So, I had this idea rattling around in my head for a while – a sort of dreamy, atmospheric piece. I called it “unfinished reverie,” mostly because I never really knew where it was going. I just knew I wanted to create something… ethereal.
I started, as I often do, by just messing around on my keyboard. No real plan, just letting my fingers wander. I found a few chords that I liked, a simple progression that felt both melancholic and hopeful. That’s how the project unfinished reverie began.
Building the Layers
Then I started layering. That’s where the real fun begins for me, with the process of adding and adjusting, step by step, very enjoyble.
- First, I added a simple, pulsing bassline. Nothing fancy, just something to anchor the chords.
- Next, I threw in some atmospheric pads. I spent ages tweaking these, trying to get that perfect “floating” feeling.
- Then came the tricky part – a melody. I wanted something that felt almost improvised, like a half-remembered dream. I probably recorded about twenty different versions before I settled on one that I (sort of) liked.
- After that, I added some subtle percussion. Just some light shakers and a distant, echoing kick drum. I didn’t want anything too overpowering.
I listened back to it, and it was… okay. It definitely had the vibe I was going for, but it felt a little… empty. Like it was missing a crucial ingredient.
The “Aha!” Moment
I took a break, made some coffee, and came back to it with fresh ears. And that’s when it hit me – it needed some texture. Some grit. Something to contrast with all the smooth, ethereal sounds. It needed something to spice up the song.
I ended up adding a layer of heavily processed field recordings – the sound of wind chimes, some distant traffic, and even a bit of rain. I filtered and distorted them until they were barely recognizable, just a wash of subtle noise. After I finished the texture, I added the vocal.
And suddenly, it all clicked. The track felt complete (or, at least, as complete as an “unfinished reverie” can be). It still wasn’t perfect, but it had that dreamy, slightly unsettling quality that I was after.
So, that’s the story of “unfinished reverie.” It’s a bit rough around the edges, but I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the best way to create something is to just start, even if you don’t have a clear destination in mind. Just mess around, experiment, and see where the process takes you. You might be surprised at what you discover.
