in music production. A place where imagination turns into inspiration.

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PROW Journal 16

However, Alif was not able to help us this round. So we had to write our own lyrics. Zaki wrote most of the lyrics, and I contributed to sections of the song’s lyrics. I had in mind at that point that we should get Hakim to record vocals for our song, as I deemed him as a much more suitable voice for our type and style of song. 

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PROW Journal 15

So as soon as the production of our song is near completion, we contacted our friend Alif for help on lyrics as well as vocals. We had in mind for the vocals to be like rhythmic talking with melody.

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PROW Journal 14

Same as the previous week, we continued to work on the producing and arrangements. We referenced from lots of trending/popular hip-hop tracks of today to help us to advance forward everytime we felt stuck. 

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PROW Journal 13

After Elearning week, back to studio. Zaki and I started to draft out the song, by doing a rough demo of the instrumentations as well as the structure. 

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PROW Journal 11

For the final prow project, Zaki and I are working together again. So this time we discussed and came to a conclusion that we want to do a Hip-Hop track that is currently in trend as of today. For examples Drake and Post Malone type. 

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PROW Journal 9

Currently, I am working with Zaki and we are doing an electro funk type of song. As of now it is still work in progress with a few ideas here and there being thrown out to the table for discussion.

It started out when I was jamming on my casio keyboard to a random hiphop drum loop, and I laid down some stabbing chord progression. I recorded it down on my keyboard and played some riff and improv over it. That was when the idea struck to me, so I contacted Zaki and told him about this, and we always wanted to collaborate with each other for quite awhile. So finally this opportunity came along and Zaki was in for it too.

Really looking forward to what Zaki and I will be able to produce! Super stoked!

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PROW Journal 8

As I continue to work on my compositions and ideas, I thought that I would like to do a rap song. I figured that with what I have so far, a mainly rap song with maybe just the chorus having a simple melody line, would suit the song. I hope that this will be able to work out the way I wanted it to sound. 

But for that, I first have to focus more on the composition and get the instrumentations and ideas that I want. Some of the reference tracks that I’ve been looking at and influenced by are: Rejjie Snow - D.R.U.G.S 

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PROW Journal 7

We also learnt about the Lunchbox that Tim brought in for one of the recording session for the vocals. So in it there is a pre-amp and compressor. We connected the lunchbox directly to protools, as we are able to get a better sound for the vocals since the pre-amps from the lunchbox is said to be way better than those in the C24. It was pretty insightful as to how to connect the lunchbox and using it to get the sound that is desired. 

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PROW Journal 6

For the second half of PROW, we focused more on the songs by my other peers. So for me, I would help to set up the recording studios and get it ready for recording. I would also help to stand in and track the parts for my peers’ songs. 

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PROW Journal 5

Personal work: Composed 2 songs so far. Both currently still work in progress.

Contribution:

- Assisted Zaki with his recordings on vocals for his song. Inputted suggestions for that recording session.

- Came up with melody line for violin part together with Zi Xin for her song.

- Helped to mic up instruments for recordings.

Takeaways/Learning Points: I am starting to become more comfortable with working in a recording studio setting. It has allowed me to observe my peers while they are at it and myself to be at it. Able to learn from one another, listen to one another and work together as a team. Everyone has different views and tastes, and when we are able to come together, that is when the music can be brought up a notch.

- CharterOak SA538B (Multi-pattern tube mic, takes awhile for the mic to warm up, after which gives a nice warm tone)

- Finding comfort while doing recordings (Important for a better performance/recording result)

- Ways of miking up different instruments to get the best out of the instrument

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PROW Journal 4

The next prow session, we were working on the chinese song that my teammates composed. So we wanted to add strings into the song, as such, being the only violinist, I was placed in charge of the strings segment. 

So as of now, we have the melody line for the intro of the song. The melody line was done by ZiXin and I, as we sat down to go through the melody that I could play for the song. So we did some few very different types of melody lines, trying to find the one that suits best for an Intro feel. Tim stepped in to help refine the melody line for the violin part. 

We went ahead with recording after, it took me a few takes to get warmed up with the playing. For me personally, I find it challenging to play as the song is in Eb Major, which has 3 flats. So its challenging to play songs with more flats on a violin for me. So in total we kept 4 tracks of the violin recordings and layered it to give a violin section feeling to create a strong Intro. 

After that particular session, I thought that maybe I should play the melody line in two different octave, so I sequenced it in Logic to try out. I have yet to let my teammates have a listen to it. But I feel that there are parts whereby I wish to play to help beautify the song further. So I will continue to do the sequencing of the violin and once I’m done I will bring it forth to my teammates and see how we can better improve it.

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PROW Journal 3

This particular session of prow, I showcased the song that I was working on to Tim. The feedback that was given to me was that my song has to go somewhere else. Because I had my chords progression to repeat throughout the song. So there isn’t any direction that the song was heading to.

Tim helped me out, as we stepped into the room and he started to play out the chord progression and then added more chords to it such that there is more movement in song. I recorded down that session/jam and took notes of the chords that he have suggested. So now I have to go back and relook at the song and add in where ever possible the new chords into the song.

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PROW Journal 2

The next prow session that I have attended, I sat in to assist my teammate Zaki on his song. He was doing the vocals recording at that time so I decided to sit beside him to observe the entire process as well as to lend a helping hand and a creative mind whenever I can. 

So through that particular session, I learnt about this mic that was available. It is the CharterOak SA538B (I believe thats the model), it is a multi-pattern tube mic, which produces a very nice warm tone. It takes time for the mic to warm up, so we would always get the sessionist to go through and rehearse the parts before we go for an actual take. 

While observing that particular recording session, I get to learn about when and where its good to add adlibs, backing vocals, how to make the recording process smooth and chill for the sessionist. As it is important to be able to set the right mood with the sessionist, as a producer, such that the producer is able to achieve what he/she wants.

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PROW Journal 1

Came up with a song, a few weeks back. It was just a rough sketch/idea of it. Mainly sounding like an instrumental track and its very repititive currently. I visioned it to be a chill type of rap song. So as of now I’m still working towards that vision of mine. 

So the thought process behind this particular track (Doesn’t have a fixed name to it yet, its called “NEW Track [20/11/17]” as of now), I came up with a simple chord progression and played it in a very chopped up rhythm to create that bounce which goes well with the beats, giving it a very up beat feel. Then I decided to try something different, recorded the chord progression and then bounced the midi track into an audio track, from there I had the audio track on reverse. This created a very nice and different pads feel, as the attack of the synth piano comes at the end. Next I had a bass riff planted down and I thought I should bring out that riff more, so I layered the bass riff with a synthesizer instrument that I created. With that I had a rough sketch of my composition going.