Night Owl
Mar 24, 2023
Ryan
Screen Dream
Zoya doesn’t think I could get into the CIA. So I wrote a theme to a show where I’m already in it. Just, only on nights when we’re not together.
Featured instrument was the aggressive use of sidechaining on the big synths.
Looking for feedback on
Do you think I could get into, and succeed in, the CIA? But also, thoughts on sidechaining-as-effect?
Discussion
nick April 3, 2023 11:27am
The sidechaining is very yes working for me. I would look forward to hearing this at the front of each show. No skip baby.
nick April 3, 2023 11:25am
Siiiick but yeah if one of you turned out to be a secret agent it would be @@zoya
zoya April 3, 2023 12:01pm
Plus I don’t think the CIA even takes italians?
Z March 29, 2023 6:50pm
So. Evocative!
Ken burns effect within the first few seconds, lucky draw for whomever gets to put visuals to this track over at HBO.
Love the side-chaining! I’m no pro at it but I like what Daeclan said – it seems like one needs to figure out what instruments are going to be sucked into the sidechain or not. My ear wants a non SC entrance for the cello (? Entrance at 13s) to separate it a bit. I wouldn’t want it totally flat so maybe just splitting the difference or playing with a separate compressor for that track would be where I’d start to explore.
just noticing how the ‘shaker’ sets that entrance up then gets out of the way – really nice touch.
Hi pass section is perfect
Four on the floor kick sounds awesome,
Noticing now that the the fundamental drum part is i think a 2 bar phrase which keeps it interesting – v cool.
Man there are a lot of other goodies in here, like that quivery reflection on the bells? Is that a separate entrance or like a flutter on a delay bud or somethin?
this is really great, going to enjoy it as much as possible before it gets memory-holed by the spooks!
nick April 3, 2023 11:26am
Evocative is the word
Ryan April 3, 2023 5:28pm
Thanks, mate! Oh yeah fun fact about that “shaker” — that’s me scratching the head of an SM57 with a guitar pick and then distorting the shit out of it. And yeah, the quivery bell reflection I was thrilled with. That is a reverse reverb/delay tail from SoundToys Crystallizer that I added a fair bit of pre-delay to so that that effect swirls back in significantly after the glock attack.
And yeahhhh, good call on that non sidechained cello entrance. I actually tried that for a sec and couldn’t get it to work and then bailed. But I agree that might be best.
daeclan March 27, 2023 8:19pm
this is so 24
is is very jack bauer
this is giving counter terrorism
i really dig the cinematic nature, and foreboding bass (but hopeful tings and pings). really nailed it, sounds like a friggin show theme song. i haven’t seen homeland in like 6 years but i think this is what i remember feeling during the credits.
re: notes
i think you could do great things at the company, man. they are always looking for the best and boldest and brightest. but be careful, they are known assassins and tricksters.
& side-chaining! i love it here, and in certain contexts (rly just thinking about Flying Lotus tbh). it can be distracting if it is not surrounded by other elements that are contributing to the mix; it has a really powerful hypnotic quality, but i think that goes away if you can focus too directly on it. i think your mix strikes a good balance where it is pushing/pulling without distracting from the Central Idea At play
Z March 29, 2023 6:50pm (edited)
This is giving counter terrorism = top comment award
Ryan April 3, 2023 5:29pm
Yeah biiiig into this is giving counter terrorism