Fly on the wall #1 - Cinematic Music Creation / Blakus

RAW "fly on the wall" footage from the beginning of a new creation - dirty dishes and all :D Warning: It ain't pretty - long and boring video of a mad composer trying to hash out a simple melody.
I'm unsure if this is interesting/useful, and this video may or may not hang around for long :D
You can find more of my music at the sites below:
Website: blakus.com
SoundCloud: / blakus-mfm
Facebook: / blakusdotcom

[@RamonRodgers]

I understand how you must feel about letting guests see your dirty dishes. But PLEASE understand how pure GOLD this is to us just seeing another composers workflow and thought process. It is a gift and I beg you to do more of these!!! Just knowing that you do an exact same quirky thing here or there sometimes is empowering. Right or wrong approach, I'm not alone... Thank you so much!

[@jannelepola4730]

As TamTam said, I feel just the the same! While Blakes overall writing skills and general perspective over arrangements are superior to mine (well, just look at the Star Wars arrangement!), I seem to just lack confidence on what I'm doing - the workflow remains the same: quick (bit messy) sketching, cleaning up those missed notes, trying out an idea, scrapping it, trying out something else, scrapping it, and finally taking the "ordinary route" (ie. string sections or brass doubling). Usually by this time I find myself unimaginative as composer and get bit frustrated - I just can't stand the fact that the ordinary route might really be the one which works - instead I'm chasing my own tail! For over a year I'v been putting lots of effort on trying to force fast workflow. Mike Verta once pointed the problem with getting fed up by your own composition - You should try to not get too attached to a single melody line or chord-progression, as that will most likely get you stuck within that single idea. While that idea by itself feels great, you keep banging the walls trying to come up with natural continuation, but the more attached you are to that single part the harder it feels to find the way out. Flip-side of the coin is that you need to give up some detail-level working in order to move forward. I think this video was extremely good example of solid, but very ordinary, workflow. It's simply great comparison point for beginners to rethink how professional composer-arrangers still need to go through the same process as everyone else. There isn't shortcut to satisfaction - you need to put the effort, re-evaluate your work ideas all the time, and polish those small ideas, not just in writing- but also within technical level (ie. fixing single notes). Releasing this kind of video is a bit leap of faith, as it shows what you really are behind the curtains as an composer. At the same time, it's the most excellent material to study. It's a very brave thing to do! Blake: As Mike Verta suggested, one should try to move forward all the time. After hearing your work-in-progress theme & chord-progression 100-times within few hours, how can you keep perspective of what your song *actually* sounds like "for the fresh ears"? Do you take 1-3 day (or even longer) breaks between writing and/or mastering sessions? How often do you feel that your last nights work doesn't feel as satisfactory in the morning as it did last night, and how often do you need to rearrange sections (not necessary rewrite, but reorganize intro/bridge/A/B/C parts)?

[@Blakus]

Thanks for the insightful comment Janne! I have to say I did wonder whether to post this kind of video or not. But I figured it is worth showing the "not so nice" side to it all for others out there. I still have much to do on this track, which I may continue with another video! Keeping perspective is difficult. There's a few things I try to do to combat this. #1 I always complete the piano sketch before getting into the orchestration and mockup work. I guess this relates to Verta's point on trying to write quickly. #2 I try to remember that initial response I had when I first came up with the ideas. I ignore the fact that I'm sick to death of it, and push on. #3 I remind myself that "simple is best". One of the key indicators that I've lost perspective, is when I start making things more complicated than they need to be. I do this quite a lot. Even in this short video you could probably see me try to calm myself down, or re-recording things in a more simple way. #4 If I do get the chance to take some time away from the track, I make sure that when I listen through for the "first time" again, I concentrate like crazy and really pay attention to how I react to what I'm hearing. Those "first listen" experiences are crucial. I don't really like this piece of music if I'm honest. At least not yet. But it will be interesting to see if I can get it to a place that I am happy with it in the next session or two! Thanks again!

[@DanieleGaruglieri]

You're right! For me is the same thing, I put a lot of effort in my work and often I don't like it at the first time (same with the Star Wars track I'm actually composing) so it's need a lot of work and effort.

[@Fyrlink]

Janne Lepola wow. thanks so much for this my man

[@prosper7452]

omg omg omg omg omg omg omg. You don't realize how long we've waited for this!

[@MishaMansoor]

you rule

[@blancodeplomo]

Mixing tutorial please!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@jeduardolopezo]

Many more videos like these please!! :)

[@fredwhite-musicformultimed4420]

Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge, you have a big soul and it shows in the music you make. Greetings from Quebec Canada.

[@Blakus]

Thanks for the kind comment!

[@doglairamaral]

Amazing....Good Job. Perfect. Beautiful Melody

[@VisualAudioV]

Thank you for sharing. I love seeing this all the way through.

[@josiah3230]

I just wish I could have an idea even close to as good as this... And all the surrounding things you mess around with I would never come up with

[@srgttamtam]

Love this video. Shows me, that i am not completely pathetic, cz at least it seems like i am not the only one composing like this :D

[@Blakus]

Hahaha! Whatever works I say :D

[@ephjaymusic]

This is so compelling to watch! Awesomeness!

[@pierre-yvesvuagniaux7624]

Hello from snowy Switzerland ! I have been inspired and fascinated by this excellent video. Very simple, but extremely efficient walkthrough video, I have not seen anything like it before. It truly gave me the tools to improve my own way of approaching the composing process. I am a big fan of your work and predict you will have a bright future in the film industry. Thank you so much for the idea. And finally, sorry for my English (I speak French), I wanted to thank you very much though for having shared this intimate moment of creation, it is very courageous and very helpful! Cheers. PY

[@brainrussell6811]

Haven't gotten all the way through yet, so I don't know what/if any brass you've orchestrated, but Cinesamples' Descant Horn sounds great over this... fantastic instrument. You've got mad, mad skills, mi amigo!

[@Ph_Blais]

Really impressed on how your initial idea evolved through the video. I have to say at first I was kind a surprise how it didn’t sound ‘Blakus’. This reminds me one thing a friend composer told me: there’s no such thing as a bad idea or a bad melody. What really matters is what you do with it.

[@andreykanashev8077]

after watching your videos I started again to write music. Thank you for that :)

[@CalebFaith]

Thanks for the video Blakus! It's always insightful to see another's work processes :)

[@multimokia]

Oh my goodness, this is absolutely incredible! I love watching these videos, it's really helpful to learn some more techniques for my own compositions. Keep up the great work Blake!

[@magneat]

"what awesome track names I have" =))) nice video! very interesting to watch.

[@arucanarishortfilms5986]

Love watching you! Amazing track, would love to know how to compose.... :)

[@Papangiri]

Hey Blake, this is superb. A great fly-on-the-wall look at your composition process. Looking forward to many more episodes. :) Which piano library/samples are you using? Oh, and the Blakus43 Solo - is that your own library you recorded? Or is it SS Macabre? It's beautiful! This piece is very reminiscent of Hans Zimmer's Interstellar (main theme) btw.

[@cherrysound]

Blake, I must say, that you've found a really good way to mix the piano sound - it sounds really in a place, with correct frequency response, hope I'll find such a perfect solution for it too!) For me it still been a problem)

[@snarf1504]

So awesome! Really helped me a lot! Can't wait for the next part!

[@Mrjononotbono]

Love this video man. Can we have some more soon please? Go on, give us your secrets! 😂

[@cinemear5993]

Pure Magic!!! Greetings from Austria!

[@SecondUniverse101]

grüße aus wien:)

[@prosper7452]

Thank you very much for the upload.

[@ringchamp6543]

More of these please Mate, cheers that was good.

[@ClefferNotes]

Amazing work buddy! Beautiful track too! :)

[@oscarazcautli5380]

Collaboration between Blakus and ClefferNotes? Maybe?

[@ClefferNotes]

Oh man that would be an absolute honour! :)

[@d.1565]

lol look at you kissing Blakus' ass!

[@ClefferNotes]

I'm not ass kissing anybody, I am merely saying that I think Blakus is an amazing musician.

[@Blakus]

Hey, I should be kissing Cleffer's ass, he has way more subs :D :D :D

[@yetiproduction6275]

Blakus thanks a lot for your video and your beautiful music. I love everything that you do. This is really cool! I have one question, what strings library do you use?

[@firmansyahreksowibowo2381]

love the way you composed, just inspire me a lot . im doing the same way as you did , but im slower 😂 . need more like this. keep it up

[@crazyjack2592]

Is it the Embertone Blakus cello? Or another one you´ve made for yourself maybe?

[@TheRealOtakuEdits]

Fascinating

[@Mrjononotbono]

This is brilliant! Thanks!

[@MrAbrantes1]

From Portugal. You're the best!!

[@JureJerebic]

Awesome! Quick question though, which string library do you use for the ensemble patches? Cus they smooth as butter

[@Excellentness]

Man you Rock bro very inspiring

[@CtaSok]

Very nice work! Impressive. Recorded with midi keyboard. Should try the same. That sound is insane! Is that premade layers or just a one vsti?

[@sparshvermamusic_]

Where is that solo Cello From ?! its beautiful!!

[@michaelheck6919]

I like your decent click. Which sample do you trigger for that ? P.S. : Very touching melodies, too ! Keep it up. :-)

[@Blakus]

It's called a UREI click

[@PanagiotisLafkaridis]

Nice job, Blake! But i could use some counterpoint where the long notes are.

[@Blakus]

Thanks! Yeah, this needs many things yet ;)

[@orenselamusic]

what solo cello library is this?

[@topnewplaylist]

Great

[@LeonRossMusic]

Great video man! Just wondering how you are able to record an improv line without having the record button on in Cubase? Is it some form of Punch In & Out record function, or something like that? 5:35 is the first time in this vid I am referring to.

[@Blakus]

Shift * Best key combo ever!

[@arucanarishortfilms5986]

Can we listen to the full track already? When will it be finished? ;)

[@Blakus]

Haha!! I might continue this as a live stream on the weekend :D

[@arucanarishortfilms5986]

Nice! Can't get the music out of my head, I need the full version haha it sounds so good already :D

[@sotosonic413]

I'll just go get some popcorn and munchies ;)

[@peterciprian6167]

awesome :). What libraries did you use ?

[@DeadlyGuz1]

come back to rocket league pixie is hurting our back. Also great work

[@Blakus]

LOL bro!! I think it's time I did make a comeback.

[@simonpoole2352]

What was in the bowl?

[@Blakus]

Hmm, now you got me thinking! I THINK it was museli from my breakfast earlier that day haha!

[@laurentsauvagnac]

hello Blakus what library did you choose your piano sound from ? thx about the viola solo is it a LSS ? thx

[@Blakus]

the piano library is called Super Grand I think! Look it up! The viola solo is actually a cello solo patch I made :)

[@RousDaGoose]

Just curious, what is "Shimmer Pad" and what does it sound like on it's own?

[@Blakus]

it's just a simple synth pad with some shimmer verb on it

[@FraserMyersMusic]

Which libraries did you use?

[@mefistolhl]

What vst plugin you use?

[@randommusic50]

It seems to me that the most difficult thing is to create a platform with tools and impose compression and effects on them and the music will then be written by itself =)

[@stigc56]

Anybody knows which piano sound Blakus are using in this piece?

[@kbdwizard]

Sounds like Vilabs Ravenscroft to me. I could be wrong though

[@Blakus]

The piano is called supergrand by art vista :)