Impressions Composing Jam: Imagination #2

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A jam submission

Jiggyicarus - The Far ReachesView project page

My entry to KaleOverlord's Impressions Composer Jam Nov 2024.

Submitted by Jiggyicarus — 2 hours, 29 minutes before the deadline

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Jiggyicarus - The Far Reaches's itch.io page

Results

Criteria	Rank	Score*	Raw Score
Correlation to Theme	#15	3.708	3.708
Overall	#23	3.486	3.486
Composing Quality	#25	3.583	3.583
Execution	#26	3.458	3.458
Listenability	#28	3.542	3.542
Overall Uniqueness/Creativity (double field for weight)	#29	3.083	3.083
Overall Uniqueness/Creativity	#31	3.542	3.542

Ranked from 24 ratings. Score is adjusted from raw score by the median number of ratings per game in the jam.

Link to Streaming Service
https://on.soundcloud.com/sxz8S

Description
https://on.soundcloud.com/sxz8S (Track 1 Awaiting, Track 2 Arriving, Track 3 Embracing).

Hi Everyone! This is my (Jiggyicarus) entry for KaleOverlord's Impressions Composer Jam with the theme, The Far Reaches. For my entry, I have laid out a series of three tracks, all focused around the progression of a fictional rpg character on their journey to The Far Reaches. While the music starts out with more real world instruments and identifiable melodies to represent the reality of living and journeying through feudal Japan, the music becomes ever more electronic and synth-based as the player approaches The Far Reaches.

In the first track (Awaiting), the player is embarking on their journey to The Far Reaches, not knowing what lies ahead, but travels through various terrains as they move from cautious to optimistic for what the journey has in store.

In the second track (Arriving), the player has arrived at the entrace to The Far Reaches but is confused. The player doesn't understand what is before them, and searches for clues to help them understand, or look for ways to enter The Far Reaches. This piece is intentionally sparse and I imagine that this would be played as the player is exploring the immediate area. It's a vibes piece - enjoy.

In this final track (Embracing), the player has found their way into The Far Reaches, only to be met by a mysterious figure who explains in vague language and cryptic messages what The Far Reaches is. Suddenly the figure vanishes, and the player embarks in a fight for their life against an unknown mystical threat.

Big thanks to Kale as I loved doing this challenge with such a cool theme - I hope you all enjoy!

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Comments

-NOVA-Submitted20 hours ago(+1)

Really dig the bass pads you used in your last two tracks, gives me that Blade Runner feeling, the acid stuff in your third track goes hard too (and then we get into some outrun? sweet!)

Submitted

The Farthest Reaches - Lustrous Roads

JiggyicarusDeveloper10 hours ago

Thanks Nova! I do like a good bit of blade runner haha so a lot of my synth based stuff ends up veering that way a lot. Always need a bit of acid bass to get things moving too xd

Javier S. DacarettSubmitted1 day ago(+1)

Like the bass pads in the 2nd and 3rd tracks. Thanks for taking the time to explain the story as well!

Submitted

What Some Will Never Witness

JiggyicarusDeveloper21 hours ago(+1)

Thanks Javier! Glad you like bass pads, i do love a good synth pad

FoxHyodeSubmitted3 days ago(+1)

First thing especially with the 3rd track, I thought it was two different composer you got me on this one absolutely did not expect this transition pretty creative on this part. I like the story and composition overall, mix is super great the only thing thats messing my brain a bit is the stereo image on first track its really really wide and I think some of the elments of the mix can be more centered a part from that good job :)

Submitted

JiggyicarusDeveloper3 days ago

Thanks for the great comments Fox! Happy that you enjoyed the difference in style I was aiming for. Also appreciate the comments on the mixes. In regards to the stereo image, i definitely hear u. The problem I had was that without creating a wider image it felt as though everything was a bit clustered, and it was hard to give the leads room to breathe. However, I would consider this again in future mixes as I agree, I think I could have centered elements, especially in the drums, to create a bit more cohesion. Thanks for the feedback!

KaleOverlordHostSubmitted5 days ago(+1)

The last track definitely stands out for me on this one. It has a sweet sound, and it is well structured.

I think my main feedback is that the track maybe still sounds kind of midi, though this can be a stylistic choice. This track kind of stuck out for me compared to the others in terms of quality.

Great work!

Submitted

The Procession From Beyond [Host Submission: Disregard Placement]

JiggyicarusDeveloper5 days ago(+1)

Thanks Kale! Appreciate the comments a lot. I'd say that for me it definitely was the sound I was going for so it was intentional, however, I definitely agree for some areas, like I think the hi hats and cymbals especially could have used more processing to make them a bit less midi-ey as you said, or the keys in the buildup could've sounded a bit more organy than midi-ey.

simishcjSubmitted5 days ago(+1)

I think Arriving at The Far Reaches was my favorite track. The subtleness is done extremely well and maintains its instrumentation and composition perfectly.

Submitted

Whiskers Between Worlds — Impressions Composing Jam: Imagination #2

JiggyicarusDeveloper5 days ago

Thanks simishcj really appreciate it, glad you like the instrumentation and composition, I spent a while trying to figure out what instruments would work best together and how so means a lot!

SunshineSubmitted6 days ago(+1)

I really liked Awaiting the Far Reaches, I think it worked with the theme the best and the melodic ideas in there were so pretty! That submission shined so much that the others felt dull in comparison. Still, I like that you were creative and you showed a lot of ambition in wanting to tell such a unique story with your music.

Submitted

A Journey Far And Wide

JiggyicarusDeveloper6 days ago(+1)

Thanks Sunshine, glad you liked the first one so much - i spent the longest on that track so means a lot! Happy you appreciate the storytelling aspect too even if the others don't match up for you - thank you!

muttzillaSubmitted7 days ago(+1)

Hey there! I really liked your submission, although, its not so much that you made very different song, I can see that working I think the painting itself asks almost for a story, my issue here was a bit on the emotional side, the last song didn't get the response from me that I expected, not that its not good(probably my favorite), but I think that it would be more impactful by itself

Submitted

The Far Reaches - Impressions Jam#2

JiggyicarusDeveloper6 days ago(+1)

Yo muttzilla, thanks for the feedback! Glad you really liked the track, even if it didnt give the emotional response that was expected. I think for me I wanted it to create something that felt more exciting for the conclusion, but I can see why it might not be what is emotionally expected. If u don't mind me asking so I can learn and improve my writing, what emotional response did the pieces before set you up for/what were u expecting to feel?

muttzillaSubmitted5 days ago (1 edit) (+1)

Certainly :)
From what I took from your interpretation, the last song would be a grand finale boss which you overcome, and I never felt that.
The final harmony is of accomplishment, all good, but I never got that feeling of "grandeur" / victory, it was more like a level mid way, which could be what you were going for just fine, but the piece before is so tense and "heavy" I felt the last song would be asking for something else, something "more", more threat maybe, felt a bit underwhelming.
As I said it probably is my favorite, honestly I think it would stand out more as a standalone it has a lot to offer already in itself, with the other tracks there I'm expecting some continuity, even if different styles, the narrative should be present and I feel it was not quite there.

Hope this feedback is helpful, take care :3

JiggyicarusDeveloper4 days ago

It does help thanks Muttzilla! Always good to hear what people take from a song and where the expectation goes to, so thank you!

TurtleBoxSubmitted8 days ago(+1)

Seems like the tracks are a little to far different in style for my liking, but they're alright. Good work.

Submitted

Far Reaches - Impressions Composing Jam #2

JiggyicarusDeveloper7 days ago

Thanks Turtle! Yeah they are quite different, but for me that was part of the idea. I wanted the game I envisioned them for to be an evolution where the closer the player gets to The Far Reaches the more synthetic the music becomes.