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.

Inspiration for Pathos Formula Wave

I didn’t expect to get some attention for my new EP, but I appreciate those who’ve listened to it. If you haven’t then here it is.

I wanted to strip my sound down for this concept. This involved a restricted setting with the recording and writing process. For starters, every song had to be based on the same poetic format. In this case, I chose the nonet. That’s a nine line poem with nine syllables each. There are also nine songs on the EP, so one can say I went up to the nines, right?

The recording process is even more minimal than previous recordings I’ve done with my last EP, singles, and compilation contributions. I only used my voice and acousmatics for this one to see what sounds I can get or manipulate. Some of the found sounds are more obvious than others like using a bathtub in one example.

Besides the composition, I thought this EP was therapy for me. I have to be honest with all you readers. I have a lot of issues with internalizing my anger and sadness. A ton of people have enraged me for most of my lives. Most of them are people I haven’t done anything wrong to. I won’t name names, but the tracks involve people who’ve bullied me in the past, some racists who’ve given me hell, and former co-workers who questioned my worth while getting special treatment. This has been a long time coming. The times when I was open with my anger, people treat me like I’m Satan himself. Not to mention a lot of those same people never owned up to THEIR actions and wrongdoings which frustrates me more. You really want to get on my bad side? It’s when others don’t take responsibility for their words or actions when they do something hurtful. I was sick of hiding these feelings for years now and they manifested in spoken word form.

So what do you think? What was your favorite song on the album? What are your thoughts on how I created this EP?

Maybe this could lead to something good and that’s saying nothing about another album I’m writing and recording. Wink wink.

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

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!

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.

Dystopian Futures: Low Arts EP

Last Monday, Dystopian Futures released their brand new EP Low Arts!

This EP is great for those who like creative and innovative music with better musicality or depth than whatever is on Top 40 radio. Dystopian Futures are also releasing this album for free or pay-what-you-want. If you want get some tunes, then feel free to download this album. Please chip in some money to them if you feel so inclined, so they can continue making some quality experimental punk rock. If you download this EP, you’ll also get the music video of the title track as a bonus! Here’s the video for those who haven’t seen it: https://vimeo.com/268278856.

Verses Vs. Anhedonia: 1 Year Anniversary

Can you believe it?

Exactly one year ago, I released my debut EP “Verses Vs. Anhedonia” to the world. Time has gone by way too fast here. This was my first foray into recording some poems and adding some avant-garde soundscapes with them. It was also the first time I’ve ever used my omnichord as an instrument for some of the tracks. Granted, this stuff isn’t the kind of music you’ll hear on Top 40 radio or commercials, but I hope you check it out for those who didn’t catch it the first time.

You can download it for free or you can pay what you want.

I want to thank Dave Emmerson from ZAP Records for distributing it worldwide and for formatting the liner notes of the album. Thanks for believing in my art, mate.

One year later, and I never thought I would continue with this avant-garde project.

Thank you all.

-Curtis

ZAP Records Spotlight: To Live As Sons

This has been irregular, but I need to be better at this recent idea I had where I talk about the other bands and artists on ZAP Records. That’s the label that I’m affiliated with, for those who didn’t know.

This band is To Live As Sons. They are a hardcore band based in West Virginia. This quintet has two original members from Zao, who are a legendary band in the hardcore and metalcore scenes. It’s crazy how I’m labelmates with them, but they make some good music.

It’s their newest song “Get the Horizon”. It was originally on the ZAP Records Vol. 3 compilation album, but the song is now released as a single.

By the way…it’s FREE (or pay-what-you-want)! That should save you some money on Black Friday. Just sayin’.

Feel free to check them out.

-Curtis