CURRENT CHALLENGE - GENERAL INFORMATION
Time Frame: Tuesday, 01st September 2020 to Thursday, 24th September 2020 (24 days)
Challenge submission will end on 24-09-2020, 23:59 UTC+2/CEST (Germany) - until further notice.
Want to find out if you're still within the deadline, please consult the following options:
The
Global Countdown on it's dedicated page or the countdown on the
home page. You can also consult the World Clock at the top of the forum or alternatively the following tool - in this case please select "Berlin (Germany)" as location 1, and your location as location 2:
Time and Date - World Clock Meeting Planner. We do post reminders via our
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SONGWRITING THEME: How are you?
GENRE: Lo-Fi Hip Hop
Image Source: Pexels, photo by Cottonbro, released under Creative Commons CC0
A few word about this month's theme:
Staff (Mister Fox) wrote:September somewhat established as a "Mental Health Awareness Month" on our audio community. And just like the "Community Scramble", I would like to keep certain fixed "themes" throughout the year. I find that it is important to talk about these health related issues, not brush them away, not stigmatize them. September is also world wide "Suicide Prevention Month", so I'd love to keep up the conversation.
The year 2020 has been a very strange ordeal for all of us. On top of our ever growing world problems (global warming, nature disasters, etc), we also got a global pandemic, saw plenty of restrictions especially towards beloved ones, lockdowns of areas lasting for several weeks, continued "social distancing". While certain media groups pushed the narrative of "we can do this!" (especially the music industry), that doesn't mean one is getting out of this without any lasting effects. Especially towards one's mental health.
There has been a certain trend for the Songwriting Competition this year, which manifested in form of a request for more relaxed music, or chill-out rather. Something where you can just sit back, relax, and let your mind wander. The world is currently chaotic enough, and music does help with escapism and healing.
A thing that is currently huge on streaming services like Youtube and Spotify righ, is the so called "Lofi Hip Hop" genre, some might even call it "Chillhop". To the majority of the audience, it is advertised as "relaxation music" and "music for learning". And strangely enough - it works (at least for me - if I have to write long texts like this one), especially if you look at the comments of these streams that are about personal struggles in various shapes and forms. There are plenty of names for this particular genre, plenty of people that will probably dissect it. Music is highly subjective and the lines are thin. But at it's essence, it is basically "Downbeat" music. Just less ambient heavy pads and with a more relaxed hip hop beat. I've posted plenty of examples (like usual) down below in Post #3.
You might be asking "what? Hip Hop music again? Didn't we have this in July already?!", and you're definitely right. But the main criticism here was, that people were forced to rap, while our community shows an affinity towards instrumentals still. The Chill-Out Songwriting Competition in May 2020 was really well taken. So why not fuse these two genres and try something new?
Your task for this Songwriting Competition:
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This month, you can create a production in the so called "Lo-fi Hip Hop" genre
Lo-fi Hip Hop has it's roots in "Downtempo" music (umbrella term, which also covers "Chill-out music"), but is fused with a more mellow beat (in this case hip hop beats). The overall concept is to relax, chill out, put your mind off of things. If you listen to various examples from all over the internet, you will hear fairly simplistic chord progressions, a lot of piano and/or acoustic guitars, sometimes even clean electric guitars and barely any vocals or voice samples. I've heard a lot of bpm variations, but most of them are between 60 to 90bpm (half-time).
"Lo-fi Hip Hop" can sound "wobbly" and "worn out" in places (as if run from old tapes and/or a VHS), but the overall package is still quite modern and "hi-fi" sounding. It is not(!) "Vaporwave" though, where there is more focus on synths and pads, glitching and worn out VHS tapes. These genres are a so called "micro-genre". People will interpret them as they seem fit. So you have to go by your gut instinct - perfect for this month IMO.
This month is about spreading awareness of mental health
Feel free to share the word via social media with the hashtags:
#MentalHealth and #PositiveMentalAttitude
Important Footnote:
If you know of somebody that is suffering from depression, showing signs of self harm or having suicidal thoughts - don't look away, do not lock this person out. Reach out, re-connect, offer help - and may it only be an ear that listens to a story. If you know of somebody that is suffering anxiety or is showing signs of severe introversion, don't pressure this person, be mindful and understanding, give him/her enough space if needed.
Never ever treat this person with disrespect or shrug away a subliminal cry for help. It is hard to judge how a person's mind works, sometimes the person you try to help is locking you out or will brush you away. Sometimes you could be bombarded with walls of texts or unexpected outbursts. The walls could be thick, they could be paper thin. Every single word can be measured in gold without you knowing. Be patient, be kind, just... be there.
If in doubt, contact local aid agencies that are specialized in this field.
Songwriting Rule Summary / Add-On Rules:
- create a production fitting to the given theme, genre and general premise
- you can use any tool that is at your disposal (samples, virtual instruments and/or real instruments)
- IMPORTANT: if you use non-licensed material (no royalty free material from sample CDs, etc), give full credit to the source material
- do not go higher than -14LUFS ILk/-1dBTP in terms of perceived loudness (mastering). Music doesn't have to be squashed to bits in order to be impactful
- for newcomers: no cover versions or remixes, no ripped acapella's
- ADD-ON RULES:
- <no add-on rules specified>
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Please
take note of the official rules - they can be found at the following thread:
Songwriting Competition - Official Rules and Guidelines
Please address any OT question in the official Gossip thread:
Songwriting Competition - Gossip and Discussion
If you like what the Mix Challenge (community) has been doing in recent months:
Please consider supporting us
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SPONSORS (Prizes):
Prizes for Songwriting Challenge participants:
Note: All licenses are NFR (Not-For-Resale), except where noted.
Changes to available prices on short notice may be possible and will be announced separately.
RECURRING LICENSE SPONSORSHIP:
IK Multimedia is kind enough give away one license of MODO BASS to the winner
License will turn into NFR
More info on IK Multimedia:
https://www.ikmultimedia.com
Tone2 is kind enough to donate a license of
Saurus2 to the winner (until further notice)
License will turn into NFR
More info on Tone2:
https://tone2.com
kv331 audio is kind enough give away a bundle of either SynthMaster 1+2 Bundle, or a freely selectable set of 3 SynthMaster Expansions
License will not turn into NFR, you need to have a kv311 audio user account in order to pick up Expansions
More info on kv331 audio:
https://www.kv331audio.com
JRR Sounds is kind enough give away any-1 sound sets or sample set of winner's choice (
exception: Bundles)
More info on JRR Sounds:
https://www.jrrshop.com/jrr-sounds
Luftrum is kind enough give away either a license of Lunaris, a license of Bioscape, or any two sound sets of winner's choice (
exception: Bundles and Nano Electronics)
License will turn into NFR
More info on Luftrum:
http://www.luftrum.com
Rekkerd Sounds is kind enough give away 1 sound set of winners choice (
exception: Krezie EDM and Neurofunk Vol. 1)
License will turn into NFR
More info on Rekkerd Sounds:
http://sounds.rekkerd.org/
Ghostwave Audio (Vincent Bastiat) is kind enough to donate any 2 sound sets to the winner
License will turn into NFR
More info on Ghostwave Audio:
http://ghostwaveaudio.com
Hollow Sun is kind to donate one license of "Music Laboratory Machines - The Suite I" to the winner
License will turn into NFR
More info on Hollow Sun:
http://www.hollowsun.com
Hornet Plugins is kind enough give away one license from the depicted tools (see image) to the winner
License will turn into NFR
More info on Hornet Plugins:
http://www.hornetplugins.com
Sound / Graphic Designer, and honorary Mix Challenge staff
satYatunes is donating one commercial product of winner's choice (until further notice)
More info on satYatune's page:
http://www.satyatunes.com/
THANKS FOR THE DONATIONS!
And also a thank you to all former contributors as well.
If you want to sponsor content (please have a focus on instruments, samples and sound sets), please get in touch with the Mix Challenge staff.
Please spread the word of the challenge on social media.
For example with our dedicated
Twitter Account or
Facebook Page
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Good luck to all participants.
And most importantly, have fun!
