Time Again

I know it's been a month since my last post, but that doesn't mean I've abandoned this blog or Akuma music. In fact, it's quite the opposite really. I've been working on several things at the moment, all with the intention of producing more quality Drum & Bass tracks.

So what's been happening? Well, lets see...

Chaotica EP

Work has been increasingly intrusive on my social life and free time lately, working night shifts and weekends. This has led to a bit of neglect on promoting Chaotica, which in hindsight might not be such a bad thing.

The full EP is going through a re-master, with some tracks going through some more structural tweaks. After spending some time sitting down to listen to the EP after it's production and after leaving it alone for some time, I've noticed improvements that desperately need to be made.

For example, "Chaotica" and "Don't Scream" are going through an arrangement change at the moment. I'm going to try and shorten the two tracks a little bit and add some punch and dynamics to the drops in each song. "Chaotica" definitely needed some mixing, a little remastering and some sampling changes to the drums. "Don't Scream" was an issue of arrangement mainly, but still needs some serious mastering.

"Bright Lights" is going through a remastering process, and I'm looking to really beef up the bass a little more. Maybe some layering, and possible a couple of sample changes in the drum kit.

"The March" needs some tweaking. Again a little mastering and some synth pattern changes. The bass drum has also be swapped out for something a lot more "punchy".

"The March (Angels Remix)" is being left alone for the time being. That was a joint project featuring my brother's input, so I kind of want to leave that one alone.

Once everything is completed and finalised, I'll look at seriously promoting the EP as best I can. It may look like a busy night tonight followed by me trawling around Manchester city centre with some CDs in a ruck-sac.

New Stuff

There's some good new tracks going to be released after a while, probably appearing on the next EP after I've finished promoting Chaotica. Some new PrimeLoops.com sample packs have helped me with really creating some interesting new drum patterns and sounds creating a little more of a Junglist vibes to these new songs.

Currently, one has a solid title of "Deadzone". The other's project files are simply named "1" or "Drum n Bass Skin". In fact, there's four versions of "Drum n Bass Skin", all built from the first, and all extremely different.

I'm using a lot of classic bass synthesis techniques with this new stuff, adding some heavy distortion/overdrive and other effects to create some interesting wobble and reese bass synths.

For this new stuff I'm concentrating heavily on purely creating my own sounds, rather sculpting sounds from presets included within the many synth VST's that I have. So, after experimenting with bass and getting that to a gold standard, there'll be some more pads and stabs being generated and added in.

So, it looks like this new stuff is going to take a little longer to produce, but it's a hell of a lot more fun to write!

Anyway. That's it from me.

I'll let you know when the Chaotica EP (Final) is out. Bye!

New YouTube Account

I've now created the new YouTube account. As of yet it doesn't have anything uploaded, and I've not even got around to entering all the profile information yet. But, it's up at least.

Obviously, the first thing to be going up will be the Chaotica EP. I really want to promote it a little more since I haven't had much feedback. I think I just have lazy friends... I'm sure they'll get around to giving it a listen, especially if it's easily accessible on websites like YouTube and Soundcloud.

As well as all that I have a few new tracks in the process heading towards the release of yet another collection or even EP. I'm going to make a real go at making this one even better than Chaotica, hopefully sending it off to some record labels. We'll see how it goes first before I bother with that.

I have some time off coming up after tomorrow so I think I'll make up some Chaotica EP Cd's and start distributing them freely. I know a shop in Bury and a couple in the centre of Manchester that would happily sell off my CD if I provide them with free copies.

There's other ways I can promote Akuma, but I'm not getting into the whole details of how I'm going to be doing that here. Well, not yet at least. Firstly I need to buy the CDs, print the CD covers and even look into some binders to make a little album art booklet inside with more information into Akuma and myself.

You have to spend money to make money as they say. Not planning on making money out of this quite yet though.

There's also the issue that if I start getting some shops to start selling the Chaotica EP, I may have to pull down the free download, and just offer the YouTube and Soundcloud streaming versions to people who haven't got access to those shops, or the funds to buy the CD. Plus, do I really think that Chaotica is good enough for people to be spending their hard earned money on? I'm not sure, as I've received little feedback so far.

I'll keep you posted. In the meantime, subscribe to www.youtube.com/AkumaDnB and listen to Chaotica when it's up.

Much thanks!

Feature: St. Lewis

Hey guys. Just a quick post to let you all know about the producer, St. Lewis.

Well to start, he comes from the same area as me and we used to play in a band together a couple of years ago as well. In fact, the first Akuma tracks were produced by Lewis as well (some unreleased stuff I've never found after my computer died). I remember the night we booked a hotel room, got wasted and just messed around with FL Studio all night, and what a night it was. That was the night the name Akuma was born, if I remember correctly.

His YouTube channel features some of the tracks he's completed, including original work and remixes. There's a underlying dark style, with a lot of Aphex Twin influence shining through in a couple of the mixes. It's raw, dark a lot of fun to listen to. Unfortunately at this current moment I'm unable to turn it up to a more Brad friendly volume as I'm in the office. But, I am downloading the MP3s (which are available free) which I'm planning to blast out at home later.

Since Lewis is drummer, and a damn good one at that, each track features catchy and very addictive drum patterns that drives the music through. "Symphony Scratcher" is a must listen.

So get down to his channel here and have a listen. Please leave comments and feedback.

The Chaotica EP

Download "Chaotica EP"

1. Chaotica

2. Don't Scream

3. The March

4. Bright Lights

5. The March (Angels Remix)

The download is currently only available via Megaupload (Link at the top), sorry. I'll source more mirrors when I have time.

Please enjoy and leave any feedback you may have.

The Chaotica EP is Copyright "Akuma"/Brad Smith 2011. If you wish to use or redistribute any of the material used in the download, please contact bradley.smith1990@gmail.com

Longer than expected

Okay, so the Drum n Bass stuff for Vol 2 is taking way longer than expected (like, spent a week working on it and I only have one finished song and a smidget of another). The stuff thats coming out is really nice though. I have the PoiZone synthesizer on a leash, and it appears to be doing what I want it to (created a beasty synth for a track called "The March"). It's a lot of turn this nob left, turn this one right, turn this on, nope too much, arghhh stop making that annoying beeping sound, there we go.

I've also experimented with the Toxic Biohazard synthesizer as well, as it features heavily in "The March", driving the bass line. But I'm yet to get it to do anything more interesting, for now PoiZone and Sawer seem to be the sure way to create some really thick, hard hitting synth sounds. As for the drums (In case anybody hasn't realised yet I'm using FL Studio here) the FPC is working great for layering my kits, and it works very nicely with the Piano roll. I think it allows around about 64 pads for a kit, and with an option for many, many different layers within one pad it's perfect for building some great DnB drum kits. Thinking about it, I'm also thinking of having FPC layer and trigger my effects...

I'm going to spend a bit of time mastering the use of automation waves, particularly removing and then replacing bass or treble within the drum tracks to add some dynamics when building up to chorus sections. I don't want to overplay that trick though, since it can become quite old very easily.

If anyone has any tips on mastering Toxic Biohazard, be sure to drop me an email since I'm pulling my hair out using it!

Anyway, I have a surprise for you all. Remember I was just talking about a track called "The March"? Well, I wasn't going to do this but here's the track via soundcloud! Hang on....

Rendering 7%

:| Okay. I'll wait.

Rendering 32%

I'll get there eventually. W-hay! It's done! Right, here's the soundcloud plugin-ma-bob for "The March".

The March by akumamusic

Skyline Remixes Started

Vol 2 is approaching completion, and the Skyline Remixes have been started. I'm currently working on a DnB version of Alone, changing it's whole sound and structure, while maintaining the original essence of the song. I believe it'll be a good 'un.

Tonight (if I don't end up partying) will be the finishing touches on a couple of Vol2 tracks, and I'll also be wanting to get all the album art finished (some of which I haven't even started yet).

So yeah, just that little update to keep you informed. I know I'm rubbish at keeping to my deadlines, but what can ya' do?

Doing Things the Good Ol' Way

For the purpose of completing the remixes of Skyline and finishing Vol 2, I've decided to purchase a drum sample pack from Primeloops.com - both the FL Studio and Reason versions totaling nearly £30, which I don't think is a bad price.

I definitely think it's about time to start making my mixes sound more solid and professional, so purchasing some good sampling content was must. Both packs are currently downloading as I write this and I'll be looking forward to plugging them into FL and Reason and having a good play tonight.

The problem is that plastic burns a hole in my pocket, and I'm now finding myself browsing through PrimeLoops' awsome collection of sample packs and licking my lips a lot. I'm seriously thinking of downloading some Synth packs as well. Maybe some acoustic packs for my lighter work? Maybe mixing that in to create some weird Liquid DnB. Or maybe I should put my wallet away and calm down.

Either way I'm going to have lots of fun producing the rest of the Skyline Remixes and the Vol 2 stuff...