Wrote this for a competition. The prompt was "Blasts from the Past!" I had to write a modern song with a retro theme or twist! I decided to do something with chiptune, but I added all of the other instruments and ended up making it similar to songs like 25% and Friends.

This is most likely going to be the last frequent upload. Things are getting busy, I haven't had the time to make tons of music. Hopefully it improves!

I started off with the main melody idea, but I wanted to make a slow piano part to begin the song. I used a lot of velocity changing, to try making it slightly more human-like. Then, I used Addictive Drums 2 for the drums. I layered an additional kick sample because the kick was a bit weak. Layered another cymbal, and added a reversed cymbal for tension and release.

Adding a second slower melody, I utilized a triangle wave. I layered it with a stock piano plugin, cause I liked that fake piano sound. During the second time, I added some strings and a shakuhachi, because why not? I also changed the rhythm of that piano, adding a nice jumpy feeling to that last part.

Then, there's a return to the vocal chop I love! I actually made it wrong, but it ended up ok. I returned back to the main melody, but just for a while! Then, I combined the two melodies I had made together!

I initially was trying to make a chiptune solo, but I wasn't happy with it. So you'll hear a chiptune solo that doesn't last as long as I had wanted. I wanted this to be the end of the song, but it just didn't sit right with me. So, I added a release cut piano! I didn't like the new melody at first, but as I listened to it more, it sort of grew on me.

After that, I made the song fade out. Nothing special, nothing new, just the standard melodies.

Let's see if this makes it past the first round!

What I learned:

1. Piano and drum velocity humanization

2. Using more stock pianos for a cool release cut piano

3. Stock FL FLEX strings don't sound too bad! It's not realistic, but that's the sound I'm going for

4. Stock FL FLEX flutes are also pretty good!

5. More mixing and mastering improvements

6. More pluck layering

BPM: 159 (i think i accidentally changed the bpm slightly it might have originally been 160 lol)

Time spent: 9 hours 39 minutes

Art by PennyFrost178 on DeviantArt! Go follow her!