Sometimes I consider getting rid of this thing and focusing my attention on making more and better music!
Thankfully, Tangerine Mussolini has been kicked out of the White House. And while I am no fan of Joe Biden, the only viable alternative was way worse. Anyway, on to what you’re probably here for – more and better music!
Following the release of パラメータの特定のセット, or A Certain Set of Parameters for us Kanj-illiterate, I began work on what was intended to be a synthwave EP. Unfortunately, I caught a bad case of perfectionist syndrome and subsequently shelved it for later. Have no fears, it will see the light of day and I’m sure you’re going to love it when it’s done!
In order to scratch the creative itch, I started working on some more retro ambient pieces. These eventually evolved into what I ended up releasing in the last 48 hours – Faux Pleasure! It’s, let’s face it – vaporwave – but at the same time I realize it doesn’t follow the formula for vw 100%… it’s a little darker.
As the album evolved, I began to construct a narrative around a person who experiences retail therapy, but because of their addictive personality, shopping just becomes another temporary fix. Until finally, they’ve fully embraced their loneliness and the fact that they combat their negative feelings by escaping into consumer utopia.
They attempt to reconnect with people by going out to public events where they can be part of the crowd without obligation to interact (“Expectant Nights at the Carnival”). But eventually they fall back into the pattern of buying things to help fill the emptiness (“Liquidation”, “All the Best Stuff”, “Payday”, etc).
It’s not exactly a happy album. Heh. That being said, I’m very proud of this record and I hope you will take the time to give it a listen. It’s also on YouTube (including music videos for “The Crane Game” and “We Tried Staying Happy“) if you prefer to listen to your music that way!
So what is next on the agenda, you ask? Well I don’t want to commit to anything I can’t confidently deliver in a timely manner. But I am presently working on remastering The X of Art EP and expanding it to include a bunch of tracks that were also released around that time, as well as some that were never released! At this point, it’s almost a double album. Stay tuned!
In the meantime, check out Faux Pleasure, and if you are looking for my stuff on Spotify, Pandora, etc you can find A Certain Set of Parameters and M.E.O.W. here!
Thanks again for all your support and enthusiasm!
Much Love and Respect,
Adam
And so in this dystopian spirit, I present to you パラメータの特定のセット. For those not fluent in kanji, that is “A Certain Set of Parameters” – A concept record intended to capture the ‘end of times’ vibe many of us are experiencing. Lots of different music styles influenced this record – ambient, industrial, synthwave, vaporwave, and a little bit of The Swans thrown in for good measure.
The opening: Two people need to be recognized for this. Peter Bishop did an awesome job coming up with the backing tracks for the Madonna parody – as well as adding resonance filters and other plug-ins I don’t know the names of. Pretty spot-on. And my mom (yes, you read that correctly internet. Don’t even think about making any “your mom” jokes!) did some awesome on the singing. Represent!
The solo: My buddy Jesus “Jesse” Sanchez, lead singer and guitarist of the band 
The voice overs: Regarding the previously mentioned 
So that’s it everybody. Every track for the record is done and heading out to be mastered. I can’t thank people enough for the support, encouragement, patience, and beer that has gone into making this happen! After nearly three years of working on this thing I’m feeling like Dre after he released Compton (but seriously, 16 years between albums dude?!).