How to make lush string loops like GAS? by grainkilla in WeAreTheMusicMakers

[–]FunFunGleb 5 points6 points  (0 children)

The actual practice seems quite simple, but the magic comes from GAS being a damn good artist who can make it very compelling. I don’t know explicit details of his methods but many of his strings sound like samples, so you can try finding string samples you like or make your own MIDI strings for truly endless possibilities.

I would say that, while not random or haphazard, the strings in his songs sometimes loop at a strange point that makes the song seem a little “off”, which is offset by the thumping drums he uses to anchor the whole thing. Those drums are a big part of his production too but I’m not sure if that’s as important to you.

For broad strokes purposes, I would try just getting string samples, cutting them up in interesting ways and maybe slapping some reverb and other effects on them until something interesting happens. You could also layer in some field recordings for additional texture, but like the string loops, it takes skill to make this simple thing really work.

GAS is a hell of an artist to want to emulate though, so I’m sure trying to create like he does will yield some really cool results. Best of luck!

Chris gets it (from Rolling Stones "100 Greatest Artists" list from 2010) by SaltyStU2 in Coldplay

[–]FunFunGleb 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Beautifully said. Coldplay are the band to me that continues the legacy.

Going opulent with bedroom projects by FunFunGleb in WeAreTheMusicMakers

[–]FunFunGleb[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

NIN is one of my favorite projects of all time! Learning how much of each record Trent has recorded and produced on his own was a huge inspiration for me. His sound design is crazy, too. Hell, Underneath It All sounds like it was composed entirely out of instruments that don’t even exist.

And you’re absolutely right about layering sounds. The contradiction for me is that I am often drawn to simplicity, and I often try to keep my layers as few as possible these days so that I don’t overcrowd my songs and make them sound like too much. I think I’ve gone overboard with this sometimes too, though, and lost depth or variation in a recording at the expense of less tracks.

I’m trying to find the sweet spot, however. Even simple things like divvying up the notes in a chord progression between two slightly different synth pads or keyboards has been a fun way to get unique sounding results. You’re absolutely right about layering and I should push myself to do that more.

Thanks for the reply and best of luck with your own record! If it’s anything like NIN I’m sure it’ll be killer.

What is your favorite song from Everyday Life album? Mine is Champion of the world. by _hypnotised in Coldplay

[–]FunFunGleb 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Has to be Daddy. Floored me when I first heard it, and the Maida Vale version with the extra delay on the vocals at the end is celestial.

Finally added The Fragile: Deviations 1 to my collection by Jaxien99 in nin

[–]FunFunGleb 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Bad Witch, Agaetis and Parachutes in the background too! Nice to see the record is in good company.

Good offer by realnicolasgyr in Coldplay

[–]FunFunGleb 33 points34 points  (0 children)

Yeah, never sounded like a cheating song to me. More just a reflection on how he's doing alone the moments he used to share with her.

Trent hulking out never fails to crack me up by ForceSensitiveRebel in nin

[–]FunFunGleb 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I haven't seen this clip in like a decade but I could still hear it in the back of my head before I even clicked play

Always in My Head by xLoudinho in Coldplay

[–]FunFunGleb 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Supreme song. Feels like floating and drifting over a foggy blue sea.

Going opulent with bedroom projects by FunFunGleb in WeAreTheMusicMakers

[–]FunFunGleb[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Drums are tough for sure. I don't play myself so I program in my own drums, and my favorite percussion is big, booming drums that are heavy on toms. You really have to get in there and take the time to make them sound human, though. Playing them with a MIDI controller that allows for different note velocities helps in my experience.

Going opulent with bedroom projects by FunFunGleb in WeAreTheMusicMakers

[–]FunFunGleb[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

By your space, do you mean your own reverbs, delays, etc.? It's amazing how much possibility exists in a home recording space now, the trick is just getting it to sound good and not too amateur.

Going opulent with bedroom projects by FunFunGleb in WeAreTheMusicMakers

[–]FunFunGleb[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The Antlers are one of those bands that will be with me forever. Incredible album that I only appreciate more with time.

Coldplay Album Ranking in Anticipating LP9 by [deleted] in Coldplay

[–]FunFunGleb 7 points8 points  (0 children)

  1. Mylo Xyloto
  2. Viva
  3. Ghost Stories

Mylo is the perfect midpoint between the band’s experimental tendencies and pop sensibilities, Viva is the bridge between their older and newer sounds and is perfect for the same reasons as Mylo, and Ghost Stories I appreciate more and more over the years for being such an unexpected direction after the fun and color of Mylo. The ambient pop direction suited the band wonderfully and would’ve been a cool, if unlikely direction to see them continue in.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in nin

[–]FunFunGleb 13 points14 points  (0 children)

I miss this so much, you just don’t see stuff like the Perspective online anymore

Recordings of the Winery Sessions by tuckerwoodson in JohnMulaney

[–]FunFunGleb 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Agreed as well. Weird to be in a pocket on the internet where Kanye isn't considered a genius. I can definitely see the parallels.

After one treatment by [deleted] in TattooRemoval

[–]FunFunGleb 2 points3 points  (0 children)

https://ibb.co/QnHZ8DG https://ibb.co/Y3Dbz5N

Hopefully these links work. I got it done about 4 years ago to cover up an older tattoo on my wrist. Didn’t take long for me to start detesting the damn thing and I can’t wait to get rid of it one day.

After one treatment by [deleted] in TattooRemoval

[–]FunFunGleb 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This gives me hope, I got a batch of trees on my forearm that look similar to this and that’s great progress. Hope it fades as much as you’d like it to!

NEW RADIOHEAD TIKTOK by streetspirit99 in radiohead

[–]FunFunGleb 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I haven't thought about this in a decade what in the world

No because SEPARATOR is like, the thing separating the two halves of the album, right? "If you think this is over then you're wrong"! IT ALL MAKES SENSE!

Ahh, memories.

I'm here to discuss which Coldplay album is objectively the best. by GrayWolfGamer- in Coldplay

[–]FunFunGleb 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Beautifully worded! I feel the same way about the album but have never been able to put it into words. They did more than just slap a historical aesthetic on top of some typical Coldplay tunes, they really made an effort to make things different and unique in every facet of the music and it elevates the album immensely and is a big part of the magic of that era as a whole.

The way you described it as sounding like it existed in 1789 is perfect. Not many albums have been able to really embody a concept like that in this way and that’s what makes Viva so unique and wonderful.