Redline's Monthly Composing Challenge FINALE

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A jam submission

Dreamweaver's LullabyView project page

The song beckons, promising a world of wonder and beauty

Submitted by BodoTheSerf — 1 hour, 42 minutes before the deadline

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Dreamweaver's Lullaby's itch.io page

Results

Criteria	Rank	Score*	Raw Score
Overall	#2	4.067	4.067
Creativity	#2	4.000	4.000
Mixing	#2	4.133	4.133
Instrument choice/usage (challenge)	#5	4.067	4.067
Composition	#5	4.067	4.067

Ranked from 15 ratings. Score is adjusted from raw score by the median number of ratings per game in the jam.

Title
Dreamweaver's Lullaby

Description
I imagined this as a song that calls to you when you drift into a daydream, giving you a glimpse of a fantastical world, if just for a second.

I usually compose with a lot of piano and strings, but obviously that wasn't possible with this challenge, so I went for something different, leaning into vocals, harps, and mallet instruments. Having no strings meant I couldn't get as full of a sound as usual, so I instead relied on a lot of polyphony and counterpoint to keep things interesting, with most sections having multiple melodies playing and interacting with each other.

For the percussion, I tried picking more interesting things instead of my usual cinematic percussion, using shakers, bongos, and even a bag of marbles. And of course, I used a triangle and a bagpipe, because why not.

I hope you enjoy listening to it!

The structure is:

Intro - A - B - Interlude - A' - Intro Theme Recap - B' - Outro

Instruments used
Total: 14 coins

Vocal Sample: 3 coins
Vocaloid 5 - Iroha Soft Voice

Choir: 3 coins
Guardian Angel (Padshop)
Gaelic Voices (Spitfire LABS)
Olympus Choir Elements (I really don't recommend buying this one)

Harp: 3 coins
Navia Harp - Free Version

Synth 1 Preset: 2 coins
Composer EpPad (Padshop)

Tuned Percussion: 4 coins
Music Box (Kingdom)
Bells
Vibraphone
Marimba
Bamboo Sticks

Generic Percussion: 3 coins
Bag of Marbles
Shaker
Bongo
Reverse Cymbal

Triangle: -1 coins
Triangle (Spitfire LABS)

Bagpipe: -3 coins
Uilleann Pipes (Spitfire LABS)

Link(s) to your submission
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrnUiNQp18Y

https://soundcloud.com/yujisatomusic/dreamweavers-lullaby

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Comments

FingySubmitted2 years ago

One of my favorites in the jam, the fantasy vibe is hit perfectly and stays interesting throughout that I could listen to this all day! The vocaloid is just unnatural sounding enough that it elevates the otherworldliness another step, solid work :D

Submitted

OselkaSoundSubmitted2 years ago

This has some slight NIER Automata vibes for me. I go back and forth on the vocaloid - you do some really cool stuff with it, especially when it layers and how some parts fade in nicely. But other times, the odd way it moves from syllable to syllable is distracting. I think I just personally don't dig vocaloids.
Your use of each instrument in the arrangement is lovely! There's some moments where there's a lot of reverb buildup, but other than that, it's a pretty balanced mix.

Submitted

Bagpipe Bossfight

Ander (a bored cube)Submitted2 years ago

It sounds really calming and epic at the same time, I love it! From what you wrote in the description of the song, I think you achieved what you where looking to make.

Probably one of my favorites this time around.

Submitted

RMCC Jam [Project album]

DarkV64Submitted2 years ago(+1)

Sounds nice and soft, also I commend you on your work on Iroha. Definitely one of my favs!

Submitted

Technodrone - Feel the Rhythm

BodoTheSerfDeveloper2 years ago

Thanks so much! Yeah, I'm a big fan of Iroha, her soft tone combined with some effects is so great for these kinda atmospheres!

SelkioneSubmitted2 years ago(+1)

How beautiful!

It's funny, Jofes finds the middle a bit empty, whereas I find this passage sublime : all in modesty, it's moving.
Your style really shines through in all your compositions (especially with the use of appoggiaturas). You'll have to try and find a JRPG studio. You've got the talent to make a great OST.

Submitted

Selkione 🎵 - The Ascension Path

BodoTheSerfDeveloper2 years ago

Thanks so much for the kind comment! It really means a lot coming from an amazing composer like you, Selkione. My dream is to someday compose for JRPGs, but I still have a long way to go. I'm really thankful for these jams for giving me the chance to listen to and learn from composers like you.

LamorakSubmitted2 years ago(+1)

I think you nailed exactly what you were going for. It sounds very dreamy to me, in a good way. A really simple little detail I really liked is the panning on the shaker, the song would’ve been less dynamic had it just sat still in one ear for example. Great musical choices all around. All the instruments support each other very well and paint a beautiful fantasy dreamworld picture in my head. Those vocal samples sounded really great as well. Great job!

Submitted

·Hanged Man And The Sun·

BodoTheSerfDeveloper2 years ago

Thanks so much for the kind comment!

trevormusicSubmitted2 years ago(+1)

Very soothing, nice work!

Submitted

Renewal (Redline's Monthly Composing Challenge FINALE)

BodoTheSerfDeveloper2 years ago

Thanks!

KeFukSubmitted2 years ago(+1)

Love that vocal synth you use!!! I like how you achieve such a full sounding with little instrument. I learn so much out of this.

Submitted

BodoTheSerfDeveloper2 years ago

Really happy to hear that, thanks so much for listening!

icylemon2003Submitted2 years ago(+1)

favorite one of them all for me

Submitted

BodoTheSerfDeveloper2 years ago

Thanks so much! Really glad you liked it

Preston Peak - Composer2 years ago(+1)

This piece was very ethereal and magical! I loved use of the harp, the vocals were done well, and I could see this piece as a part of a fantasy rpg. Your tuned percussion was also very nice. I feel like my only critique is that the vocals seem to stand out in a way that obstructs the beautiful accompaniment that you have in the back. This would simply come down to the mixing/mastering of the track. All around though, I very much enjoyed the piece!

BodoTheSerfDeveloper2 years ago(+1)

Thanks so much for listening! About the vocals, hmm yeah, I get what you mean, though this was the quietest I could get the vocals to be without it becoming a bit obscured. I'll maybe try using some EQ or something to see if it helps, thanks for the feedback!

JofesSubmitted2 years ago(+1)

It's so pretty and breathtaking as all your songs are! I think the middle section felt a bit empty but overall it was fantastic! The percussion especially was super nice!

Submitted

A Gamblers Fate

BodoTheSerfDeveloper2 years ago

Thanks so much! Really glad you liked it. For the middle section, I get what you mean. I actually used to have a more fuller arrangement there, but opted to pull out a lot of the layers so you could better hear the duet between the two voice lines. I'll see if I can get a happy medium so it's neither too sparse or too full. Thanks for the feedback!