Spooky Tune Jam 2023 🎵

Hosted by Andtech Studios · #tunejam

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A jam submission

Tune Jam Album 🎵 - Ineluctable SingularityView project page

Submitted by Selkione — 11 hours, 54 minutes before the deadline

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Tune Jam Album 🎵 - Ineluctable Singularity's itch.io page

Results

Criteria	Rank	Score*	Raw Score
Melody	#2	4.467	4.467
Overall	#5	4.378	4.378
Jam Theme	#6	4.333	4.333
Accompaniment	#6	4.333	4.333

Ranked from 15 ratings. Score is adjusted from raw score by the median number of ratings per game in the jam.

Explicit Content

No

Methodology
I compose on piano and I arrange with Reason 12

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Comments

Andtech StudiosHost1 year ago

(I always look forward to a “Selkione” tune because I know I’m in for a carefully crafted melody. )

This composition overall feels very complete. So much is accomplished in only 3 minutes: the 3/4 “jester” intro, build-up, “fight section” and variations, restate jester’s theme. It’s a masterful example of establishing and executing themes/motifs.

Really high production value, too. I’m not familiar Nobuo Uematsu’s work, but this has Danny Elfman energy/instrumentation, all right (choir at 0:38 is so Mars Attacks!). Awesome!

The Lurking DevSubmitted1 year ago

I love the playful back and forth of the “question/response” melody lines throughout the piece, with the question and response always being issued on different instruments. This holds interest well and the catchy hooks of the theremin finish the job. I really enjoyed this!

Submitted

Spook Boss (Audio for Spooky Tune Jam 2023)

Nick SchuitemakerSubmitted1 year ago

I am not in the mood to rate everyone this time, but I want to leave a comment here anyway.

I love the theremin! Every time I hear it in Mario soundtracks I think to myself, "I wish Musescore had a theremin sound". Maybe someday I'll get access to it too.
With a lot of the 'final bosses' I've heard, this feels less like 'ULTIMATE POWER' and more like a 'joker in the basement, secret fight.' The waltz at the start fits it well (alongside the voice ofc), and transitioning away from this is an interesting choice to go back to the 'standard boss 4/4' tempo.
I always love to see time signature changes, and so I love this 3/4 -> 4/4. The first beats of that 4/4 somehow fit well with the 3/4, so the transition is not jarring. I also find it interesting how you switch a lot between rhythms. That keeps it fresh every time.

Well done, as always :)

Submitted

SelkioneDeveloper1 year ago(+1)

Ah the theremin, it's the musician's cheat code for spooky ambience (you must have been frustrated not to have any in musescore)

I made it myself because I didn't have any sound in my banks.

You're the second person to tell me it sounds like a secret boss. Funny. I didn't think of it as a final confrontation but as a lieutenant or secondary boss, which is probably why.

Anyway, thanks for your comment, it's always heartwarming. I know you take the time to listen in detail to my music and that makes me happy.

PS: I haven't taken the time to comment on everyone either.

Bela BitbopSubmitted1 year ago

I think you did Elfman and Uematsu proud, and you brought out the different thematic ideas beautifully. What I find especially interesting in this jam is that there are some typical "Halloween" elements like organ, choir, strings, ghostly theremin stuff etc., but everybody does them differently. Not once in your track did I think "ok, that box checked, on to the next", but I was fully immersed in HOW you brought everything together, how your transitions worked, how you sprinkled in the little details, keeping it interesting the whole time. Great job, well written and well executed!

Submitted

Break a Leg (from "Skulljogger")

Deleted post1 year ago

Deleted 1 year ago

SelkioneDeveloper1 year ago

Wow! Thanks for the kind compliments!

I'm very happy that my compositional intentions were captured well enough to be heard.

ShrodekoSubmitted1 year ago

Great job! Very fitting for the Jam's theme and I can definitely feel the Uematsu influence here.

Submitted

SelkioneDeveloper1 year ago

Thank you very much.

Uematsu has rocked my ears since FF7 and I find it hard to compose without his influence.

Blue LavaSubmitted1 year ago

I am always so impressed how poignantly and efficiently you are able to convey in your compositions exactly the settings you intend for the listener to imagine. There is something to be said for how much space you leave in this piece which I think adds to the spookiness: between the bell chimes and between the big drum hits in particular, and after the wurli organ intro/outro. This piece, of all the submissions I’ve heard so far, has one of the best developed melodies. I’ve downloaded all the submissions and have been playing them on a loop and whenever I get to yours, I know exactly which boss I’m fighting and I find myself singing along. This, in my opinion, is the mark of a great video game theme, in particular for a boss battle. I think that there is a little room for this to develop and feel even bigger, for example maybe if you meet the same boss again later in the game. Overall this is excellent work as usual. Thank you for sharing!

Submitted

The Hallowed Showdown

SelkioneDeveloper1 year ago

You know I have a lot of respect for your composing skills (I still have in mind your 2nd place in the OST challenge).

So your compliments go straight to my heart. I really get the feeling from reading you that you take the time to listen to the different layers of each song. Thank you for taking the time to give such precise and lengthy feedback. It helps and it's a pleasure to read.

Music jams are lucky to have you as a participant.

briisuSubmitted1 year ago

This one was really cool! The blend of synthy sounds and the theramin lead with the orchestral elements is what really gave it that intense boss battle feel. Mixing was also well done, great job!

Submitted

"Unending Nightmare"

SelkioneDeveloper1 year ago

I always try to spend one hour on the final mixing. It’s not the funniest part but it can make a huge difference.

Thank you for your comment and for listening

DuncanHigginsSubmitted1 year ago

This is amazing! I love the theremin sound that you decided to go with for the melody. It perfectly captures the blend between whimsical and sinister and gave me huge Luigi's Mansion vibes.

You have such a mastery of arrangement and structure; managing to have areas of intensity and moments of calm and flowing between them excellently.

I could definitely imagine this as a secret boss theme in an RPG. You did an amazing job!

Submitted

A Dance With Death

SelkioneDeveloper1 year ago(+1)

You're absolutely right! I listened to the Luigi's Mansion ost for inspiration on what instruments to use.

Thanks for all the nice compliments, it's a pleasure to read :)

« A secret boss theme in an RPG », I like the idea.

BuscadonSubmitted1 year ago

Oh man I hate clowns, but this was great! I think my favorite part was the percussion, it really gave the song that battle feel. And to be honest for a boss battle song this has really chill vibes, but it just works here. Nice job!

Submitted

Chaos in the Pumpkin Patch

SelkioneDeveloper1 year ago

You make me wonder... do scary clowns work on Halloween? It's not in my culture to celebrate Halloween, so I'm not clear on the creatures of folklore.

It's interesting that you found it chill, the bpm is still 145... if you have time, I'd be really interested in understanding what makes music sound chill.

Anyway, thanks for your comment and for listening to my music.

BuscadonSubmitted1 year ago(+1)

Scary clowns totally work! A lot of Americans see clowns as creepy, if not outright scary. And they certainly are chaotic, which matches the Halloween vibe perfect. I gotta go to work, but after I get off I'll give the song another listen to try and explain what I was thinking.

BuscadonSubmitted1 year ago

So listening back to it I was able to confirm what I was thinking. Long story short, it's two things. 1 ) It feels more chill particularly when you reflect on some other songs that appear in the jam, such as parts of Contrite and Drummer Knight. 2 ) Some of the leading instruments feel really soft/gentle like what we hear starting at 1:45.

But there are intense supporting instruments and we got some awesome percussion going on. One thing's for sure, there is plenty of excitement! I really love what you are doing here.

Also, wanted to add that this kind of gives me "Overcooked" vibes if you've ever played that game before.

SelkioneDeveloper1 year ago(+1)

Now that's constructive feedback. Thank you so much for taking the time to answer me so accurately. It's very pertinent. And indeed, compared to the tracks you mentioned (Spooky Rhythms) and (Contrite), it's true that my creation is less energetic.

I'll take the time to comment on your music too (but as I'd seen that you already had plenty of comments, I waited to give priority to those with low ratings).

BuscadonSubmitted1 year ago

No problem, I'm glad to give you some useful feedback! It helps both of us out, I think. And take your time, I got plenty of comments and plenty to think about.

PAP3RG4MERSubmitted1 year ago

I have a weakness for evil jesters so you pretty much had me at the beginning with the time signature 😂 Anyway I love the theremin (?) sound you used for the main melody, and the strings are a very nice complement! My favorite section has to be the piano starting around 0:55, I love the overall feel of it but also the chords you used! Great work!

Submitted

SelkioneDeveloper1 year ago(+1)

Thanks for your feedback :)

The melody is indeed a sort of homemade theremin.

I'm glad you liked the piano accompaniment. I had a hard time finding the right arpeggios with those sometimes distant chords.