VEDA 2014: Synapsis

[@AnniKMars]

It could be an intro for a Sherlock-like series. I'd watch it.

[@Howesamy2]

As a music teacher, if my year 10's could come up with stuff like this, I would be so happy/amazed. Well done 10th grade Michael Aranda.

[@iliveinmyhead]

Things you created in school are supposed to be embarrassing, not really really good. Jeesh, Michael...

[@broshmosh]

Just pointing this out: The URL for this video is WOGOco.

[@jlash5546]

And? Does it mean something?

[@broshmosh]

Nope, it's just amusing. :3

[@demonsrun425]

Not into techno, but I can appreciate artistry when I hear it. Great job, retro Michael.

[@AliJDB]

I thought we might get Mini-Michael Aranda singing for a second there. But I liked it, it sounded like the boss level of an oldschool Nintendo game.

[@insomnicolors]

Like others have said, there is definitely a "Michael" element to it. I think it's cool to see how your style has progressed.

[@SwanyStar]

Thanks for doing VEDA. I really enjoy your videos and it's nice to see a variety of the awesome things you do in one month!

[@NinjaNerdOG]

I can definitely hear some of your style in it. I'm not a musical person so despite you feeling certain aspects were cringe worthy, I enjoyed it. (Which probably proves I'm not a musical person...IDK.) I'm really enjoying these VEDA vids of your past creative work. I love seeing people's past art because it shows you a little bit more of their personal past.

[@JensssaBrooke]

I had the video playing in the background while I was making coffee and pouring my cereal. The song made it seem like these were very important, secret agent like tasks.

[@hopawaylittlebunny]

I really really like this. Definitely something I would listen to regularly. I can't believe you made this when you were a soph in high school. I'm 16 and all I do is watch youtube videos and eat ice cream.

[@GreenAID]

I actually thought you're gonna give up with VEDA, but I have to say - so far so good. Everybody who unsubbed from you, it's their lost.

[@coffeeisntmycupoftea]

I really love this. All of the music that you create has been right up my alley. Thanks Michael!

[@yidazhou]

It sounds amazing, especially for a 15 year old! I think that drum solo is sort of an example on how much time changes our perspective on things, and probably due to exposure to even more epic drum solos after, it all just doesn't sound as fabulous as it did before. Very amesome, and I'm loving these sort of more... personal VEDA's.

[@PompTheMoose]

While it's not my favorite thing you've ever done it's still way better than most sophomore music attempts I've heard and definitely not bad by any means. I'm enjoying the blast from the past stuff.

[@babywasabi93]

I love hearing about the things you do! I don't think there's ever been anything you've shared which I've disliked. Please keep going! :)

[@TweetingRawr]

Perhaps it's because I'm a total noob but Synapsis sounds pretty darn good. No wonder your work now is incredible if your beginnings were that good. Awesome veda day once again.

[@Dreamscape_xo]

To me, it feel like a game show music at the final stage. It is loopy, yet a bit eerie and nerve-wrecking.

[@NylahK]

I just have so much love and time for all of your artistic outlets, Michael Aranda.

[@mwheeler1994]

I picture some sort of crime/ mystery tv show intro going along with this. Well done!

[@boredwillow]

Great song. It's always interesting going back and seeing what past-us did and/or thought was awesome.

[@epsereth]

10th grade you could have written the music for the Goosebumps tv show.

[@miribarren8968]

Honestly I think this song is fantastic. You have real talent! (as I'm sure you already know)

[@romantheflash]

I like it, it feels very experimental (which I guess makes sense, as it is your first song.) I really like the piano in it, and how it leaves and returns at different points, it's cool.

[@OWorthyFool]

This is FANTASTIC. Good job, man!

[@TheGarethHowell]

Regarding the drum solo, I definitely think it was appropriate for the time it was written. I mean the drops that were ushered in as dubstep first became popular were nothing like they are now either.

[@unepommeverte17]

when you say "10th grade me" all i can think of are the headshots from P4A...

[@KingBrooklynman]

It actually was pretty good and was really good mood setting for something that causes tension emotionally. I like it all except for that little bit after the second dip. It sounded a bit too messy there, but otherwise great song, 15 year old you. I really liked your story yesterday too, though I neglected to comment. As an aspiring writer I understand how scary it is to post something like that where people are so critical, but objectively, I really enjoyed it. It was interesting and whimsical and I know I'd love to hear more about Nyven. I really thought you were going to lead up to some sort of Roswell thing. The ending seemed a bit cut-short, but otherwise it was a really good read, and I'm happy you felt comfortable enough sharing it with us, and especially to read it aloud like that. Keep up the great work, man.

[@DbN-dftba]

Unrelated comment: Your profile pic nearly made me throw my phone across the room. That's just cruel.

[@KingBrooklynman]

Related comment: You're welcome.

[@notacidnoralkaline]

I enjoyed it, i don't think there's a bad piece of music I've heard from you! Liking the theme of you delving into your past too :)

[@angelcollina]

That was awesome! I really liked that! Will you share more of your stuff? Keep being so creative! It's wonderful. :)

[@SamuelRedmond]

Sounds like it could be the backing music on one of those futuristic levels of Crash Bandicoot

[@robotturkey2929]

That is definitely more of a fill than a solo. Still great for a sophomore in high school.

[@persnikity12345]

A lovely first attempt at recording :)

[@lokiluver2]

What! I didn't know you wrote that story! I thought it was some ancient futuristic folk tale somehow... I loved it! great job! =)

[@tajunu]

i might have fallen in love with your intelligence, michael...

[@vdevov]

Reminds me a lot of Bjork's Human Behaviour and Nine Inch Nails' Head Like a Hole. Good stuff.

[@girl2q]

The music is so good. I want to use it.

[@Tedieke]

That is a real nice song!

[@WinBear]

Wow, this is a nice peek into how you got to be "sound designer"

[@sooth15]

I didn't comment yesterday, and maybe I should have, but I really enjoyed the Nyven short story. I thought it was well written and interesting.

[@jaxoncanseeyou]

It sounds like it could be video game music (which is definitely a good thing)

[@JailHemlock]

I got a Starcraft vibe from it. Very cool.

[@SeanFictional]

That was really nice to listen to. I just let it run in the background and I think I could stand more of it. =D

[@MollyBlueDawn]

I really like this!

[@DanielSultana]

When I'm in a hurry, I watch videos at 1.5x speed (i have the html5 option switched on), I realized too late that I was listening to the song at such speed, therefore I relistened to the song at regular speed, may I add it was great at both speeds.

[@hannahscholefield6863]

You did that in 10th grade? Seriously? I'm impressed... And regarding the short stories, if you put a number of them into one book I know I'd buy it! Definitely finish the one from the last video and read it to us though, I really want to know what happens! :)

[@onyx00100]

I like it! good job 15 year old micheal! talented indeed

[@jesschen6]

I noticed the same thing about the drum solo, but otherwise, DANG!

[@Jenn12141983]

Pretty damn good for anyone, let alone a 15 year old...I must say I'm impressed!

[@The1Liner]

Is there anywhere we can listen to some of your more recent efforts??

[@maricimo]

Sounds like the theme to a scifi show :)

[@Zerefta]

Yep, this song is very 'Michael Aranda'. This means it sounds a lot like the music you produced, not in a bad way, but I can see your style in it. Not being a musician, I can't point it out exactly, but there's something from this that's carried on to now

[@Hawkeye446]

I really like this. Good work 15 yr old Michael Aranda! Any chance we could get an mp3?

[@lailaylen]

I agree that it is very you. I enjoyed it, thank you for sharing :)

[@TheAllthatmattered]

For me it saunxds like a boolywood spy movie. In a good way. I really like it!

[@cellogirl0096]

Impressive! Reminds me of some of the first pieces of music I wrote...

[@mattstartsomething]

impressive, to say the least.

[@gabe7519]

This is great, but that may be my inner nerd talking who hears this as music in a late game level of something Nintendo would have produced.

[@JesusFreak777727]

I'm pretty impressed with 15 year old you!

[@MichaelMMorganm984638]

Other than providing the access to the equipment, what other influence or encouragement did your mom give that guided you or informed your creativity with making your own music in this way?

[@michaelaranda]

She was a recording artist with a makeshift home studio, so I was exposed to music production from birth, basically. I was a curious kid, always asking questions about what she was doing, and why she was doing it, and she always took the time to answer to answer them to my satisfaction. When it came to studying/performing/writing music as I got older, she was endless supportive, even going so far as to work extra hours so that she could pay to keep me in marching band in high school. She was just always of a force of influence/encouragement.

[@MichaelMMorganm984638]

Definitely a force multiplier and committed to her craft, no doubt, based on what you have described here and in your tribute video you have up. I think a lot about this kind of influence when I think of guys like Bill Gates whose parents basically facilitated his access to programming at an early age. That early exposure makes all the difference, I reckon.

[@smallthetalk]

If I did not know it was your song I would have guessed so because it just sounds very much like you. and I quite liked the drum solo, what I find a bit hard to listen to is from 2:10 when there is this rather high sound. It's exactly like the stuff I did when I was younger, but now my ears don't like it that much anymore. But then again I never really played any musical instruments and just hit random notes on my grandmas piano...

[@michaeladayvgs]

Not my type of music, kinda creeps me out actually, but i couldn't produce it to save my life so i'm still pretty impressed!

[@michaelaranda]

Haha. In that case, I'm going to suggest that you don't buy the album that I'm working on.

[@ltericdavis2237]

That was epic

[@lostismyconstent]

Well if the rest of Nyven's story is published (or anything else you write) please let us know! I like the song :) Looking at the past has a funny way of reminding you how much you've changed, doesn't it? I've looked back at old art projects and had similar thoughts.

[@AnniKMars]

Nice to listen to, really! :D Wow

[@juliannalinton4589]

Hi biology major here! Did you know synapsis is actually the process during DNA crossing over and recombination in meiosis? I was attempting to study for a midterm and accidentally came across this instead lol. Great music though!

[@richardanthonymorris]

I feel like the phrase "strangely positive" is a quote but I can't quite place it..

[@xylophon1520]

I am a strong believer in the fact that one cannot excel in too many things. You, however, make gorgeous videos and good music, even your prose is decently written. One thing I do not like about KZbin is that there is no place for honest criticism. I mean, your short story was well written, but it does not compare to what you do with music and video. And all the fans just love everything if it's not too bad. I hope I am not a hater, and I do think you should keep writing stories if you feel like it, but don't cut back on the music. You seem to have had the talent for it from early on.

[@michaelaranda]

In light of this comment, I have decided to quit everything except for my writing. ;)

[@BigStuffedRhino]

***** Sarcasm

[@WulfTrax]

I tend to have the same reaction that you did to positive feedback from other people about the things I've created. We're our own worst critics.

[@gothickittygir97]

Can I have this? I want the song on my phone!!

[@konakonaXD]

how did you actually record this?

[@shpongle23]

Do you remember what equipment you used?

[@michaelaranda]

I don't remember which drum machine got used for this, but all the non-percussion stuff was coming out of an Alesis QS8.

[@PaulaJaey]

I like :)

[@alittlejolly]

This sounds very 'bowsers castle' to me. Not the same, just.. Reminiscent.

[@MichaelRaptis]

which DAW do you use now?

[@michaelaranda]

FL Studio, usually. Sometimes Sonar.

[@MichaelRaptis]

***** right on! Thanks

[@DietterichLabs]

What did your mom do?

[@MyDisturbingOctopus]

it was enjoyable to listen to! but it doesn't sound like a final draft? i don't know. i am, however, very impressed with 15 year old michael.

[@LyingOnMyLilo]

I picture Bollywood James Bond hahah

[@evigilation]

Michael Michael what is your MBTI-type?

[@michaelaranda]

INTP

[@PuissantPike]

Meh, I'd listen to that. I say nicely done.

[@DietterichLabs]

Tenth grade me is pathetic compared to that.