Disquiet Junto 0700 View Frame
I couldn't resist recording this piece for the 700th Junto project.
The directions were to show people a glimpse outside my world, so here's my backyard and some of the laundry that I washed today.
As I haven't packed away my drumkit yet for winter, I decided to have a bash.
A 303-style bassline has been added because it was the easiest thing to consider at this time.
One bit of reflection is how I began recording videos for Junto projects at number 100.
Since then that playlist has grown to over 450, which means I've responded to three-quarters of the prompts in that time.
I was first introduced to the Junto community around 027, which involved music from text but I worried my response had misinterpreted the instruction and didn't share it.
Straya by Kink
For anyone reading who isn't an Australian, the character represented is the kind of lower socio-economic figure that might be considered a "redneck" -- although I wouldn't use that term with them directly.
The signifiers are the mullet haircut, "Jackie Howe" blue singlet and Southern Cross tattoo.
As for the sound of the pedal, I was pleasantly surprised.
On the right-hand side is a tubescreamer-style boost, while the left has a throaty overdrive.
It had me playing rock riffs as soon as these were engaged.
I tried it alongside my CopperSound Foxcatcher and Ly-rock King of Clone, which revealed the former to have a bassier boost and fuzzier overdrive (running at 9v, as I haven't tried the 18v option yet).
The Ly-rock pedal has an okay boost and fuzzier distortion, but has sounded way too trebly for my liking.
A friend introduced me to Kink pedals last year, when he brought a Dozer along to a jam.
While graphics on pedals have been a weakness for me, I really like the sounds that I'm getting from Straya.
Wanderer
In my backyard is a mint plant that I hoped might grow to replace my lawn.
Many butterflies land on the flowers when it blooms.
I started researching their varieties as I began photographing them and became interested in the Wanderer, which is the Australian version of the Monarch.
It has distinctive white spots on a black body and magnificent wings coloured like autumnal leaves.
This type of butterfly arrived in Australia around the time my father's great-grandparents migrated here.
It is thought it may have been blown here by a cyclone, but found the imported milkweed plant that supports Monarch caterpillars and was able to survive.
My parents were both born in North America, so I've come to adopt the Wanderer as a symbol for my identity.
I've performed the song using a ukulele, as it is an instrument from the Pacific – the ocean that unites Australia, Japan and the USA.
Green light
The second round of the 2025 Disquiet Junto trio project has been a delight.
Once again Sam Knot has added prose to my drums and I love hearing his gentle voice bringing colour to my beats.
naviarhaiku592 – slanting sunlight rays
The track was produced with Ableton Live, after I recorded takes for different parts and arranged them. I'd listen to this in a forest.
naviarhaiku590 – dreadful the stream
The dreadful stream in this case is an estuary, and the rain was elusive.
Disquiet Junto 0695 Clean After Each Use
The Junto assignment this week is to "Put a piece of music through the dryer."
While I've been holidaying at the coast I'm making happy associations with a chord progression in A# on my ukulele.
A week ago I tried making a song based on lyrics about cupid's arrows and innuendoes.
It was rough and didn't entirely work, but I've used the backing here.
(This chord progression worked better with my Easter Sunday song, I think.)
For the Junto I've taken my backing track and tried to put it through the dryer, but I'm not a fan of those machines for the energy they consume and the uselessness they have in my life.
(There isn't much rain where I live and lots of opportunity for me to get my washing on the line.)
I considered a granular approach to represent lint, but when I decided to use a video from swimming in the Pacific off Valla Beach, arrived at a result more akin to a washing machine.
There's some rotary speaker emulation added, as well as Goodhertz' Lossy effect and DelayCat.
naviarhaiku589 – rising sun
On Easter Sunday I convinced my partner to take a trip to Valla Beach for the sunrise.
There we met a group of people gathered around a fire with guitars to sing medicine songs.
My partner joined them while I took photos, then I sang a little and one of the group offered a jar of "eggs".
As we continued to walk among the waves at sunrise I had words form around the scene, which I've drafted into the song here:
First verse:
With each breath to caress the earth
at the start of every day
the seasons have a rhythm
of sunshine and rain
like shifting sands
under the movement of waves
as morning light will break
through clouds in a golden ray
Chorus:
Everything will change
nothing stays the same
all of your wisdom
crystallised from pain
Second verse:
In the rumbling of the ocean
a rhythm as old as time
a melody in the roar
song of ebb and climb
as the storm can leave behind
a peaceful breath of calm
from chaos we make meaning
dance like fire to our song
Bridge:
We crash like the waves and we break
then we rise again and learn from mistake
build a home in the unknown, make peace in the storm
finding strength in lessons we learn from being born
Chorus
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