X3LL3N's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Hi-LiGHT]

I'm really digging it !

I wish the part at 0:49 had more elements, because it feels a bit empty as it currently is. Maybe a bass or some ambience in the background would help ^^

I particularly like the "rock" parts and the part at 2:10 :D

icantpronouncethis responds:

This was a lot of fun to work on. On the previous submissions, I was focusing more on interesting chord progression and I wanted to simplify a bit and go straight for energy for this one. The absence of the some elements in the first half of the breakdown was to make the second half not as boring, but I think having a a different variation of addition of elements might've been a better choice. Thank you so much

[thru the droplets]

This is super creative :O

icantpronouncethis responds:

TYTY

[Joy Ride [NGADM Round 3]]

You really nailed that retro game aesthetic, this caught me by surprise :)

It's extremely well composed and doesn't feel cheap at all (which I find quite common with that type of song). Each element has a place and was expertly picked.

It's fresh, it's exciting, I love it !

trixelbit responds:

Trying to balance the faithful retro sound with modern elements was pretty hard. It actually stumped me for a while and I was stuck fiddling with plugins and patches till something stuck.

I'm really happy you enjoyed the final result!

[Lordant - Lightweaver]

I'm really digging the vibe of the song, I'd definitely put this on my Soundcloud playlist and hear it on the go (if it's uploaded on there, please tell me lol).

The sound selection is extremely unique and super cool to hear. The combination of all those different sounds is super satisfying to hear !

Lordant responds:

I'm really glad you liked the song :) I might upload it to Souldcloud when it is finished, I'll notice you, of course

[Windy]

It's always neat to see what you'll come up with.

Your piano pieces seem to always tell a story and transmit so many emotions, it's very interesting and rare :)

I'd be quite interested in knowing your overall workflow, because your songs are always very interesting in terms of composition, but there's also the fact that they are always just done perfectly and nothing feels off unlike most solo instrument songs I listen to !

Solacitude responds:

You're very good at composition in a multitude of genres, it gives weight your point of view!
I love this composition, but I'm still always doubtful about people's reception. Less than in the beginning though! :) The way you describe it and how it's appreciated is heartwarming! If people can just feel a little bit of what I get when playing, it's like giving well being to people, gives a sense of purpose in sharing my music! I think it's therapeutic. At least for me it is!

I don't always proceed the same way, sometimes it's more program music like Wicked Circus, which doesn't "connect" the same way, or I go for raw improvisation, which gives more simple results. But for this style of composition, first I improvise in my comfort zone for a while, to get into a kind of meditative state of mind while playing, until an idea that I think is worth keeping comes. Then I record a rough idea of it.

3:20-3:40 is the original little theme on which the composition started.
Then I play it in a more focused way, consciously, expand on it, experiment, try many variations, tighten it as much as I can, complexify it, try to create more parts derived from the original theme. It takes a couple days usually, nothing better than sleeping on an idea.

Once I'm able to play it naturally in more complex ways, then I can hit record button, and start playing until connecting to the subconscious again. This is where most of the composition comes from. I've read somewhere "Composition is improvisation in slow motion" I thought it made a lot of sense! I can record 10-30 mins, stop when inspiration is not there anymore, or that I recorded good enough takes, or I'm not able to "connect" to the subconscious, repeat the process a couple times until I feel I have enough quality material recorded. This part can take a couple days too.

Then I structure the piece, cut the good parts of many recordings, put them together roughly.
I build a general idea of what I want as a final result, and work towards it. rerecord some parts, work transitions, polishing until it's good enough to me.

Sometimes I can put a couple hours working on a particular technique to include it. Double octaves in this one, from 2:33 is something I was practicing very focused for hours, which will be in future compositions too! It's something I've never used before, now it's a new tool that I really like! It derived into the variations right after the double octaves part, and the intro as well.

It's pretty much it. I hope I explained it well enough!
Thank you very much for the good words and encouragements!!

[[NGADM Round3] I'm 90% sure this Club is Haunted]

Well I'm 100% sure this is fire !

The song is super unique and really catchy, I love what you did with the vocals ^^

Also that last part is fire too :D

GameBoyFireworks responds:

Thank you!!

[Key After Key - SEE YOU ON (SPD Pirates Vs. Mermaids Remix)]

Phighting on Newgrounds, who would have thought :)

SplatterDash responds:

Yee lol
Honestly it was a pleasant surprise as well to see a couple of the Phighting composers having accounts here on NG too hehe

[Feel the Trance (feat. Vocaloid Sarah)]

Bon anniversaire !

LakieGD responds:

Merci beaucoup !

[Final Boss - Hyperstacks OST]

Pure fire !

Preds responds:

thanks!

[Pursuit (Madness: Ricochet OST)]

If this isn't one of the winners, I don't get it lol
Upload it on Soundcloud if possible, I wanna listen to it on the go :D

TeraVex responds:

Oooo man I really gotta upload to SoundCloud more ty for being the one that gets me to finally do it