Harmonic Highs, Melodic Lows: A Journey Through Artistic Realms

Sibling Symphony: Timeless Tunes with 47Smoke
Collaborating with my brother, 47Smoke, is like creating art with a mirror reflecting another dimension of myself. Growing up under the same roof, we've been on a lifelong journey, nurturing our artistic prowess hand-in-hand and crafting music that's nothing short of eternal. Witnessing his lyricism evolve—both as a solo act and in harmony with mine—has been a gratifying experience.

The Birth of "MIX": An Artistic Jigsaw

Take for example, our song "MIX." I conjured a serpentine, hypnotic beat, unleashing grungy, skull-shattering drums as soon as you press play. I had cooked up my part—a freestyle, no less—at home and then swung by 47's place to complete this masterpiece. True to form, he went off the dome and nailed it.

Analysis Paralysis: Embracing the Imperfection

We were mesmerized by the anthem we'd stitched together. Yet, I almost fell into the trap of artistic over-analysis, the same one I highlighted in my previous blog post. While some of the Auto-Tune could've been tighter and some instruments, like the monstrous 808s, were clipping, it never hindered the track’s spirit.

The Untamed Essence of Music: An Ode to Authenticity

You can't shelve raw emotion into neat digital boxes. The off-beat bounce of boom-bap drums, the vibrato in a singer’s timbre—that's the fifth element. We recognize when adjustments are needed, but excessive tweaking can choke a song's soul.

Musical Yin and Yang: Contrasting Flows in "MIX"

This song ignites through its breezy flow and gritty drum beats that challenge you not to bounce. I set the pace with a rapid-fire, machine-gun flow, while 47 shifted gears halfway through his verse, infusing his signature mellow pulse into the track.

The Curveball: A Digital Abyss

Just when we were on a roll, fate sucker-punched us. My laptop screen shattered like a windshield, and after a factory reset and repair at the Apple Store, three other heaters tracks we'd engineered together vanished into digital oblivion. We were devastated to say the least.

Resilience and Recovery: Salvaging the Irreplaceable

We considered re-creating the tracks from scratch, but every artist knows the sequel never beats the original. Fortuitously, cloud storage saved the day. We had an MP3—no, not a high-quality WAV master, but the song’s essence remained intact.

Unveiling "MIX": The Unfiltered Version

Muting our inner critics, we released "MIX," and the response? Over 3,000 streams in a couple days, with the ticker still rolling. The energy surges through every time I queue it up, granting it a permanent spot in my daily playlist. We pray for its sustained success.

Final Takeaways: Lessons from the Lows and Highs

If this story leaves you with a lingering message, let it be this: digital data is fragile; artistic essence isn't. In this ever-changing digital age, where data can be as fragile as glass, our resilience as artists is our guiding light. It’s what enables us to stand back up, dust ourselves off, and keep our art alive, against all odds. As I emphasized in my last post, don't allow your inner skeptic to silence your outer artist. Let your art resonate. Do your part and let it ride.

Thanks for the Journey: Let’s Keep the Vibes Flowing

Remember that the valleys aren't just unavoidable; they're necessary. It's in those lows that we gather the fuel to skyrocket to new peaks. Thank you for reading! If "MIX" struck a chord or if you've navigated your own creative hurdles, hit us up and let’s talk. Cheers!

- ek ULTRA

Founder, CANTDIEAVERAGE
Songwriter, Producer, Graphic Designer