I just..... had a gut feeling this day would come, but I didn't expect it to be at the NGADM semis.

While I am aware that I went through Round 3 by default because Bosa relinquished the competition (T_T), I also realise that I am the least of the four of us who made it to the semis, effectively having the lowest score. Still, I thank all of you for your constant encouragement, reviews, listens.... and even the few of you who have added my work into your favourites. Some of you loved Propter Te even though the mixing in that piece was horrible. Some of you loved Supplication because of the connotations it bore. And some of you even loved Asperges Me...

I honestly appreciate it. I honestly do.

This is a round that I had long anticipated, in fact since Round 1. I bear in mind my lack of mixing skill, and yet, I want to give all I have. All of us know that Waterflame is one of the most sought-after video game composers on Newgrounds, if not the most sought-after. And rightly so: his years of experience, the projects he has worked on, and his general musicality show it. People had trembled upon hearing his name during the first few rounds.... no, I don't want to tremble. I want to walk into this round with the joy of a little child, fearing little.

Although I am genuinely worried for this round, I will do my best not to let this worry hamper me.

TroisNyxEtienne v Waterflame

The cards are on the table. He who wants to pick a card for either side may go ahead and do so.

Long and drawn-out process is long, but after completing the RAC submission, beginning my Legal Practice Course with introductory sessions all day every day, getting into a housing problem beyond my control and being rendered almost homeless, and breaking down in tears, here is my NGADM Round 3 submission. T_T

Friends, I present to you, after a full week of hard work and little rest: Asperges Me.

I hope it speaks to you as much as the story behind the song has spoken to me.

Everyone, I have advanced to NGADM Round 3. Thanks for all the support. Also, EbonHawk, you did well <3

I have now been pitted against one of NG's most established classical and neo-orchestral composers: Bosa. I do not know what this round will turn out to be, but I promise I will give all I have. There is a lot of inspiration to be drawn, even from Bosa himself. One thing's for sure: this is going to be one of the more unpredictable rounds of this year's NGADM.

I am honestly worried. Nervous. I suppose the thing I have to do this time is take each step as it comes, in the midst of all the uncertainty, do what I can and pray.

Let's give each other the best we've got, Bosa. <3 We're going to make it a round no one will ever forget!

EDIT 08.09.2012: Oh and also, there's a submission I made for Represent a Country. I believe in previous posts, I've talked about "An Uair am Feill" (which is Scots Gaelic for 'the hour of the festival'), and how I've been working on it.

Here it is! :D

I've been stuck on sections for a long time, and I wasn't sure how to pull off this grandiose, festive atmosphere very well. Now what you hear is the final result, and I'm very glad to say that it's finished at last.

Please, do tell me what you think! : )

SEE IT NOW.
Now you wouldn't expect grannies to participate in the Eurovision, let alone do well. Seeing them on stage is just MIND. BLOWING.

Presenting my song, Supplication.

This is the song I was hinting at in my last post, and I hold it very closely to my heart (especially around this time). I won't begin to describe the entire song -- we can leave that to the description section of the song. I will say this, though: listening to this has almost made me cry.

Requiem aeternam dona ei, Domine...

.....I now advance to Round 2.

I am still honoured that I was able to face you, LiquidOoze.
EbonHawk, let's give each other the best we can ever give.

Congratulations are in order to both of you, as well as to all who made it to the 32 places in the beginning.

EDIT 20.08.2012: The song I am making is a very special one. No one hears love songs from me very often; this is one that I am doing for a particular reason associated with this time.

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As for my RAC entry, it is coming together: I have finished the intro and the major sections, but I am thinking of a middle section and an ending. Those are hard to come by. I have officially decided to name the piece "An Uair am Feill", which is Scots Gaelic for "the hour of the festival".

I will need a new headset... and a new mic.... in order to contribute to any further projects. Prayers, thoughts and support very much appreciated!

LiquidOoze has been picked as my opponent for Round 1 NGADM. I do not know what to expect anymore; I'll only make sure I have no regrets for this round.

I have resubmitted Propter Te into the contest. Considering there is still time before the Round 1 deadline, I'm going to try and knock out the few kinks that I can knock out.

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In signing up for the RAC 2012 (and representing the UK) I had two options:

1) either something orchestral, which is directly inspired by English hymns (and/or liturgical music), or
2) something with very strong local influence, evocative of a ceilidh.

I have decided to go for the latter.

For the uninitiated, a ceilidh (pronounced kay-lee) is a Scottish or Irish dance gathering. I am taking it in the Scots context. I love actually participating in ceilidhs whenever there are any near me. Now most ceilidh music is around 90-100 BPM, but there is an exception: there is a dance called Strip the Willow, which is the most upbeat and the most physically demanding of all the dances. That can easily hit 140 BPM or maybe a little higher.

I am thinking of borrowing elements from ceilidh music, and I am throwing in a bit of English flair -- the kind you would hear from Mumford & Sons. You might also hear something evocative of Highland dance... maybe.

Some time back I did something evocative of an electric ceilidh -- a remix of Herty140's Barnyard Ball (the original can be found here). This is now one of my favourite ceilidh-style pieces. Whether or not the RAC song will be like this... we'll have to wait and see!

In five minutes I'll be undergoing an audition I thought I'd try just for fun; it doesn't matter if I win or lose. There's a regional talent competition in Hertfordshire taking place within Uni Herts, so I thought I'd go.

I am singing Megurine Luka's 'Double Lariat'. In the original Japanese. It's audacious, it's barmy, people may or may not enjoy it....... but I'm not here for the attention anymore.

Please, wish me all the best!

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I have returned from the Faith Summer Conference to find that I am now one of the 32 contestants in the NGADM, and I must say I am honoured. Thanks to everyone who rooted for me during the audition period. <3

Right now I am pitted against Norske for Round 1, and I must say that this will be a fair and equal competition. I'm sure the judges would think so too.

Whatever happens -- I'll do my best, and leave the rest to the Man Up There.

Over the past week I was approached by a parish friend, who likes music as much as I do... and we've gotten to jamming together, which is awesome. I went to his band's radio show at Radio Verulam (it's a community radio station based in St Albans, Hertfordshire) and although I didn't contribute to it -- I watched from the sidelines -- I enjoyed it very much. Later that week, on Friday, I was taken to one of their studio rehearsals.

I was initially sought after as a vocalist, but I could not look up the songs I was to sing over the last week. It was oven-hot in my room, and my PC would shut off if I didn't fan it with both hands! So I came, eager to listen, and perhaps contribute. I came as the drummer... and this was my first time ever giving proper accompaniment to any song.

This is the result.

Mind, I had not had any proper practice for two years (no access to drums), and I'm self-taught, and it took me a good fifteen minutes and three whole pieces before I could finally play anything. Still today I have managed to surprise not only my friends, but myself. I uttered a string of thank-yous to the Man Up There. Still today I hear a pounding deep inside my heart. I really do mean it when I say the drum is my favourite instrument, even though I'm not the best at it. I did my best; judge for yourselves.

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In other news, I've heard that the NGADM audition results are going to be out on Wednesday 1 August, barring any delays. There is a fair chance that I won't be able to look up the results until Friday 3 August. Starting tomorrow I'll be away on a five-day retreat, the Faith Summer Conference at Woldingham School, Surrey. Although there is wireless internet in Woldingham, I am voluntarily staying away from the Net for five days. It'll be a good time for me to get rid of some ballast.

I trust everyone has done his best for the NGADM. Everyone has submitted his best piece to the audition. I wish the lot of you all the best, and I do certainly look forward to reading the results!

With regards to how far I'd fare, I can't say I know. Given the amount of submissions, it'll be difficult for the judges to pick the best 32. And again, some of you may know this -- this is my first NGADM. I will not expect anything, but like many, hope for the best. : )

With that... I guess I'll see you when I return to Hatfield on Friday!

I recently had the opportunity of translating (from French to English) an interview with Shinji Hashimoto and Yoko Shimomura, two people behind the development of the Kingdom Hearts series. That interview was taken by KHDestiny at the Japan Expo 2012 in France, and before being translated and featured onto KHWiki, KHDestiny were the sole holders of the interview text.

Read the contents of the interview here.

As many may know, Yoko Shimomura is responsible for the game's soundtrack. After perusing this interview text a number of times, I've come to realise that a lot of us work the way she does.

We work alone at our desks, often unsure of what we do, and it takes feedback from people telling us how much those songs have moved them. And when we hear that feedback, we are humbled and happy. I can imagine it being especially the case for Shimomura, who has worked on the KH soundtrack for the past ten years.

Is there anything she would like to remake? Yes, she would feel like us every once in a while, thinking 'oh, I could change this', but once a work is finished, it is finished -- and you doubt the gamers would have it any other way.