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Link: Drowning In What Remains Version 2: Drowning In What Remains (with changes suggested by you guys.Thank you!) This is a sad song. No happy ending. The usual unsolicited background information: - For the sound I wanted, I couldn't find any modern Lo-Fi drum sounds in BIAB that came close to what I was hearing in my head (in fact, there are NO modern drum sounds in BIAB), so I programmed my own NI Battery drumset from scratch using normal drum samples that I equalized, compressed and transient-designed to death, and beyond
- I don't usually like instrumental solos in my songs (they're a relic from the last millennium. A nice one, though), but when the idea of adding a (short) vocal solo came up, I couldn't resist.
- This is my second “lyrics-first” composition.
I like to believe that my lyrics are better when I start with them.
The price I have to pay for this is that it is much more difficult for me to find instruments for my lyrics than the other way around. - I LOVE 3/4 timesig, but there are far too few (modern) RealTracks, so I had to play most of the instruments myself, what I usually try to avoid because I'm not a proper musician.
As always, a big thank you to Marty for the lyrical and rhythmical support. Feedback (the good, the bad and the ugly) is, as always, highly appreciated. I'm here to learn! Some technical information:Style: AMBIENT.STY The band:Bass: me Drums: PopRockWaltzEv, me (programmed, not played) Guitars: 862, 3228, 3229, me Piano: me Synths: me Vocals: You know who You can find the lyrics in the next post.
Last edited by B.D.Thomas; 01/27/25 01:20 PM. Reason: Link for version 2 added
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Title: "Drowning In What Remains"(Intro)The night unfolds like a fading star Whispers of you fill the empty air A quiet ache, a wound unhealed Your absence lingers, near and far (Verse)The room feels heavy under shadows' weight Your photograph leans on the broken shelf I walk the same path we used to share But every step reminds me it’s too late (Chorus)I’m left alone in the falling rain Each drop a memory I can’t escape The silence grows where your laughter lived And I’m drowning in what remains (Verse)The clock is ticking, though time stands still Your scent still lingers in the corner of the room Each moment passes like a slow descent An open wound I can’t seem to heal (Pre-Chorus)The notes I play are hollow, sharp and cold A song that breaks but doesn’t let me go Your melody lives in the spaces I can’t fill A love unfinished, a story untold (Chorus)I’m left alone in the falling rain Each drop a memory I can’t escape The silence grows where your laughter lived And I’m drowning in what remains (Bridge)If I could undo the silence of the years Would you still leave, or would you stay? I reach for answers in the darkened rain But all I find are my own tears (Vocal solo  )Ah... (Chorus)I’m left alone in the falling rain Each drop a memory I can’t escape The silence grows where your laughter lived And I’m drowning in what remains (Outro)The rain still falls, and the world feels still Each breath heavier than the last The night wraps tight like a lover's lie And tomorrow feels as empty as today
Last edited by B.D.Thomas; 01/24/25 02:50 PM. Reason: Lyrics added
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B.D.,
This is really excellent. Great lyrics, amazing Synth V vocals and a very cool band. Love what you have done here with the drums. The mix is also excellent.
Loved it!
Bob
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Brian, you are a master at that synth voice, it sounds so real it is scary.
An outstanding arrangement.
Super lyrics, great ending.
Great job on those drums.
One of your best.
Dad, how will I know when I've become an adult.
When your day is ruined because they rearranged the grocery store.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Hi, B.D. Nice title, good lyrics, well executed song. The vocals on the verses are too far back for my preference. Then again, I probably put my vocals too up front, so... Other than that, I've only got good things to say about the song. And after hearing the piano, I'll have to disagree about the "not a proper musician". Excellent.
-- David Cuny My virtual singer development blogVocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?BiaB 2025 | Windows 11 | Reaper | Way too many VSTis.
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B. D.
What a poignant song. You are a true master of the synth voices. Yours are the closest to live vocals I've heard. Some other forum users are also great with the voices. But you seem to have that little extra touch.
That was a terrific listen. Good job on the drums. Kudos on everything.
Alan
BIAB 2024 Ultra Plus-all StylePaks*Win11*32GB DDR5*Rhyzen 9745x*AT 2035 Mic*Peavey Nashville 112 Amp*Ibanez ART120* Acoustic/Electric/Washburn D200S Acoustic*Stromberg Monterey Jazz Guitar Loops: https://aldavidmusic.wixsite.com/bestmusicloops
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Fabulous song BD.
Everything about it is good.
It could be my ears but the two words "unfolds" and "ache" seem lost in the mix.
Vic
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Really well done, man, that vocal is crazy good! Everything about this is crazy good actually, excellent use of dynamics. Very much enjoyed, loved the video too. P.S. Instrumental solos are a relic from the last millennium, eh? I suppose that makes me a relic from the last millennium too 
Last edited by BlueAttitude; 01/25/25 11:02 AM.
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B.D.,
This is really excellent. Great lyrics, amazing Synth V vocals and a very cool band. Love what you have done here with the drums. The mix is also excellent.
Loved it!
Bob Thank you, Bob. And to hear from someone like you that the lyrics are good makes me really happy
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Brian, you are a master at that synth voice, it sounds so real it is scary.
An outstanding arrangement.
Super lyrics, great ending.
Great job on those drums.
One of your best. Thank you for your really nice and encouraging comment, Mario. Mucho appreciated ![[Linked Image - Only viewable when logged in]](https://www.pgmusic.com/forums/images/icons/default/thumbs_up.gif)
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Totally disagree with solos being "a relic from the last millennium" as they always add dynamics to the whole piece. I don't think I've ever heard a song with a solo that was unneeded. I've also previously commented on this forum that some songs with no breaks in the vocals would be dynamically improved if there was one. I can think of oodles of songs offhand which just wouldn't be half of what they are if the solo was taken out. Just one corking example is Hendrix's cover of "All Along the Watchtower" - though Johnny Winter just sprang to mind: imagine his songs without solos. Dynamics will never be "a relic from the last millennium".
That said, this is a brilliant song in all aspects, plus it has great dynamics. Even though I don't like Synth V vocals it works in this song, though when it started and I immediately recognised the voice I thought I wasn't going to like it. In this song it has the right feel, when I usually find all SV vocals bland, soulless and less good than even average human singing when the song is truly felt.
Some favourite Waoist Adages:
#1: Play on the Way.
#13: Ask not for whom the flower blooms, it blooms for you.
#58: Bring consciousness to it.
#63: On the road to effortlessness, effort must be made.
#92: Be Love Now, the rest will come on its own.
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A beautiful song. Taking a 3/4 is a good idea and starting with the lyrics seems to me to give better songs because the music carries the text and not the other way around. I like the video.
Laurent
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Hi, B.D. Nice title, good lyrics, well executed song. The vocals on the verses are too far back for my preference. Then again, I probably put my vocals too up front, so... Other than that, I've only got good things to say about the song. And after hearing the piano, I'll have to disagree about the "not a proper musician". Excellent. Thank you for your comment and your always constructive feedback, David. I assume that by “up front” you mean drier vocals, not just louder. Based on your feedback, I tried it out, but it didn't work to my liking. I guess the emptiness that my singer feels needs this space in order to be perceived by the listener. But it was worth a try, so thank you for your suggestion. Much appreciated
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Wow delicate and powerful. The Vocals are absolutely beautiful, expressive and tender. The lyrics are powerful. I really like your use of dynamics throughout the song. Excellent mix, production, and spot on performance.
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B. D.
What a poignant song. You are a true master of the synth voices. Yours are the closest to live vocals I've heard. Some other forum users are also great with the voices. But you seem to have that little extra touch.
That was a terrific listen. Good job on the drums. Kudos on everything.
Alan Thank you, Alan. "Kudos on everything" is more than I could have hoped for
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BD,
Stunning.
A good (very interesting) write.
Beautiful production.
Bass and piano sound good.
Amazing vocal.
Good mix.
GOOD Music.
fj
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Fabulous song BD.
Everything about it is good.
It could be my ears but the two words "unfolds" and "ache" seem lost in the mix.
Vic Thank you Vic for your nice feedback and your findings. On my studio monitors, both words are easy to hear, but the end part of each word fades a bit too much, so I upped those parts by about 2 dB. Not much, but it makes a difference. I've added a link to the remixed version to my original post. Thanks
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Really well done, man, that vocal is crazy good! Everything about this is crazy good actually, excellent use of dynamics.
Very much enjoyed, loved the video too. Thanks a lot for your nice feedback, Dave. Much appreciated! P.S. Instrumental solos are a relic from the last millennium, eh? I suppose that makes me a relic from the last millennium too Of course, and so am I And, as I have already written, that is not a bad thing. But in this day and age, many (modern) solos seem to be forced in to keep the song from being TOO boring, rather than a natural part of the song itself.
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Hi BD.
What an absolutely stunning song in EVERY possible way.
I totally disagree with your assessment of yourself as someone who is "not a proper musician".
What I heard was a song created by someone who stands head and shoulders above many musicians.
I really, really liked the AXXA rhyme scheme in the verses. The feeling of open-endedness that this created was powerful.
It's easy to hear that a lot of thought and planning has gone into creating this masterpiece.
What an amazing musical journey!
--Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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Fantastic composition and production. I agree about the excellent work with the synth vocals. I would have thought it was a person. I love what you did with the melody. Big build at 2:45 and the vocal soars.
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