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Jiggyicarus - Trekking in the Snow's itch.io pageResults
| Criteria | Rank | Score* | Raw Score |
| Listenability | #12 | 3.737 | 3.737 |
| Composing Quality | #13 | 3.684 | 3.684 |
| Execution | #18 | 3.526 | 3.526 |
| Correlation to Theme | #20 | 3.526 | 3.526 |
| Overall | #26 | 3.272 | 3.272 |
| Overall Uniqueness | #42 | 2.737 | 2.737 |
| Innovation | #44 | 2.421 | 2.421 |
Ranked from 19 ratings. Score is adjusted from raw score by the median number of ratings per game in the jam.
Link to Streaming Service
https://soundcloud.com/jiggyicarus/sets/trekking-in-the-snow
Description
As part of KaleOverlord's Impressions Composing Jam: Imagination No. 3, I have written a two-piece soundtrack to the fictional video game titled, "Trekking in the Snow". I imagine this game to play similarly to an exploration game such as Journey, where the ambience and atmosphere of the world around you feeds the gameplay of slow exploration. In the two pieces from this soundtrack, I wanted the player to feel isolated and hopeful all at the same time.
The first track "The Hilltops Sing", is a bluesy guitar loop that I envisioned would play at the base of the mountain, where dirt and grass fill the landscape and a small, old-town Western village looks after potential trekkers. The track's earthiness keeps the player grounded, helping them ready-up and prepare for the journey ahead - eager and hopeful.
The second track "Trekking in the Snow", is a solo piano piece that uses heavy tape saturation and reverb to show the isolated environment is starting to creep into the player's psyche. The track moves through different moods to show the progression from meagre hope, to desolate despair, into rejoice.
Although I had an idea to fit the "creative" element a bit more in this jam - I was going to beatbox the drums for a piece as I am a professional beatboxer - when I wrote these pieces, I honestly felt they worked better as they were and matched for me what I thought of from the theme. Hopefully you guys enjoy!
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Comments
Oh man, both of these are beautiful. The guitar in "The Hilltops Sing" feels so open and free, full of hope. The piano building off of this riff is super satisfying, as is the entire narrative throughout in the second track. The climax around 2:30 is just so good aaugh. Amazing work!
Also casually dropping the fact that you're a professional beatboxer is crazy and I am now infinitely curious to hear more songs with it incorporated because beatboxing is awesome. :)
I liked that the first track was predominantly guitar-focused with a calmer, cozy vibe befitting a mountain village. The second piece feels more threatening at first, like an avalanche waiting to roll down the slope, but the player finally manages to escape and feels great relief. The emotional progression here was very well done.
Great submission!
I would love to hear the beatboxing version, filtering them to sound more like a lo-fi beat could make it sound cozier! Great tracks, very soothing.
These track fit the theme pretty well, sounds relaxing.
I liked the modulation into different keys in the second track as a way to switch things up, and the reverb captured the mood nicely.
Well done!
Both songs had a very cozy and gentle nature that just invited to listen to it. I Would imagine a cozy little game where a young boy or girl is getting through the snowy hills of their country and exploring the far extensa of it. Maybe meeting other people and having just a cute little heartwarming story.
You've said in your description, that you wanted to make a version with beatboxing. I would be intrigued to have a listen to those versions to. While the beatboxing as a percussive element might be a bit too much. I could imagine something where the beatbox provides some gentle noises and effect in the background and giving to the general sound scape. If you'll ever get the time to get back to this project and decide to add the beatboxing, please let us hear!
Thanks for the kind comments Einel, I'm glad you felt that cozy vibe it certainly was part of what I was trying to achieve especially with the first track. Yes I ended up leaving it out because I didn't feel it needed it and also I don't think I'd have had the appropriate time to include beatboxing and do it well. I'll look to maybe try and get a beatboxed version out and if I do I'll chuck it in the discord server and let you know :D
This came out really well! I love the guitar and piano. You really handled them well. The atmosphere is really good too. You captured the elements of the jam very well too. Great work here!
Thanks a lot Squirrel! Happy to hear the jam elements came through well even if it wasn't maybe the most "creative" take, appreciate it!
Your welcome! You and me are who make up this beautiful community!
Love that response!
The tracks perfectly capture the emotional journey of the trek. "The Hilltops Sing" sets a hopeful, grounded tone with its bluesy guitar, while "Trekking in the Snow" immerses you in isolation and emotional depth, gradually building to a sense of triumph. Great balance of atmosphere and mood!
hey thanks AinkOink, appreciate the comments here a lot. Super glad the tones came across so well!
I really like the processing you've put on the guitar (compressor with a really slow attack and high make up gain?) gives a lot of air to very attack heavy instrument.
You've certainly communicated the intended vibe with the piano piece, but I think with that constant figure in the left hand you could afford to be a bit more crunchy with the harmony there; some dissonance and resolution could shape the contour of the piece really nicely more than it already has from the performance itself.
Thanks Archiegault! Appreciate the comments - the specific guitar chain was a stock guitar from pro tools factory run through a couple EQs, that slow attack compressor and importantly, a replika XT super spacey pingpong delay and then a transient shaper to bring back the hits. I hear what you're saying about the harmony on the piano, definitely could have played around more with that especially in the more dissonant section towards the end. Glad you enjoyed overall!