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Chris Harris

@headfirstonly Mod
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30

Joined

2009

I'm an old dude who is absolutely obsessed with music and trying to create tracks that teenage me would have loved. That's it, pretty much. Anything else that happens is a bonus. I've been playing synths and electric guitar for forty years or so and I've been an Ableton user since version 8.

This will be my twelfth Fifty/Ninety. Taking part in this challenge has changed my life for the better in so many ways. I've no big vision of whare things are going to go this year; I just know that I will be focused on enjoying the journey. I hope you'll enjoy it too.

I have a music page on my website with my discography, gear list, and much more besides:
http://headfirst.www.idnet.com/about_music.htm

My influences are many and varied, and are listed here:
http://headfirst.www.idnet.com/about_groups.htm

I'm also on Twitch:
https://www.twitch.tv/headfirstonly

"Leonard Cohen meets prog" - PROG Magazine

"The Bob Ross of prog metal" - ductapeguy

Chris Harris
(he/him/HFO)

Songs

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4
Don't Be Foolish (Guitar Version) by @heuristicsinc +1 more #fawmtronica #maschine #guitar

Soundboard

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Hey Chris,

thanks you so much for your warm words. I really appreciate that you could get something out of the drafty vocalize version. I think this helps me to get further on finishing the opus (and yeah, more minimal / chamberish might be the better way). I hope you had a good fawn!
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Thank you @headfirst for listening to my groovy bass groove, its nice to hear appreciation for it.
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Very kind of you, Chris, to take a listen to something like "Kicking Ass & Changing Names". Only one way I could think to go with that lyric. Your comment is much appreciated.
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Hi Chris. Thank you for your insightful comments. You're right about the phrase in Bury Me being a double-edged sword - much as it expresses a love so great one cannot bear to live without the other, it does, as so many romantic notions do, gloss over the practicalities. Perhaps the lyric needed to do more to temper this aspect. In any event, this was a take 2 at exploring that concept, and I'm not going to try a third time :D
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thanks for the listen on the Painters Final Masterpiece...we were doing the little one minute mini songs so it cut off to start the next one...but it could become a full song at some point :)
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Happy Ableton Live 12 Day, Chris!

Thanks for taking "Tell Me What You Want" for a spin. It felt like a real risk putting that four-beat silence in near the end.
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Interesting that you got snow this week. My snowbanks are melting , leaving the grass to grow. But the snow will return late fall, of that I am certain. Thanks for the listen.
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Thank you for your constructive comment on "Heartbroken mess" :D
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Thanks for the info - anything that's described as 'secret sauce' is something I need to look into further! Did you do your Twitch streams this year? I've not been Twitch so much this year, but I watched quite a few either last year or the year before and really enjoyed the insight. (I'm Mr Browns Dad on Twitch, for reasons I can no longer remember!)
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I feel very seen by the comments you left on my track! I graciously accept my Goedel Gold Star :)
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Thanks for your comments on the Car 579 song, it was a special song for me and I'm touched that you liked it.
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Thanks for the great comment & the listen on Godforsaken Sunrise, Chris. And thank you for weighing in on the whole 4/5 thingy. TBH, I think @rshakesp's take on it in his comment hits what is happening in Buzz pretty well. By default, a pattern in buzz is 16 ticks long (which would equivelant to 16th notes). I changed it to be 20 ticks long, but still divided the pattern (Bar) into four beats. So perhaps 20/16 would be a better explanation of the time signature, ignoring my "four beats" I've imposed on the pattern for ease-of-use sake. Dunno, but in the end, how you count it doesn't really matter, I guess. Buzz knows what it's doing & is able to keep time, no matter what numbers I input into it. But it's a fun exercise in theory, either way. So again, thank you for your thoughts on the matter!

See You In The Shadows…

p.s. Glad you enjoyed the track 😄
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Thanks for comments.
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Cheers for the comment on "A Grave Between the Stars"! Glad you enjoyed it!
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You are winning the song title competition.
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Gives me a reason to definitely do fifty/ninety this year! Looking forward to it.
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Hiiiiiiii, Chris - getting in touch to ask if we can rain check our collaboration until 50/90? This week has become an absolute beast in terms of squeezing out my remaining time. I've got one half finished track of my own that I might manage to complete and a video for the 4-way collaboration to record, so I'm not going to get to doing our collaboration justice. So, 50/90?
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46 Eno CDs?!?
Drop by the Church of Enosification next Thursday Afternoon and we'll get you fully ordained in front of the giant jewel-encrusted replica of the reel-to-reel tape recorder.
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Hey, I've got the track finished and uploaded, wasn't sure whether to put it as a new track or replace the file for the old track and add you as collaborator. Do you have a preference? I just added your tracks, removed one of mine, and tweaked the mix a bit.
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Gosh, I'm behind in listening to your tunes!
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Thanks for the great comment on Over The Horizon, Chris. I know how much we both enjoy Frippertronics, so I wasn't surprised to see you listening to this one. Glad you enjoyed it!

See You In The Shadows…
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Cool. I'll get something back to you soon!
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Yeah, very nice! How do you want to go about it? Pass it back and forward in an additive way and then work out what to with the result? Or something more structured?
Vocals? Drums?
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Thank you for your kind comments about my tune, Years End Friend. I really appreciate it!
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Sounds good. We can even make it longer if your additions lead to a song with more variety. I just didn't want the song to overstay its welcome.
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Thank you!
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Hey thanks for listening to ‘Schlange’ I’m glad you like it! @mahtowin her vocal gives it a cinematic vibe for sure
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I feel I should point this one out 😄

https://write.fawm.org/songs/288383
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Please do! Do you need a wav version, or do you need any existing tracks removed?
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Nice idea, but I can't do metal guitars! Do you?
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Thanks so much for your comment on "Plan 9" and for sharing that great memory - what an evening! Never had a chance to do anything like that, although I once hosted a double-feature movie party - "Ed Wood" followed by "Plan 9 from Outer Space."

I was sad I couldn't find lyrical room for the "cockpit" - not to mention (i) the scene that inexplicably shifted between nighttime and broad daylight, (ii) the clown-car crowd coming out of the tiny playhouse-sized cardboard crypt that jiggled when they bumped into it, and (iii) my favorite - the guy ("actor" would be stretching it) who played all his scenes with his cape held in front of his face so the audience would think he was actually Bela Lugosi.

It's been several years since I watched it - time to see it again, I think. Especially as cannabis is now legal where I live. 😆
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Hey, thanks for your comment on Pulling Nails! I'm really glad you enjoyed it :)
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Thanks a lot for your comment! Yes the 4 track was fun this year. I had no idea about the song when I played the stem. Great band!
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I appreciate the complete listen, many thanks! I wouldn't have noticed the end of I Don't Mind was cut off otherwise. I will certainly be back to listen!
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Thank you Chris, I can understand your fear of twelve string guitars: it's quite a different beast. Not my "normal" fingers suffered but the thumb of my left hand from the counter pressure. So, get yourself one but start with light strings...
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Thank you for the message Chris , I appreciate it.
There are two issues. One is the absolute dichotomy between the six or so people here who hold my music in such high esteem, and the other thousand or so and their total dismissal (or bewilderment at very least ) of it. My mind just can't reconcile the two. I'm up then I'm down, there's no peace.
The second is my fingers are now bent all over the place covered in arthritic cysts. It's often painful, though miraculously I can still play pretty well. However I know that soon that will inevitably change. I have enough pride to want to stop while I'm still on top.
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It sounds ace!
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Can't imagine how TMBG and McSweeney's might mash up but that sounds like a cool event. Hadn't heard Mike Doughty, but I shall look him up!
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Oh I hadn't forgotten either, but to be fair I've only just got to a place where I'm happy enough with my pace on my own songs that I felt I could spare the time, so it's all good.

Exciting times down your way though, eh? You'll be glad to get back to the peace and quiet of the rock and roll!
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Yeah, that 40 years of experience kinda helps, eh?
@helenseviltwin put me onto OTT. I really ought to actually use it...
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Hi Chris, thanks for your kind comment on Watcher of the Sky. I really love the Korg micro x.
I haven't heard anything from the landlord yet so fingers crossed! I have instruments I would have to lose if I move to a smaller place.
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I should get those pianos... I can't remember its name, but I do have the Kontakt library of pianos that are being played while on fire and while being hacked at with an axe... 🤣

And obscure Sapient fact: I had a summer placement from university at the old Atomic Energy Authority site at Risley. For how long does one remain bound by the Official Secrets Act, I wonder...? 🤔
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Thanks for the listen and comment about Metropolis! I can see the Judge Dredd connection, but I was thinking more about the art deco of the Fritz Lang movie than Motorhead. Lemmy would probably be more likely to kick my ass than pat me on the back after hearing my version of a song called Metropolis. That's one of the amazing things about music, though: everybody's brain is wired to pick up different things from the same input. It's fascinating. Again, thanks for commenting!
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That's horrible. I feel for you.
Your Tascam recorder is great though. 😆
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Thanks for the comment on "Helleluya"! You know, I'd be disappointed with what I came up with if it wasn't so funny.
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" I'll just pretend that metronome is a *very accurate* drummer using a sidestick..." (on "remembering") Gold, pure gold. Imma keeping it for alter use and paying off the mortgage!
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There are few things in life I love more than Rumpole. :-) Thanks as always for the kind comments, Chris!
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Can't recall which Roger Waters concert it was--I recall that they did the whole "Dark Side Of The Moon" in the concert and (this was a few years back) there was an anti-Bush (George W.) balloon flying around the arena.
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Hey man, thanks for listening and commenting. You rock.
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Thanks for listening. That music festival sounds awesome and also a great idea for a song.
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I don't usually thank people for comments, I reciprocate with a comment. But your mention of Erol was so flattering I just had to say Thank You 😄
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Thanks for the comments on Tetraplasm. It was a real fight, putting elements of percussion in and then thinking I'd take them out....fading them up...and then down. The free Arturia library really has me inspired, there are just SO many usable sounds..
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Thanks! Though the books the song questions would hardly be considered as authorative as the Dunlop Book of Facts
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Yes, I too was promised that we'd all be living in O’Neill Cylinders by now.
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Thanks mucho, Chris, for the listen and kind words about Another Good Day.
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Thanks so much for the kind words on my FAWM2024 Sketch 9. I had never heard of Boards of Canada before, but I spent last night listening to ALL of their works and am blown away — they are incredible; thank you for turning me on to them!
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Thanks for the comment!
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Thanx for the Comment!
I don't really know that much about Lagrange Points, but I thought it was a good title anyway!
Now you've spurred me on to do some more research.
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Thanks a lot for the comment!
Great catch on the tubulars, I tried to make them inconspicuous, as they are my goto prodoction tool for adding oomph :D
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Thank you Chris for checking in, keep on jammin!
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I'm glad you like "Rage" all my homies love rage! lol they also say it sounds like Kingdom Hearts 😂
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I'm glad someone knew what sapphire and steel was!
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Thanks for the added perspective on Dipswitch. I never hear of Derek Nimmo, but have probably seen him in some film. Likewise, I wasn’t aware of the urban legend. As a sedan driver, I’m often annoyed by the blinding lights even in the city, but especially on the highway. Glad you enjoyed the track.
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The Machine Shop is just a hop and a skip from my house! :) Great little place. Like a bit over 500 capacity. They get some good bands in there, let me tell you. Weird, really. :D
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The Orchestral Tools grand piano is quite bright, isn't it! They say it's a Steinway B!
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Thanks for sending the feedback on my song "Build a Hero". Typically, I record the guitar (or other instruments) and vocals on separate tracks (stems) and balance the volume. I'm going to post "rough drafts" of what I have written because I have limits on time to dedicate to this project. I'll spend time developing my drafts, after I get my ideas written out, and recorded in a manner that I can build on.
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hey I'm really glad you enjoyed "Reality" - and yeah CBA pedals are my favorites, always
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...and Television's "Marquee Moon" was released 47 years ago today!
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"Second Welcome" should *definitely* be a pre-cursor to second breakfasts :-D

Thanks for taking my track for a spin!
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Thanx for your comments.
Yeah, I kinda went down a rabbit hole while researching deathwatch beetles. So fascinating, as are insects in general. It was hard for me to not include all sorts of info in the Liner Notes!

As for the Kingswood elephant, I thought the poor thing deserved a song. It's mindblowing that you live right there! Maybe if you start digging in your garden you might find some elephant bones...
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Thanks for listening to my prog-metal draft. Yes, you're right about the rhythms. The drums kind of shift by an 8th between each two 11/8 (they play in a kind of 11/4 repeating pattern there). I went on to experiment with that after this upload, shifting to a half-time feel on the hi-hats in places, making it even heavier and the shift more obvious.

It's nice to meet another prog lover here. Maybe we could collaborate. I'm checking out your Bandcamp in the meantime.
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I am contently amazed by folks like you who can 'move around blocks off midi' and make incredible drum parts. If I could I would, but just can't seem to get the knack of midi. It's all good, but there is no right or wrong, luckily. Keep doing what you do - you are pretty amazing at it. 🎵🎶
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Thanks a lot for your kind help!

And Petra Haden's Red cover ist great. What a perfect voice pitch!
John Wetton was a fantastic musician. I first heard him on Uriah Heep records. Heep, esp. Ken Hensleys songs and lyrics, have a huge influence on my writing.
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Thank you so much for taking the time to listen to my music and leave comments. It really is appreciated.
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Thanks for commenting on Eyes, Chris. It was very much one of those seat-of-the-pants writes, so I'm relieved the arrangement came off.

Re the subject matter - as I explain in my profile all of the ideas/titles for this year's album (Borrowed Breath) are verbatim things I've heard. But I really don't want to explain them, because I love the interpretations listeners are bringing to the songs on their own with what limited information is given to them.

On which subject, I'm off to learn about Somerton Man now!
ETA: Oh I remember this story! Weird and fascinating. Thanks for the reminder!
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Thank you, Chris. “Guitar doesn’t put a foot wrong” is high praise coming from a guitar master. I bet you could even play one with your feet… ;)
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You bought Worldbuilding! Thanks mate! And thanks for the comment too, much appreciated.
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Thanks for the kind words! It's definitely crazy how fast time goes, isn't it? Looking forward to seeing what your February brings and to maybe trigger some more 'Wait that wasn't that long ago!' vibes with some of my tracks.
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Thank you ... man I wish I could sing like Mike Patton, or at all, but especially like Mike Patton.
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Thanks for listening to my first song !
Haven't thought about the inspiring vibe but now that you say it, I get the FF vibe as well
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Thanks a lot for your comment and explaining the technique. I'm happy you enjoyed "Going Nowhere".
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My wife can play it without even trying, no kidding. :) She was heading to an orchestral career but decided it wasn't any fun.
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Thanks for listening to that earlier! If the production sounded like it was the product of some thought then that's a massive win - I was just trying to throw stuff in that made it sound less like a little sketch, and wasn't sure whether I wasn't actually making it worse!
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Secret- I faded out the whistling because the fingerpicking guitar fell apart so spectacularly shortly after the fade LOL
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Thank you for polite words on Machine Venom.
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Thanks! All I did was stick a microphone in front of it 😂
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Hi, Chris. Thanks for listening to My Grandfather's Town, and for pointing out your favorite line. I feel very fortunate that Jacob wanted to collab with me on this, and I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thanks!
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Oh! A Geddy model! Dang, you play good, my talented friend!
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Only briefly tested a JX3P but the Juno 60 is probably my favourite synth, must be super inspiring to have them both up and running again.
Did you use them both in the song?

The Juno 60 in my studio should definitely have a trip to the local synth doctor soon, since it’s a bit temperamental grumpy old lady these days….
Often end up just using the Cherry Audio VST version instead these days
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Whoa - by the way, I'm absolutely loving the bass tone on "No Step"...so clean!!
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Thank you for the super kind words on my track! Cheers and looking forward to hearing your pages!
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thanks Chris! hope whatever you are conjuring up is going well for you.
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Chris thanks for your support and comment and kindness, much appreciated.
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Thanks loads, Chris! I always value your feedback very highly. 😄
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Hey Chris!
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Greetings, young fella. Looking forward again to experiencing your madcap musical stylings and technological wizardry. Happy FAWMing.
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I think I‘m a fan already!
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Happy FAWM 2024!
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That’s the plan! Have a great FAWM, Chris!
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Greetings Chris, and a hearty welcome back!
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Hi Chris, have a great one.
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Happy FAWMing, Chris! Appreciate all you do and look forward to your music!
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Hey Chris, hope you're all good
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Hi Chris, thanks, great to be back. Hope you are going to be giving the stick a good belting this FAWM :)
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Hi Chris, "Pigments" is currently half price. I downloaded the demo and knew that if I was ever going to get into synths, this was the ONE. I have paid $99 for a guitar pedal without a thought, so this complex synth and its flexibility was a no brainer.
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Thank you Chris. I look forward to hearing your new music in February,
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Have a great FAWM, Chris! Looking forward to hearing some new creations from you!
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Wow - the Bob Ross of prog metal. I mean, it makes sense. It really does. Happy FAWMing, my man! Keep the party movin’!
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Initially I thought it might be the Minilogue, but I used the DI with a bass and it still did the same thing. I have found the issue I think. Of course it came up within a week of FAWM, but I guess that’s better than during!
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Hey there Chris! Thanks very much for your help. I appreciate it very much. I hope that you have a wonderful FAWM this year. I will certainly be listening
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Hi Chris - great to see you on home turf again. Look forward to hearing everything that springs from your well-exercised fingers this year!
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Hi Chris, have great FAWM, I look forward to odd time signatures and epic arrangements from you,
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Hey there, hope you have a good FAWM!
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I would definitely be up for a collab at 50/90 but tbh I find FAWM too frantic to enjoy them and try not to do them anymore.
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Hi Chris, always nice to know you're here
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Hello, as @beacon said, you are an inspiration!
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Awww, yes! That'd be great. Let's do it!
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Thank you for reaching out!
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Hi, Chris! Hope you have a FAWMtastic 2024! ♫⋆。♪ ₊˚♬ ゚
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Hey, Chris. Hope you have an awesome FAWM!
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Thank you, Chris! I'm really stoked about this. I'm so glad I learned about fawm, you all seem like a wonderful group of people and I'm excited to participate.
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happy fawm!!
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Hiya Chris. Hope you're on top form and ready to roll!
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Hi Chris. Isn't it great to be back? Happy FAWMing!
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Absolutely going to be great!
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Have a great Fawm!
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I always have time to collaborate with you, bud!
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Our muses won't know what hit them. :-)
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Most definitely up for a collab with our resident progmeister! 😎
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Hello there Chris, thank you for the album I've had it on in the kitchen, assisting me with my prog rock menus. The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway was a winner.
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Hi Chris. Have a great FAWM.
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Yep lets do this!
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I’ve actually been on Ableton since 5 and I still dob’t know what to do with the whole session view thing 😂 Have a great FAWM again
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Hey Chris! We are only a few days a way! Me? Excited Much? :D
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Happy new FAWM to ya - maybe we can do some heavy metal songs?? Hit me up if you wanna give it a crack and I'll go into the dark parts of my soul and see what's lying around on the floor - until then ... good luck!!
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Hey Chris, welcome and have great FAWM
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Good to see you back! Happy FAWMing!
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Lets. Do. This.
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So glad to be back with you. You're an inspiration for me!
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Chris!!!
I look forward to hearing what you come up with this FAWM!!
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Great to see you here again Chris!
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No cash to replace the Brown Couch yet. One last hurrah!
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Oh, I would love to!
I'm hoping to try some different things this year. Less noisy. More melodic. More singing. Let's see it it works...
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Oh, it's great to be back.
Wish you an absolutely smashing February 🤘🤩🤘
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Thanks for being a mod on the FAWM-site Chris. May every song you create be a masterpiece that makes you feel good. Have a blast and FAWM on!
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welcome back and happy FAWM!
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