Discovery of Propellerhead Reason 10

I was sick and couldn't sing for 2 weeks.
The illness coincided with a long Thanksgiving weekend.
I started Propellerhead Reason 10 Trial. I loved it so much that bought the next day. Maybe I was sick and rushed, but the deed is done.

Decided that it was time to learn how to write EBM/Industrial tracks. Started experimenting. Oh how I missed this.
No quite there, but I find it interesting to recollect the progression. Too often we see only the end result and not the process. I definitely worry a lot that my music sucks and expect it to magically turn out a hit one day, without being prepared for hard work, dedication and PATIENCE. Not cööl!


Just imagine, 3 tries and I have a neat solid track (composition-wise). Also, it gets easier as things build up on each other. It's the same beat. Yes, I like it very much.
I definitely spent more time searching for the track name than composing its music. And times more time was spent on mixing it. I think I recorded it total in 30-60 minutes, longest making the guitar sound OK and then a week just mixing. Just. Mixing. For a week. It would cost $50, but I legitimately waster 7 evenings of my life on it. Damn, this is an accomplishment I guess. Please, don't blatantly tell me it sounds like crap now, at least prepare me.
Now, relax and let this Tomentous sound embrace you:

Evolution of a song (Part 1: Arrangement)

The infinite possibilities: how to get to the right one?

1. This song came unusually easy to me. It was pouring. Bam, bam, I was on a bus, going to work and I had to open OneNote to write down lyrics. Didn't need to edit or make rhymes, all was in place already.
Bam, bam, I printed out the lyrics, walked to a piano and found harmony for the chorus. It had to be catchy and it was. From there in a few steps I got to the verse harmony and also the interlude. The last part remaining was the connection from chorus back into verse, which I sought for a while and it turned out to be just one extra chord.
With everything written down the song was ready and I can perform it, check out the live piano version featuring me and Chi at 0:00-1:10.

2. But this isn't the style of music that I usually write. Next turn - for the metal part: drums, guitars, bass.
Big support needed for the chorus, moderate for the verse, the interlude is expected to rock! So goes the rhythm. A little faster, but keeps main beats aligned with piano chords. Bam! Ba-da-bam-bam! Push-ta-zysh!
So I was ready to record at this point, so I dropped some random instruments in Ableton in place of real instruments at 1:10-2:27.

3. But this isn't my style and this is too boring, has no development. It is deadly for the number of verses, which I managed to bring down to five. This song needs variation. And this is where I got stuck. this is where the hard work had to be invested in. This is why I need to cooperate with someone: to unload the dirty work :)
At least it sounds more metal at 2:27-3:30.

4. ARRANGEMENT
Faster? Slower? More Melody? Drop an instrument! Silence... A breakdown? My brain's in breakdown.
I need a break...

I added a couple of simpler melodies to support the vocal line and used different combinations of instruments. I really like the new Guitar pro (7th) set of RSE (real sounding) instruments at 3:30-4:50.

5. Now it's only left to pick synth instruments, record vocals, add effects and post-processing and mix. Maybe I'll manage to record live guitar even? Not dreaming of live drums and bass...
Things finally coming together (sounds better with the voice in my head, but that's a story for another post) at 4:52-6:25.

These chunks are just examples. The song is now 7:30 long!
To be continued...