Marmotrus
Yes, that's right, a marmot and a walrus go on a hike. A trek. A long, long trek if you will. I love backpacking and camping. It's an activity that lets one spend multiple days out in the wilderness, surrounded by creatures, plants, trees, terrain, the sun (maybe some rain). You get to hike all day before cooking a simple hot meal and crashing in your tent at night. You the chance to look up at a vast, unfiltered starlit sky. Stars are visible in cities, but seeing it without the hindrance of light and air pollution is such a breathtaking experience.
A walrus bears some similarities to a backpacking trip. A multi-day event (albeit not consecutive days, but we'll ignore that part) where each new day brings a new wonder, a new trail, a new area to explore. That is the theme of this walrus. So without further ado, here are the format and categories!!!
Format
- All submissions are due Sunday, May 16 at 11:59 PM PST. That's a little over 3 weeks from now. Extensions may be an option, but please try not to plan on it.
- You may send me submissions via Discord or PM on the Syndicate. I'll list submissions here as they come in. Please keep submissions anonymous (as in please send your links to youtube/spotify/whatev, but not in a manner that I can see them)
- No Cap: As many of you may submit as you like.
- Reveals: Reveals will likely be on Sunday afternoon/evenings, or some weekday evening. I have not decided this yet, but I welcome requests.
- Scoring: I am working on a scoring formula, but please note that cat-fit will be a factor, and new music I've not heard will receive a bonus.
- My Tastes: I like instruments, I like complexity, and I like atmosphere. If you're looking to pander in your submissions, hopefully this helps. I've long enjoyed progressive rock/metal and variations thereof, but have more recently in the last couple years branched out more, and also enjoy some hip hop (particularly instrumental), electronic/IDM, ambient, jazz, more extreme metal. English vocals are nice, but not necessary, I tend to enjoy vocals more as an instrument than for the lyrics.
Spoiler: show
Category Note: Each Part comprises of three categories with a common set of themes based on what I find interesting in music, explained below.
- The first category of each Part aims at the atmosphere of a song and/or what sort of mood or experience that song attempts to evoke.
- The second category of each Part aims at a specific instrument or sound that exists in a song.
- The third category of each Part aims at a broader trait of a song, that is not specific to the sound/style/genre of a song.
Part I - Journey Start
These categories mark the beginning of a journey, and a good way to kick things off.
1) Nature - We're starting off with this category for obvious reasons. Nature is the flavor I'm using for this Walrus, and it'll be the first category. I'm looking for a song that reminds you of the outdoors, of being outside. It can be whatever you want it to be, whether it evokes memories of lounging in a field surrounded by humming cicadas, or bobbing just off shore in the ocean, or listening to a faint breeze lightly toss your hair.
2) Vocals (well sorta) - The voice is perhaps the most natural instrument we humans have. (Nearly) every human is equipped with one, and we use it on a daily basis even when we're not trying to sing. But for this category, I'm looking for a song that uses the voice, but as an instrument, not as a vehicle to convey a message. I want vocals without words.
3) Short - Because we're still at the start of our journey, I want a short song for this category as kind of a warm-up. I'm looking for a song that is under 3??? minutes. Anything else goes, but it must be a song and it must be under 3??? minutes. I tend to like songs that are longer, but I still love hearing a song that can manage to captivate and move me in a short amount of time.
Part II - Journey Middle
These categories mark the heart of our journey. The beginning of any journey is often predictable and easy. But as time goes on, unforeseen circumstances and obstacles arrive that you might not have realized you'd have to face.
4) Darkness - Sometimes when new variables present themselves (or old ones resurface), our mind goes to dark places. I'm looking for a song that brings about that feeling. This is perhaps my favorite atmosphere to experience when listening to music. Especially when I'm feeling gloomy or depressed, I can fully embrace the nature of the music.
5) Non-Traditional Instrument - This sort of gets at the unexpected nature of a journey. Some genres of music are known for the instruments that are used. Rock has its guitars and drums. Jazz has horns. Classical has the piano. But sometimes, these genres don't strictly stick to these instruments. They still use them, but there will sometimes be an unexpected addition or even primary instrument used. I'm looking for a song that fits in its genre, except that there's another instrument added to the formula that isn't usually used there.
6) Long - The middle part of the journey can sometimes drag on. You're far enough from the start that you've lost some of the initial excitement, and also far enough from the finish that it feels unreachable. Time slows down. I want a song that's long. 10+ minutes. Anything else goes, but it must be at least that long.
Part III - Journey End
These categoires mark the end of the journey. That moment where you're exhausted, but cognizant of just how close the end is
7) Excitement - When partaking in any long endeavor, there's typically an end, and sometimes, you get the chance to see the end before you arrive. There's an excitement there of what's to come. You've recaptured that bounce in your step that you had at the start. I'm looking for a song that evokes that exciting energy. I'm looking for something that gets going and doesn't let up.
8) Bass-Driven - The bass guitar (or really any bass) is perhaps my favorite instrument, which is why I'm saving it for the final Part. I enjoy its existence in songs, but I particularly love when the bass jumps up and takes over a song, bringing a certain groove or drive unique to its lower register and often bouncy resonance, the kind where you start with an uncontrollable foot-tapping and finish by dancing around the room because the song literally won't let you sit still. That's what I'm looking for.
9) 2020+ - 2020 was a journey for all of us (and tbh, 2021 as well). This is the final category, as it's a way to cap off our journey, with a recent song. I'm looking for something from 2020-2021. No other restrictions, just hit me with your new music.
Fiddler on the Roof
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