Mark Mosher: Experimental Electronic Musician from Boulder, CO. Synthesis | Synthesist, Composer, Keyboardist, Performer

Mark Mosher Music 2011 Year in Review

I put together a mindmap of all the projects & events from 2011. It was an epic year and I REALLY appreciate your support! Here is to 2012!!!

If you’d like to help support my art in 2012 you can:

1. Join my mailing list & Tell a Friend
2. Buy music
3. Consider a donation

Click here to view mindmap in a separate window.

Mark Mosher
Electronic Music Artist, Boulder, CO
Official Web Site: www.MarkMosherMusic.com
Listen/Download Albums: www.MarkMosherMusic.com/music.html

December Sound Design Projects

In addition to composing and producing music, I also do sound design work which I release on the microsite http://patchlab.modulatethis.com.  This work can take many forms including creating programs or “patches” for synthesizers which I release in libraries or soundsets. December was a busy month and I release three soundsets.

Outpost:Airlock for U-HE Zebralette Synthesizer

First off is OUTPOST: AIRLOCK - a soundset made up of patches for U-HE's free freeware synthesizer Zebralette. The patches will also load into Zebra 2. This themed soundset picks up where “Sounds from a Distant Outpost” soundset left off (which has been downloaded over 2500 times to date) and again takes place at the fictional dark and distant “outpost”. This outpost exists in the same “signals universe” as my two albums REBOOT and I HEAR YOUR SIGNALS. The 12 patches in this soundset will help artists experience the journey through the airlock which connects the outer ring of the outpost to the first inner chamber. You might hear creatures along the way so stay alert.

Zebra Attack Rack! Part I & Part II for Ableton Live

Next is a set of two soundsets I did in collaboration with NY artist AfroDJMac who's been "crushing it" by releasing an Ableton Live Pack every week for 37 weeks! We collaborated remotely using email, Skype, Dropbox, and sharing content via Ableton Live sets.

I provided original harmonic content waveforms resulting from custom synthesizer programming using U-HE Zebra 2. AfroDJMac then used Ableton Live Sampler to create playable instruments.

AfroDJMac and Mark Mosher Zebra Attack [Ableton Live Rack #38]

• Ableton Rack #40: Zebra Attack II- Mark Mosher & AfroDJMac [#40]

 

 

Mark Mosher
Electronic Music Artist, Boulder, CO
Official Web Site: www.MarkMosherMusic.com
Listen/Download Albums: www.MarkMosherMusic.com/music.html

My Remix of "The Key" by Snowflake

I’ve just posted a remix of the song "The Key" by Snowflake who placed the original on CCMixter under creative commons CC-BY-NC.

Listen to Original

Listen to the original song before diving into my track using the embedded player below or streaming the MP3 before you listen to my remix so you can see hear I started.

Composer/Producer Notes on My Remix “The Key (Like a Freight Train Remix)”

When I first heard Snwoflake's "The Key" on CCMixter, I was really moved by the wonderful vocal performance and the powerful lyrics. I came up with an idea for a remix that would add something very different musically and sonically, yet at the same time amplify the emotional tone and power of the original vocal and piano stems.

I broke the song into scenes. Listen in the embedded player below or download the MP3. You can also listen and “recommend” my remix out on CCMixter.

The Key by Snowflake (Like a Freight Train Remix by Mark Mosher) by MarkMosher

Give it a first listen. On the second listen, follow along with the notes below.

 

(00:00) Scene 1: Hate
I use only the Vocals from the original stems. The opening line - "Your hate moves like a freight train, steady with a heavy weight Barreling down for many years" is just fantastic and drove me to come up with a way to embody hate as a pulsing relentless driving sound that reacts to the intensity of the narrative. In so doing I take a very beautiful melody and transform and make it haunting. There is intentional harshness and clipping in the elements I composed, synthesized and performed. I use extreme panning and spatial effects on the vox as well.

(1:00) Scene 2: Line in the Sand
Beat driven with some swelling pads. The beats set you up for to offer contrast for the next secne.

(1:27) Scene 4: The Innocent Say
I let the wonderful vocals carry through this section and only add spatial effects.

(1:45) Scene 3: Maybe You'll Learn
Hate raises it’s ugly head again as I return to a variation of my opening motif.

(2:12) Scene 5: Set Yourself Free
I use piano and vocals from the original stems. I added some strings and lots of space manipulation to amplify the emotion. You HAVE to use headphones to appreciate all the work :^)

(2:33) Scene 6: Only You Hold the Key
I process the piano stems, added some strings, and continue to work the space to offer an emotional conclusion.

(3:56) Scene 7: Epilogue
Piano from original stems with space and I added cello for the last word.

 

Closing Thoughts

Note I finished this remix in June and wasn’t sure I liked it. I felt it might be too sparse and harsh. I decided to let it sit on the shelf and come back with fresh ears. After listening again, I decided to trust my original instinct and release the song as mixed in June. I hope you enjoy.

Thanks to Emily Richards (aka Snowflake) for composing such a wonderful song and sharing on CCMixter so we could remix.

Links

• Snowflake Official Web Site
• Snowlake on C Mixter
• Mark Mosher on CCMixter

Mark Mosher
Electronic Musician, Boulder, CO
www.MarkMosherMusic.com

Perfect for Gift Giving - CD Versions of My Experimental Electronic Music Albums - Order Online Now

Looking for that perfect gift for that descriminating Electronic/Experimental music fan? I Hear Your Signals and REBOOT are available as Physical Audio CD’s ready to play in any CD player or for import into music software. Each release includes a 4-panel booklet with original artwork and photography including liner notes and credits. CD’s are the same quality as those available in retail outlets with printing in full color directly on disc surfaces, booklets, and tray cards, with professional-grade jewel cases all shrink-wrapped with cellophane.

Please take into account that CD's take 3-5 days to manufacture plus time for shipping. Both discs are available for immediate purhase via my online ReverbNation store here. Note all my music is also available for digital download via almost every major outlet via my music page.

Mark Mosher
Electronic Musician, Boulder, CO
www.MarkMosherMusic.com