Created by pluko on Sound. Leave a comment on the song at https://www.sound.xyz/pluko/minddd-w-reo-cragun

MINDDD [w/ Reo Cragun]

Hello web3 world, I"m Sam and this is my genesis Sound drop! I produce electronic music under the name pluko and have been doing so since I was 15. I"d say I truly identify with the title of an architect more than strictly a music producer. I am fascinated by all forms of expression and music is definitely what feels to be the most universal. I"m also constantly focusing my attention on innovation of art, technology, and human connection. When the concept of NFTs started to hit my radar, it really dawned on me how important of a role they will play in the future of art. I"ve been releasing NFTs here and there for about a year and a half, but also haven"t been releasing a ton of music. With my next project wrapping up and starting to release to the world, you can certainly expect plenty of new releases in the future.

With this song in particular, I just have a few words to share. 

Ive been incredibly fascinated with trying to infuse all of my favorite styles of music into one genre/aesthetic. I feel super proud of this one and feel that it is accomplishing exactly that. Reo Cragun and I connected through our homie Daniel Allan and we actually started writing this song all together at Daniels crib. Reo and I actually finished the track back and forth on facetime. It"s been so cool to watch the ideas progress into a final polished track.  Such amazing dudes and so fun to work with and we"ve got plenty more to share.

MINDDD [w/ Reo Cragun] #2

Small Strides

"Anything you wanna do, believe me when I tell you that I want it too"

The spark of an idea originally conceived around a campfire 15 years ago, dusted off and reconstructed during a pandemic writing session. "Small Strides" explores the new realities of writing & recording with your long time band mates amidst lockdown. The tune leaves behind the complex arrangements Umphrey"s is often know for and focuses on the enjoyable simplicity of a danceable groove. 

For a deep dive into the song"s creation, check out this podcast episode with Brendan Bayliss & Joel Cummins: https://apple.co/3Tmwq6E 

We are pleased to make our genesis drop on Sound with this Asking From A Friend track. Our aim is to put the focus back on the music itself and provide fans with a limited edition, verifiable track on the blockchain. 

We thank you for the support & know you have yet to ever witness our best. Onward & upward together. 


Small Strides #12

Small Strides #13

LUCA LUSH

Hi I"m Luca. I used to say I was just a producer, then just a DJ, but only now do I feel like I fully encompass the role of an artist. I"ve spent the last 10 years navigating the electronic music space to varying degrees of success while using SoundCloud and digital distribution platforms as a digital diary to share my eclectic productions with the world. Through a series of fortuitous events, persistence and a dedication to the craft I found myself touring the globe over selling out hard ticket shows a world away from my tiny apartment in Brooklyn where it all started. 

That all came to a screeching halt with  the pandemic, although covid gave me a much needed reprieve from touring nonstop and allowed me to re-evaluate what it was that I wanted to do with music. I briefly pivoted into more rave centric music with a project centered entirely around speedhouse music but, without any raves to play the tour we had scheduled around the material was postponed until outright cancelled. 

During this period of particular financial uncertainty I was introduced to the NFT space through my friends cooper and Kris (wuki). I became heavily involved in several project, teaching myself JavaScript and python in order to fully dive into generative art and music creation. At some point I realized that despite my enthusiasm for learning a diverse new skill set I was drifting farther away from the thing that gave me true purpose in life - that of creating and sharing music.
 
It was during this time I penned Crystal Caverns. I hadn"t touched upon the style that had so fortuitously brought me to this point in some time - after years of production experience I was coming back with both a fresh ears and a fresh heart to fully embrace the sound. Although I have since pivoted out into more mature techno leanings I felt like a more melodic superfluous future bass romper was the perfect fit for a sound.xyz drop.

CRYSTAL CAVERNS #5

Emily Lazar

Emily Lazar is a multi-disciplinary artist fronting the rock/metal transmedia project, September Mourning. She made history as the first female metal/ hard rock musician to mint and sell an NFT on the blockchain. She has spoken about her accomplishments in Web 3/ NFT"s at Harvard (2x), NFT.NYC and ETH Denver Conferences.

September Mourning is a transmedia project based on a comic book series she wrote and published through Image/Top Cow Comics with her business partner Marc Silvestri (Batman/Witchblade/Darkness). September Mourning is the title character. As a human reaper hybrid, she  gives expired souls a second chance at life in another body. In doing so, she messes with  the plans of the antagonist, Fate, who is trying to rid  earth of all the good souls and leave the bad so the world will self-destruct and It can start anew. An epic war between the living and the dead ensues. Emily plays the title character on stage.

Emily designed the world she and her band (Rich Juzwick, Kyle Mayer and Aaron Hoover) bring to life on stage, including costumes, choreography, sets, etc. The band has toured with & opened festivals for Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson, Slipknot, Mudvayne and others across Europe and the United States.

The high energy hard rock anthem, Personally slaps you in the face with driving guitars, percussion and vocals fueled by rage. The lyrics mimic the anger September feels towards Fate in the story  but can very easily be relatable to any listeners real life frustrations as well. 

Wes Henry brilliantly captures the energy and emotion of the song in his album artwork.

Album Art: Wes Henry
Song Credits: September Mourning Collective 

Personally #19

Space and Time

Space and Time is the first song in a series of NFTs to be released with Sound.xyz. The lyrics were inspired by the beauty of solitude and the struggle of protecting our energy from outside influences. 
This felt like a relevant theme for my first music release in the NFT space which thrives on autonomy and artistic freedom.

Space and Time is an edition of 25.  Hidden within the editions is a Golden Egg, which will entitle the winner to a 1/1 SKULLY from my main collection.

Space and Time #20

Space and Time #19

NOT4ME

The stories that we tell ourselves determine our self-image, which determines how we move through each day. NOT4ME is about recognizing and releasing the habits, patterns and stories in life that hurt us more than they contribute to our healing.

NOT4ME has been an affirmation for me throughout the 6 months since I wrote it - it is the story that I told myself to reclaim my identity and learn how to love myself despite persistent feelings of guilt and shame. Releasing these negative feelings allowed me to better show up for myself, re-center creativity and welcome healthier habits into my life.

This song is more relevant to me now than ever. It has made me more discerning of what supports my growth and what is simplynot for me 

I hope NOT4ME supports your journey in some way.

I hope it makes you smile.

I hope it makes you dance.



Written & Performed by AL3C
Produced by AL3C & Pete Rango
Mastered by Rome Palermo
Album artwork by Scolla Fungwe & losingmyego
Community support from Campfire & Mochi!
Outro thoughts from Lackhoney, Mariana Makwaia, Saiko, Tarot & Domino

NOT4ME #17

Desert Trash

"Desert Trash" is the title track on my first album that I released in Feb 2020 

Due to covid and my cancelled tour, I always felt like these songs never really got to see the light of day.  Sure, it was released-- but the unprecedented times were a huge factor in my ability to market them and share them the way I"d been dreaming of for years. Obviously at the time there were much more important things to worry about.

Circling back now, I would like to revisit a few of my favorite tracks on the album and share them with the web3 community <3

I will be releasing a very limited quantity of select songs off this album in the next few weeks

55 @ .05

10 Presales will be available for free for anyone holding at least 2 Mija NFTs

Golden Egg winner will receive a custom video of me performing "Desert Trash" on my acoustic guitar

Appreciate ya"ll for real 

Love, Mija

Desert Trash #9

DNMO

Over the past 8 years huge range of different styles of music, and at times Ive struggled with what to do with the ideas that didnt quite fit the directions my artist project has taken. Music NFTs have given me the space to share music that otherwise might never see the light of day with fans, and showcase other styles of music I love to make.

This track earned the title Skyline because when I listen to it I imagine floating around a snowy mountain or New York City at night, watching the world go by. Whenever writing music one my main focuses is to have contrasting moments - dreamy verses with soft, warping pads and then stripped, gritty choruses. I think this tune captures that perfectly.

Skyline #12

Sundreamer

"Sundreamer" represents a bit of a rebirth for me. Going through the loss of my father this past year crushed a lot of my creative spirit. My dad was someone I could always send my demos to and he would use his keen ears to give me feedback. Part of the joy I got from making music was getting to share my work with him. Losing him took a lot out of me. 

Even before my dad got sick, I was on a strange trajectory with music. I was pretty caught up in trying to make music that would perform well on streaming services. Often I would optimize my songs to fit Spotify playlists so I could make a decent income. The downside of that was that I was making quite a few creative sacrifices and just wasnt enjoying what I was making anymore. 

With Sundreamer Im going back to my roots of making music for the joy of it. Im in a new creative chapter now and am shedding that popularity-centric point of view. Music and creativity are so important to me that I need to let them flourish before I worry about anything else. 

Im back to basics, making music that speaks to my soul.