Hey, so I spontaneously need to get out of here for a while, so I’m going to Greece for a week today. :) So I can’t be sending any CDs during this time, sorry about that.
You can still hang out with people in the chat room though, they’re all very nice! (Nicar or Hanoi will answer any questions you might have.)
So yeah, have a nice week, and I’ll post a new video when I get back!
update 8 Sep 2011: In Greece, all is well. :)
The opening prog rock track from Thirteen Eight, featuring lots of majestic themes and odd time signatures.
I almost always do my best to compose something accessible, but end up with weird chord progressions and time signatures anyway! I just don’t want my music to be too normal. :) So here it is, the opening track for the album. Mostly in the time signature 13/8 (hence the album title), with lyrics written by Otto Olivera and drums played by David Schlein.
I hope you give it a few tries, because it might just grow on you. :)
(Oh, and next week I will post the animated music video for The Star Song. That one will be great, so I hope I don’t scare anyone away with this one, haha.)
Lyrics:
A thunderhead of doom enshrouds
The faraway land they left behind
On ships, prepared and set
To roam, unknowing what they’ll find
Through currents of mystery
Hegira to relieve their plight
Every span they travel
Holding hands with lonely starlight
The youthful and seasoned émigrés
In vessels constructed with great skill
Geometric rigor to secure
A promise and purpose which they all would fulfill
In three fleets of seven, while
Tethered to each other tight
Any turn they travel
Guided on by lonely starlight
Home was laid to waste
Dissension and decay
Looking to survive
They chose to sail away
Scoping panoramic visual field
Hoping beneficial clues will be revealed
Seeking destination suitably fit
To accommodate them, and, as luck would have it,
A pathway to navigate
Coordinates: thirteen-eight
Doubtful and unsure
What more can they endure?
Will the choice they make
Prove to be a big mistake?
Time is now at hand
With tension at a peak
Does this course provide
The harbor that they seek?
Then, obstacles cleared reveal
A welcome and heavenly sight
Full of hope they travel
Led to it by lonely starlight
A sphere bathed in blue and green
With water and air so clean
Extending a hand in glee
They reach for their destiny
I finished filming the music video for the album opener, Lonely Starlight, today! So I will start editing it tonight, and hopefully get it done by tomorrow or on Thursday!
Empty couch, but the music will soon be heard~
By the way, a bunch of people have told me that they’ve received the CD now, and that they love it! :D That’s great to hear! I would also be happy if you posted photos of the things you got on the forum, especially if you got a drawing! Would be nice to have it all in one place. :)
And finally, you should ask your local music stores if they will have my CD, because if the demand is higher, it’s more likely that they’ll get them! Just a little pro-tip, haha.
People have told me to post a photo gallery on my website, so now I’ve added an images section, with some wallpaper, art and photos! I might update it now and then.
You can find it in the Media tab, or by clicking here.
Finally, all the 159 pre-ordered CDs are now shipped out! I spent almost two hours at the post office today, putting on stamps on 100 envelopes, and filling in customs notes and slapping them on all the non-European envelopes. Feels great to have it done!
There are now around 300 CDs still available, if anyone wants a signed copy. :) You can order one here.
Next step: Finishing the Lonely Starlight video!
So, I finally got the CDs to my apartment! Preparing them takes a really long time though, so I’ve barely sent out half of them so far. Will try to get the remaining 100 envelopes ready for tomorrow..
They look nice anyway, and I hope you’ll like the drawings, the secret surprise DVD, the little messages, and so on. :) And sorry once again for the delay.
Argh!
So, I should have had the CDs in my apartment two days ago, but they didn’t show up. Yesterday I tried to call the customs and the delivery company, but apparently it was too late, so I had to call today instead. After being switched between five different people, I finally got the question: “Did you get the invoice bill on Wednesday?”
No, I didn’t get any bill from anyone! I was expecting one for import taxes, but figured that they’d just let me pay when they came with the package.
Then they started complaining about how the CD pressing company had not included a bill with the package, so they didn’t know how much I should pay. But I’ve really no idea who’s fault this is, I guess it doesn’t matter.
Anyhow. It’s too late for them to send me the CDs today, so the next working day is Monday. I’m really sorry about the delay.
Here’s proof (from the pressing plant) that they really exist in physical form though:
Oh, and one more thing: Because of this, I have not been able to focus on making the new music video, so it will be delayed as well.
I’ve been updating the website a little today. Added a music section, from which you’ll later be able to buy the digital version of the album! You can already try it out with the Solace Distant single though, heh. (Of course you’ll also be able to buy it through iTunes and all other similar services.)
I also updated the poll, and here are the previous results:
So yeah, Solace Distant is already released, and I guess the reception has not been great exactly. But meh, it was interesting to try something new!
Will be working on the Lonely Starlight video next week, and probably finish and post it, and I honestly love this song! So I really hope you will too, even though it will be the most “demanding” song on my youtube channel so far.
I really believe that The Star Song will be the most popular one though, it has a mainstream appeal that the others don’t have. :) It will hopefully be posted by the end of the month.
There were some problems with the mixing, so unfortunately it all got delayed a little. But now I’m happy with how it turned out, and the CD is currently being pressed at the pressing plant!
But yeah, so those who pre-ordered will most likely get the album next week, and not in time for 13/8.
Here’s a little video from last week, of the mixing process at the studio:
More than 30 entries were sent in, and the jury has now chosen the 10 best entries for the contest. First of all, I will present the ones that ended up on places 10-4 (not in order of preference):
Patrick’s Mustach Fredde:
Shaun’s FreddeGredde Animation:
Isabell’s FreddeGredde Bra:
Urskus’s Nintendo FreddeGredde:
Garrett’s The Wayfarer cover:
Teres’s Hama Beads:
MissDomino’s Chatroom Regulars:
This one needs a bit of explanation. Basically, she has drawn all the most active people in the FreddeGredde chatroom, and for us who are there daily, it’s really cute and sweet, so it was almost worthy of a top 3 placement.
And finally, the top 3 entries, who will all get a little something sent to them, with the winner getting a free signed copy of my CD:
#3: Pweet’s FG Couch:
We really fell for this one. With aquarelle colors and gentle shades, she managed to make a fairytale-like version of the album art, and it’s just.. really sweet. Expect something nice in your mailbox soon!
#2: Manu’s Original Thirteen Eight Song:
Creativity and originality were important factors for us, so that’s why this one deserves the second spot on the list! Nice (although typically Finnish moody) melodies, relevant lyrics and a skillfully produced video. I’ll send you something nice!
#1: Josephine’s Solace Distant Illustration:
This one is just great! Clever idea and well crafted!
So congratulations Josephine, I’ll send you a signed copy of the album and some other nice stuff! :)
Also, thank you all for your entries! They were all really nice (and flattering), and it feels great to have such talented fans. :D (I would like to show everything you’ve made, but this post would just get way too long then!)