#and virtual instruments of them are Not Good generally

[rawliverandgoronspice]

one thing that is complicated when doing Anything gerudo is how to cut away from some of the orientalism by making more specific cultural choices while also maintaining their identity as recognizable, which is inherently drenched in all kinds of orientalism

I'm trying to learn more about middle eastern musical theory to be more intentional in my soundtrack, but then I'm like "okay but will this *read* gerudo", and. yeah it's Constantly that with them isn't it

[katzenklavierr]

I am once again reminding people that Vocaloid and other singing synthesizers are not the same as those AI voice models made from celebrities and cartoon characters and the like.

Singing synthesizers are virtual instruments. Vocaloids use audio samples of real human voices the way some other virtual instruments will sample real guitars and pianos and the like, but they still need to be "played", per say, and getting good results requires a lot of manual manipulation of these samples within a synthesis engine.

Crucially, though, the main distinction here is consent. Commercial singing synthesizers are made by contracting vocalists to use their voices to create these sample libraries. They agree to the process and are compensated for their time and labor.

Some synthesizer engines like Vocaloid and Synthesizer V do have "AI" voice libraries, meaning that part of the rendering process involves using an AI model trained on data from the voice provider singing in order to ideally result in more naturalistic synthesis, but again, this is done with consent, and still requires a lot of manual input on the part of the user. They are still virtual instruments, not voice clones that auto-generate output based on prompts.

In fact, in the DIY singing synth community, making voice libraries out of samples you don't have permission to use is generally frowned upon, and is a violation of most DIY engines' terms of service, such as UTAU.

Please do research before jumping to conclusions about anything that remotely resembles AI generation. Also, please think through your anti-AI stance a little more than "technology bad"; think about who it hurts and when it hurts them so you can approach it from an informed, critical perspective rather than just something to be blindly angry about. You're not helping artists/vocalists/etc. if you aren't focused on combating actual theft and exploitation.

[nightingale2004]

Victorious next generation: Tandre (Tori x Andre) vers.

Jasper Coby Vega

Faceclaim: Amir Wilson

Jasper Harris is the son of the famous Grammy award winning singer/songwriter/music record producer Andre Harris and the famous Popstar singer/songwriter and actress Tori Vega

Jasper and his family all live in Hollywood

Jasper takes after both his parents in looks but he mostly takes after his dad

He inherited both his parents' love for music, but instead of singing or playing an instrument, he has a love for dance

Jasper is a great dancer and started dance lessons at the age of 7

He loves his parents and loves his family.

He is naturally pretty chill in any situation.

He has two younger sisters named Melody and Lyric.

As a big brother, he is naturally very protective and mature (at least in his opinion)

Jasper and his sisters also attend Hollywood arts

Despite not being a songwriter, singer, or interested in playing an instrument. He loves hearing it and moving his body to the song.

Like both his parents, he has a great ear and will tell his parents honestly if their new song is good or not

He can also act a little bit but not as good as his mom.

He rides a skateboard and often goes to the skatepark

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Melody Raya Vega

Faceclaim Antonia Gentry

Melody is the second child and first daughter of Andre Harris and Tori Vega

Her family is very well known, mostly due to her parents and their careers.

Melody does not find it easy being the daughter of Andre and Tori Vega or just their child in general because of all the fame, the paparazzi and complete lack of privacy

Like her brother, she's not like her parents. She likes music, but she isn't as passionate about it as most of her family.

Melody loves art and experiments with all different kinds

Melody loves to paint, draw, sketch, sculpt, and experiments with graffiti, portraits, virtual art, and pottery.

She listens to music while doing any artistic activity, but she prefers silence when working on any paintings and art projects

Melody mostly loves doing painting, drawing, sketching, virtual designs, and pottery

Her room is very messy with paint everywhere, but she refers to it as her "creative space"

She helps design her mom and dad's album covers

Melody has an art book that her mom gave to her when she was 12. Melody still has it.

She never shows her drawings to anyone who isn't family.

She is very insecure about her art and doesn't think it's good enough or even close to finished despite many comments

She takes after her dad in creativity and her mother in personality

Loves both her parents and her siblings

Like her room, she also has an artistic, messy sense of style

{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}

Lyric Roxie Vega

Faceclaim: India Amarteifio

Lyric is the third child and second daughter of Andre Harris and Tori Vega

Like both her parents, she has inherited the musical flame inside her along with both her parents' beautiful singing voice

Like her dad, she loves playing any musical instrument, but she mostly plays the piano or guitar and, like her mom, she loves to sing

Whenever her parents are finished with a song and they need a second opinion, they go straight to Lyric and Jasper.

Lyric loves experimenting with new sounds and turning them into music

Music is her greatest passion and only hopes to be as good as her parents

Her room is completely soundproof since she likes to play her music and instruments all the time and very loudly

Like her older sister, Lyric also has a journal, but it was given by her father.

In her journal, she writes ideas for song lyrics and ideas for songs like a melody, tempo, a beat, rhythm, etc

She gets inspiration in the most random places

She is a good dancer but not as great as Jasper

Loves seeing her sisters art projects

She often goes to her parents' studio. (It's one of her safe places)

Loves Hollywood arts

Finds her aunt Trina funny yet annoying (her siblings feel the same)

She's not bad as an actress

[lonestarflight]

Cancelled Missions: Testing Shuttle Manipulator Arms During Earth-Orbital Apollo Missions (1971-1972)

In this drawing by NASA engineer Caldwell Johnson, twin human-like Space Shuttle robot arms with human-like hands deploy from the Apollo Command and Service Module (CSM) Scientific Instrument Module (SIM) Bay to grip the derelict Skylab space station.

"Caldwell Johnson, co-holder with Maxime Faget of the Mercury space capsule patent, was chief of the Spacecraft Design Division at the NASA Manned Spacecraft Center (MSC) in Houston, Texas, when he proposed that astronauts test prototype Space Shuttle manipulator arms and end effectors during Apollo Command and Service Module (CSM) missions in Earth orbit. In a February 1971 memorandum to Faget, NASA MSC's director of Engineering and Development, Johnson described the manipulator test mission as a worthwhile alternative to the Earth survey, space rescue, and joint U.S./Soviet CSM missions then under study.

At the time Johnson proposed the Shuttle manipulator arm test, three of the original 10 planned Apollo lunar landing missions had been cancelled, the second Skylab space station (Skylab B) appeared increasingly unlikely to reach orbit, and the Space Shuttle had not yet been formally approved. NASA managers foresaw that the Apollo and Skylab mission cancellations would leave them with surplus Apollo spacecraft and Saturn rockets after the last mission to Skylab A. They sought low-cost Earth-orbital missions that would put the surplus hardware to good use and fill the multi-year gap in U.S. piloted missions expected to occur in the mid-to-late 1970s.

Johnson envisioned Shuttle manipulators capable of bending and gripping much as do human arms and hands, thus enabling them to hold onto virtually anything. He suggested that a pair of prototype arms be mounted in a CSM Scientific Instrument Module (SIM) Bay, and that the CSM "pretend to be a Shuttle" during rendezvous operations with the derelict Skylab space station.

The CSM's three-man crew could, he told Faget, use the manipulators to grip and move Skylab. They might also use them to demonstrate a space rescue, capture an 'errant satellite,' or remove film from SIM Bay cameras and pass it to the astronauts through a special airlock installed in place of the docking unit in the CSM's nose.

Faget enthusiastically received Johnson's proposal (he penned 'Yes! This is great' on his copy of the February 1971 memo). The proposal generated less enthusiasm elsewhere, however.

Undaunted, Johnson proposed in May 1972 that Shuttle manipulator hardware replace Earth resources instruments that had been dropped for lack of funds from the planned U.S.-Soviet Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (ASTP) mission. President Richard Nixon had called on NASA to develop the Space Shuttle just four months before (January 1972). Johnson asked Faget for permission to perform 'a brief technical and programmatic feasibility study' of the concept, and Faget gave him permission to prepare a presentation for Aaron Cohen, manager of the newly created Space Shuttle Program Office at MSC.

In his June 1972 presentation to Cohen, Johnson declared that '[c]argo handling by manipulators is a key element of the Shuttle concept.' He noted that CSM-111, the spacecraft tagged for the ASTP mission, would have no SIM Bay in its drum-shaped Service Module (SM), and suggested that a single 28-foot-long Shuttle manipulator arm could be mounted near the Service Propulsion System (SPS) main engine in place of the lunar Apollo S-band high-gain antenna, which would not be required during Earth-orbital missions.

During ascent to orbit, the manipulator would ride folded beneath the CSM near the ASTP Docking Module (DM) within the streamlined Spacecraft Launch Adapter. During SPS burns, the astronauts would stabilize the manipulator so that acceleration would not damage it by commanding it to grip a handle installed on the SM near the base of the CSM's conical Command Module (CM).

Johnson had by this time mostly dropped the concept of an all-purpose human hand-like 'end effector' for the manipulator; he informed Cohen that the end effector design was 'undetermined.' The Shuttle manipulator demonstration would take place after CSM-111 had undocked from the Soviet Soyuz spacecraft and moved away to perform independent maneuvers and experiments.

The astronauts in the CSM would first use a TV camera mounted on the arm's wrist to inspect the CSM and DM, then would use the end effector to manipulate 'some device' on the DM. They would then command the end effector to grip a handle on the DM, undock the DM from the CSM, and use the manipulator to redock the DM to the CSM. Finally, they would undock the DM and repeatedly capture it with the manipulator.

Caldwell Johnson's depiction of a prototype Shuttle manipulator arm with a hand-like end effector. The manipulator grasps the Docking Module meant to link U.S. Apollo and Soviet Soyuz spacecraft in Earth orbit during the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (ASTP) mission.

Johnson estimated that new hardware for the ASTP Shuttle manipulator demonstration would add 168 pounds (76.2 kilograms) to the CM and 553 pounds (250.8 kilograms) to the SM. He expected that concept studies and pre-design would be completed in January 1973. Detail design would commence in October 1972 and be completed by 1 July 1973, at which time CSM-111 would undergo modification for the manipulator demonstration.

Johnson envisioned that MSC would build two manipulators in house. The first, for testing and training, would be completed in January 1974. The flight unit would be completed in May 1974, tested and checked out by August 1974, and launched into orbit attached to CSM-111 in July 1975. Johnson optimistically placed the cost of the manipulator arm demonstration at just $25 million.

CSM-111, the last Apollo spacecraft to fly, reached Earth orbit on schedule on 15 July 1975. By then, Caldwell Johnson had retired from NASA. CSM-111 carried no manipulator arm; the tests Johnson had proposed had been judged to be unnecessary.

That same month, the U.S. space agency, short on funds, invited Canada to develop and build the Shuttle manipulator arm. The Remote Manipulator System — also called the Canadarm — first reached orbit on board the Space Shuttle Columbia during STS-2, the second flight of the Shuttle program, on 12 November 1981."

source

[teacupistired]

eurovision semi 2 - thoughts etc

insanely stacked lineup. it is so so difficult to rank these performances so it does come down to the smallest of errors also i LOVED the hosts' outfits.

Australia: i love the visuals here, his vocals took a minute or two to activate, but low notes are really difficult to hit. the costumes are fabulous, the concept is incredibly fun, he had a lot of stage presence, especially towards to the end. 3 points

Montenegro: insane strong intro, very simply but effective staging. she had so much stage presence i could hardly look away. I'm not even mad about the voice crack because that reinforces these vocals being live and overall magnificent. 7 points

Ireland: I liked that her postcard tied in with the song's concept. The europop sound is refreshing. Even thought I don't love her vocal texture, I can appreciate the vocal technique. the staging should be cool, but the dancers seem really overshadowed by the background. She also didn't have as much stage presence as the last two. no points

It's Latvia: Minor key harmony is so rare to hear and I love it. The staging is amazing, they look like magical wood fairies stepping out of a portal, and the eye makeup gives such a cool effect. The vocals are practically perfect, and the instrumental is such a good compliment. Absolutely amazing. 10 points

Armenia: The best stage presence so far, you can really tell he's enjoying himself. The editing effects are cool, and normally I don't like flashing lights like this, but it works with the song. the instrumental is flawless, I like the use of what I'm assuming is local instruments. I thought the bridge would ruin it but it gives a good energy break 8 points

Austria: I like the intro staging but it feels familiar in a way I can't quite place. It's amazing how it compliments the song overall. The operatic vocals are lovely, but for some reason it's just not my taste. I really admire the variety of vocal technique. I don't really know why, but this performance didn't capture me as much as others. 5 points.

UK: They look absolutely beautiful, the visual concept feels a little too Disney princess for my taste. I fear they were a little offbeat during the first verse, the tempo kept changing pretty fast so I can't blame them. Their harmonies were beautiful, I got chills during the last chorus. big five so no points

Greece: Weird but I can't remember the last time a female artist wore glasses at Eurovision. She doesn't have as much stage presence as most other acts, but her vocals do kind make up for it, as does the staging. It's lovely as a performance, but somehow doesn't stack up to other ballads, which is awful to say but there's some flawless acts in this semi. 1 point

Lithuania: This was generally pretty fine. I didn't like the costumes or the staging, it felt too simple compared to everything else, and the graphics in the back did the heavy lifting visually. The vocals were good, there's nothing they did wrong, but they didn't do enough to stand out to me. no points

Malta: If I was in that arena I'd be screaming KANT at the top of my lungs. Bonkers staging but I love it, it's a fun pop song, and her vocals are solid. The costumes are perfect, maybe the change was a little iffy but the energy shift was amazing. This was a really, really good performance. 7 points.

Georgia: Simple staging but the dancers add a lot. The vocals are good too. It sounds pretty similar to other big energy ballads, but it doesn't do enough to really compete with them. i find the costume change wasn't worth a change. Also, I just don't think I like the song all that much. no points.

France: The sand motif seems very reminiscent of another performance in the recent years, I don't think it adds enough to the staging. I feel like I could buy her outfit at the mall. Also, I'm kinda tired of France sending ballads to Eurovision, even if the ballads are virtually perfect. big five so no points

Denmark: The intro and first verse have great staging. I like the costuming and the vocals are on point for the most part. It kiiinda sounds like Euphoria. This falls into the trap of "it's great, but other acts are just better". It's a perfectly good pop song, but in this semi, that might not be enough. no points

Czechia: The mic is so cool? It's a massive spider? The costume change was pretty unexpected but I loved it. The staging is very simple but that means there's little to distract from the amazing vocals. He switches back and forth from baritone to falsetto notes and his range is incredibly impressive. The choreography feels innovative, especially with the second prechorus. The song has a magical instrumental outro too. 9 points.

Luxembourg: The concept feels super detailed even though the "doll" concept has been done fairly often in general. The vocals aren't super complex, but she sings the song really well. It sounds a little dated somehow, perhaps its the melody being so reminiscent of a lot of songs I've heard before. The genre change is cool, but it feels a little shoved in somehow. no points.

Israel: shoutout that one huge Palestine flag I keep seeing in the audience, I don't know how they snuck it in but I'm glad they did. no points

Germany: The neon string instrument is a really fun element, especially to contrast the massive speaker set behind it. I'm glad Germany finally sent a song in German, its a solid club song. I think Germany did something fairly simple in comparison to a lot of other acts, but they did it really well. 2 points

Serbia: The intro vocals weren't hitting, and the staging felt too simple, almost derivative. I was honestly just bored for the first half of the song. The pyrotechnics and dancers weren't enough to overcome that. no points

Finland: I don't think I've really heard anything like this song before, ever. She has good stage presence, and she looks amazing too. I like how the energy of the songs changes from intense to intense without giving me whiplash. She kept up well with the tempo change, and her being suspended in the air was a super cool visual and made perfect sense with the rest of the performance. 4 points

[eaux-fortes]

From the beginning, the notion of the god Kronos, a divinity apparently venerated before the days of classical Greece, and of whose original character we know virtually nothing, was distinguished by a marked internal contradiction or ambivalence. It is true that the other Greek gods, too, nearly all appear under a dual aspect, in the sense that they both chastise and bless, destroy and aid. But in none of them is this dual aspect so real and fundamental as in Kronos. His nature is a dual one not only with regard to his effect on the outer world, but with regard to his own-as it were, personal-destiny, and this dualism is so sharply marked that Kronos might fairly be described as god of opposites. The Homeric epithets, repeated by Hesiod, described the father of the three rulers of the world. Zeus, Poseidon and Hades (as he appears in the lliad) as "great" and "of crooked counsel". On the one hand he was the benevolent god of agriculture, whose harvest festival was celebrated by free men and slaves together, the ruler of the Golden Age when men had abundance of all things and enjoyed the innocent happiness of Rousseau's natural man, the lord of the Islands of the Blessed, and the inventor of agriculture and of the building of cities. On the other hand he was the gloomy, dethroned, and solitary god conceived as "dwelling at the uttermost end of land and sea", "exiled beneath the earth and the flood of the seas"; he was "a ruler of the nether gods"; he lived as a prisoner or bondsman in, or even beneath, Tartarus, and later he actually passed for the god of death and the dead. On the one hand he was the father of gods and men, on the other hand the devourer of children, eater of raw flesh, the consumer of all, who "swallowed up all the gods", and exacted human sacrifice from the barbarians; he castrated his father Uranus with the very sickle which, in the hand of his son, repaid measure for measure and made the procreator of all things for ever infertile— a sickle which, prepared by Gaea, was both an instrument of the most horrible outrage and at the same time of harvesting. The equation of the Greek Kronos with Saturn, the Roman god of fields and crops, confirmed the latent contradiction without particularly accentuating it. The Roman Saturn was originally not ambivalent but definitely good. In the general picture of the hybrid Kronos-Saturn, the fusion of the Greek god with the Roman produced an increase of positive traits by adding the attributes of guardian of wealth, overseer of a system of counting by weight and measure and inventor of coin-minting, and of negative traits by adding those of the hunted fugitive. Against this, however, the Greek Kronos's ambivalence was increased when the notion of the mythical god was linked, and soon merged, with that of the star that is still called Saturn today.

— Raymond Klibansky, Erwin Panofsky, and Fritz Saxl, Saturn and Melancholy: Studies in the History of Natural Philosophy, Religion, and Art, p. 135.

[corpsephage]

There's been a recent spate of AI-produced Studio Ghibli mock-ups, so I figured I'd make one of my own. According to my sources (hearsay on Twitter) the studio's head honcho himself thinks of AI as "an insult to life itself". Well, take this, life! How'd you like that? Not so high and mighty now! I've already gotten AI to draw you as the Soyjak and me as the Chad! Now why don't you pick up a pencil and sit on it?!

Alright, I'm gonna get serious here - happy April Fools' Day, by the way - I can't pretend to be fond of this whole AI craze. Now look; I'm not completely innocent when it comes to AI. A few years ago, I was actually working on an AI-based video for YouTube, but I pulled the plug on it when I started hearing how voice actors were worried that AI would put them out of work - and this was back in the early days, when you could easily tell something was AI.

I think it's a real shame websites like DeviantArt seem to be prioritizing this AI stuff over the integrity of artists. It's like "artists" are no longer needed around here, which is definitely the way I've seen a lot of people take this. It's like your creative work is just a "product" to be "consumed", not an "entertainment" to be "enjoyed".

With this in mind, I've built my own AI chatbot (in my head) to try and explain what my problems are with AI drawing. If you have any pro-AI arguments of your own in mind, let me hear them. I sure would like to be wrong about this:

“What have you got against AI art?”

It’s taking people’s jobs. That’s really it. If it wasn’t taking people’s jobs, I’d have no problem with it.

“It isn’t going to take artists’ jobs! There’s always going to be a demand for them.”

Alas, I wish that were so. But given the choice between paying thirty dollars minimum for an artist to take weeks drawing one picture, and a robot that will cook up hundreds of images in the hour, all for free, it’s really a no-brainer. The big corporations are going to be gung-ho for AI because, while it’s bad for the creative’s business, it’s good for their business.

“Well, then, you should probably just get a real job and just do art as a free hobby.”

People are going to try and get jobs doing what they love - and more importantly, what they're good at. If someone spends all their time creating, what other job are they going to have? If it's a job their heart's just not into, they're going to half-ass it and likely be fired anyway.

“Now wait just a dadgum second. I’ve seen your YouTube account. You’ve got all that computer-made music on there. None of those are real instruments! Couldn’t you hire actual musicians?”

All those virtual instruments are made by real musicians who willingly put up those samples on the market. Look, if an artist or voice actor willingly submits their art or voice to an AI generator for others to remix, I wouldn’t have so much of a problem. But the big websites don't wait to ask permission.

“You used a computer to make this art right here! You used things like smoothing tools and the undo button instead of an eraser! Why’s it OK for you to use tools to make your drawing easier, but others can’t?!”

I would’ve hoped AI tools would be there to help make the drawing process easier, but I didn’t want it to replace the drawing process itself. It’s like, if you’re struggling with walking, you might get yourself a wheelchair to make moving around easier – AI is like building a robot to go out there and do all the moving around for you. Sure, it’s convenient, but… wouldn’t you rather have some fresh air?

"But AI democratizes creativity! It's no longer just for the chosen, talented few. With AI, everyone can be an artist!"

I think with imagination, everyone can already be an artist. Take it from someone who knows - if there is a "chosen, talented few", I am certainly not part of them. It's not like I'm following some kind of special calling. In fact, I think I'm below-average when compared to most people doing this... so I don't know what anyone else's excuse is.

"Look... you want the truth? I can't draw, alright? And I'm... jealous of all the artists. They're all so cool being able to bring their imagination to life. I wish I was that creative."

Can I let you in on something? Pseudo-artist to pseudo-artist. If I'm anything like the other guys on here... none of us can draw. Let me show you how I made this picture you see here:

Tell me, does that first sketch look like good art to you? And yet this whole picture is nothing more than me tracing over that crappy picture several times, straightening out the lines as I go. The whole thing couldn't have taken any more than three hours. My point is, the "art" that I make doesn't take any talent, and it barely takes skill. It's really nothing more than just knowing how the magic trick is done. The biggest lie I was ever told was that drawing isn't fun.

So, no, I don't need any AI to make my art, thanks. I'm quite capable of being a talentless hack without it.

(By the way, the weird Photoshopped face comes from that all-AI ad Coca-Cola did last year. See, I credit my sources, unlike the AI scrapers.)

[sofacehologram]

How AI Song Makers Benefit Musicians

Instant Creativity

One of the biggest advantages of AI song makers is their ability to spark creativity instantly. Musicians can input a few basic ideas or select a genre, and the AI will generate a complete musical composition. This provides a valuable starting point for writers and composers, saving time and offering inspiration when faced with creative blocks.

Accessibility for Everyone

AI music creation tools are user-friendly, making them accessible to people with no prior musical experience. These platforms democratize the music industry, allowing anyone to experiment with sound, structure, and lyrics   ai music generator. Whether you're a beginner or an expert, AI tools adapt to your needs and preferences.

Collaboration with AI

AI song makers are not just about creating music on your own; they can also act as virtual collaborators. Musicians can work alongside the AI to refine compositions, experiment with different arrangements, or even tweak lyrics. It’s like having a creative partner available 24/7 to help bring your vision to life    .

Features to Look for in an AI Song Maker

Customization Options

A good AI song maker allows users to fine-tune their music. Whether it’s adjusting the tempo, key, or instrument choice, customization is essential for creating a piece of music that aligns with your style and vision.

Genre Flexibility

The best AI song makers offer a wide range of genres, from pop to rock, jazz, classical, and electronic. This flexibility enables musicians to experiment with various sounds and styles, helping them stay innovative and discover new possibilities.

Integration with Music Software

Many AI song makers can integrate with popular digital audio workstations (DAWs) like Ableton Live, FL Studio, and Logic Pro. This feature streamlines the music creation process, allowing users to easily import AI-generated compositions into their workflow for further editing and production.

Why AI Song Makers Are the Future of Music

Innovation at Your Fingertips

AI song makers push the boundaries of what’s possible in music production. With these tools, users can explore unique sounds, generate melodies that may never have been imagined, and take risks without fear of failure. AI is a powerful tool that fosters innovation and experimentation.

Affordable Music Production

Traditional music production can be costly, especially for independent artists. AI song makers provide an affordable alternative to expensive studio time, music software, and hiring session musicians. This makes it easier for up-and-coming artists to create professional-sounding music without breaking the bank.

Expanding Music Boundaries

AI song makers allow users to experiment with sounds, rhythms, and genres that they might not have explored otherwise. The AI’s ability to process vast amounts of musical data can result in novel combinations and creative breakthroughs. For artists, this is an exciting way to expand the boundaries of music.

[murmurmurl]

i need u to tell me everything about your unit so when ill be writing once i have time, i can put them in it too

hohoheheoehehehoheoe,,,,,,, I'm gonna use this as an opportunity to shove all of the most important info into one place. Everything is a little all over the place tho, but it's always like that wjkhkskh

Helianthus♡Light!

Helianthus is the genus which includes sunflowers. Fumi and Seina suggested this part of the name, since Fumi loves flowers and the flower language/symbolism behind them, and Seina knows the more,, biological/scientific stuffs. The "Light" part is both because it also has to do with sunflowers, and Toshiro suggested that they're "reaching for light", because they chose the name at the end of their main story and they were feeling very hopeful,, it's not like they're not hopeful now, idk why I phrased it like that ANYWAYS.

I'm kind of not sure what type of music they play (mainly because I don't know ANYTHING about music genres lol), but it's definitely something warm, nostalgic, maybe a bit echo-y, somewhat soft, and their cover arts definitely include a lot of nature stuff,,,,, I haven't designed their virtual singers yet, but they're probably gonna be Rin and Luka (and Miku obv)

Unit members!

Toshiro Hasegawa (they/he)

178 cm tall, unit leader, probably main vocalist?, class 2-B (post-3rd anni), class 1-C (pre-3rd anni). Pretty energetic and outgoing, straight-A student, very afraid of failure and tends to try to earn love and affection through exceeding at everything because family problems, yay. Has an older brother (Hiroto Hasegawa, he/him), who is a part of ANOTHER unit,, The two are pretty distant. The whole family actually is, woops. Toshiro is also VERY into crystals and spirituality. It gives a sense of certainty. Also has an orange cat named Surfer. They're a big MMJ fan, specifically Airi fan. Friends with Ichika and An. Always braids/does everyone's hair.

Matsu Kimura (he/him)

162 cm, probably also vocals, but mainly deals with the uhm technical musical stuff that I know nothing about?? class 3-C (post-3rd anni), class 2-B (pre-3rd anni). Very bubbly, energetic, affectionate, super-uber-extra autism (sea-flavoured), very average grades because he only really does what he's interested in, but he does it rlly good. Used to get bullied in middle school, struggles with people's expectations and trying to fit in. Very-very silly. Only child. Keeps pet fish. Friends with Emu. Very tactile, loves tackling people.

Fumi Hatanaka (she/they)

169 cm, loves musical instruments and plays guitar, class 2-A (post-3rd anni), class 1-B (pre-3rd anni). A surprisingly bad student, doesn't care about school. She's pretty reserved and a bit grumpy most of the time but tends to easily get angry and even a little aggressive. Cares a lot about her friends, even though she doesn't really know how to show it. Also doesn't want to show "weakness". Blames herself for being too soft in middle school and not being able to help Matsu. Her family owns and runs a small flower shop. Friends with Shiho, dislikes Tsukasa and Rui (thinks they're too obnoxious and chaotic lmao). Also an only child. Doesn't have pets, but feeds strays that often hang out around the shop. Friends with Shiho and pretty much all of leo/need, as well as Toya. Can be pretty distant physically, but likes subtle physical gestures of affection.

Seina Amari (she/her)

175 cm, writes lyrics for their songs, loves writing in general, the only one in the group who goes to Miya girls', class 3-B (post-3rd anni), class 2-B (pre-3rd anni). Does VERY good at school, super responsible, helps everyone, though isn't actually all that interested in most subjects except literature. She's very calm and caring, always tries to help everyone, has a very gentle energy about her. This mostly comes from the fact that she had hurt a dear friend in the past, which was actually genuinly her fault, but also some shit happened, and she ended up dealing with this by being overly-caring and not letting her loved ones see when she's struggling. Doesn't mean she doesn't ACTUALLY care though. She very much does. Has a younger sibling (Taru Amari, they/them), who's also part of the same unit Hiroto is! Also has a pet bunny named Puddle, who's very similar to her, which I think is funny,, not exactly friends with Mafuyu, but just a little bit closer than regular acquaintances. Close friends with Shizuku and pretty much the rest of MMJ too (Toshiro nearly fainted when they found out). Has a part-time job at a local coffee shop, where she met and became friends with Ena. Often shows affection/compassion by something like placing a hand on someone's shoulder.

I decided that they all should have emojis because,, idk,,,, it's fun,,,,,, so:

Toshiro – 🍑

Matsu – 🦈 (or jellyfish, but I don't have this one and don't want to have to copy-paste it every time,,)

Fumi – 🍊

Seina – 🍃 or ✒️ (but here I mostly use ✒️)

How all of them know each other!

(Because I wanted ALL of them to have some kind of connection to each other before the unit was formed. I think it's fun.)

🦈🍊 Matsu and Fumi are childhood friends and went to the same middle school. It was very awkward and tense at first when they met again in high-school, because back then Fumi felt extremely guilty and ended up distancing herself, eventually kind of abandoning Matsu when he needed support most.

🍑🍊 (fucking fruits /j) Toshiro's brother visits Fumi's family's flower shop very frequently, that's how Toshiro and Fumi met, since she often helps out with the shop in the evenings. Though they didn't become close until the main story started and the unit was firmed.

🍑✒️ Toshiro and Seina know each other because their siblings, Hiroto and Taru, are friends! So they kinda met through Seina accompanying Taru whenever they wanted to visit Hiroto.

🍊✒️ Fumi loves coffee and met Seina when going to the coffee shop Seina works part-time at. Because Fumi ended up being a regular customer there, even with their tough personality the two became acquaintances, but also didn't become very close until the events of the main story.

🍑🦈 Toshiro and Matsu just kinda bumped into each other at school. They became friends before the events of the main story.

🦈✒️ I think Matsu and Seina are the only exception though. They've only met when the main story started.

[also, side note – none of them canonically have labels, but the pronouns are canon]

Dynamics!!

🍑🍊 They bicker and argue a lot, but not, like, SERIOUSLY. They're both aware they're joking and most of the time it's affectionate. Fumi isn't as big of a fan of physical affection as it seems the rest of the unit is, so Toshiro doesn't get the chance to braid her hair that often. But when he does, it's very nice and relaxing for both. Surprisingly, Toshiro might be the closest to Fumi, after Matsu, that is.

🍑✒️ Toshiro loves braiding/doing everyone's hair, as I've mentioned already, and his favorite to do this to is Seina. They especially like braiding these tail-like longer parts of her hair. Overall, they're pretty close because of their siblings, and Toshiro might be one of the first people Seina eventually opens up to. Also, I keep forgetting that Toshiro is actually taller. Most of the time, Seina just. FEELS taller, idk.

🍑🦈 These two are very close. They both kinda admire Rui and Tsukasa, which worsens their already chaotic behavior. They're actually two menaces together and no one is safe. Matsu loves tackling Toshiro more than everyone else and Toshiro might sometimes jokingly complain, but loves the attention. Matsu's hair is also his second favorite to braid. Also they drag Matsu to MMJ concerts and keep trying to convert him into being an MMJ fan,,,,,,

🍊✒️ Seina has a surprising way of calming Fumi down better than anyone else. Sometimes, maybe if they're waiting for something or riding a train somewhere, Fumi even allows herself to rest on Seina's shoulder. She's less harsh with Seina (even if her harshness isn't malicious with her friends). Seina sometimes has to stop Fumi from getting into fights. Even if she struggles to show it, Fumi tries her best and appreciates Seina a lot.

🍊🦈 As I mentioned before, Matsu and Fumi are childhood friends. At the beginning of the unit story things are still pretty awkward and Fumi is very tense around Matsu, as she still feels guilty, but isn't sure how to properly express any of it, while Matsu still feels a little hiet over her abandoning him. Though as the story goes on, this conflict pretty much gets resolved, even though it will still take a lot of time for any awkwardness to disappear completely. After the unit is formed, they're pretty close again, despite, uh, all of what I just said. They need some time to get used to each other again, but ARGHHH I LOVE THEM SO MUCH, they care about each other A LOT, even if Fumi isn't the best at expressing it. The whole reason she became so mean and harsh is to be able to protect Matsu.

✒️🦈 Seina kinda feels like an older sister figure to Matsu, I think? At least, for me,, She worries about him a lot, maybe even more than with the others, helps in overwhelming situations, all that. He's still very affectionate, but it's kinda like his affection is more calm with her (basically, he doesn't tackle her as hard as everyone else /hj)

SEKAI description!!!

(I just copy-pasted this from the post where I first described it. I'm NOT typing all that ever again)

I mentioned that I call it the overgrown sekai. Because it's, well, overgrown. As you could hopefully guess. The main part of it is an old stone structure, with some intricate carvings still remaining visible and even discernable, although everything does look like it's at least.. a few centuries old, no less. However, taking into account that it's a sekai, it probably isn't that ancient. Almost everything is pretty much overrun by plants – ivy spreading across the grey stone walls, grass (and most importantly flowers) breaking their way through the floor that seems to be made of marble, but it's too old, overgrown and at times dirty to be completely sure. The said flowers are a strange mix of forget-me-nots and sunflowers that may not quite make sense, but it *is* a whole ass other dimension, after all. There's plenty of light, despite practically no windows in sight, save for a few small ones. The reason for that being the roof, shaped like a dome, with holes in it that clearly weren't here by the first design, having appeared because of the stone collapsing over time. Unsurprisingly, the flowers are concentrated in the areas where the most light seeps through those holes. And speaking of light, the time here is always the same – late afternoon, with the season always remaining a comfortable sunny summer.

There's some furniture in the building, mostly along the walls, with the center looking almost like a flowerbed. That furniture seems to represent each of the owners of the sekai – an old desk made of dark wood with a quil and some paper thrown around it, almost giving it an impression that the owner left in a hurry. The paper has become a light yellow color over what may or may not be a rather long amount of time. Next to it – a somewhat fancy wooden chair. There are mirrors hung around this part of the space – some broken, some have the glass taken out entirely. Just a little further – a shelf and an armchair. Both items' materials and overall look fit that of nearly very other piece of furniture here. The shelf is filled with items that seem to have some spiritualistic significance – amulets, crystals and stones, all of them hand-made and hand-carved, yet seeming to lack in accuracy and having been made in a hurry. The armchair strangely has a few long chains hanging on its back. One of the more noticeable pieces of furniture is... a fish tank. It has no fish. In fact, it doesn't even have water, though it's probably not intended to be that way – the tank is spacious and has pretty much almost everything a fish would need to be happy and content in captivity. But it's old and worn out – the driftwood rotting away, whatever plants used to be inside have withered and everything is covered in a thin layer of... dust..? The tank itself stands on top of something of a dresser. If you care to open its doors, you will see rows upon rows of books – as many as could fit in the little space there is inside. Most of them have to do with marine life, but there are also some journals full of incomprehensible messy writing, as if whoever was filling them either didn't have much time, or was feeling too much emotion to care. Perhaps the strangest item in the building is a cage. It's designed just like one of those small restricting bird cages, glistening with gold in the light from above, but for some reason, the cage could easily fit a human. If you decide to step in, you might notice an unexpected aroma. It's vague and subtle, but... it almost seems like fresh black coffee mixed with something citrusy. Outside, the building is surrounded by a dense forest. The light can't penetrate the abundance of trees, but somehow, it doesn't feel eerie or threatening. It feels familiar in an unexplainable way. Have you already seen these woods somewhere..?

I think that's pretty much all the important stuff..? I ramble A LOT about small details pretty often, but uhm. Explodes.

[my-castles-crumbling]

Hi cas! Hope you're having a good day!

So I have some problems, and it would be great if you could give me a little advice. Sry in advance, this'll be long.

So theres a bit of context I need to explain first. So this all kind of started 3 years ago, after everyone got back to normal school from virtual. I had a friend (E) who I started developing a crush on (she was my first gay crush). A bit into the school year, I noticed that I started having a bunch more small conflicts with her. I was also kind of decent friends with her brother (M). Once winter started, M and a few others started making a game of tripping me on the ice. E just stood by and watched, which sort of felt just as bad as if she was doing it. E was generally making fun of me, stealing things from me and saying she was just joking around, and making little comments about me and things I was doing. I was able to make friends with another group, though, so I escaped that.

The next year, I got into a relationship with one of the ppl in the other friend group (L). It took me a while to realize they were perssuring me into everything that we did intimately, and I was pretty uncomfortable with it. Then on top of L, there was this other guy that was causing trouble (H), who I had been good friends with since 2nd grade. H made fun of another friend's epilepsy, was hanging out with someone who was violent, and started assaulting/harassing girls at the school. Both kind of became physical with me, as in kicking me and hitting me, not enough to cause any damage, but was kind of painful. I managed to drift away from L, and the last time we kissed was at the end of the school year. I went no-contact with H, and I switched schools.

The next year, I became friends with someone who played the same instrument as me (D). She quickly turned out to be an ass, but I left her and start hanging out with someone who also was dealing with D (A), and she seemed really nice at first. Then she started getting mean. She would make little comments on my appearance or attitude/personality, which reminded me of E. She was also getting physical. Things like kicking me. breaking her computer on my hand, hitting me with hard objects (such as said computer), and pinching me. Again, nothing that really caused damage to me, but this really reminded me of L, which kind of made me freak out and bail. But that was hard, because I had band w D and a bunch of classes w A (I still do).

Now to this year. A has apologized, but I'm not really sure how to take it. E, M and D are also at this school, but we don't talk. So anyway, I have this really good friend (N) who I was talking to and hanging out with in all of last year, but they were at my previous school. Now they're at the same school as me, but I'm kind of scared. I don't want this relationship to turn out the same or similar to my previous friendships, but there seems to be a pattern of whenever I get too close to ppl, they either end up being jerks, or I end up accidentally becoming a jerk towards them. I've gotten really sad and overthink-y lately, and I'm just worried that N is sick of me or smth, or will turn out like E. I think all of these bad friendships (plus others i didnt mention) gave me a few issues with trust, but I don't want this pattern to keep following me. I'm also worried that it might just be smth I'm doing, not the other ppl. Advice plz?

(Ok sry, this was rlly long and probably confusing, but I hope it was sort of understandable)

Hi!

Honestly, I don't think it's your fault. You can't blame yourself for people being assholes. Judging from this, you did nothing wrong

I think in this situation, just keep setting strong boundaries and communicate. If anything feels off, call it out and also share with N that you have a past of toxic friendships. A good friend will be understanding about that. And if they aren't, then that's not a good friend, and it's not a person wasting your time on.

There ARE good people out there. It sucks that it's hard to find them, but I promise there are. I'm sending you love! naming you advance anon!

[wishheroes]

Weekly K-pop Round-Up (20240523-20240531) pt.2

make sure to check out part one of the post here! 🪼

Virtual Angel - ARTMS

now that artms released their debut album dall and yves released loop, all 12 of the loona members have officially redebuted. right off the bat, i must say this is probably my favourite post-loona release. no matter what my opinion on jaden jeong is, i do have to praise him for creating masterpieces every time. the visuals and references to the loonaverse as well as the queer themes in this song/mv are incredible, and as blinding as the music video is, i definitely do understand the concept of it. does it need a warning? absolutely. but i also don't think it's a bad mv, i think it's very artistic. but releasing a safe (?) version of the music video wouldn't hurt either, it would be nice if ALL fans were able to enjoy this music video. i think odd eye circle and artms definitely have the most loona like feel to them in terms of music which shouldn't be surprising since well, they are under jj's roof. but i just think that whatever the loona-genre is, it just works so well and i will never get tired of it. virtual angel isn't really similar to any of loona's past works, but at the same time it still screams loona right at your face. the instrumental is extremely dreamy, the vocals are really nice to the ear and the lyrics are also very pretty. everything about this release made me emotional, i think it's beautiful all around. from the melody, to the instrumental, to the music video, to the lyrics. i'm so excited to see what artms will have in store for us next comeback, because it's going to be very hard to beat their phenomenal debut.

Satellite - TAEHA

speaking of dreamy, i think this MIGHT just be the resurrection of yukika. jokes aside, i have never listened to taeha's stuff. so if she has been making songs like this in the past, i had absolutely no clue. anyway, i think this release is worth checking out. it might not be the best song you'll ever listen to, but it's certainly not the worst either. i enjoyed this song a lot! the retro sound works with her voice so well, and i think this song is perfect to listen to while stargazing or just relaxing in general. the more i listen the more i fall in love. i think it's a song that would be to many people's liking, so make sure to check it out!

WORK - ATEEZ

i'm really liking the sound ateez have been doing for the past 2 comebacks. something about it just works (pun not intended). their voices really match this kind of sound and i think it's just really addicting. is it better than their noisy music? debatable. but both of these sounds match ateez very well. not that anyone asked, but crazy form is my favourite title track from ateez. so work having a similar vibe is nice, although funnily enough this is definitely nowhere near my fave tts from them. still, it's a solid comeback and i thought it was fun. i especially liked the mv. i think it's nice that ateez are willing to do something different for their titles these days.

1 to 3 - SUHO

i'm just so obsessed with the artistic direction for this whole comeback and mini. this man seriously needs to continue this sound for his future releases! if not something like this, then something similar. this fun sound is just absolutely perfect for him. this song feels like a cheese 2.0, but i'm not complaining at all. i actually don't know what to say because this song is just insane. i love everything about it. song so good it makes me want to rethink all my life decisions and delay my not confirmed trip to korea just to go to his concert in warsaw instead. i'm actually considering it.. but we'll see what the future brings.

that would wrap up this week's weekly roundup! as always thank you for reading, and make sure to check out part one!

[sequestered-song-skirmish]

Round 2 Poll 21

Creative Living With A New And Improved Me：

The Struggle：　「This song and this band in general are so fucking good but virtually nobody knows about about them, which is really odd since the band members went on to form Slint, which is a huge band, and though not the same vibe the songs are really good nevertheless. Anyways the instrumental is so intense, especially the drums? god the drums are incredible, I am obsessed, Britt Walford is just a terrific drummer. Also the whole album is just incredible, especially if you're into the hardcore/post-hardcore.

i can only find the whole album on youtube but it's the opener」

[vynnysvalley]

꒰୨୧ Project Sekai  - My Favorite 2023 Commissioned Song For Each Group  

Woah, another Project Sekai post. I need to start posting about other franchises lol.

I was going to post this before 2024 but I was on vacation for most of the winter break and then I wanted to finish the Kanade Fragment Sekai analysis and THEN school got in the way, but hey I’m here now!

I’m just gonna be poorly bullet-pointing my thoughts since 1) I’m lazy and 2) If I ever want to do full-on analyses for these songs then I still have material to work with. 

Note: These will be songs released in the JP server since those songs are completely new to the franchise.

ˏ°•⁀➷・VIRTUAL SINGERS

“Everything’s gonna be alright. Creators of the next generation.”

I’m Mine - halyosy ft. VIRTUAL SINGERS

━●─────── 0:39

Nostalgic in every sense of the word; reminds me of the Project Diva games 

This is probably some of my favorite tuning in the game all the VOCALOIDs sound so good 

I love all the electricity and mineral symbolism in the lyrics it’s literally the coolest thing 

Speaking of which the fucking “a cobalt, coral, almandine red…” etc. etc. goes SO HARD I keep replaying that bit because it’s so good 

Also the references to halyosy’s previous VOCALOID songs are really cute 

There literally couldn’t have been a better VIRTUAL SINGERS song for Project Sekai’s 3rd anniversary it feels like a massive love letter to both the Project Sekai fandom and the Vocaloid fandom

ˏ°•⁀➷・Leo/need

“As I look back, all of them have become a constellation.” 

Hoshi wo Tsunagu (Connecting the Stars) -  40mP and Hifumi ft. Leo/need x KAITO

━●─────── 0:39

This is supposed to be an Ichika focus song but it does such a good job at conveying Leo/need’s arc as a whole like this is THEIR song 

This song is so oversaturated in sweetness that I’m going to be sick /pos it’s so cute I love their little friend group 

The instrumentals are so so good and they all get a chance to shine (my favorite is probably the guitar) 

The references to everyone’s first focus events and their character arcs is like the cherry on top 

Everyone sounds so pretty, I especially like the harmonies between Ichika and KAITO

This song feels like an acknowledgment of all obstacles they’ve faced and a celebration of a new beginning for the band and it just makes me ldksjflk

ˏ°•⁀➷・MORE MORE JUMP!

“The glittering lights and the falling shadows, I want to love them all.” 

Momoiro no Kagi (Peach-Colored Key) - iyowa ft. MORE MORE JUMP! x Megurine Luka

━●─────── 0:39

This song sounds beyond divine and has that perfect bittersweet mix of melancholy and joy

Something about the instrumentals in this song scratches my brain in the best way possible ESPECIALLY the piano 

Also incorporating morse code into the song is such a cool idea like??

AIRI’S VOCALS?? SOOO STRONG AND MELODIOUS I LOVE GETTING TO HEAR HER SING LIKE THIS 

This song was so good that I went ahead and read the event story for it and god damn this song did the event storyline justice

I love how uncertain yet optimistic the lyrics are it ties into MMJ’s whole theme of finding light in the darkness 

ˏ°•⁀➷・Vivid BAD SQUAD

“Just like that, what we yearned for is on the other side.”

Beyond the Way - Giga ft. Vivid BAD SQUAD x Hatsune Miku

━●─────── 0:39

Yeah yeah I know I’m sooooooooo original, if it makes things better it was close between this and Gekokujou 

Not only does Beyond the Way go hard as hell (I mean, it’s by Giga so no surprise there), but it shows just how far VBS has come since READY STEADY 

I was blown away by how crisp and in sync everyone sounds the mixing and line distribution is peak 

The VOCALS. The singing is BEYOND INCREDIBLE (no pun intended), especially during the rap bits and the chorus 

My friend and I freaked out when Akito said “Find the way!” and Kohane said “Ready Steady? Get out the way” we love references

I love how confident VBS has become in their skills and how they’re evolving from solely wanting to challenge RAD WEEKEND to aiming to go beyond that and pioneer their own legacy

ˏ°•⁀➷・Wonderland x Showtime

“Ain’t no stopping me. Now, it’s showtime!!”

Mr. Showtime - Hitoshizuku-P×Yama△ ft. Wonderland x Showtime x Megurine Luka

━●─────── 0:39

Wonderland x Showtime + a song with a jazzy feel to it + Tsukasa focus event = An absolute banger 

These are 100% some of the best Tsukasa vocals we’ve gotten in the entire game like his VA has really gotten accustomed to singing in Tsukasa’s voice so applause to him 

Also I like Emu’s little shriek and Tsukasa’s “slay it” they’re so silly wtf 

Yama giving the lyrics double meanings/concepts to portray Tsukasa’s mindset/perception of the world is the most genius thing ever I’m going insane 

The 2D MV is SO GORGEOUS literally one of the best 2D MVs so far 

Great song about embracing the unpredictability of show business and persevering through the adversities that come with it (at least that’s my interpretation of it) 

ˏ°•⁀➷・Nightcord @ 25:00

“So in this seemingly collapsing spiral, let’s dance, dance together.”

Twilight Light - toa ft. Nightcord @ 25:00 x Hatsune Miku

━●─────── 0:39

You don’t know how long it took me to decide between Twilight Light and Engeki (Theatre) because I am so madly in love with both songs (and I may have a slight Mafuyu bias) 

Literal embodiment of “hey everything may have gone/be going to shit but at least we still have each other!"

I really hate to admit this but this song made me cry the lyrics are so comforting and everyone’s vocals are so soft and beautiful (including Miku) 

“The melodies that we create, the words that we pull in, the colors that intertwine together, and the scenes that are stitched together” do I even need to say anything about how good this line is??? 

Also the lines where Kanade and Mafuyu sing together and Ena and Mizuki sing together GAH regardless of whether you ship them or not you have to admit that their relationships with each other are so touching 

A very different but very welcome tonal shift from Composing the Future; this song is somber yet hopeful and I adore seeing Nightcord be able to find solace in each other 

ˏ°•⁀➷・Final Words 

TITLE SCREEN JUMPSCARE

This post is already so corny so uh blah blah blah I love Project Sekai blah blah blah thanks producers for creating such amazing contributions to the game blah blah blah don’t kill me for this post please it’s just my silly little opinion okay bye have a nice day <33.  

[lordmayokcorner]

aespa Savage - Album Review

-- Image: Rolling Stone --

I’ve always loved aespa. I would consider them in my top three groups actually. Something I’ve never looked too deep into of theirs though is the Savage mini album, that is until recently. Every song just absolutely slaps, so I feel that I need to review this thing formally. My rating system puts 5/10 as totally neutral, and is mostly based on how quality I feel that the song is. Enjoy!

aenergy - 7.5

This song has a powerful anthemic pulse that is led by pitch enveloped distorted synth bass and a big-sounding hard-hitting drumbeat. It’s a bold but strong way to start an EP, but that’s pretty normal for aespa. The slight distortion is applied to virtually every element that comes in, but a separate reverbed echo is applied to the vocals, further adding to the anthemic quality of it. As for the melodic content, it can get a bit boring seeing as it’s the same basic two melodies repeated for a whole song over a pretty simple and unchanging beat. The bridge breaks it up though, a classic aespa thing. I love the back and forth lines about each member's role and the whole “___ your hands in the air” part. Generally a pretty good song, but can be a bit dry after too much listening.

Savage - 9

I never thought I would need this blend between a hiphop and industrial beat, but hell yeah I am living for it. The occasional vocal doubling adds emphasis to specific words in a creative way. When everything shifts up for Giselle’s rap, I don’t believe it’s possible to not break into a smile. Her lines here are so incredibly fun to listen to. The prechorus is pretty good, but I’m pretty disappointed by how much autotune they put on Ningning considering she could do so well without it. The elements of the beat that enter in and out on the offbeats in the amelodic chorus make it very pleasing to the ear. Giselle and Karina’s rapping in the second verse is just as fun and well done as the first, and Winter’s prechorus is to die for. The layering of harmonies and industrial percussion is very artful and well done. Not a big fan of the bridge however, it just doesn’t feel that unique. The ending after the instrumental break continues to prove how incredible the key changes and layering is in this song, not to mention the impressive high notes from Ningning.

I’ll Make You Cry - 8.5

The droning synth is a very experimental choice for a foundation to the beat, but it works very well as the bass and layered vocals enter. In the prechorus, the same synth gains an 8-bit quality. The way that everything drops down for the chorus gives the song a very ominous feeling to it, and then when elements re-enter we’re served with this excellent syncopation in the vocals requiring significant head bobbing. The whole song feels like it’s going back and forth between screaming and whispering, both in vocals and in instrumentals. It’s truly both a funky and a beautiful and dark song.

YEPPI YEPPI - 10

This song keeps some of the industrial-sounding percussion and synths from Savage but is much more upbeat and syncopated. The vocal delivery still feels very low-key though. The song starts to build faster and faster, and before the listener knows it everything drops and after a muted scream of “AESPA”, the song kicks into a completely unexpected massive catchy anthemic EDM beat. The way that the power drops on the down beat but the synth enters on the makes it 100 times more powerful. In the second verse, we’re given THREE separate beat changes, from a jungle beat for a few lines to a trap beat with horn stabs for the next few and back to the jumpy beat of the first verse. Once again “AESPA”, and the whole thing explodes into another huge chorus. This song is an absolute songwriting masterpiece between the vast assortment of beat and style changes, complex chord switches, entire world of instrumental sounds, and it’s ability to keep the listener on their toes. Most importantly, through all of this, it’s impossible not to be right there with it at every turn. I can’t listen to this song without bursting out into a stupid grin and bobbing my head.

ICONIC - 7.5

Full-on industrial, maybe even more than Savage. Just like every song previous, the use of syncopation makes the song infectious. The relaxing and soft prechorus leads to a sparse but intense chorus filled to the brim with power, using the classic 3-3-3-3-2-2 eighth note pattern (if you don’t know what I’m referring to, listen to the rhythm of the bass synth in the chorus). The verses are very straight though, following the beat with little to no syncopation. That’s part of what gives this song its ICONIC (haha) feel; The verses and bridge are straight while the prechorus and chorus are in the syncopated 333322 pattern. Sorry to go full-blown music nerd on you all. Aside from that, this song is a little dry compared to some others on this album.

Lucid Dream - 10

This song is the very antithesis of “dry”, it feels like drowning deep underwater. The sound design and melodies feel liquid. The bass in the chorus is so powerful and smooth compared to the relatively silvery sound of the other elements, making for a beautiful rich spectrum of sound but lacking any muddiness. Despite being as tripped out as I’m making it sound, it simultaneously feels very badass and groovy. The contrast creates a slight tension, and the song is tight enough that it feels like it needs to snap. In probably my favorite moment in any aespa song, snap it does. The synths become sharp and bright in an absolutely massive hit on the downbeat, playing with the pitch and rhythm as it bounces off of the downbeat increasing the slam’s effect in a way similar to a sidechain on a techno kick drum. Some badass spoken lines from Giselle create some beautiful polyrhythms, and the sub bass growls as it kicks into a half-time feel. Just like that, the power move of a breakdown is over and the song finishes smoothly. Don’t get me wrong, I love the whole song, but the breakdown is what really puts it at a 10. Aespa and their breakdowns man…

Final Thoughts

As aespa’s first long form release following singles Black Mamba, Forever, and Next Level, it has a lot to prove. Aespa’s music has never been lazy, and Savage proves that they aren’t just trying to make money off a title track. Every song is creative and meaningful to the album, keeping a very cohesive sound. Not a single track feels half-assed or part of a format. The use of percussion, syncopation, pitch, style, layering, and harmony is some of the best I’ve seen. I give this album an overall score of 9 for that reason, and my favorite track would have to be YEPPI YEPPI, just barely over Lucid Dream. I initially didn’t like much of this at first but with more listening I’ve come to love everything on it. It’s a game changer for me and the way I view aespa and K-pop as a whole. They’ve set a new standard for what I expect of songwriting and production that I believe very few other groups will be able to keep up with. Aespa is absolutely shattering barriers and proving that music is about more than money. Thank you for reading,

- Maya

[malys-a]

Conversational Hypnosis - Figure Out Covert Hypnosis To Achieve Convincing Capability

Conversational hypnosis is a particularly powerful ability when in the hands of someone who has trained in this technique and knows what they are doing. It gives the user the ability to change the behavior and decision making of any intended subject without the subject even being click here to learn more aware that the decision was not originally their own! It i definately w orth studying this technique like many celebrities, politicians and speakers who have already done so.

You've probably observed a video of someone being hypnotized. The hypnotherapist puts them into a trance-like status, talks to them using a relaxing speech, shows them something such as “when I say the word “bird' you will definitely act like a hen, and when the hypnotized guy or girl is awakened when the hypnotist claps three times or counts in reverse from ten, the persuaded lady performs exactly what they had been instructed during their trance-like phase.

And yet in fact there are additional forms of hypnosis that won't entail mad, hard-to-swallow techniques such as swinging pendulums or keyword phrases such as "you have become sleepy?" One of these variations is termed conversational hypnosis.

The Power Of Covert hypnosis And also its particular Purposes

The strength of covert hypnosis is undeniable. You can utilize this persuasive potential to manipulate not just colleagues and virtual strangers, but additionally co-workers, mates, as well as relatives.

Nonetheless, lots of individuals continue to remain unconvinced as to the dynamic force of conversational hypnosis because it is not as visible as the type of trance most people have got word of, nevertheless this is exactly what makes this form of manipulation so outstanding.

Underground hypnosis may be used to discreetly influence the thought process of the person to accept your perspective and take certain measures you'd like him or her to adopt. This is successfully done by means of stating details in a influential style, though devoid of the people understanding what you really are producing. A couple of Examples Of When You Can Make Use Of The effectiveness of Underground hypnosis.

Have you been sick and tired of hounding your partner to take out the rubbish? With the potency of underground hypnosis, simple residential work need not become a battleground. Can you use this capability to get your child to follow your instructions? Unquestionably. Eradicate power struggles.How about where you work? Is underground hypnosis effective there? It definately is. You may also take advantage of this persuasive instrument in order to get yourself realized higher than your ambitious co-workers. Even the television promotions we see each day use these strategies to encourage the general public to obtain their goods or make use of their expertise.

What Processes Will You Be Coached In After you Master Conversational Hypnosis?

When you decide to educate yourself about conversational hypnosis via a good quality system, like the countless available online, you will understand that the strategies applied aren't individual entities. They must all be utilised with each other in the right way at the proper time so as to successfully grasp the effectiveness of underground hypnosis.

[goldenarkbeats]

Introduction to the basics of Sound Design

Sound design is the art of creating, modifying and manipulating sounds to adapt them to a specific context: music, film, video games, theater, advertising, etc. In music production, sound design is at the heart of modern musical creation, whether it's inventing new textures, creating immersive atmospheres or sculpting customized virtual instruments.

What is sound design?

Sound design encompasses several practices:

Creating sounds from scratch (often using synthesizers).

Manipulation of existing sounds (sound effects, samples, recordings).

Processing sound to give it a particular character (effects, modulation, spatialization).

It's as much a technical skill as a sensory art.

2. Basic tools

To get you started, here are the main tools used in sound design:

Synthesizer

A synthesizer is used to generate sounds from electronic waves. There are several types of synthesis:

Subtractive (filtering out harmonics from a rich sound)

Additive (addition of single waves)

FM (frequency modulation)

Granular, wavetable, etc.

Sampler

The sampler reads and manipulates sound extracts (samples). They can be played at different pitches, sliced, looped or processed.

Audio effects

Effects are essential for shaping a sound:

EQ (equalization): adjust frequencies

Compression: manage dynamics

Reverb & Delay: create a sound space

Distortion, chorus, flanger, phaser, etc.

Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)

This is the main software for composing, editing and mixing (Ableton Live, FL Studio, Logic Pro, Reaper, etc.). Personally, I use FL Studio, but it won't make much difference.

3. Technical basics

Frequencies

Every sound is made up of a frequency spectrum. The sound designer needs to know where bass, midrange and treble lie, and how to balance them.

ADSR envelope

Every synthesizer (and sometimes effect) uses an envelope:

Attack: sound arrival time

Decay: decay after peak

Sustain: level maintained

Release: time after release

Modulation

Modulations are used to create movement in sound: LFOs, envelopes, automation...

4. Creative approaches

Sound design is also an artistic exploration:

Experiment with textures (organic vs. digital sounds)

Capture sounds around you (field recording)

Recycle unexpected samples (white noise, human voices, everyday objects)

Create original presets on your synthesizers

Sound design objectives by area

Area Sound design objective

Cinema Realism or emotional impact (FX, ambiences)

Video games Reactivity and immersion (dynamic sounds, 3D)

Music Sound identity, unique textures, memorable hooks

Apps / UI Clarity and intuitiveness (audio feedback)

Sound design is a fascinating field, at the crossroads of art and science. To get off to a good start, we recommend :

Practice sound reproduction

Analyze professional productions

Explore different types of synthesis

Develop a critical ear

Remember: listening is your main tool. The more you practice, the more you refine your perception of sound.

A few videos to help you get started with sound design:

-Sound Design Complete Course :

- Playlist to learn Sound Design on Serum 2

- Playlist to learn Sound Design on Vital