Anva

Soundcloud link : https://on.soundcloud.com/vG5dSGh77k1cAGDa9

Youtube link :

I went for a concept album. Each track will follow each other perfectly like one big piece of music.

Theme : I used both the picture and "Spirits in the North"

Lore/Storytelling : 

I have seperated the album in 4 segments, each segment represent a different spirit. I used the deer in the picture as each spirit.

1.  Huldraesa - Spirit of the Hidden

Represents the mystery of the mist and the unknown

2. Aldvior - Spirit and Guardian of  Life

Guardian and protector of lifeform in the mountain

3. Vidarrin - Spirit of Vengeance

The other side of the mountain, selfishiness and corruption

4. Thalvindr - Spirit of Wind

The flow of wind and time, invisible but always present

DAW : I used Nuendo 11 for everything.

Composition process :

Going for a concept album I had to first think which transition point will be the best. The lowest in terms of energy right after a climax is usually where I used my point to make a smooth transition between each piece.

1.  Huldraesa - Spirit of the Hidden :

Started the track with some nature ambience mixed with water flowing slowly,

I used a trubular bell that I reversed and processed with reverb and delay to create some unique sound design that repeats it self every 8 to 10 measures, creates a sense of mystery.

Most of synth pads was made with 1 or 2 pianos with Reverb directly on the track at 100% Wet cutting some low frequencies of the verb to have that lush effects without the pluck attack of the piano.

Vocals : Used my own voice 4 times and processed with some panning, EQ and pitch shift to give some sense of a Scandinavian/Norse feeling.

2. Aldvior - Spirit and Guardian of  Life:

Went for a more hopeful and orchestral approach using a small leitmotiv what would repeat it self getting bigger and bigger with the strings woodwinds and vocal.

3. Vidarrin - Spirit of Vengeance:

Switching vibe entirely going for a dark gritty and space ambience. Used phaseplant for the weird synth using a glass coca cola bottle that was sampled and put some granulation into it for a high pitch "cry" mix with a frame drum for the lowest note. Adding more percussions using Damage and CinePerc with some spatialisation.

Three differents basses, one drone holding the note, another one doing the same but with some artefacts in the highs and last bass is a Contre Bass doing some harsh bow strings movement to add a little feeling of creep and distort.

4. Thalvindr - Spirit of Wind:

Went for a very "airy" and delicate sound to finish the track after an intense and dark vibe. Use the piano and strings combo together with a couple of woodwinds going with mainly simple chord progression. Added two wind sound effects inside to start and finish the track.

Plugins used alot mostly :
Strings : LA Scoring Strings 3

Woodwinds : CineWindsCore

Piano/Pad : Keyscape/Foundations

Synths : Phaseplant/Omnisphere

Percussions : Damage/CinePerc

Others : Mostly sampling and myself