Between gigs: how it started
by August 24, 2023All releases from the Cinematic Chromatics Vol. I EP belong to the cinematic jazztronica world, with large ensembles and expansive through-composed arrangements. This next track keeps the cinematic edge while exploring a more lo-fi jazzy boom bap vibe, dialing into my trip-hop, neo-soul and electronica influences.
back to where it all began before I started scoring and orchestrating.
this ‘aural aperitif’ was written for those “in between” moments of life; whether waiting for that call back to find out if you got the gig; waiting for the latest test results, or hoping to hear back from a friend or new acquaintance. may this lo-fi jazzy boom bap joint help keep your spirits up and stay optimistic as you wait to see what comes next.
How it started
I’d just finished mastering a set of expansively orchestrated tracks. while deciding how best to release this music, I went into a silo of listening, reflecting and contemplating. I wanted to keep writing new material, something adjacent but still connected to work I just finished.
before i learnt how to score, I used to make beats, mixing in jazz harmonies and electronica elements. I wanted to get back into this space, exploring and experimenting with its sounds to make something fresh.
It began one afternoon messing around with a warm, filtered hybrid synth-meets rhodes keyboard sound. I improvised a chord progression, the idea immediately resonated, and then I built the beat around this.
I followed my intuition with laying down a yearning lo-fi piano melody, surreal glitchy FX and hooks. I subconsciously heard a trumpet harmon-mute melody, which reminded me of “Hey Arnold”, one of my favorite shows as a kid. the show’s jazz inspired score was an early influence on my musical tastes, and here it is having a subtle influence on this beat.
having spent years writing, collaborating and playing in neo-soul and hip-hop projects, this track comes as a natural progression and an off-shoot from the cinematic jazztronica tunes. a little cinematic lo-fi jazzy boom bap beat interlude. written as an “aural aperitif”, an upbeat / feel-good instrumental that aims to provide a positive soundtrack keeps the spirit optimistic.
It encourages listeners to keep their spirits up during those ‘in between’ moments in life; be it while waiting for a new gig, a call back, a test result, or whatever life has in store next. writing and producing a jazzy beats / neo-soul inspired track brings me back to where it all started for me as a producer, yet my ethos remains the same: to provide listeners with a soundtrack that makes them feel like they’re floating in a surreal/otherworldly jam
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