project proposal xP

CONTEXT !!!

I have chosen to write and produce a horror inspired EP for my final project, as well as a music video to go along with one of the songs. I’m hoping to replicate an early 2000’s emo sound in this EP, which is something I have been very interested in for a long time so hopefully this will come very easily to me. I have also chosen to stylise this project according to the era, for example, using SpaceHey - a fan-made MySpace replica - as my project website.

I also tried to write an EP for the last FMP, but I felt like I was unsuccessful because I unfortunately only ended up recording one full song and two demos, mostly due to poor time management. I’ve had success writing and recording songs for other units in the past, so I’m hoping to use the production skills I learned from those experiences to help me with the production for this project. The songs I recorded in the past had a much more acoustic lo-fi feel which is the opposite of what I’m trying to achieve with this project, so it may be a challenge. However, I believe that the knowledge I already have and the research I will do will help me to get the sound I’m hoping for.

This time, I am challenging myself to write and finish four to five songs for the EP. I hope to manage my time much better this time around, especially with the amount of work that I would like to get to a high standard. I would also love to be able to design album art and make CDs for the EP. The use of physical media is especially important to me for this project because it fits the early 2000’s theme I will be trying to replicate. 

RESEARCH !!!

Silverstein / Thursday at O2 Forum Kentish Town - 1/3/25 [Live event]

I'm Not Okay: An Emo Retrospective - Barbican Library Exhibition

Rock Sound magazine articles

Kerrang! magazine articles and video interviews

PROBLEM SOLVING !!!

I am anticipating to run into problems with time management again because I know it's one of my weaknesses. To try to combat this, I've planned a timeline which should hopefully remind me how far along I need to be with my project. As a theoretical problem, I know I could possibly forget to save and accidentally lose my work. I will be putting all of my written work into Google Docs so they get automatically saved before pasting into SpaceHey, so I don't run the risk of losing important work. 

PLANNING AND PRODUCTION !!!

This timeline is a rough structure. I am not expecting to stick to it exactly as written because I’m anticipating things to take more or less time than planned. I also expect different aspects of the project to overlap where I have free time.

Week 1 – 4: Writing​

Writing with session players, restructuring songs accordingly, building and finalising the tracklist.

Week 5: Demo week​

Getting demos and guide tracks recorded ready for final recording.

Week 6 – 8: Recording​

Full day recording sessions in the studio.

Week 9 – 11: Mixing + mastering​

Getting assistance from other producers if needed.

Week 12: Design week​

Designing and finalising album art. Making and editing the music video.

Week 13: Listening party + CD production​

Collecting feedback from peers and friends so I can go back and tweak things if needed before making CDs and preparing for release.

Week 14: Release and hand in​

Getting everything finalised, released, and handed in. 

PRACTICAL SKILLS !!!

This project will require all the vocal and instrumental skills I have used in almost every past practical assignment. It will also require my knowledge of how to set up and pack down the recording studio, as well as how to conduct successful and efficient recording sessions. 

EVALUATION AND REFLECTION !!!

I’m hoping to post weekly evaluations and reflections to this blog. Each post will be date marked so I can easily keep track of my progress and make sure I am on track with my initial project timeline. As my work progresses and ideas develop and change, my updated plans and decisions will also be documented here to ensure that my entire process is properly recorded. In my final evaluation, I am hoping to give my own reflection of the process and the project as a whole, as well as feedback from others. 

PRESENTATION !!! 

All of my work and progress will be documented in blog posts on this SpaceHey site. The intended target audience for my project will most likely be familiar with MySpace, so hopefully using this format will create the nostalgic feeling I am aiming for with this whole project. Photos, videos, and audio files will be embedded into the blog posts for easy access and immersion. I am hoping for this to be a mixed media project, so the final product will be released on Bandcamp as well as hopefully burned onto CDs.