10k+ Views Pt. III: New Song! Shaping New Territory, Crafting Galaxies from Above!

Here’s another part of my 10k view milestone.

I did some recording a few days ago and I had this in mind after reaching this goal. It’s also my first new recording in this COVID environment after the split I did with Dystopian Futures. It’s free or pay-what-you-want, in case you’re wondering about that single. Feel free to listen to it!

P. S. I want to give a much delayed shout-out to Al’s Manga Blog for being the 300th follower of this blog!

New split EP! DFxO! That’s Dystopian Futures X Ospreyshire, for those scoring at home.

This is what I referred to last week!

I, Ospreyshire got to be involved with a split EP and it’s the first time I’ve ever done a collaborative album with anyone. The other part of the split involves the Scottish experimental punk band Dystopian Futures whom I’ve mentioned on this blog before and I’ve even made a music video for them on their first EP. Dave Emmerson (lead singer/bassist) and I are good friends. We had an email conversation a while ago about potentially collaborating and once the Coronavirus was unfortunately spreading worldwide, he came up with an idea of coming up with a “lockdown” project. Despite him being in the UK and me here in America, we sent each other songs.

I got to remix Dystopian Futures’ song “Apocalyptic Romance” which was really fun. I added some digital synths, random sound effects, a lo-fi recording of me playing a keyboard and I do back up vocals in the middle of the song. Dystopian Futures also got to cover the song “Corona” by the Minutemen. Some of you might recognize that song as the theme to Jackass.

For me, I got to bust out with two new Ospreyshire tracks. The first one is “Is This a New Normal?”. I used an organ setting on my keyboard while adding my trademark acousmatics in it. I also freestyled all of the lyrics which was a first for anything I’ve ever done as a way to reflect about how I felt about the pandemic. The second one is “Art In the Midst of Pandemonium and Pandemics”. I wrote down the lyrics to this one as well as doing some avant-garde soundscapes by multitracking live sounds of me playing bass in traditional and unconventional ways. This was also an Ospreyshire first since it involves a guest vocalist with the aforementioned Dave. He got to write and record his vocals in the song and it really tied in well. I liked how he referenced all the other songs in the split EP with his verse.

Just so you know, this split EP is either FREE or pay-what-you-want. Whether you want to chip in some money or not is totally up to you to get some new music.

Have a great day, everyone!

All of my albums are free or pay-what-you-want! Also, some BIG NEWS on Bandcamp for today only…

You read the title. You can get ALL of my albums for free or any monetary price you want. We’re in uncertain times and I’ve been affected just like you. If you want to download my music directly for free, then go right ahead. If you feel like chipping in for one or more of my recordings, then I’d be honored as well. Don’t feel the need to spend your rent money or grocery if you can’t afford it. I understand.

However, this isn’t just about me.

On Bandcamp, they waived their cut of  the fees for musicians who use that site for March 20th, so any money you send to me or any other artist/band on Bandcamp will see all of it. You pay $5 for example. then they will get every single penny of that sale for today. There are so many bands who can’t tour because of the CV pandemic. I’m not talking about the big name Top 40 stuff, I’m referring to independent artists who aren’t millionaires. Many of them work day jobs outside of music assuming if they aren’t laid off due to the situation going on now.

Feel free to download the music at any price including free from my Bandcamp page. If you’re going to be spending a lot of time at home, then at least get some music from me or even from others.

Dear Innovare pre-orders are up on Bandcamp and the first song is streaming!

It’s almost here, everyone! My full length-album Dear Innovare…The Souls of Ignored Pioneers Shall Be Renowned is available for pre-order on my Bandcamp page! It’s only $7 (or more if you’re generous) to buy. $7 for 41 tracks. Come on, that’s a steal and you all know it. Feel free to check out this concept album which is an homage to various inventors, artists, doctors, musicians, and filmmakers who did innovative things and/or had their works stolen by others.

The first song “As Mediocrity Pays to Greatness” is like an overture at first. If you pre-order the album, then you get an automatic download of that track and you’ll get the rest on 12/27 when it officially drops.

I’m so exited to finally release this!

Pathos Formula Wave is HERE!

My latest EP is now available for the public. This involves nine nonets of some of the angriest poems I’ve written as of recently. All the tracks involve my voice and acousmatics. No instruments here, everyone. Pathos Formula Wave: One Score of Rage is available at your price including free.

Track listing:

Nonet #1: A Friendship Becomes Astray
Nonet #2: Hate as a Trendy Endeavors
Nonet #3: Crimson Stained Flowers
Nonet #4: Abject Disrespect
Nonet #5: Dog Whistle Language Waltz
Nonet #6: Not Another Piece of Art Bashing a Jock (Oh, Wait. It is. Can You Not Read the Sarcasm?)
Nonet #7: Valleys of Endless Pretension (A Post-Rock Fanatic Satire)
Nonet #8: An Expose on a Feedback Loop
Nonet #9: One Score of Rage

Pathos Formula Wave is on Bandcamp tomorrow!

What is the Pathos Formula Wave, you may ask?

This is an EP that will be on Bandcamp. Unlike most of my other recordings, this only uses vocals and acousmatics only with no instruments there. Also, all the tracks are based on the nonet poetic structure. I will also proclaim that this has some of the angriest poems I’ve ever written. Even though the content isn’t as intense as “They Dreamed of Devastation and Deceit (Circle of Lies)”, there’s a lot of rage that went into the lyrics. One of the songs I have might as well be acousmatic hardcore with me screaming the whole way through.

I hope you check it out tomorrow!

New(ish) Ospreyshire Single: They Dreamed of Devastation and Deceit (Circle of Lies)!

Some of you might remember me making this poem roughly a month ago. However, I decided to record that poem with my cajon and my trademark acousmatics. Unlike other Ospreyshire tracks, I don’t use that many effects with my sound manipulation. Expect there to be audio fridge horror with some subtle sounds especially in the context of the lyrics. When I wrote that poem, I was airing my grievances with how much I despise the misrepresentation of Africa let alone the diaspora.

I know some people who weren’t familiar with this poem are going to ask me an obvious question, and I’ll answer it right now. No, the recording isn’t just about making a potshot against that expensive piece of plagiarism even though I do make said quip in one line. The issue is bigger than that. Just sayin.

The song is free or your own price on Bandcamp!

New song! Nkama Mibale! Dedicated to my over 200 followers.

I told you I would do something after getting 200 followers on my blog. This is a brand new single for the occasion. It’s called Nkama Mibale or 200 for those that don’t know Lingala. This poem/song is free to download or you can pay what you want for it. Hope you enjoy it!

Happy Birthday to me! Here are some presents for you!

Ospreyshire Diletantism
I woke up today one year older. It’s that time of the year where I celebrate another year of life.

I wanted to do something special, but not for myself though.

As of today, I released NEW Ospreyshire tunes on my Bandcamp page! I recorded a single with two poems just a few days ago and I wanted to keep it a secret until my birthday. The new poems are Dilettantism and End of a Decade respectively. The first track is definitely one of my noisier ones with my trademark penchant for acousmatic sounds. The second track is actually a ukulele-driven one, but where I multi track my voice and some subtle acousmatics in the background. This single is free or whatever price you want on my Bandcamp page. https://ospreyshire.bandcamp.com/album/diletanttism-end-of-a-decade-single

But wait! There’s more!

For those of you that followed me because of my film and anime reviews, I temporarily ended my hiatus on Iridium Eye Reviews for just one day. I posted three new reviews today, so feel free to check them out. They involve the early 00s sci-fi anime Alien Nine, Studio Ponoc’s first film Mary and the Witch’s Flower, and the recent travel documentary Unjust Perceptions: Ethiopia. Those reviews are my gift to any of you who like movies and/or anime.

ZAP Records Spotlight: October Bird of Death

Here’s another post involving the ZAP Records family. This time, I’m talking about a band representing my home state of all things.

This is October Bird of Death. They are a hardcore band straight outta Chicago. This isn’t some scene kid stuff or fake machismo metalcore. October Bird of Death play no-frills, no-BS, good old-fashioned hardcore punk rock. These guys are a bit of a superband of sorts in the Chicago hardcore and punk scenes as they contain past and present members of Headnoise, The Blamed, and Ballydowse.

Their debut album “Death Made Its Offer” is free or pay-what-you-want on the ZAP Records Bandcamp page, and there’s even a version on CD and cassette, too.

Feel free to check them out at https://www.facebook.com/octoberbirdofdeath.

Also…I realized that October Bird of Death and my stage name Ospreyshire are both Illinoisan musicians signed to ZAP Records, have names that start with O, and both names reference birds. #HilariousInHindsight