Hett: Release Notes for Elements, Plasir, New Workout and Sea Change
Track release notes for a series of 4 EP's released in December 2022.
I decided to self-release a collection four EP’s all at once:
Elements
Plasir
New Workout
Sea Change
They are each different in style and represent a different part of my musical personality.
Why all at once? Somehow, throughout 2022 I started to find myself falling into the trap of thinking too much about the direction of my music; existential questions started to creep in such as “does this track fit with this track?”, “does this sound represent who I am/want to be as a musician?” and even “is this track even good enough? Am I good enough?!”
In the end, I consciously forced myself to step away from these thoughts and stick to simply doing, embracing the imperfections, which is a work ethic that I believe in and have embraced more easily in the past. This is an attempt to get back there.
I also wanted to accompany each track with notes about what the song means to me, how it was made, the feeling I get from it, any memories attached to it…
The EP artwork is each a quadrant from a collage of personal polaroids.
So here are 4 related (but not quite!) EP’s that summarise my music-making for the past year or so.
Enjoy!
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Elements
Bluefield
I was going for something other than what this turned out to be - attempting to create something similar to the track ‘Forever Monna’ (Chez Damier x Stacey Pullen), I was aiming to recreate the intro/lead part but it somehow ended up turning into something completely different, and gave birth to itself as an electro track… because Acid :)
I like the odd timing of the wobbly lead sound. Was a complete accident but is very catchy..
Planet O
This track was made in a very short amount of time. I think it was a Saturday morning and almost finished by the time I had to leave the house in the early afternoon.
I love the rolling Bassline that compliments the quirky percussive elements, which binds everything together melodically. It feels like an odd track but has some charm in the groove.
Elements
I think, my favorite track of the release. Sci-fi fans will likely recognise the sample at the beginning.
I feel this track is a complete song. Emotional. Cheesy, even. It moves like a ballad and I love it.
The rolling wobbly bassline at the end ties it all together, as the strings sample used throughout creeps in and out of focus.
Doree
The oldest track of the release, “Doree” is an ode to my late Grandmother (Doreen), who bought me my first guitar. I wrote this during lockdown, in the days following her passing.
Whilst I don’t think it would have been a hit with her, I think she would be happy that I’m still making music.
Mest
This track reflects a state of acceptance. I feel it moves in a very fluid way. Gentle but propelling forward. Very vast.
The only track on the album that was made entirely with hardware. You can really hear the imperfections of the Prophet Rev 2 which was used for most of the melodic components. Little clicks and pops as the filter and envelopes reset.
I like how the Bassline plods along, predictable and a bit lazy.
Curve
This one feels like a bit of an outlier among the other tracks. I was really happy with how the composition turned out. It feels very sparse in ways, everything in the right place. And I like the journey of the track, from quirky and odd through to its dreamy, rounded ending. A good closer I think…
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Plasir
Do Better
Named so after my partner who was giving input on the track, when I asked what they thought about the original melody, they said “do better”. I did “do better” and the nice Rhodes-type melody was born.
The rest of the track came very quickly.
I like the depth and drive to this one, yet it still feels gentle.
Plasir
This one's a bit of a guilty pleasure. I actually made it on a 2hr airport shuttle between Dalaman and Kalkan, whilst on vacation in Turkey.
I was watching the mountains from the window and the opening strings felt so epic. I didn’t want to detract too much from that so sprinkled some elements around that base and voila.
The end ‘panpipe’ type sound is a bit kitsch but I decided to keep it.
Other Days (JWST)
I wrote this one around the time they released the James Webb Space Telescope images, hence the bracketed name which was a working title.
I was big into melancholic string sounds at this time and that’s how this was born.
A friend said the plucky sound reminds him of ‘Macarena’ which is so true.
The sample is from a monologue from one of my favourite movies.
Let’s Pretend
My favourite from this release. I wanted to write something slower, moody but uplifting. I was heavily inspired by DJ Healer in this one.
I love the lightness of the melodic parts against the 101 Bass that just walks on.
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New Workout
Sunsettled
I think this track is really ‘easy-going’. The pads, melodies are very dreamy and float by.
I was inspired when listening to a Genius of Time track for this one and it’s quite apparent, I think.
The ending is more my usual vibe and changes the direction of the song but I think the two halves work.
How It Feels
I began with the vocal sample and remember playing around so long to find the right chords.
I love the bassline on this one. So warm and sits really well. I also feel it's a good blend of driving energy but also hazy and loose.
Wise Up
I somehow feel this track sounds a little naive, almost lazy. I remember settling on the bassline without even trying and it still sounds a little ‘basic’ to me.
But I love the string layer that comes in when the kick drops out. Some nice harmony there, and the little breakbeat layer helps it groove along.
Boxi 69
This one is quite old, I think written in early 2021. Named after the street & house number I lived in at the time with my lovely roommate.
It’s got a very 2014 LoFi house vibe to it and is a bit child-like but has its charm. The subtle vocal sample is again coming from a Sci-Fi movie..
New Workout
The main, stabby, harpsichord sound in this one reminds me so much of an old 90s track that I can’t put my finger on, so it was instantly an ear-worm.
I think this is such a groover. Can imagine it playing at Heideglühen. The bass came out nice and funky. I like the snare fills.
The weird “panpipe” sound made an appearance again.
Nost
Named after the nostalgic sound of the M1 Bass sample.
I feel like this track could play at Panorama Bar. Slightly weird mix of genre but is very driving and locks you in somehow.
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Sea Change
Mana
This opening track is a heavy hitter. Feel like I was channeling some Overmono. I really like the way the synth builds and falls.
Flamm
This must be one of the weirdest tracks I ever wrote. It never made it past the demo phase but in the end I decided to accept it as it is. I really don’t know if I even like it that much!
However, it is complete how it is and encapsulates a lot of sounds and themes from different music genre, I like in one charming mess.
Zen Dive
The bass is mixed way too loud and low on this one but I didn’t go back to fix it. I love the heaviness of this track. The drums and their sizzly punch.
I really like how the pad/string sounds bring a lot of space and melody to an otherwise unemotional track.
All building up to those 4th Chords that sing out until the end.
Sea Change
This track might be too fast!
Regardless, I really like the melody and general tone of the track.
The drums bang.
You, Me… At The End Of The World
I really love this track! I was so pleased when I bounced it down.
It has all of my favourite elements in a track; a break, dreamy detuned pads, melancholy and an epic ending.
It feels equally hopeful and anxious. An appropriate album ender.