My song "Vortex (2009)" is a finalist for
Best Piano/Keyboard Performance here on Lafango, so I would like to express my gratitude and appreciation for this opportunity.
Just a little more background about the song. Back in my high school days and for a year or so after I graduated, I was in this weird techno-rap trio that consisted of me,
Christian Beach and a rapper named Tarik, who went by TMC (so he called us TMC+The New Generation). I often describe the sound as Depeche Mode meets Run DMC. We slowly started incorporating industrial influences into our sound, inspired by Nine Inch Nails (which had just released "Pretty Hate Machine" at the time), Ministry and Front 242.
Although we wound up being a little ahead of our times with that kind of sound, we were just too young and inexperienced to pull it off and the results were a mess. I wound up leaving the band in late 1990 or 1991.
Near the tail end of my time in the band, I purchased a used Roland Jupiter synthesizer that we planned on incorporating into our already elaborate setup of synths, samplers and drum machines. The original version of "Vortex," which I am going to date to 1992, was the first post-TMC song I attempted to write. I was still into the techno-industrial thing, but I also wanted to explore my love of progressive rock music, so that is what I tried to do with "Vortex." I'm not quite sure the finished product reflects that, but that was the plan. Also, I loved the warm, fat sounds of the Jupiter so I really wanted to showcase them in the song.
I recorded "Vortex" on a four-track cassette recorder that stopped working a long time ago. The only surviving mixed-down recording from the four-track is actually very poorly mixed and there are several glitches (drop-outs, etc.) as well.
So when I decided that "Vortex" was my best example of piano/keyboard performance, I had to redo the whole thing from scratch using GarageBand on my MacBook. I think the modern version is ALOTbetter than the original, although I still wish I had more time to work on getting a better mix.
But I'm quite happy with it and I hope you are, too.
Thanks again,Lafango...and please vote for your favorite in the contest.