Making trap drum patterns doesn’t come to me naturally. The hanging dead time between kick and snare, which I litter, instead of emphasizing with sub-bass, typically results in murky mixes with little original or interesting content. Contemporary music has trended towards more cookie-cutter trap drum arrangements, but the "pocket" between up- and down-beats drafted in song after song still tickles my auditory nerve, so long as I didn’t make it.
That said, by increasing the tempo of the song by 1.5-2.0x, elements of punk rock drums appear alongside synths and lo-fi hip-hop keys to create a distinctive sound. The lead vocal has ultimate freedom of choice between structured cadences and rambling drivel. It all melds at the swifter speed, the swift-hop/swap exchange. Additionally, parts in each arrangement can vary in length and structure, thus opening composers to instrumental sections abbreviated by the manic casualness of the lyrics. The songs are broken down into modular units and sections, fitting together similar to Tetris bricks. Thus, the name "Swap" music fits without irony.
An aesthetic purist may prefer to categorize the music more closely with EDM. There are some elements of vaporwave, but the mood is darker. Still, there is a pure release of dopamine to making this music. Whether that translates to a random audience remains to be seen. Playing a Swap song, however, requires more stamina than skill, as parts are often broken down into one-to-two-note performances. Over the course of a song, I grow bored, uncomfortable, and physically drained mashing the same key for three minutes, but the exhilaration of hearing the songs played back for the first time is unmatched.
Printing on plastic is a little more involved than I initially thought. Currently, I'm using a special enamel typically used for street signs. The process can be nerve-wrecking, as my first attempt to thin the ink burned a hole in my ink bucket. It seems the print, once applied, etches into the plastic instead of resting on the surface.
In 2023, over 400,000 cassette tapes were sold in the USA. That number represents a 1% decline in YoY sales from 2022. At first glance, the market is a dollop in an ocean of content. When shown the tape for the first time, most people's reaction is, "How am I supposed to listen to this?" In fact, cassette players are available on Amazon for as little as $20. Audiophiles with vintage stereo systems stand to benefit most from the release. However, I envision parents and kids desperate to disconnect from the constant burden of carrying a smart phone might seek refuge at their local record store and rediscover the cost-benefits and durability of magnetic tape. Perhaps that is too idealistic on my part.
The ultimate goal would be to form a partnership with a manufacturer to create some swanky retro tape players, but the venn diagram of things both "cheap" and "cool" is mercurial at best.
Special thanks to National Audio Company. Tapes are mastered and printed by the label, NOEQTY, in Lawrenceville, Ga. Tracklist below:
Off Course
Real Things
T1000
Lenox
(end of side A)
financebrols
Tadaa
Jacky
RUOK
Double-Cup
People have asked how I plan to make any money selling tapes. In my first week, I collected more revenue from T1000 tapes and demos than ten years of streaming.
Below is a link to the title track, T1000. Please enjoy
To be Continued?...