ghost

Thank you! Getting the perspective somewhat accurate was the toughest part as the reference I used didn't show scales. Had to use a bit of imagination there.  I'm glad you said that, it's the vibe I was going for 😊 
 
Thanks! 😄

There was a time I recorded random snippets of melody ideas I had, most of them being on piano. Last year I revisited my library of recordings and found one I really liked. I put on a chillhop rhythm to it and then recorded a guitar part for it just a couple weeks ago.
 
Still learning how to mix and produce so it's definitely not professional, but hey I'm just a bedroom hobbyist doing something he enjoys.
 
 

Thank you! Getting the perspective somewhat accurate was the toughest part as the reference I used didn't show scales. Had to use a bit of imagination there.  I'm glad you said that, it's the vibe I was going for 😊 
 
Thanks! 😄

Nice drawings  . I like it.

The drawing looks really good! I think the work on the koi fish's scales paid off; they are beautiful ❤️ Love the peaceful aesthetic in the drawing; the pink/light purple(?) feels easy and nice on the eyes

As of today Kyo has been kicked out of Dir en Grey for spending too much time on his second band Sukekiyo. They're still planning on continuing with all currently planned performances but Die will be acting as the vocalist until a full replacement can be found. They will have a mystery member fill his part as a guitarist for lives in the interim. 
 
I had to translate this from their Japanese twitter so I might have missed some details and nuances. I'm linking it here so that anyone with a fluent understanding of Japanese can get the full picture. (Also, if you could provide a more accurate translation I think everyone would appreciate that):
 
https://twitter.com/DIRENGREY_JP/status/12451896898892634829

Been working on this one since the beginning of this year. The scales on the fish took forEVER.
 

 
 
Some close-up details on the plant and koi:
 

Been working on this one since the beginning of this year. The scales on the fish took forEVER.
 

 
 
Some close-up details on the plant and koi:
 

Been working on this one since the beginning of this year. The scales on the fish took forEVER.
 

 
 
Some close-up details on the plant and koi:
 

Been working on this one since the beginning of this year. The scales on the fish took forEVER.
 

 
 
Some close-up details on the plant and koi:
 

Boris - Feedbacker (tour edition)
 

 
Gotta be one of my favorite variants for a record.

As of today Kyo has been kicked out of Dir en Grey for spending too much time on his second band Sukekiyo. They're still planning on continuing with all currently planned performances but Die will be acting as the vocalist until a full replacement can be found. They will have a mystery member fill his part as a guitarist for lives in the interim. 
 
I had to translate this from their Japanese twitter so I might have missed some details and nuances. I'm linking it here so that anyone with a fluent understanding of Japanese can get the full picture. (Also, if you could provide a more accurate translation I think everyone would appreciate that):
 
https://twitter.com/DIRENGREY_JP/status/12451896898892634829

As of today Kyo has been kicked out of Dir en Grey for spending too much time on his second band Sukekiyo. They're still planning on continuing with all currently planned performances but Die will be acting as the vocalist until a full replacement can be found. They will have a mystery member fill his part as a guitarist for lives in the interim. 
 
I had to translate this from their Japanese twitter so I might have missed some details and nuances. I'm linking it here so that anyone with a fluent understanding of Japanese can get the full picture. (Also, if you could provide a more accurate translation I think everyone would appreciate that):
 
https://twitter.com/DIRENGREY_JP/status/12451896898892634829

they have been scouting for a new frontman at the maria cross memorial plaque crossing at harajuku but had to postpone this due to kyoronavirus outbreak,
 
if any local vocalists want to try their luck bring a bag of poppers and a cheese pizza in a brown bag signed for kaoru once the auditions resume!

As of today Kyo has been kicked out of Dir en Grey for spending too much time on his second band Sukekiyo. They're still planning on continuing with all currently planned performances but Die will be acting as the vocalist until a full replacement can be found. They will have a mystery member fill his part as a guitarist for lives in the interim. 
 
I had to translate this from their Japanese twitter so I might have missed some details and nuances. I'm linking it here so that anyone with a fluent understanding of Japanese can get the full picture. (Also, if you could provide a more accurate translation I think everyone would appreciate that):
 
https://twitter.com/DIRENGREY_JP/status/12451896898892634829

As of today Kyo has been kicked out of Dir en Grey for spending too much time on his second band Sukekiyo. They're still planning on continuing with all currently planned performances but Die will be acting as the vocalist until a full replacement can be found. They will have a mystery member fill his part as a guitarist for lives in the interim. 
 
I had to translate this from their Japanese twitter so I might have missed some details and nuances. I'm linking it here so that anyone with a fluent understanding of Japanese can get the full picture. (Also, if you could provide a more accurate translation I think everyone would appreciate that):
 
https://twitter.com/DIRENGREY_JP/status/12451896898892634829

As of today Kyo has been kicked out of Dir en Grey for spending too much time on his second band Sukekiyo. They're still planning on continuing with all currently planned performances but Die will be acting as the vocalist until a full replacement can be found. They will have a mystery member fill his part as a guitarist for lives in the interim. 
 
I had to translate this from their Japanese twitter so I might have missed some details and nuances. I'm linking it here so that anyone with a fluent understanding of Japanese can get the full picture. (Also, if you could provide a more accurate translation I think everyone would appreciate that):
 
https://twitter.com/DIRENGREY_JP/status/12451896898892634829

About time. I always thought Kyo was just a Ruki wannabe anyways.

Actually, they wrote that the mystery guitarist is someone who has been quite well-known for playing the piano. They won't reveal who it is just yet, but they did mention the person is "fxxkin' spicy".

@platy - Bruuuh I liiiike Hayley Kiyoko. Her latest EP has got some nice house vibes on it and I am totally here for that.
 
Have you heard of Allie X? She's another Canadian pop artist I've really been into these days. Her production is soo good. 
 
 
 
 

MAKE IT POP
I haven't seen any kind of general pop thread in the global music sub-forum and that just will not do! 2020 is shaping up to be an amazing year for pop music and there must be a thread to discuss everything pop-related! I'm going start by sharing some upcoming releases I'm looking forward to and then sharing some artists I've enjoyed since last year.
 
Upcoming Releases
Rina Sawayama

Sawayama (04.17.2020)
-Rina's been making some waves in the indie pop scene. She seemingly just came out of nowhere but managed to make an impression on people with her self-released EP "Rina"  with hits like "Cyber Stockholm Syndrome" and "Ordinary Superstar". Her sound is very reminiscent of 90's pop/r&b but she finds ways to make it sound fresh and interesting. She's got a new album coming out in April of this year titled "Sawayama".
 
Samples
 
 
Purity Ring

Womb (04.03.2020)
-Purity Ring is a Canadian electronic pop duo drawing from sub-genres like glitch-pop and synth-pop. While they can sound bright and poppy, their sound is more strongly defined by dark and ominous undertones both lyrically and musically. They're probably most known for their tracks "Fineshrine" and "Obedear". They'll be releasing a new album titled "Womb" in the beginning of April and it's sounding like it'll be a more lighter listen.
 
Samples
 
 
Recent Favorites
Grimes

Miss Anthropocene (02.21.2020)
-I'm sure Grimes doesn't need an introduction. She's known for her unique sound of ethereal and pop music and made hits such as "Genesis" and "Kill V. Maim". Her album "Miss Anthropocene" came out earlier last month and, honestly, it's been one of my favorite releases in 2020 so far. Certainly not the most amazing album and, arguably a bit half baked, but there are some solid tracks on the album and I've been revisiting it often.
 
Samples
 
 
Charli XCX

Charli (09.13.2019)
-Charli XCX went to the top of my favorite artists in 2019 when I listened to her latest album "Charli". Her sound was so different than a lot of other pop artists I had heard. While she certainly has songs with tons of pop appeal featuring bright dance-y music and catchy lyrics, she also brings with that a blend of future pop and experimental sounds. The production on her latest record is absolutely amazing and I was hooked from the first track onward. Although I'm a fan of her latest sound, she's probably most known for songs like "Boys" and "Vroom Vroom" (which, I absolutely love both).
 
Samples
 
 
Sophie

Oil Of Every Pearl's Un-Insides (06.15.2018)
-If Charli XCX's recent output is futuristic, then Sophie's music is so far ahead in the pop genre that by the time it's considered a classic the human race will have evolved into a higher physical state (fun fact, Sophie actually produced Charli XCX's EP "Vroom Vroom". ). All jokes aside, this album is quite simply something else. It has a few more traditional poppy moments but the other 90% hits you with leftfield experimental sounds intermixed with soundscapes and industrial bass music. The production on this record is so good though and there were so many times I kept asking, "what the hell was that sound? How did she do that?".  It's certainly not for everyone, but for those looking for a more expanded take on pop music, so much as to the point of almost being unrecognizable, I highly encourage you to take a jump.
 
Samples
 
 

I'm looking forward to Rina's upcoming album. She seems to be making a shift sound-wise from her previous major release. There's a change in themes as well which I guess really suits her current fanbase and will bring even more people in (y'know, the gurl power crowd). I can see her gaining a lot of popularity this year.
 
Sophie is an artist who I check out sporadically, like you said her music isn't for everyone and is very experimental, the kind that requires you to be in the right mood.
 
Other pop artists I've been getting into...
 
Doja Cat - who isn't into doja cat lately? She's taken over the media. Definitely check out her discography, her older songs have a charming sense of humour that's hard not to get hooked on. I hope she doesn't go down too far the badass sexy bitch/flashing muh money route now that's she's mainstream though.
 
 
I guess Janelle Monáe counts as pop(?). She has a lot upbeat funky songs. She can vary from sexy to whimsical.  Not sure how else to explain it, but definitely give her a try if you fancy some feel good tunes.
 
 
 
 
Hayley Kyoko popped back on my radar after I realised that she was the same girl from that old Disney movie 'Lemonade Mouth' and she's now known as lesbian Jesus. She released a great  EP recently called 'I'm Too Sensitive for This Shit'.
 
Tasters from the EP👇
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As a side note, I'm a big fan of Bruno Mars and I'm eagerly awaiting for anything from him ( and not some shitty collab with a nobody) since it's been years since his last album. He's been too quiet, so I hope there'll be something new in 2020.

Yeah, I love Kenny Beats. His overall production style is just fire and incredibly versatile, but without loosing his Kenny touch. Best thing he did is the Netflix and Deal album with 03 Greedo, followed by Anger Management with Rico Nasty. Took me a while to get into the album, but when I first did I just couldn't get enough of it.
 
 
 
This one off Freddie Gibbs' Freddie is fire. Both rappers spits fire over a beat that's just beyond everything. When you sample something as legendary as Boyz-n-the Hood you better do it justice, and they sure as hell did.
 
 
 
 
 
Also check out Kenny Beats' The Cave. Both seasons are FIRE and among the better youtube shows out there. A new guest every week with people like Denzel Curry, Rico Nasty, Danny Brown, Slowthai, 6lack, Sada Baby, Joji, The Alchemist & Boldy James, Jpegmagia, Freddie Gibbs, Earthgang etc. It's awesome!
 
 

So, I'm surprised by how much of the album I actually enjoyed. It's like @YuyoDrift pointed out, but there is some musical semblance to an older era of jrock. For me, I hear some throwbacks to lynch.'s own "I Believe in Me" and even a touch of "Inferiority Complex".  That being said, I think the album is an inconsistent pile of concepts frankensteined together into a seemingly complete project. 
 
I want to start out by saying that there are absolutely some great tracks on here. The highlights for me (in order of appearance) are Barrier, Eros, Idol, Zinnia, and In This Era. The only real dud for me is Aster which I think is the worst ballad lynch. has ever written. It's just boring and the climax of the song isn't a good enough payoff to have to sit through 5 and a half minutes of serviceable song writing and none-too memorable melodies. The choir-like vocals at the end seem tacked on as there aren't really any other moments in the album with anything like that. And that leads me to my first real issue with "Ultima" as a whole.
 
A lot of tracks show lynch. playing around with new ideas but they seem like half-baked afterthoughts. Ultima features a female vocalist for a short 15 seconds, Allergie shows just how brutal the group can be with a heavy-as-lead breakdown and vicious growls from Hazuki but is tonally set miles apart from everything else on the album, and Aster & Eureka include some underutilized choir vocals . I'm all for experimenting, but my issue here is that none of these ideas really come together into one cohesive effort.
 
The female vocals in Ultima are there for literally just the intro before the song even takes off. What was the point of them? They hardly add anything. Why are they using choir voices in the last two tracks? I've already made comments on the choir voices on Aster but why are they also in Eureka? If they had been incorporated throughout the song somehow I think I would've warmed up to them more, but what the band has done is literally write an unrelated minute-and-a-half break just to fit in an extended choir section. The song would've worked fine without it, if not better, because it's bloated in its current state. You might also be saying, "but ghost they used choir voices in Zinnia too" and, yes I don't think they're really worked in all that much better there either. But it sounds more natural to me there because it goes well together with the flute acting as a sort of orchestral support.
 
And this is probably an unpopular opinion, but I think Allergie should've been left off the album. It's not a bad track, but it's tonally entirely different than anything else on the album. "Ultima" has its heavy moments, but this is such a stark contrast. It feels more like lynch. decided to add it in to throw a bone to fans of their more hardcore sound.
 
Everything else for me is just par for the lynch. course. Xero is yet another paint-by-numbers lynch. track down to the breakdown countdown. They've done songs like this to death and I don't hear Xero offering anything different or better. It's this album cycle's Evoke/Antares, F.A.K.E., Blood, or Joker (Except, I really like Evoke). Rudeness and Machine are too short and don't offer anything impactful in their short run lengths. I think these tracks definitely could've used more development.
 
Although not their worst offering, I think "Ultima" as a whole just doesn't all come together. In total I'd say there are 5-6 tracks I can say are solid with the rest either being average or in need of some more time in the thinking chamber. If anything I'm quite pleased because the tracks I do enjoy I find refreshing and somewhat set apart from other songs in their ever growing library. They strike this perfect composition of throwback sounds, balance between melody & heaviness, and new direction that's re-ignited my interest in the band. But the album could've used more work and that's my main criticism; they need to give themselves more time in between albums. I'm not sure what their contractual obligations say about how often they need to pump out albums, but assuming they're not in a release-an-album-a-year situation, I really wish they would slow down and refine their work. 
 
That being said, don't sleep on this one. I think it's their most interesting release since D.A.R.K.

He is spreading hope around the world with a celebrity collab. tbh as a will.i.am fan this song is actually pretty good