https://soundcloud.com/bankie666/break-meHere's a new rock track, just completed today. As usual, it's not me singing - I've used the same guy (John Long) as last time. I've tried to keep the lyrics a bit ambiguous, but it's largely about intolerance of views and the anger held against those voicing against them.
Technical breakdown:
In order to help give the choruses a lift, I've used unannounced modulation, changing key from Cm up to Dm on all of them (chords below, after the lyrics). The initial fade in, and the vocal effect just before the final chorus were achieved by using a reverse reverb. I guess many of you know how to do this, but in a nutshell: take a tiny snippet of sound (including compression/effects) from what you're fading into (e.g. the first syllable or first note) into a new track. Then, add lashings of reverb, and the mix should be 100% reverb - i.e. completely wet. Then mixdown and reverse what you have, and place it so that the loud bit at the end matches up with the beginning of the sound you snipped from. You can then crop the clip (because it's going to be a long clip), and fade it in so that it comes in smoothly.
Guitar effects are via Bias FX 2, bass is EZBass, drums are EZDrummer. Synth sounds (including the short brass/strings bit) are from Omnisphere and Korg Triton. Vocals are enhanced via Nectar 3. I used Melodyne, but only the amplitude tool to get all syllables consistent - no pitch correction was used, and I think in this type of music, impreciseness is king. I've started using Neutron 4 to help with mixing, and Ozone 11 for mastering - for a complete amateur like myself, these are a godsend.
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VERSE
I am not the enemy
Looking for a remedy
Bring a better destiny
One step closer
Hoping you can understand
Want to be a better man
Just taking cover
Until it's over
PRE CHORUS
Now it's all turned bitter
Just how did it come to this?
Things are getting sicker
A fight's gonna brew
CHORUS
So why do you want to break me?
If you cared then you'd just want to save me, so tell me
Why are you feeling so angry?
Why do you, why do you, why do you want to break me down?
VERSE 2
Feelings to the contrary
Nothing of sincerity
Reflecting insanity
Back from the mirror
You can't understand me
The trip gong signals misery
Fight to the end
A new Zeitgeist draws nearer
PRE CHORUS
Now it's all turned bitter
Just how did it come to this?
In the echo chamber
The mindless can change reality
CHORUS 2
Why do you want to break me?
If you cared then you'd just want to save me, so tell me
Why are you feeling so angry?
Why do you, why do you, why do you want to break me?
Why do you want to hurt me?
These wounds will never desert me, please tell me
Why are you feeling so badly?
Why do you, why do you, why do you want to break me?
BRIDGE
Slow this down
Let's bring it all around
Turn this cacophony
Into a symphony
Together, understand, we'll build a plan
With some humanity, we can understand
PRE CHORUS
Now it's all turned bitter
But we can get out of this
Epistemic bubbles
Are destined to burst
CHORUS
Why do you want to break me?
If you cared then you'd just want to save me, so tell me
Why are you feeling so angry?
Why do you, why do you, why do you want to break me?
Why do you want to hurt me?
These wounds will never desert me, please tell me
Why are you feeling so badly?
Why do you, why do you, why do you want to break me?
Why do you, why do you, why do you want to break me?
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Intro
Dm F Bb C
Dm Bb C
Verse / Solo
Cm Bb Ab
Cm Bb Ab
Pre Chorus
G Ab
G Bb
G5 (2nd PC only)
Chorus
Dm F Bb C (x2 except 1st chorus)
Dm Bb C
Bridge
Bb Dm Eb Bb
Eb Bb D G
