really effective and tasteful use of portamento on that synth lead, the use of a heartbeat as a kick is real nice too!
Play soundtrack
Deeply Rooted's itch.io pageResults
| Criteria | Rank | Score* | Raw Score |
| Creativity | #11 | 4.231 | 4.231 |
| Impression | #21 | 3.962 | 3.962 |
| Overall | #42 | 3.654 | 3.654 |
| Correlation to theme | #44 | 3.538 | 3.538 |
| Composition | #60 | 3.577 | 3.577 |
| Quality | #117 | 2.962 | 2.962 |
Ranked from 26 ratings. Score is adjusted from raw score by the median number of ratings per game in the jam.
Description
CONTENT WARNING: The track is pretty heavily themed around experiencing and healing from guilt-based trauma and anxiety, please use discretion if those are sensitive topics for you.
This was intended to be a 3 piece soundtrack covering how intense anxiety can make someone feel trapped, and what it takes to heal and be free from it. However, my time got cut way shorter than I anticipated and had to lower my scope(Which I did not do enough haha). but I hope you enjoy anyways!
Tracks:
I will not let this suffocate me - The protagonist is faced with an overwhelming anxiety deeply rooted inside of them. But this time, they have what it takes to face it, so that they may be free from it, and maybe get the chance to experience the world without being in constant fear
Message from the artist
Hello, this is an incomplete project (that is barely mixed) but I decided to upload it anyways! I hope you at least enjoy the interpretation haha. If you want me to unprivate the soundcloud track please let me know btw
Theme
Freedom
How does it fit the theme?
It is a struggle for freedom against a rooted anxiety that heavily grips the protagonist.
Link(s) of the submission on streaming services
https://soundcloud.com/tossdacook/i-will-not-let-this-suffocate-me/s-zZSusMUTc67?si=78281e683dd14e3eb8079478b89cb428&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
Genre
Chiptune
Experimental
Pop
Soundtrack use permission
No
Comments
Very unique sound and dynamic song structure. Love the sudden piano interlude around 2:50. It's a stark directional change in the best possible way. A lot of creativity and style here, would love to see what you come up with in future jams with less time constraints! A fun listen with no dull moments, nice work!
I really like how the heartbeat is stabilizing and merging with the music at the beginning. The sound effects illustrate well the anxiety (which is a feeling I know pretty well). There is a lot of hope as well, the constrast is nice and the Freedom approach interesting. Some of the instruments sounds a tiny bit too virtual, but no big deal :)
Submitted
Freedoms (OST)would have really loved to see what you could make full, you had a really nice idea going with what you've written and with the track. its actually really cool and interesting sounding!
I really like the Giygas type of sounds near the end, that part actually sounds a little undertale-y too :D
Submitted
Get Me Outta Here.Took being 3 seconds in to see that there is some real effort put into the production and utilization of the stereo-field here. Wonderful use of panning and mixing techniques to add some real aural intrigue. There are a myriad of different instruments and voicings present throughout with some solid rests to really add emphasis to some sections. Speaking of - those glitching and bit-crushed pieces of ear-candy used to transition between sections are fantastic. They kind of creep up on the listener then envelope them and pass them off into the next part of the song.
The heartbeat partnered with some tempo modulation and even more of that glitching is genuinely super clever and a fantastic way of creating an audible example of anxiety and how it builds. The suspense that comes with that tension continuing build and never quite letting go is really great. Having the track end out on a call-back to previous sections using the same instruments and melodies from before is genius.
This felt like going on an adventure in a lot of ways. Some really great work here honestly, and all mixed and produced well. Best of luck!
Submitted
Synlyfe - Longing FreedomI like the story this told, there were highs and lows, different struggles and lots of interesting textures that kept it interesting. Melodically it was solid and the instruments had a certain quality to them that evoke a soundfont-y feel the same way Undertale or Touhou do (which is a very positive thing), the main thing that sounded a bit off in terms of sound selection were the drums that felt a little weak especially after the bitcrushing. Overall solid track for under 48 though well done!
Submitted
Stride ZeroThank you! I am glad you enjoyed the story, and the soundfont quality (I did use a lot of soundfonts haha, specifically airfont and symphonic sounds)! And I appreciate the criticism, I have to agree, the non-bitcrushed drums are probably the part I am the most unsatisfied with, I am thinking of changing the rhythms of them a bit and replacing them with more chiptune-noise style ones!
amazingly done!! from the usage of foley (ESPECIALLY the heartbeat) to the combination of synthetic and live instrumentation to the evolution of the arrangement... i was captivated throughout. thank you for sharing a deeper theme also with your submission, it's definitely a much darker but widespread experience that we might not think of when it comes to "freedom" :0
despite being barely mixed, the overall mixing seemed already put together; nicely done! the only part that could be adjusted is at 1:14 and later moments when the horn and synth lead play high notes together, but otherwise nothing else was an issue for me c:
Submitted
Red Circle CarnivalThank you! I am really glad you like the foley (I sometimes overdo it in my tracks) and the combination of instruments! And I am very glad you liked the theme, that was the most important part for me to try and communicate with this piece! I appreciate the criticism too, I got a little carried away with the trumpet there haha, I will definitely adjust it when I go back to it!
I don't know if you'd want to that haha, I've made some uh... questionable tracks before (like loud blaring alarmcore), but if that is somewhere you'd like to explore more with your music, I find these music jams are super helpful for experimenting around with foley! I can think of 2 other jams that come up between Lone Rabbit's Jams, Weekly Note Jam is a super casual and chill jam, and the Impressions Jam encourages pushing the limits of what's possible in music, if you hadn't checked those out already!
I really liked the feeling of constant movement in the track, I think it helped maintain the tension all the way to the end. It feels cohesive and playful at the same time, which is awesome.
Great job!
Submitted
The Stars Come Out at DuskI really enjoyed the mix of speed with an almost ambient background. The trumpet and the synth were really nice IMO.
The switch up to be all funky halfway through with the glitch noises and slide notes was a great break to lead into more of the track!
And then the kick transforming into a heartbeat accelerating! It was really cool storytelling in the music!
Submitted
Desserts On Us!Omg this is 100% one of the best ones Ive listened to so far great work :)
Submitted
To Be FreeWow, this has some amazing production!
I love the melodies, and the instrumentation and pauses and such really seal the whole deal together. Fantastic job!
Submitted
A yearning for...Beautiful message and wonderful motifs! Would really love to listen to the complete edition, if you ever do one. Everything blends in so nicely and the contrasting sections are very pleasant. (P.s. the accelerating heart beat is such a cool detail, were you trying to convey the feeling of a panic attack? (P.p.s.Slider notes are my weakness!))
Submitted
Freedom to be EarnedThank you! I am glad you like the meaning and my motifs! I will probably try to work on a complete version eventually too, there's a lot I want to do with this piece haha, I am so glad you'd be interested in hearing that!
And you're on the mark with the heartbeat, it's supposed to represent oncoming panic attack. I originally had another track that was planned to play before this one too, which would've represented a full blown panic where the protagonist had no way to fight back against it (it was pretty scary sounding). And this track I wanted to contrast it as a struggle for healing, where it is still incredibly difficult to face the panic, but there's at least a chance now for the protagonist! Thank you so much for listening!
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