On Being Grateful

by: James Revels III

The paradigm has switched from “Less is More” to “More is Less”. In a culture where we have worn down the soles of our shoes trying to keep up with the Jones, take this second with me to sit down, untie the laces and relax. Don’t worry that your iPhone doesn’t have an ‘S’ at the end. I won’t judge you for it.

Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants. –Epictetus

Today, we live in an amazing time where we can have anything we want mail ordered to our homes or pre-ordered for pick up thanks to our magic plastic boxes in our pockets. We have more connections with friends and family via the internet and the social media it has spawned. We can swim in and drink clean water. (Well…99% of the time, sorry Michigan) Our cabinets are (for the most part) stocked with food, even if it’s only ramen noodles and canned goods. We are surrounded by so much cheap and accessible entertainment. We have video games, movies, music and, of course, everyone favorite, Netflix and Chill. Don’t get me started on the beauties of nature. This article would be a million words long so I’ll truncate it here.

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Apex Round 1 (Pre-Alpha Play)

NEW MUSIC – Mesos

Word Origins Playlist

 

Free Write -Vacancy

So I’m trying to get into the habit of writing daily, so everyday I’ve decided to write 16 lines of poetry/lyrics and if I create something I’m proud of I’ll post it here for you to enjoy. (Ps. subscribe to my YouTube channel for more content)  Next week I might do some more cohesive poetry than just hip-hop like lyrics.

Vacancy

by: James Revels III

I’m outta this world like exosphere.

I’m better than the me of Yester-year.

Outside of the box. No metal gear.

I’m the captain watch what happens when I steer.

Stars below and the future above.

Friendship roots are deeper than subs.

Smooth with speech make any girl blush,

but tomorrows we build is what makes it love.

A heart of a lion. Skin of an elephant.

A wordsmith with elements of eloquence.

Breaking bills is the only time I change.

Numb to the competition. Novocaine.

I may modulate the frequency.

but never degradate the decency.

There’s a vacuum in power of prowess with words

and I’m here to fill the vacancy.

Here’s the instrumental that inspired these lyrics

Free Write – Arsenic

So I’m trying to get into the habit of writing daily, so everyday I’ve decided to write 16 lines of poetry/lyrics and if I create something I’m proud of I’ll post it here for you to enjoy. (Ps. subscribe to my YouTube channel for more content) This week I’m adding an audio visual element.

Arsenic

By: James Revels III

Take a sip of these syllables as they settle in your heart like arsenic.

My name in the tree of life carved in. This intentional flame arson then.

As far as I came only look back when checking pedometers.

Flow spill out of me like broken glass or a colander.

Quotes in quilted patterns held together by sutures.

You haul me out I relocate your like a mover.

Succeeding now or later, though I prefer sooner.

Flirt with lady luck, though mother nature’s much cuter.

On this boat of life, we all know that death rows.

Capital punishment for he reward of joy, I suppose.

Uploaded to the Over-soul, These words I download.

The wisest men are the ones who say the most with their mouths closed.

So that makes me a fool, cool like frost bitten fingers.

No soliciting, Advice unheeded by deep thoughts that linger.

I see red when friends are blue. Smell ya later. Burnt Cedar.

Trying to get in tune like an orchestra or a singer

Want some more Fire! Check this out!

Free write – Simple Man

So I’m trying to get into the habit of writing daily, so everyday I’ve decided to write 16 lines of poetry/lyrics and if I create something I’m proud of I’ll post it here for you to enjoy. (Ps. subscribe to my YouTube channel for more content)

Simple Man

by: James Revels III

 

Simple man with a difficult goal,

I would sell my soul but it’s invaluable.

I would sleep but I live my dreams

so insomnia doesn’t bother me

Attention focused, Laser beam.

Trying to grow up from that lazy teen.

So, I woke up at 6 turned on a beat

while simultaneously turning off the T.V.s

Intercourse with discourse.

I get my release from speech.

Mutilate my competition.

Move along there’s nothing to see.

Put greatness on the GPS,

Don’t deviate from the plan

Here’s a laxative, I know it’s hard to digest

these complex thoughts from a simple man.

Here’s the instrumental I listened to inspire the verse.

 

Freewrite (1/3/2015)

So I’m trying to get into the habit of writing daily, so everyday I’ve decided to write 16 lines of poetry/lyrics and if I create something I’m proud of I’ll post it hear for you to enjoy.

by: James Revels III

Surf on a sea of serotonin,

Chemically Imbalanced.

Everyday’s a challenge so watch me hop a hurdle.

Moving steady like a turtle although my mind’s racing like hares.

Walking on opticals the way I climb these stares to heaven.

After exiting the interstate to hell. I park.

Blood thirsty for success like a pack of malnourished sharks.

Thoughts they spark.

No Tony Stark but Hip-Hop I’ll Avenge her

Although, someday I fall outta love with her, better download Tinder.

Burn the past to cinders and scatter the ashes like Rayleigh

Too logical for promises.

I only take “Yes and No”s keep your “maybe”s.

Lately waking early so I can be on time for destiny

Kill the old me in effigy, my psyche gave the eulogy.

Fueling me is rocket fuel propelling me to new heights.

The futures kind of fuzzy like a rear view adorned in dice.

Kites envy my flight due to my aviation pedigree.

Sick of this.

Pencils, papers, songs are all the meds I need

Here is the instrumental I wrote to for inspiration

Please Support My Content

I’ve been making music for 6 years and running this blog for 4 years. I appreciate all the support I’ve gotten over the years. That support and my love of creativity is what keeps me going, but I must keep it real with you. I don’t get payed for any of my content and haven’t for about upwards of 8 months. Now, money isn’t the main goal, but I need to survive. It’s affecting my life, relationship and well-being so this is why I am writing this. My loved ones are worried I’ve been investing all my time and money ($1,000+ over the 6 years)  into this dream without any returns and think I should rethink my life choice. I disagree and I hope you do too. If you’re convinced please support financially or, at the very least share the content with people (Which I posted at the bottom of the post) . The hardest part hasn’t been making content, but getting people to see the hard work. I am a one man team, humbly asking for your assistance. If you’re not convinced the stay tuned because I’m about to do a brief breakdown of my investment into my dream over the half decade.

• A $400 Desktop computer to upgrade from laptop because it had horrible RAM (2gb) and no storage space (200 gb).
• A condenser microphone, stand, interface and cables (Approx. $300)
• A drawing tablet ($100) So I could work in Photoshop to create my own album covers and now animations.
• Instruments ($300) – This includes my acoustic guitar, keyboard, and MIDI keyboard.
• Reason 8.3 ($400) when I first started out I have a pirated version of Reason 5 and after a couple year of that for studying I decided to invest in craft and upgrade to the recent version,
• Multiple Cameras ($300) due to some breaking over the years from use or accidents.

That alone is $1900 investment over the last 6 years and I’ve only made maybe a tenth of that back.

My equipment

MY keyboard

List of My Content

On this blog. I post original content such as How to Overcome Writer’s Block  or the Death of the Facebook Like Page. I even post poetry such as Man in the Mirror. Speaking Man in the Mirror did you know I made a music video for that song. (embedded below the paragraph). While we’re on the topic of poetry I’ve also published a book  of poetry earlier this year titled Yesterday’s Tomorrow.  I even made an accompanying Soundtrack for my book.

On my YouTube channel I post a music semi-daily and have been working on a daily music making challenge where I try to make a short 1 to 2 minute theme every day or two. I also occasionally post music theory/mixing tutorials (embedded below this paragraph

I’m thankful for anyone who has read this in its entirety and I hope you continue to follow me on my creative journey. Thanks for the past support. Let’s make something great.

 

Bonus! Here’s a short compilation of clips from my animation practice

Advanced Music Theory – Granular Synthesis

Lately I’ve been trying to find some deep and obscure music theory techniques and facts. Today I found this thing called “Granular Synthesis”.

When a sound designer combines two or more sounds (usually called synthesizers) to make a new sound it is called “synthesis”. Granular Synthesis takes short 1-50 millisecond samples of a sound called “Grains” and layers them on top of each other with different types of alterations to create a new sound.

I have only lightly dabbled with this technique but it’s something I may gradually add to my repertoire so below is an example I found from YouTube

Daily Music Making Challenge

For those who don’t know I make short compositions to hone my music composition skills. My dream is to make Video Game/TV/Film Music.

There’s a poll above the video embed, Let me know what you think I’d love to hear from you.I post en masse so Subscribe to get the latest piece sent directly to your YouTube feed and not miss a beat!

The Oldest Song Ever

So, After some hours of boredom I thought to  myself what is the oldest song known to history. The answer is the “Hurrian Hymn”, which is circa 1400 BC from Mesopotamia.

Daily Music Making Challenge Day 30 – Adventures

After a week of taking a break to letting idea summer I’m back with day 30 – Adventures. For those who don’t know I make short compositions to hone my music composition skills. My dream is to make Video Game/TV/Film Music.

There’s a poll above the video embed, Let me know what you think I’d love to hear from you.I post en masse so Subscribe to get the latest piece sent directly to your YouTube feed and not miss a beat!