I have decided to create a five-song E.P. for my Capstone project. My goal is to complete every part of this EP 100% independently. I’ll use Abelton to create the instrumental tracks for each song and Protools to record, mix and master the vocals. The theme of these instrumentals will be space, authentic nature sounds, binaural beats, and healing frequencies. I’ll also need to E.Q. out any unwanted frequencies and rely on reverb and delay to give my sounds extra space. At least one track will be an instrumental song because I would like to create my own “hip-hop elevator music.” I want to showcase my ability to create a beat from just a vibe and, in turn, get the listener to vibe to the beat. I also want to take on the challenge of singing a song without relying on any rap vocals. This project will be a compilation of everything I’ve learned about music so far, not just from Brooklyn College but also from life.
The last theme of the E.P. will be substance. I’ve come across a community of self-proclaimed spiritual producers. These electronic musicians incorporate various elements of spirituality into their work, such as sound frequencies and healing of the body, mind, and soul. I have always been curious about the possibilities of integrating what some religions call scared frequencies into a musical piece. Adding these tones to my music, even if the sounds are playing at low volumes in the background, will add more depth to my work. These sacred tones may drive the listener to gravitate to specific sections or songs through a sense of peace and relaxation instead of melody and rhythm alone. I’m not sure if this will work, but I do find myself listening to my first attempt at spiritual hip-hop instrumental when I’m feeling a little overwhelmed. I guess so far, so good.