16. C# Minor (86 BPM)

Episode Description:

It’s episode 16 and it’s time for night mode! Recording far later than usual, Oliver is ready to break some creative blockers and prove that it’s not all about the view out the studio window. He’s put some coloured lights out for ambiance and is ready to make some music. The Wheel of Destiny stirs up a memory of jams gone by with the selection of C# minor. Was it a friend or foe? Only time will tell, 10 minutes to be specific. The Balls of Fate have seemingly had a long day and ask for a leisurely 86 beats per minute tempo for this live looping creation. Oliver starts things off with a percussion shaker before quickly finding a synth sound. Synthesiser selected, it’s then onto finding the right chord progression loop. He finds a relaxing, calming, soothing chord progression, some gentle, emotional ambient music. Two chords alternating back and forth but containing a lot of complexity, it starts with a contemplative moment, music to relax to, music to study to, music to meditate to - healing music. Once the keyboard layer is recorded, Oliver hops over to the bass synth to add some hypnotising low end. He lands swiftly onto a bass line that really transforms the synth pad, adding depth and a feeling of epic energy. Just to emphasise the grandeur of the moment, he double tracks a second bass synth when the melody lands back onto the root note. He lifts the resonance as the note sustains to add some grit and tension. With only a few minutes left, it’s over to drums to build on the rhythm. Oliver starts with an energetic, full rock kit sound - transforming an ambient moment into an almost post-rock/progressive rock genre. Seemingly heading into soundtrack/film score territory. The drum beat seems to fit, although trying to get a clean loop proves a challenge and eats away at the remaining time. With just a minute left, Oliver pulls out an epic - perhaps out of place, though - flute sound drenched in reverb. He lays down this melody before letting us know he’ll be saving that for later - planning for the future, how responsible! But will it be worth it, it did seem a bit loud? As the timer runs out, Oliver declares his awareness of the time but asks for more time to fix the drums. Since the referees all had the day shift, nobody seems to be there to stop him. The drum loop is still a little chopped harshly, though, so he makes a mental note to redo them after a bit of a jam. It’s time for some epic, atmospheric, soaring guitar drenched in reverb, tape delay and shimmer delay. Almost an ambient rock/progressive rock/math rock/shoegaze type jam emerges. He pulls the flutes back in and do they fit? Nobody is really sure but it’s okay, they’re taken out before the drums are actually fixed! A pounding, almost primal heartbeat like rhythmic tom beat eventually gets looped before a few more hypnotising guitar layers with warm guitar tones; a journey through a soundscape. Melodic guitar looping ideas, relaxing, soaring soothing sounds and notes carry us to the end before Oliver gives his closing thoughts on this jam session.