Pop Piano

Another offering for AudioJungle. I just called it "Pop Piano," because it's pretty much what it is. I uploaded the demo to youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDViz3QEr-Q

HolyHammer · From Despair To Hope Demo

I've fallen a little bit behind in posting because I've taken up 3d editing, and am knee-deep in a course to learn Blender. I have managed to get another song finished and published on Audio Jungle, though. This one is called "From Despair to Hope."

This is a short, emotional piece designed to bridge the gap from despair to hope. Twenty seconds of despair transitioning into 40 seconds of hope. This would be a great underscore for any dialogue providing a solution to a problem or helping people find light at the end of the tunnel. I had palliative care or mental health in mind while writing this one.

The song is in the style of a classical string quartet, although I add piano and a very light pad for warmth in the last 40 seconds. The total time is 1:02, but the audio tale can easily be faded out quicker to fall within 60 seconds.

Renaissance Dance Tune Accepted

The Renaissance Dance Tune below was accepted and published for sale on Audio Jungle today. That's two in a row and brings my published total up to 204.

In the works are an electronic thing currently called "Buzzcut," and a Reggae song that is already in its 4th revision. Not sure that one will ever see publication, but I can't stop myself. When it's feeling swampy outside, it just comes out.

Renaissance Dance Tune

HolyHammer · Renaissance Dance Full Demo

This is a fast tempo, rollicking dance tune from the Renaissance that uses recorder, lute, dulcimer, violin (viol), hand drums, and tambourine.

It is in a minor key, but very happy and uptempo. It's in 6/8 time, and could easily be used as an instrumental sea chantey. The original song that it is taken from is about the prophet Jonah from the Bible, although there are no vocals in this arrangement.

Photo by Johnny McClung on Unsplash

Learning Mode

Although I have a few projects in the works, some of my current projects will never see the light of day. I have a few projects in Logic that set up only as playground sandboxes for learning some of the new software synthesizers that I have that I haven't taken beyond preset sounds.

Getting under the hood and going beyond the presets isn't always necessary. When a synth comes with 10,000 sounds built into it, there's usually not much need to tweak things to find something you need. But understanding how all the dials, bells, whisltes, graphs and routings work can really help dial in some unique sounds. So playing in the sandbox may not be immediatlely productive, it's a lot of fun.,

And who knows? Maybe it will lead to that elusive best seller that draws a crowd.

Synths in particular that I'm experimenting with? Cyborg from East/West, and Apple's Logic Synthesizers: Sculpture, ES2, and EFM. Any one of those will keep my learning for a month.

Upbeat and Chill Acceptance

Just a quick update that my last upload was accepted, and is now up for sale on AudioJungle. I'm super impressed - I have never had a new file reviewed and accepted in a single day. The quick turnaround is more from added reviewers than any particular excellence on my part. That brings the total up to 203 published songs.

Upbeat and Chill Ambient Cinematic

HolyHammer · Upbeat And Chill Ambient Cinematic Demo

To name it is to describe it: this is an upbeat and chill ambient cinematic song for corporate use in presentations and videos. It uses both orchestral instruments and synthesizers with light percussion. Submitted to Audio Jungle on Aug. 5, 2021.

Not a whole lot of compression in this one. I'm personally getting tired of overly-compressed tracks screaming at me constantly. I thought it might be nice if listeners didn't automatically have to reach for the volume to turn it down for a change.

Photo by ARYA KRISDYANTARA on Unsplash was chosen because I just installed a new showerhead. I would LIVE in the shower if I could. It's the place where I feel the most chill.

Castle Garden Rejected

No luck with this one. I got an Audio Jungle genereic rejection on the July 18th. On the bright side, I heard back from them much faster than I have in the past, even if the answere was a "no thanks." Not my first, and won't be my last. Back to the piano....

Castle Garden

HolyHammer · Castle Garden Demo

I'm long overdue on posting, but since I have more free time on my hands recently, it's time to get back to business.

This started out as a Quartet in D, then had full orchestral strings added along with piano and glockenspiel, so I went with calling it "Castle Garden" in the end because it has that meandering through the palace grounds sort of feel to it.  Also, my daughter informs me that the glockenspiel and harp definitely give it that 'fairy princess' vibe.  A bit emasculating, really, but I'm sure she means well.

The description listed online is as follows...

A relaxing, but upbeat orchestral song I imagined as a soundtrack for wandering around and enjoying a beautiful classical garden. It uses both orchestral and solo stringed instruments, harp, piano, and glockenspiel. Solo instruments include the violin, viola, cello, and harp.

I also included "pastoral" as one of the key words, even though no one in the world will every search for a song using that term.  But it IS pastoral - and I would use it as a search term.  

Four Descents

Nothing fancy here, just four new descending lines for use in film, video or audio productions. Four little branding idents to provide an audio background of something falling or descending.

Four Descents

Drunken Robot

 I haven't been super faithful with posting this summer - mostly due to laziness, I guess.  So here's a link to a demo of a new one I just put up for submission called "Drunken Robot."

https://u.pcloud.link/publink/show?code=XZXsMyXZ5mzNQTKprH5mbncjL62XJz0mlcJy

In all honesty, I'll be pleasantly surprised if this one gets accepted for sale.  If it does, I know for a fact that I will OWN the "drunken robot" search term.  (FYI, I have already checked.) Someday, somewhere, someone is going to need a little theme song to go along with a robot on a bender.  Someone had to write and record it....why not me?  BTW, the robot gets sick at 1:23 (yes...that is what a robot sounds like when he throws up) and is singing along in an annoying way at 1:44.

I know, Beethoven would have been ashamed of me.  Mozart would have gotten a kick out of it, though.  Then he would have gone off and written a better one.

 Just a quick note that my "Not My Tribe" submission was accepted for sale by Audio Jungle.  That brings the total number of recordings up to 202.  Approvals get a little harder every summer, so I consider that a pretty respectable number. 

New Podcast Theme

This is just a short little theme for podcast/broadcast use. I'm a fan of the "bwoopy" sound of the udu.

PODCAST THEME

Posting a new one here that I am calling "Not My Tribe" for now. Honestly, I'm not sure what to call it, and I'm not sure which genre to submit it in. And I'm not sure whether it has vocals or not. No one actually sang, I used a couple different synth audio vocal, so I'm not sure if they count or not. I'm also attempting to link to a new online storage medium for music, since my soundcloud account is nearly full. $12/month seems a little steep for my needs, and I'm too lazy to delete any of my old stuff. I'm giving pCloud a try to see how well it works.

This is a demo of a 2:09 violin solo with piano accompaniment that I wrote & recorded for anything that needs a little maudlin audio. Two minutes of sad, dreary and depressing drama. Hopefully on sale on audio jungle at the end of July, 2020 - a year in which there was much to be maudlin about.

HolyHammer · Ruins In The Rain Demo

This is a demo of a 7 second branding ident for a lead-in stinger video related to trends in illustration. This was one of five I did for submission for a contest on Audio Jungle - the family decided this one was the best of the lot. It goes with the video very well.

HolyHammer · IllusTrendIdent Demo

This is a demo of a 30 second humorous track for commercial purposes that I recorded to give the impression of a toddler running away from his parents. There are few things more adorably funny than a runaway toddler.

HolyHammer · Running Toddler Demo

This is a demo of a 30 second audio loop of a jazzy latin combo. This version includes a final note & tail, but it loops at 30 seconds. Instruments include acoustic guitar, piano, marimba, bass, cajone and light percussion.

Woodwind Quartet in D

This is a playful woodwind quartet I wrote & recorded using recorder, flute, english horn & bassoon. It uses lots of counterpoint and is in D major with a contrasting middle section in a minor key. It sounds like it falls somewhere between the Renaissance and Baroque eras. Just submitted to AudioJungle, and hoping for approval sometime next week.

HolyHammer · Woodwind Quartet In D Demo

Tong Drum & Glockenspiel Children's Theme

I seem to have a little extra time on my hands thanks to Corona Virus school cancellations. So I'll write & record a little music, I guess. Here's a little 30 second children's theme I did because I've been wanting to play something on the tong drum I got for Christmas. I'll creatively call it "Tong Drum and Glockenspiel Children's Theme" and submit it to Audio Jungle to see what they think.