morty, short for mortuary

this is an EP of eclectic tracks i've made but never shared!

i didn't feel like releasing them as singles, so here we are! final releases might change slightly if i get sucked back into mixing/mastering haha

ramblings about the track in order below.

1) link cable

i thought it'd be fun to play with SFX samples from the GBA Pokemon games! i tried to evoke the feeling of a fun, nostalgic summer with two friends trading Pokemon.

2) cucumber in august

i was going for an aural aesthetic here i can't quite describe well. the closest approximation is an impossibly hot summer, sitting inside with all the fans turned on, listening to the radio and generally just kind of tolerating the heat,

3) culmination

this was directly inspired by the Homestuck soundtrack, which was super formative for my music tastes in high school. it started when i was practicing EDM composition and i ended up just liking it!

4) a city of apathy

HEAVILY inspired by the Professor Layton soundtrack, I tried to evoke the feeling of being surrounded by people but never feeling seen. the repetitive layering loops represent an unwavering status quo that prevents sincerity and compassion. the flutes are supposed to represent a voice trying to break through the noise and appeal to peoples' hearts.

5) the timeless grove

this was originally meant to be practice with orchestral sounds, since I hadn't relied on them heavily in my compositions for a while. i wanted to represent the feeling of being alone in the foods as the sun starts to set, recognizing the forest was there before i was born and will be there after i go. my partner says it reminds him of "Music for Cats."

6) curtain call

fun fact - i used an ocarina soundfont for the bird call and used pitch-bending to kind of add a mourning dove-like lilt to the notes.

i've always loved the Pokemon Gym theme, and i was curious about the chord progression behind it. i wanted to see if i could use it in a different context. so i attempted to go for an "Objection" theme from Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney. my original vision was for a gym leader who was also a prosecutor LOL.

=== THANKS FOR LISTENING! ===

when i introduced brass elements, i remembered a jazz band performance from when i was in high school. i loved how each instrument got its change to step forward and play a solo, only for the crowd to erupt into applause alongside the live music. it felt like something bigger than its parts.