Don't Be Afraid

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Don't Be Afraid

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Author Comments

Geometry Dash ID: 1353832

NGUAC has been an absolute blast this year! Not only did I manage to make to get to the Final Round for the first time ever, but I can also safely say that I have made my best songs ever during all of this. And this track I am submitting is no exception!

I have no clue how I managed to make such an energetic masterpiece in the span of only 3 days! This track, at least in my opinion, is the most accurate representation of what I want to feel when listening to music; nostalgia, hope, melancholy etc.. Honestly, any word I use to describe this song would be of disservice to the experience it brings forth, so I will let it speak for itself.

Enjoy!

Shoutout to @TaintedLogic for being a really helpful and generally cool dude, and special thanks to @Dawphin for giving me his highest score in the Knockout Round. Means a lot!

PLUGINS:

Serum (Most melodic instruments used)

Kontakt 7 (Piano, Brass Hits)

Massive (8-bit FX)

Sytrus (Pad from 'Euphonic Harmony')

LENGTH: 4 minutes, 11 seconds.

BPM: 172 beats per minute.

SCALE: C Major.

TIME SIGNATURE: 4/4

PROGRAM: FL Studio 2024

TIME SPENT ON PRODUCTION: ~16-17 hours (throughout 3 days - August 24th-27th)

AVAILABLE ON SOUNDCLOUD!

https://soundcloud.com/speedrhythmics/dont-be-afraid

EDIT (28/08/2024): Special thanks to @G2961 for submitting this track to the frontpage forum, truly means a lot!

EDIT (07/09/2024): Thank you guys for 3k listens! Means a ton :D

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TheXenonMusic

2024-10-14 02:45:48

OMFG THIS IS AMAZING

SpeedoRH responds:

Thank you so much! Glad you liked my track :D

TaintedLogic

2024-09-12 00:36:57

I like the tranquil mood at the beginning. The piece is a little slow to progress at first, but it definitely has some forward momentum by :34, and the drop at :45 has a nice, cathartic feel. The mix is clean and clear, but a tad over-compressed, and the snare sounds simultaneously very loud and a bit too thin. The breakdown at 1:29 was a good way of “resetting” the piece, and the piano echo of the main melody at 1:40 was a nice touch. The piano bridge feels a tad dragged-out, and could definitely use a countermelody or at least some more ebb and flow, but I like the mini-build-up into 2:25 and the transition back into the second refrain at 2:47. The second refrain could also use a bit more variety the second time around, but I do like the high-register tonic chord that plays right at 2:47. Sounds super cathartic.

Overall, I like the upbeat mood, melodies, and production quality of this piece. The arrangement and aspects of the sound design are a bit generic, and later on the composition could use some more variety. That said, it’s also really catchy, and the melody stuck in my head for a while after the first listen. :) Thanks for coming out to the NGUAC, SpeedoRH! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.75/2
Instrumentation and sound design
1/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.5/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
8.25/10

SpeedoRH responds:

Thanks for the review! I do agree that some of the elements are a little over-compressed, but I actually never noticed the snare's thinness before for some strange reason.

I also agree that the structure and sound design is definitely very simple: I'm going through a phase where rather than taking structural inspiration from other works, I make my own. Same with sound design. I'm not sure if you mean the word "generic" as in "simple" or "boring", but either way I agree that my sound design wasn't particularly complex, and I'll keep working on that! ;D

Huge thanks to you and everyone involved in NGUAC for the opportunity by the way! :)

etherealwinds

2024-09-10 16:03:46

Absolutely solid track. I enjoy that you take the time to let the song grow gradually, and the pay-off never disappoints. I can see why this track is getting popular! Funnily enough, my favourite parts of the track are the more low-key parts; perhaps 1:29-02:25. Your music has a lot of heart and I can feel how much of yourself you've put into this track. Good luck, Speedo!!

SpeedoRH responds:

Wow, thank you so much! I'm really glad to hear you enjoying my arrangements; it's a big issue of mine I've been trying to work on, so it means a lot. Thanks for taking the time off your day to listen to my song and review it :D

P.s. I find the fact that you enjoyed the more chill parts very interesting (and cool of you). I have wanted to make even remotely decent liquid dnb for the longest time, and the fact someone is making it known that I was able to do that is honestly pure bliss. From the bottom of my heart, thank you <3

Dawphin

2024-09-08 18:52:03

Wow dude! Your production is on point. I love what you said about feelings of nostalgia, hope, and melancholy... music making is such a gift. <3

SpeedoRH responds:

Thank you so much! I always try to express different emotions throughout a track rather than being specific on what I want to portray and I am glad you appreciated that. So true!! :D

macjbeats

2024-09-08 10:29:42

another banger <3

SpeedoRH responds:

thx broski <<333