FAWM: "These Waking Dreams"

These Waking Dreams

2 weeks ago by @sapient

These Waking Dreams

sapient

00:00

Liner Notes

I have a handful of personal challenges for this FAWM, and one of them was to try and write a dancey thing without guitars.
Lolz.
I have NO reference tracks for this sort of thing. I mean, I guess I must hear it in the background in cafes and stuff, but I never listen to it. My trainer at the gym very nicely shared her Spotify playlist with me. I didn't listen to the full 38 hours (!) but I think I got enough to understand a bit about layering and dynamics.
HUGE thanks to everyone who supported me in my cry for help yesterday in the forums (https://write.fawm.org/forums/3225). You are all awesome 😀

OK.
Here it is.
And Look at me tagging it like I know what I'm talking about...
#electronic #instrumental #trance #techno

Instruments used on this:
EZDrummer 3 Dance kit for the drums
Arturia Pigments for one of the basslines and the lead
Steinberg Padshop and Retrologue
Labs Lea Bertucci Extended Vox
The Jacob Collier Audience Choir
Soundspot Union wavetable synth

Comments

@beacon 1w

You're really expanding your genres here. I was wondering who the voice was. got a great flow to it, with enough extra pieces to be interesting. Nice.

@beep_blop 1w

So you actually know how to use synths. Very atmospheric. Next step should be... synthmetal? ))

@oddbod 1w

Well if this is your first stab at this style of club track then you’ve pretty much nailed it. Impressive!

@max 2w

I know where to find you in October. Sapient on one of the Amsterdam Dance Event stages entertaining the crowd. :) It's fresh EDM, not the warmed-over Ibiza / Dubai stuff. That what makes it interesting. I think you should combine EDM with your Chugga Chugga skills and try to take over ADE this year. See you in Ziggo!

@candle 2w

Oh my. You never cease to amaze me when you foray into other genres. I've never been big on EDM, but this sort of #trance music is more my cup of tea. You've really put a lot together in a short time, especilly coming from the standpoint of an EDM noob. This is so well done! And all the help & advice you got from the forum certainly paid off. Awesome track @sapient!

See You In The Shadows…

@nadine 2w

Reading the forums, I was very curious about the electro song you were working on. You created a great atmosphere, and I feel like trance is the right word for this. You captured the essence of that genre well. Some parts are chill, others are clubby. If you continue this direction I would give to the little pro tip to stick to one clap or snare sound thoughout the song. Otherwise great.

You can be very proud of this first production in this direction! If you ever want to hear my first one, you can find it on the streaming services, just scroll all the way down. I was super lazy with sounddesign and creating different parts...

@coolparadisoMod 2w

Well you are a quick learner! That’s really nice, picks up at the right time! Really well done!

@emplate 2w

Well, to someone like myself, who has no idea of this kind of music, this sounds pretty great. Very nice atmosphere, the sounds and the subtle breakdowns work very well together. To me it sounds like you pretty much nailed it, but honestly, I wouldn't know :D

@ryuu 2w

What's that, a sapient piece with chords and pads? Jokes aside, this is a beautiful piece of work. And a very danceable beat.

@val 2w

Sapient doing dance music??? the world is upside! 😂 Really danceable! The way you've used the percussion to build not only intensity, but mood is really good. These type of loopy, hypnotic tracks are hard to build, at least I think so. But you've used effects and layers really well. You keep changing the sonic qualities to keep it interesting.

@robertmyers 2w

Hey! This sounds great!

If I didn't know you were just beginning to dip your toe in this genre I would never have suspected. Your instincts are spot on and you came up with a great infectious groove. That buzzy lead line is hooky & inviting.

@gordon 2w

Very different and rather a pleasant listen. Keep pushing those boundaries

@aeye 2w

I had to come hear this :) For a first crack at this it's better then a lot of stuff out there so I think you've definitely got it down. Especially in melody and structure. Great fills, change ups and good sound choices. Nailed it!

@lamerabbit 2w

Yeah, forget them there guitars. You've got this 😂 I do not know what I am talking about but why should I have to!

Came for the guitars but not disappointed!

@alyxanderjames 2w

I love the layers here, and how it builds! Very cool.

@philkmills 2w

I like how you have sounds evolve and their movement through space (listening with headphones). Nice extra percussion in the ending section. No suggestions here, really; it all sounds good and clean with interesting changes.

I have no idea about electronica sub-genres. 😀

@johnnycashpoint 2w

Well, this is good - not really what I would call a dance-hall banger but a very nice atmospheric mood stirrer that makes me tap along! Great 'first' try and welcome to the cult! I'll run it past Dez to see if he would add it to his gym playlist.

If you're looking for advice from someone with no experience in the field (!), I might suggest varying up the drum track a little more? j$