What Balloon Party Did For Me

[PhillyPu]

Okay, I wasn't sure if this should be posted in the "event" forum, even though this is related to Balloon Party. I'm just going to post in Community because... well, you'll see.

If you don't have anything else to do, grab a popcorn or a meal, and read along. It's a pretty long read.

Let me first introduce myself and what I do (for people who don't know me that much). I am PhillyPu, protector of bacon a musician that mainly composes and improvises on the piano, looking to get into electronic music production. Generally, I've only really made melodic, cheesy songs on the keyboard, and never found a way to dig my way into filters and the EQs and the mixing and mastering and the pokemans of electronic music. Hell, because of this, I decided I wasn't going to enter Balloon Party back when it was announced. I said to myself: Philly, you don't do electronic music. Hell, you don't even do heavy orchestral. You don't do "hard". Leave it to the experts. And so I left the THIS HARD music creation to other people and went on my business.

For the next few months, I just... kinda did stuff. I released music with some regularity, made more "electronic" music, sprinkled in between my usual soft style songs. Soon enough, the school year was over, moved to summer housing, and then kind of lounged around playing OMGPOP and TF2 with friends.

A week before the due date for Balloon Party, Makkon nonchalantly asked me a question, the very question that will let the hectic week begin to unfold. He asked me this question:

"Hey Philly, are you doing Balloon Party?"

I, confident and comfortable about my decision not to make a track for Balloon Party, simply responded "no".

"Philly... you should do Balloon Party."

I, again, declined.

"Philly, I'll even help you with your track. You should at least try."

Oh? Well, I've always wanted to know how to do some heavy orchestral stuff. This could be interesting. It's only a week until the track's due, though. But I mean, I finished that track for the second Smile album in three days. Three entire days, yes, but only three, nonetheless. I could make a track in a week.

What happened in the next seven days is one of the most amazing show of support from all of my friends.

For this track I decided to switch from FL Studios to Ableton, because FL Studio doesn't work well with Kontakt, I've heard, and seeing as I'm going to do (well, at the time, at least) orchestral, most all my libraries are going to be played in Kontakt. So Ableton it is! Using a new DAW for the first time can be pretty intimidating, but my friends really did show me the ropes. Basic things I didn't know how to do were taught in a few minutes via screen sharing.

By the time it was three days before the due date, I decided not to do Orchestral anymore, as it's something I'd like to explore when I've got a lot more time. After two more genre changes, I've decided to settle for Drum n Bass, and... and...

And I was stuck.

I have an idea of a concept to go by (really, just the hissing of the air exhaust: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/52885508/Music ... issing.wav), but beyond that I really had no I dea how to do anything. Thanks to the constant encouragement of Kai (who told me to wear my GAME FACE), Lav (jesus christ you have no idea how much she helped me with the song, from start to finish.), Fooz, Makkon, and Harry Adkins, I actually had both the (hastily learned) ability and drive to finish my song. Lav and Harry both helped me learn 1. what a good mix sounds like and 2. actually help me mix and master the damn song. I cannot believe that they are actually willing to do this for me, considering I literally just jumped into DnB without knowing too much about it.

So long story short, after 2 cans of Red Bull, 36 hours of GAME FACE, a bag of Lays, a box of Chinese take-out, I finally finished what I can actually say is my first real electronic song. I'm proud of it, yes, but I am also aware that this song will most likely not end up on the album, due to listening to other people's amazing teasers. But you know what? That's not the point of Balloon Party anymore. That's not why I wrote this song in the first place. By forcing myself to write in a completely new genre, with a completely new DAW, toying with Massive which I've never really done before... I've learned so much in just under a week. I have witnessed first hand the power that friends can give to me, and the encouraging attitude everyone exudes. It's prevalent in the Balloon Party Skype chat, it's prevalent in our individual share screen sessions. It's wonderful.

For the first time since the Smile Album, I've never felt so connected to the community of MLR as a whole. This album set a goal for all of us: the achievement of "this hard". While working toward that goal, I've met fellow musicians that are doing the same, and we all gained a lot from the resultant labor... labor that, in retrospect, though very hectic, was just pure fun. I was frustrated throughout, sure, but I have to say, it was all worth it. Hell, the entire genre of DnB has been opened for me because of this.

So friends, musicians that submitted a track for Balloon Party, I just wanted to tell you this: no matter what happens to your track, whether it gets accepted or declined, just know that you all have just participated in an event that brought this community closer in the end. New friends were created, EQ curves were bent, music theory was learned. No matter what happens, it was the process of creating a song for Balloon Party that really was an end in itself.

It was all worth it.

I have to hereby thank Circuitfry, Aussie, and Amando for setting up this event, for maintaining, managing, planning, and executing everything related or even not related to Balloon Party. This has been a wonderful event for me, and it wouldn't have happened without you three. I believe I speak for the majority of musicians in that you three have given all of us a wonderful experience that we can all recall in the future. Thank you.

I also have to thank Makkon, not only for encouraging me into making a Balloon Party track, but also for being a good friend to talk to when I've just about blown myself up out of frustration. Those little words have sparked a lot out of me. It wouldn't have happened without you.

Kai, thanks for being there to make me put on my GAME FACE and telling me not to stress out. StormWolf, without your entire folder of .ksd patches, my song wouldn't be hard in the least. Thank you for imparting your wisdom, for I have learned much from you. Michael A, thanks for offering help and pretty much standing there for me when I didn't know what to do. Fooz, thanks for giving me direct help regarding Massive basses. You cuteass motherfucker. HMage, /me ponyhugs you back for being my partner in terms of "not starting Balloon Party until a week before it's due".

And finally, Lav and Harry. I don't even know what to say. I know I've said thank you numerous times throughout the production of my song, but you guys really just... helped me out at all times. When I didn't know what to do, when I can't see the next step in my song you guys helped calm me down, which did wonders to my thinking ability. I swear, I don't think I'm ever going to give anything back of the same value as you did to me.

If you can't tell already, the length of my "acknowledgement" only goes to show how strong this community is. Live long, My Little Remix, for I look forward to having another experience like this again.

[CommandSpry]

We're real happy for ya

[Magnitude Zero]

"SO MANY FEELS."

That's a pretty touching story. Congrats, man, well done. Taking on not only a new genre, but a new DAW, in just a week and coming out on top is pretty damn impressive.

[MixolydianPony]

*manly tears*

COME HUG ME, BRO.

[ChromaticChaosPony]

I missed Balloon Party. Damn.

[Hirosashii]

Wow, that was real. *bro hug*

[Pickslide1992]

Very inspiring, man. I personally did some thrash metal for Balloon Party (Think as mix of Iron Maiden, Slayer, and Metallica) but I was still touched by your story. Circuit Fry kind of gave me some pointers when I posted my first teaser, so I know that feel.

[gnarbeard]

It's stuff like this that makes this community and fandom great. Very inspiring stuff!

[Lyonize]

I know the feeling. Lav helped me so much on my song. My song didn't make it but the point is that I made such a noticeable difference in the time I exported the first version of my song to the time I submitted the final version of it all because of the help I got from all these guys who didn't even know me. I'm still kinda new to this community and a bit of a derp when it comes to socializing online. I can't wait to make more music and more friends in the process (or vise versa).