Memories and Moods with Music

The Effects of Music with Memory - mapping/recollection Integration

Delve into the science:

What I mean by memory embedding and recollection with music is simply the integration of activities or events that we humans remember during an individual or regular experience with music stimulus.  Ok, what did I just say?  Cutting through the garble, music can bring us back to memories (i.e. imagery, moods, etc).  Sometimes we're brought back to an era of time, a single moment or even forgotten memories; at least, we "thought" we forgot.  That is the wonderful thing about music and it's subconscious effect on our minds in general.

  You know how you're trying to think of the lyrics to a song, but sometimes can't quite remember them?  Suddenly, while listening to the song, it comes back like second nature.  That's what I mean about the mapping.  I theorize that majority of memories aren't ever truly lost, but the connection needs stimuli to better access/recollect that memory.  This is also done with other forms of stimulation outside of music.

     

  

"Think of our memory banks just like a memory stick and the mapping like a circuit board."  

  Sometimes a memory forgotten is simply a broken connection.  Perhaps we have a set amount of storage space, variable, based on the individual and how we treat our bodies and mind throughout life.  "Bridge the connection with another source".  Music is a fantastic method for storing and accessing information. 

  An added way to look at it is perceive how a search engine works.  We type in Music.  Well, music is going to generally discover a lot of results.  But what if we're trying to access a specific memory, (e.g. specific place or time) then we need to use more keywords to narrow the search.  The more we add the more we can narrow the search.  

"Specific and relative music applied to the mind is a great way to store and remember.  Regardless whether we're aware that we're doing it"

Check out this playlist, Music and Mind for 4+hours of mindful music power

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The Evil Metal Growls/Screams

A quick look at the techniques behind metal growls & screams

  I'm no expert nor do I rarely try to perform metal screams/growls.  Truth is there is technique to it.  Otherwise, you'll injure yourself.  Imagine the moments you've had where you screamed (most likely in rage), how long do you think you could consistently scream for?  10s, 30s, 5 minutes per song with barely a rest?  Think again and support the metal growlers and screamers!

  So far through my research I'll explain that the single most important thing to remember is to growl through your throat.  What this means is not using the diaphragm only - like a falsetto/held back growl/scream; unless, of course you're amplifying a quiet and long endurance run.  Imagine a nice deep low burp and belch it out!

   Next, maintain drinking warm fluids to loosen your vocal chords.  I've heard cold water constricts (middle school) and will have issues.  Probably room temperature water is best.  I would figure out what you're best comfortable with, vocally: deep growl, mid scream or raging high pitched scream.  

  There's so many "styles" of metal growls and screams.  I will name a few popular:

    1)  Death Metal - Low rumble with mixed screams

      2)  Grindcore - Also know as the pig-squeal

   3)  Black Metal - Typically screeching high 



  A growl and a scream are exactly what they are.  I won't go into all the specific different styles of each with descriptions.  For more check out this short playlist of different metal growls/screams, including funny pointers on how to perform them. 
  
  A good tid-bit to point out:  not all metal growlers and screamers are evil devil worshipers


  

"It's not brutal if it's comprehensible"

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Studio Vocalists and Bands

What exactly is a Studio Band/Artist?

• Anyone who uses Auto-Tune regularly
• Majority of Emo vocalists
• My personal category of a band that sounds awful live 

Check out this small playlist for some amusing videos here

  

  Whether you enjoy pop, rock, rap etc it's disappointing when your favorite artists can't perform what they record.  Not unless there a ton of processor units or harmonizers.  Nothing against the obvious studio artists, I personally enjoy many and could care less if their live performances are less than spectacular or digital quality.  

  One of most famous pop singers, Katy Perry, is known for her over processed vocals and infamous live performances lacking them.  Katy Perry is a prime example of a lot of scrutiny for her fan's claim to obvious live sound differences being extreme; however, she IS a studio artist and live perfomances come with the job.  It's pop.  Or more accurately digital pop - digipop

  Sometimes we do experience artists that miss their mark or note entirely:  changing the pitch/octave to better suit their current range, (what they either could only do once...maybe even a pitch corrector) or trying something new, or a flat out mistake.  Some bands sound BETTER live (e.g. Tool, DMB, even John Mayer).  Regardless, music is music and if it sounds better live or on the album, then enjoy it on at a venue or on your device.

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My Top 5 Drummers

My Condensed List of Favorite Drummers

There are so many great drummers in the music-verse.  I'm not a drummer per se, but I understand rhythms.  It's like splitting your mind into 4 separate entities - 1 for each limb.

    1) Danny Carey - Tool

Grammy Award Winning drummer featured in the band Tool.  Danny has contributed to many side projects and well known for his odd time signatures, poly-rhythms and meters.  He is widely known and praised among other musicians all alike.  

I don't know anyone who doesn't like the band Tool

    2) Neil Peart - Rush

Renowned drummer, lyricist, producer and author most commonly know in the band Rush.  Neil was inducted in the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 1983.  Aside from his well polished technical skills, his famous use of "but-end out" stick orientation is phenomenal.

    3) Mike Portnoy - Dream Theater

Co-founder, drummer and backing vocalist to the band Dream Theater.  Also the founding member of Liquid Tension Experiment, which is awesome!  His career in Dream Theater lasted for 3 decades before abruptly departing the band during a tour with Avenged Sevenfold, in 2010.  Mike Portnoy still receives awards and recognition for incredible musicianship - Best Rock Drummer in 2015.

    4) Joey Jordison - Slipknot

A well rounded artist and guru of music:  Joey Jordison has done many projects and is featured in many bands including the band Slipknot - up till his departure in 2013.  He is a modern inspiration for many musicians and drummers, (e.g. Bring me the Horizon, Crown the Empire and Black Veil Brides).  

My favorite of his contributions and appearances was in Roadrunner United:  The All Star Sessions

    5) Carter Beauford - Dave Matthews Band

Founder of DMB, his ability to adapt to the variety of styles makes him a very prestigious and dynamic musician.  He was awarded the ranking, "Top 10 Greatest Drummer" by Rolling Stone 2010.  DMB is a jazz fusion band with sax, acoustics, violins and other instruments for purely enjoyable experience.

    

Check out Guitar Stream's Top 5 Drummer Video Playlist here

Music Genres and the Outstanding list of Sub-Genres

"Please Provide Proper Identification"

  We've all labeled our musical tastes one way or another either a style or identifying characteristic of our own/other's music.  Personally, the sub-sub-genres are becoming a bit redundant.  I understand the appreciation for organization; however, take this string of code for example....metal\ heavy metal\ heavy melodic metal\ heavy melodic progressive metal and so forth.

  How about just plain Metal.  Or Rock, Pop, even splash in some Alternative to better identify Rock with a sub-genre.  No-no:  Post modern - Ambient - Alternative Punk Rock with a splash of Ska.  Music is music and doesn't need all the tags or labels for identifying what you play or sound like.  Check out this link for Ambient alone.

--Stop the trend

#genre, #subgenre, #subsubgenre

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Music Theory over Composition

The question or statement I get a lot, even within myself, is Music Theory the only way to writing Masterful Music?

The answer is no.  There some people I know who are well versed and knowledgeable in the theory behind music, but get stuck writing unique, original compositions without following the "algorithms", (i.e. time signatures, beat patterns, scales etc).  Music theory is definitely helpful and will boost your ease at which you create music, such as with arrangements and staying on key during transitions.  For some musicians, music theory takes the taste out of improvisations.  

Nothing wrong with being said for those that delve deep into the theory of music and enjoy it.  There are obviously opposites to my point here.  Learning the essential basics of staying in key and time every musician should know.  Even if it's boring!  

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Ponies at Dawn and Bandcamp Artists

"Ponies at Dawn aims to bring you the best offer with regular compilation albums full of incredible music."

  Ponies at Dawn, out of Australia, is a great compilation of electronic and original tracks featured on SoundCloud and Bandcamp.  The Album "Awakening" contains 54 tracks with the 'Name your own price' option featured on Bandcamp, this is truly a great deal.  I recommend supporting their hard work by giving something.  Check them out here on Bandcamp.

  "A highly Dub and Energetic proposal combining female and male vocals.  Big selection of pieces to enjoy a ride...." - Paraphrasing Bandcamp member Lz

My Top 5 Djent List

All you Djent Lovers!

  I've recently started getting in Djent bands.  This list is my top that I've discovered so far in the past 6 months.  Check out my Djent Playlist via YouTube for your listening pleasure.

1. Wide Eyes - The Launch of Kasper
2. Animals as Leaders - "CFAO"
3. Periphery - 22 faces
4. For Giants - Decatur
5. Anup Sastry - Dreamer

Add your own videos to the playlist Enabled

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Featured artist Brentomaton added with two tracks uploaded!

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ERRA Drift Album Theory

I've been a fan of the band ERRA for a while now.  I feel there are mixed feelings about this album Drift.  At first listen, I didn't like it as much as ALL the previous albums.  With the new vocalist, (growler/screamer) JT Cavey.  His range isn't as good because he's a very static growler/screamer.  With that in mind, the clean vocalist, Jesse Cash, sings more in this album instead of the highlight parts within songs.  I think it's an experimentation to balance the monotone growl by adding more clean dynamic vocals.  The instrumentals are still amazing, as always!  By far my favorite track is the last one, 'The Hypnotist'.

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Guitar Stream Guitar Lessons Updated Video

This video is a concise look at the insane tremolo picking.  Videos are posted, produced and recorded by Ryan Hudson - Guitar Stream



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Periphery- Juggernaut: Alpha & Omega (2015) FULL ALBUM

One of the best concept albums, masterfully done.  The Alpha and Omega are representations of an individual who the government experiments with the use of MK Ultra, which from birth, he/she was experimented on.  Throughout the Alpha disc, this soldier grows up and becomes aware of its existence and the existence of its counterpart - the Omega.

Throughout whom the inner struggle of good and evil is a constant battle throughout its life and the album conveys this wonderfully with vocalist Spencer Sotelo.  In the end the Omega takes over completely and at some point in the Omega disc the soldier is killed.  The last track "Stranger Things" is a cosmic composition of the soldier's Ascension, and other words, transition after death into the cosmos.