The Examined Life - Jumping Into The Waters Mix - N0mad23

Ableton is wicked confusing! I really like it though, as I mostly mix "live" and for the approach I can't imagine a better DAW. Glad this one was better than your usual listens in the genre. Cheers.

Salut mon ami.

J'ai mes pieds dans les deux mondes et de Yaoundàest avec moi partout où je vais. I'm so happy you like this one! Thank you.

Back in the early-mid `90's I was in a band in Seattle called Spirit House that was part of the "Acoustic Trance" musical scene happening. It wasn't Trance music generically, but it would put you into a trance state. I guess we never really get away from our influences, do we?

I think I dig the bass in this one most of all - and that was the ground and subsequent launch for the rest of the piece. Thanks for the review and fave! Supreme compliment - thank you!

I did two versions of this one, with the "instrumental" being the first go. When I did that one, I could hear the sounds I added to this version in my head the whole time. The instrument you hear as a sitar is actually an Indian santur, which is very similar to a zither or hammered dulcimer. But I've effected it to the point of turning it into something else here. The tabla here is me, and the only loops I used (that I didn't create) was one from planetjazzbass. The more I do this, the easier it is to create the sounds I'm actually looking for rather than find something someone else has made that's close. I get worried about it being a little too "solo" though, but here I think I've avoided that. The water is field recordings from here and Norway. Besides the baby and people laughing, there's a cat, a coyote, a train, and a local crow added to this. All have symbolic meaning for me, and needed expression here. Really glad you enjoyed this one. Will be by presently to check out your musical work. Thanks!

Merci! I spent part of my youth in Cameroon (which is why my French is fossilized now) and the music really effected me. Hopefully I captured some of the happiness of the music that influenced me in those early years. Thanks for the listen and the review.

Sorry for the delay John, I just looked at the reviews here and see you left one long, long ago (what happens when I take 3 months away).

Love your "voices...like music" comment. I was just writing a review about using "natural sounds" and wondered if those sounds aren't loaded with information and symbolism. In other words, their sounds touch emotional locations we already carry around.

Shoot me your email and I'll send you a copy in 128 or 320, your choice!

Hello - thanks for alerting me to your presence. I'll be by soon to check out your music as well. I did have a look at your profile and must say you've got good taste in music. Makes me think I'm going to dig your work, for sure. Thanks for the listen and review.

Yeah the water and other field recordings teased out a lot of the symbolism I was shooting for here. Dive on in, the water's fine! I think I'm still most enamored with the bass line here - I'm really digging doing more of the Midi work myself and not trying to find loops that kind of work. Thanks for the review and encouragement!

Yeah, I think I've got a handful or two you haven't heard yet. My latest project (read - "album") is titled Music to have a Rebellion To, and is definitely taking me down directions not anticipated. I'm really pleased with the direction since starting this one, and the two mixes of this song in particular. The plan is that this track will be the final one, and the non-ambient mix the first. Glad you approve! Cheers.

Hi Estefano - sorry about the delay in a reply, and I'm feeling like I'm falling behind in duties. Really glad you dig this version, as it's what I had in mind all along since the concept. It's a real challenge blending "natural" sounds with music, but when it works it's really worthwhile. Thanks much for the encouragement and review!

Thank you. It's a tricky thing, the merging of non-musical sounds into a musical piece but worth the attempt. I think it's the 4th track I've done now trying this blend, and I learn something new every time. The song itself lends itself to the sounds of water because of elements (esp. cymbals) that are already creating these themes. Glad you enjoyed it!

Hi Dave - it's true, finding field recordings not filled with the sounds of internal combustion engines or the sounds of industry are bloody hard to find! The ebb and low of the cymbals work well with the waves kissing the beach, don't they - perpetual motion indeed and fueled by the Sun and Moon. Musically, I'm a bit more keen on my other version, but pleased that this "ambient" mix worked. Thanks for listening and giving such a marvelous review.

It does tease out the optimistic happy emotional places, doesn't it? As I've been playing with the other version trying to finalize it, I'm quite surprised about how intense the percussion is in this one. However, the bass and melodies completely change the feeling, and jack it straight into those happy places. The field recordings seem to add polish to this, and make it even happier somehow. If you listen carefully at the beginning, when the bass drum joins in, you can hear a coyote singing to a train whistle, too, but in this context doesn't feel the least bit ominous. Still trying to consciously figure out why this stuff works! Thanks for the encouragement my friend.

I've got a think with the water, too - but for me it's the oceans and seas. Finally come to grips with the fact that I'm a Puget Sound boy, and feel like I'm home when my nostrils fill with the scent of hydrogen sulfide. I think that our bodies are largely composed of water is the other key. Thanks for both the review and the favorite - I'm feeling really flattered by this.

I haven't thought about Hawkwind in ages! Thanks for the link, and I can really see why this one reminds you of that! Personally I think this quest for originality is rather silly, as there are only so many interesting rhythms and melodies possible (mathematically). The key then is doing something that works for you as the artist. If any one else digs it, it's frosting on the cake. Thanks for the listen!

I'd just been thinking about you, so the timing is perfect. I put both coyote and raven calls in this one to represent the "voices" of our local Trickster archetypes. Maybe I should put in a disclaimer - sounds from n0mad23's examined life? Thanks for the listen and review!

It's the splashing and baby giggling, isn't it? It's hard to stay blue when a baby's giggling like that! A few months ago, alividlife was on a quest trying to encourage everyone to tell a story with music - and the approach here took that into account. I think diving into the waters of life are fully worth all the risks. Cheers. And thank you for the favorite! Huge compliment, my friend!

Hi adam76 - it did come out cleaner than I originally thought. I recorded this last night, but felt unsatisfied so let it sit while I slept. It sounded a lot better to me this morning, so I thought I'd post it. I'm feeling pretty good about this version, and am glad you dig it. Makes me feel like I'm on the right track. Cheers.