Making of Union

So I started by recording myself, audio and video, just singing and playing ukulele, whatever came out of my heart.

I then took that audio recording, added a bit of reverb, then copied it and added a ton of reverb so it sounds like a cathedral, then copied that cathedral version again and changed the pitch to an octave lower. Then I made the original track a bit louder than the others.

I hit record again and played the original track, and closed my eyes. And I sang along with myself.

Then I took that recording, and did the same modifications (add reverb, copy and add more reverb, copy and change pitch, change volumes).

Enjoying the choral effect, I shifted all of the original track variations to be going in the right ear slightly, and each of the second track variations to go slightly into the left ear (each in different positions so that when I close my eyes, it sounds like a choir standing before me). Listen with headphones to hear what I mean.

Then I went back and made the octave-lower tracks each a bit louder to add a touch more bass.

For the video, I only had footage of the first track, so I layered a 42% transparent copy of it over itself. I put the new copy at 98% speed so that as the song goes on, the image diverges from itself. I dig it. Well I must confess… At the time of this writing, I haven’t yet made the video, so I’m not sure if it will truly be made that way or whether I’ll dig it at all. I’ll let you know if I decide to do it differently. I’m sure I’ll also add some weird filters…

edit:

Okay so I ended up changing a lot of details with the video. Made the layered copy fade in and out and the original is at 42% opacity. The second layer is only in there for part of it. I do dig it.

It was all made with free software on an old PC. I enjoy making cool new things without the “right” tools or materials. I need to stop using a lack of tools as an excuse for why I don’t create more art. If I really needed expensive tools to express myself, I would get them, but art is not only for the elite. If there’s a will, there’s a way!

I hope you enjoy!

Love, joy, and peace, always.