Approaching Nirvana

November Song (Happy Hardcore/Hardstyle) - WIP Week 1

Hey everyone,

Wednesday was the first stream for the November song. I wrote some melodies/chords and got some basic percussion/arrangement done but I didn't have the complete picture of how to write Hardstyle so it ended up being more of an experimentation stream.

Unfortunately, that means I don't have anything to show for you this week. That said, I'm learning a lot before next week's stream. After a f...

October Top Tier Mixes // Set Downloads

Hey Everyone!

All 3 sets from Friday are attached & track lists are below. Big thanks to Waaz, SirKillerBee, and Eastwoot for their support, as always!

The Monthly Mashup is this Friday on stream - so Music Producers and ANimals, make sure to get your requests in!

And tomorrow is the first stream for the November song - 2020-11-03 16:54:49 +0000 UTC View Post

November Song #2 - Tone/Emotion

For the November song, you voted for Happy Hardcore. Vote below on what tone/emotion the song will be about!

The first stream of November is November 4 @ 12PM ET US on Twitch. Also, since this isn't one of my main genres I most likely won't be releasing it. But the finished version will be available here on Patreon and potentially for free download eventually to everyone else.

Also, don't forget that ne...

New Release - What If // 2020 Version & Extended Mix

Hey Everyone!

Last year I posted a version of this to Patrons and you can still download that version. On the release version, I've made some small adjustments to the quality of the song and also put together an extended mix (which is Patreon Exclusive, at least for now).

Artwork, MP3, & 24-Bit wave files are attached, lyrics below!

As always, thanks so much for supporting me - more to come next month!

Stay safe and Happy Halloween!!

- Andrew

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New Album - Totems (A Minecraft Soundtrack)

Hey Everyone!

This is a bit of a break from my normal stuff. It's a soundtrack for "Totems" - a survival game in Minecraft. It's somewhat similar to some of the Cinematic Releases I've done, but more ambient & Minecraft-y.

Since this one is a collaboration and written for a game, I can't give Patrons the full album. So instead, I've attached my favorite song from the album - "Painted Cliffs."

Download/Stream the full album here:
YouTube (full album): 2020-10-23 16:01:41 +0000 UTC View Post

October Monthly Mashup // Music Producer & ANimal Requests

Hey Everyone, 

Earlier this month you voted for House/Trance for the Monthly Mashup. Get your requests in now with the form above! The Monthly Mashup will be on Twitch on November 6 @ 5PM ET US.

Take care!

- Andrew

November Song #1 - Genre

Vote below for what genre we'll be writing on stream next month! 

- Andrew

PS - if you're a Music Producer or ANimal, get your request in for the Monthly Mashup!

New Remix - Megalovania (from Undertale)

I did a Megalovania Remix for Spooktober!! 

MP3 and Artwork downloads attached - have a great weekend!

New Release - Escape

Last month's song is finished! I went with the title "Escape" for now but I'm not 100% on it so it might change before public release. Huge thank you to all of you for helping me write this one - it really came together in the end!

MP3, 24-Bit wave, and artwork files are attached. Thanks as always for your support, have a great weekend!

- Andrew

October Monthly Mashup - Genre Poll

We're going to be sticking to 1 genre for the set this time around. Music Producers get 1 request and ANimals get 2 requests. The Monthly Mashup stream is scheduled for November 6 @ 5PM ET US on Twitch.

Vote below!

- Andrew

Collapse - WIP Week 5

Yesterday was the final session for the September song and it's basically finished! The drop has been really fleshed out and I'm really happy with how it sounds. I did some work after the stream to make things gel a bit more so all we have left is a final mix and master - that should be done in the next week or 2.

Really enjoyed writing this one - what do you think it should be named?

2020-10-01 16:07:59 +0000 UTC View Post

Collapse - WIP Week 4

Hey Everyone!

On stream yesterday I worked mainly on the verse percussion. I gave it a full pass and it works much better in the context of the song. The verses, breaks, bridge, and outro are basically done.

I was planning on giving the drop the same treatment on stream but ran out of time. I'll do that before next week and the final stream will be focused on a final quality pass, little fills here and ...

Collapse - WIP Week 3

Yesterday was the 3rd session on the September song. The main focus was FX, supporting elements, and fleshing out the verse parts. The song is really coming along and with 2 more sessions left, we're on track to finish up a really great song!

A couple notes from the stream:

• Most sections of the song are put together now, but I need to give the same treatment to the breaks, builds, and the bridge. ...
  2020-09-17 17:33:33 +0000 UTC View Post

Collapse - WIP Week 2

Hey Everyone,

Yesterday was session 2 for the September song and I mostly focused on the Sound Design for the drop. I wanted to do more during the session, but I think focusing on the drop layers really helped. It sounds full now and with better percussion, mixing, and a proper FX pass I think the drop sections will really shine. Now to give the same treatment to the rest of the song!

Next week's sessio...

August Monthly Mashup | Set Downloads

Hey Everyone,

Attached are the 2 sets from last week's stream. The sets include requests from the Music Producers and ANimals for the month of August and I mixed in some of my own choices to make the sets flow. Track lists are at the end of this post, but here are some thoughts on this moving forward.

• I realized on the request form that I switched around the Music Producers with the ANimals in terms of number of requests. Most of you figured that out, but I'm sorry for the m...
  2020-09-07 18:14:28 +0000 UTC View Post

Collapse - WIP Week 1

Yesterday was the first session for the September song. You voted for an intense melodic dubstep song and what I wrote isn't exactly that but we're in the ballpark haha. The session went really well and the writing and arrangement are already done. We're going with the tentative title "Collapse" for now - this will probably change on release.

This version is missing FX and any sound design so it sounds really...

August Top Tier Mixes // Set Downloads

All 3 sets from Friday are attached & track lists are below. Huge thanks to Waaz, SirKillerBee, and Eastwoot for the support!

I'll be doing the Music Producers/ANimals mix Friday on stream so make sure to get your requests in!

And Wednesday is the first stream for the September song. The poll is still open, so 2020-08-31 17:05:14 +0000 UTC View Post

September Song Poll #2 - Tone/Emotion

Earlier this month you voted for me to write a Melodic Dubstep song. Now vote on the tone/emotion of the song. Options below!

The first stream is next Wednesday, Sept 2 @ 12PM ET US. See you on stream --> http://www.twitch.tv/approachingnirvana 

Also, if you're a Music Producer or an ANimal don't forget to 2020-08-26 16:09:53 +0000 UTC View Post

Patreon Monthly Mix Requests

Hey everyone!

This month, I'm expanding the Monthly Mix to Music Producers and to ANimals. Music Producers will get 1 request and ANimals will get 2. On stream, I'll be combining all of your requests into 1 set. Use the form link above to get your request in.

Right now, I'd like to do this set in tandem with the Top Tier Patron sets - on stream this Friday (Aug 28 @ 5PM ET US). But it depends if I can fit it in and on how many requests I get. If I can't fit it in, this set will be...

New Release - Retrace

This is one of the WIP ideas I posted back in March/April. A future house song about each time you revisiting situations with a different perspective and I am really happy with how this one turned out. MP3, 24-Bit Wave, and Artwork are attached!

This one releases publicly August 28 - thanks as always for your support & have a good weekend!

- Andrew

September Song Poll #1 - Genre

Hey everyone!

This time around, I'm including some genres that I don't normally write in. As I mentioned last month on stream - if this song ends up not fitting within the normal "scope" of music I release it will just end up being a one-off (Patreon-only or free release) that I just write for fun. But I have had some requests for different genres so I figured why not give it a go, even if it's just fun. 

Options are listed - vote below!

New Release - Solstice

Annnnnd it's done! Really pumped how this one turned out. I did a lot of small adjustments in the final stages and I think it really helped. Huge thanks to everyone on Patreon and on stream for helping me write this! MP3, 24-Bit Wave, & Album Art are attached!

Honestly, I'm not sure when this one will release publicly. I might show it around to some labels but I might also decide on later this month. But unless it gets picked up, it'll definitely be this year.

Expect a poll fo...

Solstice - Week 5

Yesterday was the final stream for the song and the song is almost finished. The only things left are a final mix, a final master, and a few final FX. Here a couple thoughts:

• A better overall mix will make the song feel a LOT more cohesive.
• The pre-drop fill is decent, but I'm going to revisit it before final.
• The big transition in the middle of the song could maybe use a layer or 2 mo...
  2020-07-30 17:04:09 +0000 UTC View Post

Solstice - Week 4

Hey Everyone!

Yesterday was week 4 for the song and we finally got close to the sound I'm going for on this song. Before the stream, I laid out guidelines for each section and during the stream I went through, section by section, refining things. There's a fair amount of adjustments to be made to smooth everything over but here are a couple notes coming out of the session:

• During the stream, I got...
  2020-07-23 21:11:32 +0000 UTC View Post

Solstice - Week 3

Hey Everyone,

Yesterday was week 3 for the July song and the main point of this week's session was to decide on a chord progression and sketch out ideas for the break and the drop.

I do like what we came up with on stream, but they're very rough. A few things to keep in mind:

• I need to spend a session or 2 before next week on some sound design - it will help flesh out each section (Intro, Br...
  2020-07-16 17:45:33 +0000 UTC View Post

Solstice - Week 2

Hey Everyone!

Yesterday morning was the week 2 stream for the July song. The main goal was to create a basic Anjuna style intro - bass and percussion focused. What I wrote on stream works really well but I do think there will be a lot of adjustment to this section before the final version.

I still haven't decided which chord progression so in this file I included the bass intro with both progressions. B...

New Release - Cycles

This is one of the WIP ideas I posted a few months ago - "Cycles" is finished and you can download it now! Artwork, 320kbps MP3, and 24-Bit Wave File are attached!

I have no idea when this one will release. At the latest, this fall, but I might get a vocalist for this one or pitch to some labels.

Thank you as always for your support and have a great weekend!

- Andrew

...Everything happens in cycles...

Solstice - WIP Week 1

Yesterday was the first stream for the July song. You voted for a carefree/fun Anjuna-style Trance song and while the ideas I wrote are close, I wouldn't really classify them as "fun" haha. I've chosen the tentative title "Solstice" - might change before release though.

On stream, I wrote 2 different options and I do think they are both pretty carefree. But I ended up with some more complex emotions than just...

Taxes on Patreon

Hi everyone,

Starting today, Patreon is required to collect taxes on some pledges. You should receive an email directly from them with more details but I just wanted to give you a heads up. I've also copied some useful info they sent out to creators at the end of this post if you're interested in specifics.

I want to make sur...