Trigger Warning: This Blog Discusses Abuse in Detail. Feel Free to Skip if needed.
I have started a new project which I am super excited for. I am composing a four track EP which will tell the story of childhood abuse. Now I love concept albums and musical theatre and the storytelling behind them. With this in mind I am using inspiration from the music theory techniques to tell this story.
Each week I will work on a new track in Ableton Live 10 and then in the final week I will mix them all in Pro Tools. The first track has been started this week. This track will tell the story of hidden abuse and the innocence of childhood. The basis of this song will be piano and violin. Piano will represent the main character whilst the violin represents the abuser. The song starts in C major which is the simplest scale with no sharps or flats. This showcases the innocence and young age of the main character. The song modulates to F flat major when the abuser begins the second progression. This, however, is short-lived as it is revealed that the key is in fact the relative minor D flat minor. The main character joins in the repeat of the second progression wanting to replicate the abuser but ends up playing alone in the end. The tune that the abuser is playing is the “Dies Irae” which is known as the song of death. This piece will continue to be used in the EP to be a musical reminder that death follows this character. I will add a link to this piece in its first version which is currently incomplete. I will add a link next week with the next version.
Version 1 Link
For this EP I am also working with the graphic designer Ariel Moor. I reached out to Ariel in response to a post she wrote which included her art which I was a fan of.
I gave her the initial pitch of a piece inspired by Alice: Madness Returns and the original Lewis Carrol novel Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. I am slightly obsessed with Lewis Carrol’s work and the twisted views and innocence within these works. Ariel responded saying it was crazy up to it. I sent her the preproduction plan for this EP as well as reference images for both.
I initial asked for perhaps the falling scene but the characters of the Alice, the White Rabbit, and the Queen of Hearts. I wanted a greyscale piece however, Ariel convinced me to add pops of colour with the light blue of Alice’s dress. She then a week later gave me the initial sketches. Of these four I chose the first as it is disturbing but reminds me of the innocence of the character. For the typography we have decided to keep it all capitalised in a Victorian Era font. It will simply have the title of the EP Alice Falls and my name as the subtitle Cerys.
I can’t wait to share more of this journey as it continues. This piece has been cathartic for me and I know it will be a rollercoaster of emotions but I’m glad I have this place to express the process.
All Artwork in this piece are copyrighted by Ariel Moor.
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