tag:alyssaewattsmusic.com,2005:/blogs/the-mind-s-ear?p=1The Mind's Ear2023-02-22T17:45:37-08:00Alyssa E. Wattsfalsetag:alyssaewattsmusic.com,2005:Post/71589982023-02-22T17:45:37-08:002023-10-16T07:46:16-07:00A Brand New Track, Mutual Connection!<p> </p><p><a class="no-pjax" href="https://soundcloud.com/alyssaewattsmusic/mutual-connection" target="_blank" data-link-type="url"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/34780/4187b07f6e208837b7667a2b94ba44b918cc640c/original/mutual-connection-song-image-2.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p><p>Hello all,</p><p><br>I am pleased to announce a release of a new track that had been a while in the making, mainly because I have only rare occasions where I can comfortably record my voice for my music, and this also took a lot of “tinkering” and adjustments to get it just right so that I’d be happy with it. </p><p> <br>I created Mutual Connection as one of many musical tributes to my favorite sentient robot characters and their abilities to think and feel and form strong bonds with their comrades. For the longest time I’ve been fascinated with stories from TV or video games that have this concept. It just helps make life a little easier to deal with.</p><p> </p><p>February 16 was what I like to call my 13th "Fanniversary Day" of Mega Man X - that is, the day that 13 years ago, my sister and I became Mega Man X fans! - and so I decided it was finally time to put this music project out into the world. 🌎</p><p><br>I have written earlier here about how Mega Man X and Zero, and eventually my many favorite Transformers, have inspired me to create some of my earlier works. The primary reason behind creating this piece of music this time, however, was an old mecha anime from the 90’s that I never knew I needed until a few years ago, called <i><strong>Brave Police J-Decker</strong></i>, and I finally had finished watching it around April 2020, which was a big part of what inspired me to start working on this track. </p><p> </p><p>The story follows a young boy who stumbles upon a police robot named Deckerd who is still under construction, and the boy accidentally activates him. By introducing himself to the robot like a new friend, over time the boy sneaks away to his new robot friend and teaches him different things about emotions and being brave. More robots like Deckerd appear in the series, and throughout the series they all learn about emotions and develop strong bonds with other human friends as well as with their robot comrades. I won’t give much more about this anime series away, but it left such an impact on both me and my twin sister when we had watched it. We saw how these police robots cared for their fellow robot colleagues as well as for the human characters they developed their bonds with. </p><p style="text-align:center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/34780/b129f48b9aa219a47bbd8eee44e2dd6f4e07061a/original/yuuta-promises-to-be-deckerds-boss-screencap.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" />(From the left, Deckerd and his human friend Yuuta)<br> </p><p>There is just something about robots with the ability to feel love and other human emotions that really gets to me, and it makes me happy and breaks my heart at the same time. </p><p><br>I had spent almost a couple of years on this track because even though it felt finished at times, I still didn’t feel ready to post it yet anywhere. I needed to do more adjustments, like toning things down, or increasing such and such… Even recorded my vocals again if I heard it do something weird, until it would sound right. This is one of the drawbacks of being a perfectionist in my work, as in I never consider it done even WHEN it is done. I always find something later that I wish I’d done better once it’s “out there.” And it hurts to want to make it “more perfect” after I’ve already made it “perfect enough”. (I know that sounds weird and nonsensical.) What I also struggled with was the title, as I often do with my work. Once I choose a title, it’s not like I can change it later just because I don’t like it anymore. It really has to stick to me, before I call it what it needs to be called.</p><p><br>I have more robot-related music coming later, so stay tuned! Thank you so much for reading, and for listening. ❤</p>Alyssa E. Wattstag:alyssaewattsmusic.com,2005:Post/69406032022-04-25T16:30:21-07:002022-04-25T21:08:28-07:00I was FINALIST in the Great American Song Contest 2021!!<p>MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2022</p>
<p>Hey all, </p>
<p>I know it's been a big minute since my last update here. It was before 2020 hit the world with the global pandemic of COVID-19. Since then, my mental health hasn't been at its best. I normally <em>would</em> apologize for any sort of absence or inactivity on my site that I should be updating more regularly, but for something that was completely out of my control, I'm not going to.</p>
<p>This pandemic has affected EVERYONE.</p>
<p>I'm not ready yet to talk about how I've been holding up. That may be in a different and upcoming post, if it will be coming at all. I'm overwhelmed and it's hard right now. But I do have a bit of good news to report, for those who are interested... </p>
<p>I’ve been really quiet about this, because I’m not sure how I was supposed to talk about it, or if it was even worth mentioning… But here it goes. </p>
<p>Last year on November 17, 2021, I entered one song and one instrumental piece in the Great American Song Contest. This is my first true songwriting contest ever, not quite counting the little song contest about "how smoking is bad for you" that I wrote, sang and recorded with my sister in high school. (Okay maybe I'll count it a little bit.) Even though there were entry fees, as many songwriting contests do, one thing about this one was that everyone who entered would be getting a written evaluation from one of the judges, who are industry professionals. Not only that, but that the music didn't have to sound perfect in production quality like it was taken to a high-end studio to get done. </p>
<p>I have my iMac desktop, Logic Pro X software, and a midi controller piano keyboard. I have my own studio, in my bedroom! Gone are the days where you HAVE to go to a studio... Another reason why it’s good to be alive. </p>
<p>I chose to enter my song <strong><a contents='"Nowhere"' data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://soundcloud.com/alyssaewattsmusic/nowhere/s-T0fpKBMI46v?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing" target="_blank"><span style="color:#3300cc;">"Nowhere"</span></a></strong><span style="color:#3300cc;"> </span>and an instrumental piece I'm very proud of, called<span style="color:#2980b9;"> </span><strong><a contents='"Aerial Warfare."' data-link-label="" data-link-type="track" href="/track/1548944/aerial-warfare" target="_blank"><span style="color:#3300cc;">"Aerial Warfare."</span></a><span style="color:#3498db;"> </span></strong>The results would be announced on March 30th, 2022. </p>
<p>In the end, my piece <strong>"Aerial Warfare"</strong> was one of 100 or so Finalists! </p>
<p>And you know what? That felt good. It felt very good. </p>
<p>Yes, it would've been nice to make it as one of the top entries (especially with the sizable prize money I really could've used, lol) but there's something to be said about being a Finalist. Maybe there's no monetary prize it it, but... recognition is wonderful too. </p>
<p>It feels great to be recognized for my hard work. And it <em>is </em>hard work. </p>
<p>And even though my written evaluation for my song <strong>"Nowhere"</strong> wasn't sparkling positive, it was still positive for the most part, helpful, completely fair, and encouraging even. That's why I loved entering in this contest, because they really listen to the song or piece, and not just hear it. I might even enter in the contest again with another song and instrumental piece for the next time. </p>
<p>I have a Part 2 of<strong> "Aerial Warfare"</strong> that's been sitting around... Maybe it's time I dust it off, buckle down and try to finish the piece. </p>
<p>To be honest, I wanted to enter because it would give me one more meaningful reason to wake up in the morning, even as I struggle to want to get out of bed. </p>
<p>Another reason to want to stay alive in this otherwise messed-up world. </p>
<p>I'm so glad I tried out for this songwriting contest. Knowing that I'm at least on the right track with my music by industry professionals might actually help me keep going with what I know in my heart I must do. </p>
<p>I hope it is a sign of good things to come in my short life. </p>
<p>Thank you for reading, and stay tuned. </p>
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.greatamericansong.com" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/34780/8c4f6069cac17530f189e9384a8cf50a5363dbe5/original/finalist-200.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_orig justify_left border_none" alt="" /></a></p>Alyssa E. Wattstag:alyssaewattsmusic.com,2005:Post/58622112019-08-18T20:00:00-07:002019-08-18T20:24:22-07:00A Sexy Track Gets a Makeover!<p>SUNDAY AUGUST 18, 2019 </p>
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://soundcloud.com/alyssaewattsmusic/steamy-escapades" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/34780/6914c65dcb9dc8f6f89fdb0e830104c42c009b82/original/rose-lips-se-name-and-title1-soft2.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p>
<p>Hi all! </p>
<p>I’m very excited because a sexy instrumental track I began working on last year is FINALLY now complete; STEAMY ESCAPADES! I’ve had a work-in-progress version here on my website for a little while, but since then, I’ve added a seductive saxophone to the track as well as a couple of cool mysterious synths. Exactly one year ago today, I started this track. And it never felt complete... until <strong>today</strong>!</p>
<p>This is BY NO MEANS the song that I started talking about back on Valentine’s Day this year. (That one, “Set On You,” will have lyrics/vocals.) But I may put it in the same album or EP of sexy tracks I have in the works. </p>
<p>This genre is another one of my strong suits, in addition to making inspiring military music. Making sexy music like this always gives me life. And there is more coming! </p>
<p>Temporarily I'm keeping the old version on my track here, in case anyone is curious to hear the difference between the versions. (Who knows, maybe there is a need somewhere for that version!) The new one has even more of a Paul Hardcastle smooth jazz feel now, I think. Especially with the newly-added sax!!</p>
<p>Click on the image to hear it for free on Soundcloud! Thanks so much for listening, and stay tuned for more! </p>Alyssa E. Wattstag:alyssaewattsmusic.com,2005:Post/57550432019-05-14T22:20:52-07:002019-05-15T18:03:13-07:00My time at the ASCAP Expo 2019...!<p>TUESDAY MAY 14, 2019 </p>
<p>Hi all! </p>
<p>I had an amazing time at the ASCAP Expo 2019! An unbelievable amount of knowledge and inspiration was gained, and I still couldn’t see everything I wanted to go to! But I had a great time and got to meet plenty of interesting and talented people! </p>
<p>This time I gravitated more toward the songwriting panels, now that I’m getting back into songwriting and training my vocals (details on that on another post!). I did go to a film scoring feedback panel lead by Bear McCreary (the composer for <em>Defiance</em> on SyFy! I miss that show!), and it was fascinating to see what other composers did with a certain scene and compare it to what Mr. McCreary himself did. One take-away I got from that that I don’t remember from anywhere else… “Who’s Point of View are you showing with your music?” That was really cool! I loved the “We Create Music” panel and the Limitless Songwriting panel, and another songwriting panel had instructors form the Musician’s Institute talk about their advice on how to write songs. I took a bunch of notes!!!</p>
<p>The "Battle of the Music Directors" event was both entertaining and educational... It made me think about the descriptive language used by music supervisors when they are looking for certain types of songs or music tracks to license for their projects. It also made me want to heavily evaluate the production music I'm creating for licensing, so that it can be even more "discoverable." I'll be working on it! </p>
<p>Questlove’s discussion with ASCAP chairman Paul Williams opened my eyes a little more about collaboration in songwriting… And even though I like to create my music on my own, down the road I should co-write with somebody. It’s just easier for me to go it alone, but… maybe, really, it’s harder? I don’t know, I’ve never co-written a song with anyone other than my sister so far. But I suppose it won’t hurt to try.</p>
<p>The networking was… pretty much <strong>everything</strong> I was afraid it was going to be, at first. As an introvert, it’s one of the main reasons I typically always avoid these things, unfortunately. On the first night I didn’t know who to start with and where to go, and I just stood around like an idiot sometimes, and it was hard to talk over so many voices going on at once. And I didn’t want to interrupt anyone's conversations that might’ve changed people’s lives for the better if I didn’t butt in. But once I got into it, I got to talking to some very nice and interesting musicians, and even tried out some tasty hot buffalo [chicken? quail? some bird?] treats. The next two evenings over there were easier for networking, and I met some more awesome musicians. This Expo actually gave me a reason to bring a bunch of my business cards, which I hadn’t had much of an opportunity to pass around for along time. (At least this time, all my info on the cards were correct. Back in 2011, some of my contact info changed after a year, so whoever had my cards then, wouldn’t be able to reach me now by email or phone. But that’s life, I guess.) </p>
<p>You know, with all this new information and inspiration, I’m even more motivated to finish up some new tracks I still have sitting in my computer. Some are literally a LISTEN-OVER or two away from being done! The whole thing made me realize how much I really need to update my Soundcloud account with more music. Even if they are rough-drafts of my songs. I know some people speak against showing songs or tracks on Soundcloud until it’s absolutely perfect and done and crystal clear and perfect and (did I mention perfect?) and polished, but the whole beauty of how so very cool Soundcloud can be is how a song develops and inviting people into the <em>process</em> of creating a new track can be interesting. I just need to be more active on Soundcloud, period. That, and maybe decide on one other social media platform I can use for more constant updates, or another way to contact other people in the music industry. (Twitter?? or Tumblr???) </p>
<p>Thank you ASCAP Expo 2019, for helping me meet such wonderful music people, and for validating why music is my life. I'm even thinking of going <em>next</em> year! Not positive on that yet, but it may be likely! </p>
<p>Thanks for reading, and stay tuned…!</p>Alyssa E. Wattstag:alyssaewattsmusic.com,2005:Post/57370742019-04-30T02:00:37-07:002019-04-30T02:00:37-07:00Updates + Ready for the ASCAP Expo! (Almost!)<p>TUESDAY APRIL 30, 2019</p>
<p>Hi all!</p>
<p>After 8 whole years, I'm finally going to attend this year's ASCAP Expo!</p>
<p>The event has yet to start, and I'm already feeling so inspired! A little nervous about networking, but more inspired! There are more panels in this convention than I can be able to go to! Just to be in the same place with other musicians and people in the music industry will be a cool experience. </p>
<p>Last time I went to an ASCAP Expo I had a different (non-Bandzoogle) website that showed what I THOUGHT was my best work. At the time, I really <em>did</em> think it was my best work, but this time around, what I had back then just wouldn't cut it <em>today</em>. I've been using Bandzoogle since 2011, however, and with my website revamp last year, now showcasing new quality tracks created in Logic Pro X, I think I have a better chance of making any sort of impression. Hopefully good ones! </p>
<p>As for my projects, I've been on a recent World music kick lately, and I am still chipping away at my inspiring Military music. It's starting to look like I will have two albums worth of the latter! Now I need to decide which tracks to group together, and what titles to give to these albums! I've already been doing some brainstorming for that... :) </p>
<p>And I know I've probably piqued some people's interest with my previous post about a new love song, inspired by... (gasp) Transformers comic books?! Me oh my! That will come in due time. :) I'm in the process of refining the music for the song and working out some melodic issues in the verses of the lyrics, but other than that, it's coming along! And I can't wait to tease it to you guys sometime in a near-future post! </p>
<p>Exciting projects are underway... and with that, exciting opportunities for learning and inspiration at a musician's convention, like the ASCAP Expo! Thanks for reading, and Stay Tuned...! </p>Alyssa E. Wattstag:alyssaewattsmusic.com,2005:Post/56435122019-02-14T18:01:33-08:002019-02-15T12:57:38-08:00Working on a steamy new Love song...<p>THURDAY FEBURARY 14, 2019</p>
<p>Hello all! </p>
<p>HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! ♥</p>
<p>As you know, one of my major focuses in music right now is currently the Inspirational Military genre. I absolutely love creating the music in that genre, and will continue to create more of it this year. But my <em>other</em> strong suit?</p>
<p><em><strong>Sexy/seductive </strong></em> music... whether it's instrumental or with lyrics and vocals. What people sometimes like to call "baby-making" music.</p>
<p>I've written love songs before... I've fallen in love before... But these days, the sexy style of music I create is not coming from personal experience. </p>
<p>It's inspired by fiction, even when it's in the form of comic books. </p>
<p>I've said earlier that Transformers inspired a lot of my military music. However, it's not limited to only that. The most recent Transformers comic books, while having heavy war themes for sure, also had poignant themes of love and relationships. And after having read the last issue of <em>Transformers: Lost Light </em>(formerly <em>Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye </em>by James Roberts) I got even more inspired to create more of the type of music that can get people to, well... feel pretty romantic with each other.</p>
<p>When fiction this powerful and beautiful (with equally beautiful artwork!) touches the heart this much, it's no wonder I've been so inspired lately...</p>
<p>And I don't know whether it's all the cozy rainy days this week, or inspiring artwork I've found that some artists have created of these amazing characters, but at this point I've not only already finished the music, but have just about finished all the lyrics too! Within a matter of only days!</p>
<p>And all I need to do now, is to record my singing of it and share it with you guys. ♥</p>
<p>So before I end this post, I'll leave you with a little tease... In fact, maybe because it's Valentines Day, I'll the love and leave you with <em>two!</em></p>
<p>Firstly, who my muses are: two Transformers, one of which is a Medic and the other is his sword-wielding best friend. </p>
<p>Secondly, the TITLE... which is "Set On You", part of the whole phrase in the song "My heart is set on you..."</p>
<p>Alright! Stay tuned for more updates, coming VERY SOON!!! </p>Alyssa E. Wattstag:alyssaewattsmusic.com,2005:Post/55663832018-12-22T21:56:01-08:002018-12-22T22:02:13-08:00My Old "Baby" Keyboards!<p>SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2018</p>
<p>Hi all!</p>
<p>I always get a little nostalgic during the holidays. Why? </p>
<p>Well, one of the many reasons is because I start to remember one of my favorite childhood Christmas Days… the one back in the early 1990’s, when I got my first <em><strong>electronic</strong></em> music making instrument… </p>
<p>I was doing some major bedroom cleaning this past summer, because, well... a clean and orderly workspace/bedroom will be a lot easier to create my music in, and less stressful. I'd rather focus on making music, not going through years-old collections of junk mail I never open! But during that time, what do I re-discover?</p>
<p>My old little piano keyboards, tucked away behind a bookshelf!! </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/34780/a73efeb451e2df63fb4fccda5235969c70609c70/original/old-keyboards-for-blog.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>There’s a funny story to these things. One of them was actually a gift to both me and my sister Sara in 1992, for Christmas. It had all sorts of instruments sounds and synthesizers, and little pre-loaded tunes that we could play along to. But the drawback was, we could only play 2 notes on it at a time.</p>
<p>Our parents eventually got <em>another keyboard</em>… the exact type with the same buttons and setting and... <strong>everything</strong>! No we each had one... </p>
<p>Well, it occurred to me and my sister that sometimes, you need more than 2 notes to make better music! If one person used BOTH of the keyboards at once, we could play up to FOUR notes at the same time! That was like an upgrade! So sometimes, I would play both keyboards at the same time, and then my sister would want to play them too, but we had to take turns and share, waiting for the other to stop playing both of these keyboards before the other sister can. Somehow, we made it work, though! :) </p>
<p>My sister and I still made use of these little keyboards even while we had new larger Yamaha piano keyboards given to us by our Grandma when we turned 13 year old, bless her. She wanted both of us to have our own big keyboard to make music on. Sometimes we would jam together with one of us on a big new keyboard and the other sister on both the little Casio keyboards. And we would record these “jam sessions” on… guess what? <strong>Audio cassette tapes!</strong> That’s right! Back then, we lived and breathed audio cassette tapes, whether we listened to them, or got to recording on them. (I guess that’s why we think Soundwave and Blaster from Transformers G1 are so awesome, because they transform into boomboxes or sound systems with tape decks, haha. But I digress…!) </p>
<p>Later I’d go on to also use both types of keyboards for recording my more serious songs at the time during my high school days, including the anti-smoking jingle we came up with in high school. (That’s another project I plan on improving someday with my professional tools in Logic Pro now!) </p>
<p>I’ve cleaned these old keyboards out, but I’ll have to see if they still even work. Perhaps I can update this blog post to say whether they do or don’t, but just seeing them always makes me think of how much fun I had playing on those things.</p>
<p>Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for more! </p>Alyssa E. Wattstag:alyssaewattsmusic.com,2005:Post/55497582018-12-17T13:44:37-08:002018-12-22T21:44:57-08:00My Future in in My Hands... When They're Healthy<p>MONDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2018</p>
<p>Hi everyone!</p>
<p>Hands are the keys to a musicians music. So when your hands are heavily compromised, not only is your daily life compromised, your music can be compromised too. </p>
<p>From October 26 to November 29, my hands were ravaged by dyshidrotic eczema. All of my fingers and both my palms were completely covered in bubble like blisters just under the skin that itched and hurt like HECK. The back of my hands didn't have blisters but the itchy red blotches craved a good scratching constantly. It was maddening at times... so maddening I would give in and rub and scratch them like crazy. But I paid for that dearly, with my hands becoming swollen. My fingers turned more difficult to bend without feeling like they were going to break. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/34780/5baa1f16c881e614fd2e490bacdd284787287367/original/dyshidrosis-20181028-lefthand.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/34780/f79dda83f5ead17ab5606c10685d97c1116b728b/original/dyshidrosis-20181101-lefthand.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/34780/1d2de03b67a3b65ed2e40568faec04416da9cfa7/original/dyshidrosis-20181106-lefthand.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_" />The bubbly blisters not only showed up on my fingers… My palms were completely covered in them too, and eventually they converged into one long blister along my palm lines that made it especially difficult for me to bend my hands or close them. The thick skin from the top of my palms peeled off dramatically and left large areas of fresh new skin delicate and burning with anything that came into contact with it. I had cracking skin and fissures that stung horribly with little movement. Holding many objects were impossible. My sister, Dad, and Mom needed to do many things for me. Even my poor mom, who is battling cancer again, offered to spoon-feed me my favorite cereal when it got too painful for me to hold a spoon on one of her good days. I am so grateful I live with family who are here to help me when something as disheartening as this happens and makes me basically useless for a while.</p>
<p>This skin disorder was triggered by several things. For one thing, I never got it before until I had to take I.V. medication for my leg infection, once in March and then again in April, the second of which led me to acute renal failure in the spring. This skin problem tends to start on people after they’ve had I.V. medication, and comes back during stressful situations like life changes/situations (new baby or severe family illness) or if hands come in contact with certain metals like nickel, chemicals. Also, I wash my hands too much because I don’t like when they have to stay dirty. I was decluttering my room without protective gloves and using Clorox surface wipes... chemicals. Sometimes I wore gloves during chores or decluttering buy my hands looked fine, and I figured as long as I put on some lotion or hand cream after washing them so they don’t get cracked, they’ll be fine. Well, in the middle of November my mom had complications from her treatment and my Dad took her to ER, and he stayed with her while Mom was admitted to the hospital for a few days. I got so worried about Mom, and on top of that, there were other stressors that week that in just two days, my hands went from healthy and fine, to blistery and itchy along most of my fingers. My Mom and I talked this over when she was feeling better that I don’t blame her for this at all, because it couldn’t be helped what happened to her. But she insisted that when I saw a dermatologist/doctor about my hands once it was bad enough that I mention it was in fact the sudden stress that began the onset.</p>
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<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/34780/6e89ffd938f12acbe8fa01f69ed0be3cb11ef485/original/dyshidrosis-20181112-lefthand-peeling.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_" /></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/34780/28220d44cd6af4875efbaa6fa2f0e4865f9bbc7a/original/dyshidrosis-20181112-righthand-peeling2.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_none" alt="November 12, 2018" />I didn’t realize how much I depended on my hands until it hurt so much to use them. I was still decluttering my room/studio workspace and over-washing my hands in October. Then one stressful thing after another occurred mid-month, with a family illness and the intense worry about what could happen, and then came the worst flare-up of dyshidrotic eczema I’ve ever had this year. It went away on it’s own before, but this time it led to infection on BOTH hands. It hurt to move them, even a little bit! Antibiotics eventually helped the infections, but the eczema stayed, of course. I couldn’t hold a pen or spoon or anything without bad pain and itching and the feeling like my hands were on fire. The skin on all my fingers and half of both my palms completely peeled off. The whole thing flared up again in the middle of November even worse on brand new skin, just after it looked like my hands would finally be healing. It was a nightmare!</p>
<p>In the last week of November I finally got an appointment with a good dermatologist who prescribed me a strong corticosteroid ointment that worked fairly quickly, and actually gave the skin on my hands a chance to heal! For 2 weeks thought, I couldn't live without Vaseline. My hands constantly needed a layer of Vaseline on them all the time, otherwise the second I start drying my hands off after washing them, they dried out so lightning fast that I was too afraid to move them much until I put Vaseline on them, practically while they're still damp. Vaseline is a lifesaver.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/34780/0f3404489a6fc7683909072ff4215cd6f5cf94b3/original/left-hand-healed.jpeg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.jpeg" class="size_s justify_left border_" /></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/34780/6c87ece9194c0fe5c65f68167570496dfd944ab8/original/right-hand-healed.jpeg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.jpeg" class="size_s justify_left border_" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I have to admit, momentum was pretty much lost for my music projects for some time when I couldn't even use my computer to work on them, or write any ideas down for several weeks. It really sucked! I didn't know when this ordeal would be over, but now that my hands have healed, I can get back on track with my music work, as well as being able to be there for my family and being able to <em>literally</em> lend a hand or two when they need help with anything. </p>
<p>My future really IS in my hands...</p>Alyssa E. Wattstag:alyssaewattsmusic.com,2005:Post/53040242018-09-06T00:32:17-07:002018-09-07T18:10:19-07:00A Fresh New Look, Plus... I am on SOUNDCLOUD!<p>THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2018</p>
<p>Hi everyone! </p>
<p>Guess who's back and revved to roll out some new music! (Me, that's who! With an updated theme to boot!) </p>
<p>But before you wonder about it, allow me to make that announcement I’ve put off for to long to announce: I have some of my music on <span class="font_regular"><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>SoundCloud!!! </strong></span></span></p>
<p>Now, technically, my Soundcloud account is not new. In fact, I've had it for a quite few months now. But I wasn't quite ready to show it yet, not at least until I had more than three tracks on it. And on there, I want it to be REALLY GOOD STUFF. </p>
<p>But the super nice thing about Soundcloud? I can share with listeners some things I've been working on that are works in progress... BEFORE they're even done... and I may even talk about the process during the creation of the tracks! Cool, huh? </p>
<p>I mean... It's about WAAAY more than just that, but that 's all I'll say about it at the moment. For now, treat your ears to some new sounds from me! Stayed tuned for updates!</p>
<p><iframe allow="autoplay" frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/387666527&color=%239aaa4d&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true" width="100%"></iframe></p>
<p> </p>Alyssa E. Wattstag:alyssaewattsmusic.com,2005:Post/52217742018-05-12T18:44:29-07:002018-09-07T03:33:46-07:00To Hell and Back Again...<p>SATURDAY, MAY 12, 2018</p>
<p>Hello all, </p>
<p>At some point in all our lives, there’s a time where we develop a health scare. And last month, for me, that health scare was called Acute Renal Failure. </p>
<p>Basically, my kidneys were shutting down because I accumulated a toxic level of intravenous antibiotics I needed to use to treat a cellulitis infection on my lower left leg. That, and probably having taken some high-dose Motrin pills for the pain in my leg I had earlier from a lanced hematoma. </p>
<p>Let me back things up a bit. Earlier this year, what started as a small red area on my leg developed into a large red area that needed antibiotics to treat it. When two different antibiotics (Keflex and Bactrim) in pill form didn’t help, I needed to use antibiotics through I.V., which was Vancomycin administered for one hour 3 times a day. When the infection seemed to get worse, I had to be hospitalized for 2 nights from March 16 to March 18 for observation to try out using a combination of two different intravenous antibiotics and another in pill form, and then went home with another week’s worth of two I.V. antibiotics to treat the infection. It seemed to work, until the area got red again, this time with a hematoma. I thought the hematoma was an abscess, so at Urgent Care I had it drained, very painfully, but it was just blood that came out. Still, I was given Clindamycin to treat the area or at least prevent further infection, but though the wound was protected, the area was still red. So now I needed to start Vanco again on April 17, but with six I.V. line restarts in the 2 weeks of intravenous medication in March, I needed to have a PICC line inserted into my arm so that the medicine won’t be painful going in anymore. Every 2 days for 2 weeks in March I needed to go back to Urgent Care and change the I.V. line because it got painful/infiltrated. </p>
<p>The Vancomycin didn’t bother me at first back in March, and blood tests after 3 doses showed I was taking in the right amount of the medication into my system. But I couldn’t get the PICC line started until April 18th, and before I could use the PICC line I needed to get the Vancomycin in though an I.V. line that was in a painful place on my right hand… the one place I never wanted it, but it came in handy when I couldn’t t use the PICC line yet. I had to start my morning dose late on April 18, and because of that, the blood test from the Vancomycin trough couldn’t be done until the next morning. I’d be 5 doses in before the blood test. But after 3 doses I was already feeling pretty sick, and I didn’t understand why. </p>
<p>I started feeling nauseous all the time and lost all desire to eat or drink. My arms and legs felt like they would fall asleep if I stood still for a few seconds or if I hang my arms at the sides, and I had to shake my arms or legs to relieve the pain. I just generally felt miserable, cold and achy and just did not want to eat. The worst part was not drinking anything. When you take antibiotics, it’s important to drink liquids especially water to help flush out the excess medication out of your system. But I wasn’t even doing THAT. All I wanted to do was lie in bed and not put anything in my mouth, also for fear of throwing up whatever I ate or drank. </p>
<p>I went to get a blood test done April 19 for the Vancomycin trough (which was ordered by the doctor and is always a part of taking intravenous antibiotics), feeling sick that morning too. And to my horror about 3:30pm, I got a call from the Home Infusion pharmacy that my blood test came back showing highly elevated levels of Vancomycin and creatinine, meaning my kidneys started to get really affected by the medication. I got really scared. I was asked how fast I could get to Urgent Care, and was told that I needed I.V. fluids started to begin flushing my kidneys to get them working again. My mom took me to Urgent Care, where they started I.V. on me and wheeled me to the Emergency Center where I was put in an observation room temporarily until I’d be admitted to a regular room upstairs. Later I found out that my Vancomycin levels and creatinine levels were even higher because of the sixth dose I took soon after the Vancomycin trough blood test. I won't say what the levels were here, for fear of my sister finding out before she is ready to know them (and she'll let me know when she is). But the levels were... um, pretty bad.</p>
<p>I was visited by a nephrologist who determined that I needed dialysis to clean my blood of the Vancomycin. I’d get a temporary access catheter inserted into my jugular artery, and hearing about that got me even more scared about how serious this whole thing was. I was told I’d only need dialysis once or twice, and then “We’ll see.” I still couldn’t eat anything much at all and only held down sips of ice water and some clear soda. I was never without a green throw-up baggie, and often fought the urge to vomit just from thinking about the flavors and smells of food that I didn’t like. Dialysis wasn’t painful, but because my blood was a little cool going back into my body, I was shaking and shivering uncontrollably most of the time from the cold that not even warmed blankets could keep me warm for too long. I had dialysis for 3 hours on April 20, and for 4 hours on April 21, the second treatment to remove more Vanco and remove at least 2 liters of fluid that was accumulating in my body that I couldn’t pee out fast enough yet. After that, the doctors wanted to see if my kidneys would kick back in again and do what they’re supposed to do. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/34780/295cf3f6fca884e4b5c57c5c3da166ab8d50161c/original/img-20180420-192831.jpg/!!/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">This is me at the hospital with the jugular catheter in my neck for the 2 dialysis treatments. </p>
<p>Around Monday April 22, I was only able to tolerate frozen fruit snacks like Italian ice, a strawberry flavored one and an lemon one. I couldn’t do jellos. I seemed to hold it down okay until the next day, I had hot tea after the Italian ice... then I lost <em>that</em>. Later because I only had sugar from the Italian ice, I got horrible stomach cramping that couldn’t be helped by going to the bathroom. It was a constant ebbing pain in my stomach that wouldn’t let up. It got so bad it triggered retching. I was given Tylenol for the pain, but when that didn’t help, I was recommended Norco. So I agreed to take it, and that might’ve been why I was able to fall asleep thru most of the night until 6am. But the pain came back several times the next day, and each time it seemed less bad. My hope was that the pain would not come a third day, and thankfully I was right. Tuesday the 24th, I was able to handle veggie broth. Days before, even the smell of any food, including broth, sent me into a retching heaving mess. But I needed to take in <em>something</em> besides sugary Italian ice, which might’ve caused a reaction in my stomach when nothing else was in there for several days. Veggie broth was okay for breakfast, a little beef broth for lunch... and I barely touched the dinner of cream of mushroom soup. But I think because I didn’t eat just sugary stuff, my stomach pain became less a problem. On the 25th, the first complete meal I had was tomato soup… oh my god, it was so delicious. Wow, I actually had something I thought was delicious. It made me believe that yes, <strong>I’d be able to eat again one day</strong>. But I was far from out of the woods. I wouldn’t be released from the hospital until I was actually eating again… eating actual food again... and I wasn’t sure how long before then that I’d go home. </p>
<p>By the evening on the 25th, I was upgraded to regular diet (low sodium though) and I tried my best to eat my dinner, although I could only stomach the bland chicken soup that came with it and the little bit of brown rice and quinoa. This time I was asked which choices I’d like for breakfast on April 26, and the cheese omelet was the best thing to go with. I only ate about half of that, but it was a good start, and I got to have some more tomato soup with lunch. One of the two internal medicine doctors that came to check on me daily came in and told me it’s possible with how well I was doing, that I may go home later that day. I’d been off the I.V. fluids for a couple of days or so, and I no longer needed the dialysis, and my levels were improving. By 1:45pm, I had the jugular catheter removed from my neck, and by 3:00pm, I had the PICC line removed from my arm, since I no longer had need for it. So by 5:30pm Thursday April 26, I was back home with my family. I’d miss all the amazing nurses at the hospital who took care of me there, but I was ready to come back home more than I realized.</p>
<p>And I already had an amazing nurse by my side through it all; my mom. She was with me though this process the whole way through… she helped feed me when I could barely eat or drink and helped me out of bed during the day, and even helped me pull the I.V. pole while I took walks with her down the hospital hall about 3 times a day. We nicknamed the I.V. pump "Beepy" because sometimes it beeped loudly about 5 - 10 minutes after being unplugged from the wall, and it couldn't hold a charge too well. (The hospital encouraged walking several times a day to prevent weakness form lying in the hospital bed all the time.) Walking was my favorite part of the day pretty much. But back to my point, Mom being with me was what probably made whole thing this easier to deal with, and the nurses appreciated her knowledge about my sickness because she is a retired nurse after 41 years in nursing. My dad and sister came by a couple of times, and Mom was wise to tell them about my dialysis after I’ve had it done the two times already so that they know I was okay, and so they wouldn't be surprised to see a tubing coming out of the side of my neck. It would've scared them and worried them for sure, but they were glad it was over and that the dialysis helped me significantly.</p>
<p>Among other things, probably one of the hardest parts of this experience was being separated from my twin sister for as long as 8 days. We never spent that long apart, EVER. I thought the 3 days in the hospital in March was long enough, but this was more than twice as long. </p>
<p>Right now, I’m just about feeling like my old self again. I’m eating almost normally, although now I have to dilute my juice sometimes, and I need to watch my salt a little for now. My whole body was swelling before from all the I.V. fluid, but it’s all gone down. And so has my weight... I not only lost all the 9+ pounds of fluid I retained form all the I.V. there, I also lost about 9 pounds of body weight too because I hadn't eaten in a few days. (Not the best, NOR the healthiest way to lose the weight, but maybe it will inspire me to keep it down.) Fortunately, I hardly feel nauseous anymore. And I can shower easily now that I sent have any access lines on me. And sleeping in my own bed is a beautiful thing. Plus, easy access to my bathroom. I'm getting back on my walking several days a week, which will be good for the swelling in my legs too. As for the infection on my leg, it's pretty much gone, but there is still a dark discoloration where it was, and now I wear medical compression stockings on both of my legs to keep the swelling down from edema, as well as to reduce the chance of any more infections. </p>
<p>I hate that this is making me push back a bunch of good music projects I’ve been working on, and it will take me a little longer to get them done, but I've been getting back on them. I still haven’t announced that exciting thing I wanted to announce, but that will have to wait next time. </p>
<p>Stay tuned, and stay healthy. ♥</p>Alyssa E. Wattstag:alyssaewattsmusic.com,2005:Post/50254962018-01-15T23:20:17-08:002018-01-16T01:33:00-08:00New Year, New Visions<p><strong>WEDNESDAY JANUARY 15, 2018 </strong></p>
<p>Hello all! </p>
<p>Happy New Year! </p>
<p>With a fresh new batch of 365 days, it’s always the perfect time to look forward to good things that will come our way, and also the perfect time to refresh things that have otherwise gotten stale... </p>
<p>Sometimes it’s a chance to return to old projects and give them a whole new energy. I’m planning to give some of my old music projects a REAL serious do-over, and I've already started the process! Don’t get me wrong, I love all of my tracks… but some need more attention than others that I’ve done. </p>
<p>I admit I have a lot of VERY old tracks here, stuff that probably shouldn't even be in this website. But over the course of the year, I hope to change that, now that I have a new computer and software to boot. And it's a new year, so I've no excuses anymore! </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Here's a list of just some of the tracks I will improve with Logic Pro (there may be more): </p>
<p>"Alike"</p>
<p>"Keep the Hope Alive" </p>
<p>"The Mechanical Marvel"</p>
<p>"Beyond Circuits and Wires"</p>
<p>"I’ll Show You"</p>
<p>"Love Circuit"</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Love Circuit</strong> is a track I’m really excited about revamping, because it’s near and dear to my heart for many different reasons. <strong>The Mechanical Marvel</strong> is another one of my old tracks I love as well, and I really want it to shine with a much better sound than how I made it on my old GarageBand 3. Logic Pro will definitely do it justice! For now, the old tracks will remain in the website, but I may remove them later and replace them with the new and improved versions.</p>
<p>In any case, I will be working on these, in addition to continuing working on more Inspirational Military music and my upcoming Techno album! Also, I’ve got some very exciting news, but I will hold off on telling about that until another post. I want to deliver the news <em>just right! </em></p>
<p>Thank you for reading, and stay tuned for more! </p>Alyssa E. Wattstag:alyssaewattsmusic.com,2005:Post/47369162017-06-07T13:04:46-07:002017-06-07T13:08:47-07:00A “Flight” of “Passion” : Two new tracks!<p><strong>WEDNESDAY JUNE 7, 2017 </strong></p>
<p>Hello all! </p>
<p>I have two new tracks ready! One of which is (GASP!) NOT orchestral! </p>
<p><strong>“Jump-start the Passion"</strong> is probably going to be the first track I’ve uploaded to YouTube that does not sound anything like piano/strings pieces or more orchestral pieces like “Aerial Warfare” and ‘The Only Way is Forward”. This time, I use synthesizers and an electric guitar, and BIG drums. And it’s got a really sexy sound. Something like this would go well in either a car commercial or in an adult film. I would love to make a lot more weird, sexy music like this one in the near future. </p>
<p>If you listen very carefully, the guitar pitch-bend at the end of the track is used earlier midway in the music, but I reversed it using a different music-editing app on a tablet. </p>
<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="bAj6K1ARrKs" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/bAj6K1ARrKs/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bAj6K1ARrKs?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="180" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p> </p>
<p>The other piece, <strong>"Adventure Flight"</strong>, is indeed orchestral, but it is a lot more cheerful than most of my pieces either uploaded or in progress. I’m more of a “Minor Scale” girl, but occasionally I think up pieces that are happier in its energy. As I state in the video description, originally it was not about flight, but I still wanted to bring out a sense of adventure in the piece and it began to turn out more like music that could be used in a flying scene. Hence, the title Adventure Flight. </p>
<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="5ZeValStUus" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/5ZeValStUus/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5ZeValStUus?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="180" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p>Now that I have a new workstation where I’ll be able to upload my videos more easily, the flow of completed projects should become a lot steadier. Hope you’ve enjoyed, and stay tuned for new tracks!</p>Alyssa E. Wattstag:alyssaewattsmusic.com,2005:Post/47045662017-05-17T14:31:47-07:002017-06-07T13:02:10-07:00The Move to iMac and Logic Pro<p><strong>WEDNESDAY MAY 17, 2017</strong></p>
<p>Hello all! </p>
<p>You know how when you almost wish you’d done something a few years ago? That’s <em>me, right now! </em></p>
<p>Recently I had to make the necessary move to a new computer, because with the old system on my nearly 10-year old MacBook Pro laptop I was unable to upgrade my web browser to an adequate version. As a result, I haven’t been able to upload any of my select music works to YouTube or make any updates to this website. And that can be a nightmare for ANY musician. </p>
<p>But now I have a powerful new iMac!!! </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/34780/1980266d69ab6f8949788c3f302d412c843a0cb5/medium/mynewmac3.jpeg?1495056631" class="size_m justify_left border_" /></p>
<p>Yes, it may be less portable than the laptop, but it makes up for it with a great amount of storage space (1TB) and a larger screen, which is really nice. I’ll be able to use Drop Box again to send or receive large files that I need to work with, so the portability issue is more or less not really an issue. </p>
<p>With getting this new Apple computer, however, I decided it was finally time to also get Logic Pro, the “professional“ version of GarageBand. Don’t get me wrong… Not to say that GarageBand can’t be used by professionals, and it has been wonderful to me all these years in scoring for short films. I will continue to use it on my iMac too. But where GarageBand is like a simple calculator, Logic Pro is like… a scientific calculator, maybe even a programming one (especially if the Advanced Tools are enabled)! It is closely similar to GarageBand but can be EXTREMELY complex, which is why I’ve been holding off on even getting it for the past few years. I intend to learn my way around it inside and out over the course of some time. </p>
<p>I’m beyond excited about this, because with all the Jam Packs included in this software, it will be a lot easier to get my ideas out. Last post I announced I’m working on a Techno album. With so many different Techno music synthesizers and software instrument beats/loops to choose from and edit, I may be able to accomplish this a lot more quickly! Likewise with my New Age relaxing music album for yoga, there are more sounds that I’ve never would’ve dreamed of using before until getting Logic Pro. I’ve probably needed this forever! But I guess in a way, I saved plenty of money not having gotten yet another computer years ago. So I don't think it's all that bad waiting until now to get an upgraded workstation. </p>
<p>I’ll continue to use my old laptop for live MIDI recording here and there, but more primarily soon I’ll be using the iMac for my main music projects. </p>
<p>I owe it to my Mom and Dad for supporting me in helping me afford my computer, so that my music goals are even more possible than ever before. Thank you. ♥ </p>
<p>There will be new music soon! So please stay tuned! ♬ ♬</p>Alyssa E. Wattstag:alyssaewattsmusic.com,2005:Post/42980012017-05-02T23:58:04-07:002017-05-03T00:59:56-07:00Updates and Upcoming projects!<strong>TUESDAY, MAY 2, 2017</strong><br><br>Hello all,<br><br>I wanted to take a moment to tell you about a couple of upcoming projects that I plan to really get out there!<br><br>I love creating music for the film score genre, but of course I'm not limited to just that!<br><br>Although I'm not really big on yoga, I do love the relaxing music that can be used during yoga exercises. I plan on making an album of relaxing yoga music using instruments such as flutes and synthesizers. There are probably millions of albums of this type of music out there already, but I think I can bring something good to the genre. I've always believed music to be therapeutic for not only the body but the soul as well... and the heart. If anything, I want to try making a yoga music album and see where that takes me! <br><br>Secondly, I am also planning on making a Techno music album! I've loved Techno/Rave dance music ever since I found out it existed when I was in middle school (sooooo long ago!). The beat just pumps you up, and it's hard NOT to move to it when you feel it all around you. <br><br>I'm hoping to get these albums available to everyone for digital sale sometime next year. Hopefully much sooner! In the meantime, I am finishing up some nearly-done tracks, and last month I've begun work on <strong>Part 2 of my "Aerial Warfare" music project! </strong>So please stay tuned, and check back later for more!<br> Alyssa E. Wattstag:alyssaewattsmusic.com,2005:Post/42980032017-01-10T17:45:27-08:002017-05-03T00:10:03-07:00The New Year Brings Changes...TUESDAY JANUARY 10, 2017<br><br>Hello all,<br><br>Happy New Year, as it is now 2017... and with a new year comes big changes. Some of them we want, and some of them we don't want. But right now, I'll talk about one change that I DO want.<br><br>As you might know, I've pretty much kept the design on my website to always red and black. Red is my favorite color and in using that color on my website, the passion I have for music as well as creating it, is shown through that.<br><br>Ever since using Bandzoogle to make my website (thank you so much Bandzoogle! ) there have been many improvements made with design templates and looks for designing the site. <br><br>So during January and February, I will be changing the looks of this site a bit... or DRASTICALLY. I may start experimenting on different designs and look around more to see how I can make my site more dynamic. I am a one-woman band/orchestra, and I think it would be good to show it in a way that catches the eyes... and EARS!<br><br>In addition, I may plan to remove a good handful of some old tracks from this website and make room for new ones that are even more well done than what I had before... I will also be removing some old photos of myself that are around my website, and will hopefully add some more recent ones. <br><br>Until then, stay tuned for updates... and a whole new look around this little website!Alyssa E. Wattstag:alyssaewattsmusic.com,2005:Post/42945532016-07-25T19:21:00-07:002016-07-25T22:14:14-07:00New Music! (And more on the way...)<strong>MONDAY JULY 25, 2016 </strong><br><br>Hello all, As I promised (and hoped!) by the end of the month, I have new tracks ready for you to listen to and be inspired by!<br><br>First off, I tried to complete four tracks this month rather than two, but my perfectionist self kicked in again, and I focussed on two tracks that I felt needed to get out sooner, fine-tuning certain sections that needed more variation and improving clarity on the drums. Now that I feel really REALLY good about these pieces they are ready to be shared. Few things are worse than putting up music work out in public and cringing every day knowing how you could've made it much better than it is. I can't live like that. Sometimes you have to work on something until you can't see it getting any better!<br><br>Both pieces are inspired by The Transformers, but they have other themes going on too, like on not giving up.<br><br>My first piece titled "Not Yet" was inspired by a Transformers comic book series called <em>The Transformers: Autocracy,</em> a sort of origin story of how Optimus Prime came to be who he is. The dark atmosphere of the comic was really cool, enhanced by the artistic stylings of artist Livio Ramondelli.<br><br> <iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="3kdxkuFI_nk" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/3kdxkuFI_nk/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3kdxkuFI_nk?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="200" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe><br><br><br><br>My next piece titled "Aerial Warfare" was initially just a track I wanted to create as a soundtrack for a little Transformers fan-project I'm writing (just for my fun and enjoyment), where the main character transforms into a fighter jet called the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor! I loved learning more about the aircraft and watching videos about it in flight. Then the more I worked on the music, the more I thought about making it as a sort of music tribute to these cool fighter jets. So I put my music into a slideshow of awesome F-22 photos, with credit given where it's due of course, in the video description.<br><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="bnpU1Kv9bWk" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/bnpU1Kv9bWk/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bnpU1Kv9bWk?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="200" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe><br><br>Down the line, I plan on making another track with air-combat music like this one, but a lot more "crazier" and varied. (In other words, even MORE exciting than "Aerial Warfare" already is!) Perhaps next time with photos of another type of fighter aircraft...?<br><br><br>In one way, I DO make these music tracks for fun, but with the intention of showing a wider range of the types of music I want to do for different media projects, so that I can be further hired for my specialties. Coming up soon is music that I daydream would be in a... CAR COMMERCIAL?? For that, you'll just have to tune in later and see!<br><br>Thank you for listening, and please come back for more!Alyssa E. Wattstag:alyssaewattsmusic.com,2005:Post/42580982016-07-02T14:10:46-07:002016-07-02T14:18:58-07:00Returning with all-new music soon!!SATURDAY JULY 2, 2016<br><br>Hello all,<br><br>I apologize for the long lack of blog (and music) activity going on here. But I intend to change that soon. Not too long ago, I've finally taken some steps to counter my slow progress on some music projects that I've wanted to get out for so long. <br><br>During April and May, I had a little scare because for the first time in a long while, I did not have the desire to continue composing music. I'd finished music for a short film back in March, titled "The Intervention" by Marco Elorreaga, and was planning to return to work on some nearly done music projects. But nothing was happening... Projects I'd started a while back would be put aside for later, and if I started any new ones, I wouldn't get back to it for some time. Or <em>ever</em>.<br><br>As you know, composing music has been my number one love, so why wasn't I doing it? I didn't hate doing it... And I had plenty of inspiration (Transformers comics being one source of that), so that wasn't the problem. I guess I just got a bit burnt out about making sure it sounded a certain way and got as perfect as it can get. And I guess it depressed me that at one time I was composing up the wazoo, and now... music was only coming out as brain burps, and that was it. <br><br>But see, that is where the problem was... Artists of all kinds strive to get their art, music, or novel absolutely perfect, when in reality, there is no such thing. I didn't even realize it until I spoke with my parents about this, and eventually to my sister too. That if I continue to work too hard on a music project in an attempt to make it perfect, it will never get done. I would have nothing to show for as examples of what work I do that I COULD be doing for some amazing films, documentaries or commercials out there. <br><br>It took a bit of thinking and taking inventory of which music tracks I think are worth finishing, and I actually got excited about plenty of my music projects once again! <br><br>I came up with a plan that will help me keep my progress on music going so that I don't completely stop. I focus on 1 to 2 tracks per week, for two to three hours a day, and try getting them done or nearly done by the end of the week. If I don't finish right at he end of the week, then fine, no biggie... so long as it gets me to just KEEP WORKING at it, and not just randomly revisit other old projects that don't need my attention right now. (I have a bad habit of opening old projects and listening to them that I end up not continuing, and then I realize that I wasted time.) <br><br>If I could focus on only one or two tracks per week and complete something by week's end, then at that rate I could complete up to 4 tracks per month... at least no less than two. That's a whole lot better than what I put out last year, that's for sure! And it helped that I cleaned up my computer desk more... When my desk is less cluttered I feel I can be able to work on music a lot better. <br><br>I still want to work hard on making the music good for regular listeners' ears. It's just that I shouldn't obsess over certain parts of the track to a point where it will only sit in my laptop for who knows how long before it can be heard... <br><br>This music machine is up and running again!! So more tracks are on their way to YouTube, and you can be sure I will put some up this month of July! Thank you so much for reading, and stay tuned!Alyssa E. Wattstag:alyssaewattsmusic.com,2005:Post/39851232016-02-24T23:10:37-08:002016-02-24T23:16:42-08:00On "Scully's Theme" from THE X-FILES <strong>WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2016</strong>
<p>I was fairly young... in the fifth grade and nearly starting middle school, when I began watching what is still considered to be one of the best SciFi TV series to this day: <em>The X-Files!</em></p>As a loyal fan of this TV series, I indeed have watched the "return" of the series as the 6-episode short season (which I've enjoyed very much!) I wish to share with you a bit of the magic of music by composer Mark Snow.<br>==================================<br><br>I caught the show around the third or fourth season, watching it with my dad and my sister on Sunday nights after <em>The</em> <em>Simpsons</em> (and eventually after <em>Malcolm in the Middle</em> when it was included in the same Sunday night block starting Jan 2000). I was fascinated by all the different strange and often frightening encounters Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully came across when trying to solve murder cases. And I also remember being sad when the episode would finish at 10pm, because that meant the weekend of rest and playtime was over, and another whole school week was ahead of me!<br><br>The more I watched <em>The X-Files</em>, the more I came to love the dynamics between Agents Mulder and Scully. When it came to a certain Season [was it 8???], there was theme music within the show that somehow really stood out from everything else I've heard in it.<br><br>Don't get me wrong... from what I remember, I love Mark Snow's score for the series, even though I don't remember many specific music tracks from it... except for the scary piano glissando "jump" scares and the upward bending of strings when something bad was about to be discovered (not to mention the "prickly pizzicato effect")... However, one track (or two, really) in particular could not leave my mind sometimes.<br><br>It started around when Agent Scully was diagnosed with a brain tumor... and a very, very pretty theme started playing when it showed her thinking about her mortality and looking sad (although the video I use to demonstrate the beauty of this theme shows our favorite FBI agents happy together).<br><br><strong>MUSIC BY MARK SNOW from <em>THE X-FILES</em><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="N0GWk8Q4p-E" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/N0GWk8Q4p-E/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/N0GWk8Q4p-E?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="200" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></strong><br><br>This theme came up in the series quite a few more times, and the more I heard it, the more I remembered it note for note, even playing it on my Yamaha keyboard with the string instrument sound. And I noticed that it always showed Agent Scully when this theme played, so whenever I talked about it with my sister I always refered to it as "Scully's Theme" or "The Scully Theme" (which, I believe, it's actually called just that!)<br><br>It's not a very complex melody, and yet, there is so much feeling in it. The vocals done by Nicci Sill in this piece are still haunting and beautiful to this day. You get a heavy feeling of sadness, despair, and not an ounce of hope. Like one is trying to come to terms with something terrible that has happened. I still get misty eyed whenever I think about it or listen to it.<br><br>There is an instrumental version of this specific theme that comes up even later in the original series. I love both versions equally, but what I absolutely love about this version is the brass instrument playing along with the melody, and the accenting harps in the background.<br><br><strong>MUSIC BY MARK SNOW from <em>THE X-FILES</em></strong><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="7pq0GQxdgz4" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/7pq0GQxdgz4/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7pq0GQxdgz4?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="200" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe><br> Alyssa E. Wattstag:alyssaewattsmusic.com,2005:Post/39317892016-01-04T23:00:09-08:002016-01-04T23:26:20-08:00Why I Compose Military-style Music PART TWO<strong>MONDAY JANUARY 4, 2016</strong><br><br>Hello all... Happy New Year!<br><br>And welcome to PART TWO of my explanation of why I love orchestral-military music and composing it!<br><br>So, to continue, in April 2011 I attended the ASCAP Expo, and there was a big reason I didn't want to miss it; I entered to participate in a Feedback Panel in the Film/TV category, and my piece was selected as one of the music tracks to be critiqued!<br><br>The piece, titled "Mission Start", was inspired by Mega Man X and his two comrades Zero and Axl as they prepare for a mission. I gave it a moderate military-like feel, and I managed to keep it at the 1:30 min limit for the guidelines. Other participants shared a 1:30 sample of something they actually scored to picture, but not having had a lot of experience at the time, I only composed for something I saw in my mind's eye.<br><br>However, I got great feedback... nothing absolutely negative, except that the next step would be to go bigger on the drums with a live orchestra. Other than that, I impressed quite a few people! (It was actually thanks to attending the 2011 ASCAP Expo that I started this website!)<br><br>Because I had come to love the Mega Man X video game series over that past year, I later was contacted through a Mega Man fan forum to collaborate on music for a huge fan project related to this series. (The project was cancelled on August 2014, and I am no longer associated with the project leader who first contacted me to work on it.) During my time with this project I had just started developing some more music projects that took on a military form, as the game had war themes in it too. The characters X and Zero were warriors, and though I initially composed mostly rock music about them, I turned towards a more orchestral and eventually military-esque approach in this fan-music.<br><br>But what would take my music further was my ever-increasing love for Transformers.<p>With a rich roster of robot characters, Transformers has heavy themes on war and fighting, and if one has ever read the comic books that have been coming out these days, you'd know they're not your older relatives' Transformers...!</p>It had gotten to a point where, after having read enough of these Transformers comic books... enjoying much of the classic 80's cartoon series... and NOW having 2 books in my possession on how to draw transforming robots, that I thought "Hmm, I'm really nuts about this... Just for fun, I should try my hand at designing my OWN Transformers robot character!!" So far I have come up with three, with a fourth one in the works... It's sort of become a new favorite hobby of mine. And from this I came up with not only a back-story about two them, but also a MAIN THEME to their story.<br><br>That's right, a piece of music that could be a main theme to a Transformers fan-creation! You know... just for fun!<br><br>Why was this happening? Well, the vehicle/aircraft modes that these transforming robots would turn into happen to be military vehicle and aircraft. In May 2015, I was doing research for the alt mode of one of my fan characters and finally decided he could transform into a Boeing Apache AH-64D Longbow. With a name like Maelstrom, an attack helicopter was perfect for a robot that could transform into this. The other character, WarCry, transforms into a Stryker vehicle. Upon looking up different military vehicles for these characters lead me to find an interest in learning about the history of different military vehicles and aircraft, so much that I can now identify several types of fighter jets, armored vehicles and tanks.<br><br>Something I never thought I'd EVER be interested in, if it wasn't for Transformers.<br><br><br>============================<br>Well, I will have to discuss this whole thing further in a PART THREE sometime soon. There really IS a lot more to this, so please bear with me for just a bit. Thank you so much for reading, and stay tuned for more!...<br><br> Alyssa E. Wattstag:alyssaewattsmusic.com,2005:Post/39317882015-12-09T14:00:25-08:002015-12-10T01:27:44-08:00Why I Compose Military-style Music PART ONE<strong>WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 9, 2015</strong><br>Hello all!<br><br>As recently revealed in the previous blog post, I've been working on instrumental music that is in the orchestral-military style for some time now. And now, I would finally love to talk about how this came to be! <br><br>For as long as I can remember, I've loved the sound of the short drum roll, the reverberating brass section, and the timpani crescendo. My very first piece I completed when trying out the Orchestra Symphony Jampack for GarageBand was in fact a war/military style piece I titled "War's Harsh Reality" (formerly titled "The Harsh Reality of War"... remember in my previous blog post I mentioned I had trouble sticking to one title?!)<br><br>In June of the year 2002, three years before I decided I wanted to become a music composer, my sister, my dad and I chipped in to get a Playstation 2 video game console. I was in 11th grade and summer vacation would be soon starting, so you could imagine how excited I was to get a brand new video game! We each got one game for this console (and you always remember your first... mine was the original Dark Cloud.) My dad's first game on the Playstation 2 was "Medal of Honor: Frontline", a brilliantly made video game that took place in World War II. Again, I didn't really plan on being a composer yet (I was still in singer-songwriter/rock-star mode back then), but on the title screen of "Medal of Honor: Frontline," I heard the most beautiful music... A solo choir boy, then strings and eventually the brass section came in. And in my mind, I thought "Oh my god, that sounds so beautiful... in a video game!" These days, video game soundtracks use a real live entire orchestra to score it... unless you have a good computer program that makes the music sound like almost the real deal (which comes in real handy if you don't have the funds for a whole orchestra)!<br><br>Years later, my family went to see VIDEO GAMES LIVE at the Hollywood Bowl, and one of the numbers in the live performance of video game music was indeed the main theme to "Medal of Honor: Frontline." During the performance, a slideshow of photos from World War II played in the backdrop. It was one thing to have listened to this track before, on a television screen, but hearing it live at the Hollywood Bowl was another experience in itself.<br><br>Here is a video of some of the recording process that went into the theme music for "Medal of Honor: Frontline."<br><br><strong>MEDAL OF HONOR: FRONTLINE, Music by Michael Giacchino</strong><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="LHonMUpV47Q" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/LHonMUpV47Q/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LHonMUpV47Q?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="200" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe><br><br><br>Eventually, I also caught wind of another video game my dad played on the PS2, called SOCOM 2, and I fell in love with the main theme for this game as well. Though it has a different air about it than the music in "Medal of Honor: Frontline", it also has a more driving and inspirational feel to it, along with the use of what sounds like electronic percussion.<br><br><strong>SOCOM 2 THEME SONG, Music by Inon Zur</strong><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="9HJcjmCYMCM" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/9HJcjmCYMCM/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9HJcjmCYMCM?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="200" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe><br><br>I will have to continue my explanation in another blog post. Please stay tuned for PART TWO, coming soon!Alyssa E. Wattstag:alyssaewattsmusic.com,2005:Post/39288152015-11-21T23:00:45-08:002015-12-10T00:53:48-08:00Finally... Two New Tracks!<strong>SATURDAY NOVEMBER 21, 2015</strong><br>Hello all,<br><br>I apologize for the really, REALLY long wait for any new material from me...<br><br>I know I kept promising more music soon here and there, and then I hadn't updated here and I feel quite terrible about that. But that doesn't mean I was not hard at work on some new music projects in the meantime. The little problem I had was also that I do have a difficult time deciding on how to title my pieces! (Especially if I'm actually going to put the title in the video!)<br><br>But now... I <em>finally</em> I have some new finished music I wish to share with you! More details of the tracks are in the video descriptions. :)<br><br><br><strong>"THE ONLY WAY IS FORWARD"</strong><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="RfaWOsCANBs" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/RfaWOsCANBs/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RfaWOsCANBs?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="200" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe><br><br><strong>"ARRIVAL OF THE APACHE LONGBOW"</strong><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="kS9sUT2Mt_I" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/kS9sUT2Mt_I/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kS9sUT2Mt_I?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="200" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe><br><br>The reason I am excited to share this music with you is because they are part of a long string of several music projects in the... wait for it... <em>military </em>style! In a blog post coming up fairly soon after this one, I will explain in further detail my growing love for composing military music that is inspiring and driving... that, and what had started this for me in the first place! These are tracks that one would probably hear in a military film/documentary, or modern video games about wars past (or future!) And there will be more of these types of tracks coming up!<br><br>Thank you for listening, and I hope you enjoy them. :) Please check back soon for more details!...Alyssa E. Wattstag:alyssaewattsmusic.com,2005:Post/37676672015-07-06T16:00:19-07:002015-12-10T01:30:56-08:00On James Horner...<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial; color: #222222"><span style="color:#FFFFFF;"><strong>MONDAY JULY 6, 2015</strong></span><br><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="BXbL0iukdCo" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/BXbL0iukdCo/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BXbL0iukdCo?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="200" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe><br><br><span style="color:#FFFFFF;">As I type this, I have the main theme to <b><i>The Rocketeer</i></b> and the main theme to <b><i>The Land Before Time</i></b> switching from one and then to the other in my mind's ear. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br>When you consider someone as one of your many heroes, especially those along the lines of your field of career choice... you have this idea, or wish rather, that they're going to live forever. Or at least that they live to a nice ripe old age.</p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial">So two weeks ago from today, when I learned that James Horner, one of the most well-known film composers of our time, had died in a tragic plane crash, I couldn't accept it. Not at first... But as the fact sunk in, and I started remembering a handful of his beautiful film themes, I got a sense that a little part of me, a little part of many of us... had died along with him. </p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial">A man who composed for unforgettable children's films such as <b><i>The Land Before Time</i></b>, and <b>A<i>n American Tail</i></b>... who ramped up our fears in <b><i>Aliens</i></b>... who broke our hearts with the main theme in <b><i>Titanic</i></b>... and who filled our ears with wonder as our eyes were equally filled with that same wonder, taking in the lush exotic environments in the world of <b><i>Avatar</i></b>.</p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial">A realization came to me... James Horner will never again compose music. He will never again compose the beautiful, sweeping cinematic score to soundtracks we know and love. The innocence, the heartbreak, the adventure, the triumph, all heard and felt with the ears and the heart... We will never hear more of it again. And it greatly saddens me.</p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial">I admit, there are still many films Horner composed for that I have never seen yet. And I am quite a bit ashamed about that, because in this field of work in film scoring, you would think I'd have seen enough of his films to truly appreciate his work. But it is true that one doesn't have to see an extensive amount of films to know what a wonderful and truly talented composer he was. Although, it wouldn't hurt to see more of a good amount of films he'd scored for. </p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial">When I was in fourth grade, my favorite animal became the wolf, and I learned of the animated children's movie titled <b><i>Balto </i></b>either from a theatrical trailer or TV trailers for the film. I never saw it after all these years, but I was sad to recently learn that James Horner was the man behind the music of this animated film, and I'd never seen it while he was still alive. Even though yes, I am 30 years old, I am planning on buying a copy of this animated film sometime to appreciate the score, and how it beautifully accents this tale based on a true story of a heroic sled dog who was part wolf. (EDIT 11/10/15: I now have this film on DVD, and I plan to write my thoughts on Horner's score for this film in a future blog post.)</p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial">And why I mention <b><i>The Rocketeer</i></b> in the beginning of this post... is because while I've seen this film only once in my life, back when I might've been some six or seven years old... I never forgot the main theme, or at least the main section of the main theme. The notes in its melody has a wide range, and with all the artful pauses, it makes me think of a heroic fanfare. The very music itself makes me think of flight, excitement and adventure. Horner's use of the brass section in this theme just sounded so amazing to me. </p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial">James Horner left this world too early. We may never know what exactly caused his plane to crash. But what we do know is that as long as we admire his music, he will live on in some form or another.</p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial">Thank you for all your music, James Horner. Your beautiful mind may be somewhere out there. But we will never forget you, because your memory, and your music... will go on and on. God bless you.</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial; color: #222222"> </p>Alyssa E. Wattstag:alyssaewattsmusic.com,2005:Post/36831902015-04-29T18:00:25-07:002017-01-11T05:12:05-08:00Got a new dog! Plus, new music coming soon...<div class="captioned justify_right"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/34780/fcf53914e24ccdb264b936c5bc34453880cebaf7/medium/lexi.jpg?1430354414" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="" /><p class="caption"> </p></div><strong>WEDNESDAY APRIL 29, 2015</strong><br>Hello everyone,<br><br>I must apologize once again... I haven't been very active with my YouTube channel lately. But it has been for a very good reason; I have a new baby in the house, in the form of a beautiful (and very energetic!) dog named Lexi. <br><br>It has been difficult adjusting to life without my late dog Koko, and in the middle of March, three months after we lost Koko to her heart and lung condition, my family and I decided we felt ready, more or less, to welcome another dog into our lives. We were going to only look around and keep the desired age range at around a few months old. The fates of the universe had a different plan for us. We quickly fell in love with a gorgeous blue and white American Staffordshire mix that had just turned one year old. And when we met her out of her kennel cage, I just couldn't say no. <br><br>The shelter called her Kiko, though we didn't keep the name because it was too close to the name of our previous dog. And the funniest thing was, this young dog has done just exactly what Koko had done when I first saw her in her shelter; she stuck out her paws under the cage door, seemingly in an attempt to plead we take her home. <br><br>And take her home we did, on March 19th, renaming her Lexi. <3<br><br>A new dog is never without it's challenges, though. The first week and a half, she had on a medical collar because she'd recently been fixed, and she often tried fighting tooth and toenail wt that medical cone collar. We were glad to finally keep it off at the end of March. But the next test for us was getting used to her boundless energy. To be honest, I am very happy to have an energetic dog again. I've missed it terribly. Sometimes things can get a little crazy, and I do get quite tired at the end of the day, but it is a wonderful reason to get tired.<br><br>My sister and I are Lexi's primary caretakers, but my mom and dad have been so wonderful helping us out in taking care of her, and despite the occasional craziness that ensues with an energetic dog in the house, we all love her to bits and pieces. Things will be even better once we start giving her proper obedience training, but she has already learned some of our basic commands.<br><br><br>As for any new music, I am slowly getting reacquainted with more of my music projects that I hope to show on my new official YouTube channel. It has been a crazy month and a half, but things are winding down just a bit now and I will be happy to update my channel with new personal projects, just as soon as I can get to fine-tuning some tracks good enough for public listening. I hope to be putting up some epic orchestral music in the next month or so, at least by June.<br><br>Thank you for understanding, and please stay tuned!<br> Alyssa E. Wattstag:alyssaewattsmusic.com,2005:Post/35125132015-02-07T14:02:52-08:002015-12-10T01:29:02-08:00Official YouTube Channel!<span style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="font_regular"><strong>SATURDAY FEBRUARY 7, 2015</strong><br>Hello all!</span></span><br> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #222222"><span style="color:#FFFFFF;">Alright, I am happy to announce that I have finally set up my OFFICIAL YOUTUBE CHANNEL! It goes by the name</span><span style="color:#FFFF00;"> </span><strong><a contents="AlyssaEWattsMusicScore" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjgk8Q9HT9Gr40pynHZHHyg/videos" target="_blank"><span style="color:#FFFF00;">AlyssaEWattsMusicScore</span></a></strong><span style="color:#FFFFFF;">!!!</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #222222"><span style="color:#FFFFFF;">One reason for this is because I unwittingly created a YouTube account when I set up my Gmail email address, so that YouTube account has been just sitting there for quite some time and not being used. But the primary reason for this is because the current plan I use for this website can only allow so many music tracks to be uploaded into the site, and so I cannot put up every piece that I want to here. As I am continuously composing music, I don't want to give the impression that the music in this website is all the music I have ever composed!<br><br>So... YouTube will solve that problem for me. And I made use of my YouTube account that was just sitting there up until days ago!</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #222222"><span style="color:#FFFFFF;">I've wanted to make a YouTube channel that would be connected to this site for a long while back, but now that I have an actual reason to really REALLY need one, I was happy to finally do it. This was one of those times that I asked myself, "If not now, then <em>when</em>?" And the time is NOW!</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #222222"><span style="color:#FFFFFF;">The first few pieces of music I've put up are select music tracks from a recent short film to which I've provided the original score, titled <i>His Emily</i>, which was written and directed by Marco A. Elorreaga. It was an absolute pleasure to work on the music for this film! (Below this post are two of the videos embedded for your listening pleasure.)</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #222222"><span style="color:#FFFFFF;">Other projects I will upload to this YouTube channel will be personal music projects that are not for any films I've worked on, and they will vary in styles as well. (Also, some more of these pieces may be mostly inspired by some cool robot characters from my favorite video game/science fiction franchises).</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #222222"><span style="color:#FFFFFF;">I look forward to sharing more of my instrumental music works with you, now that I'm able to do that better with YouTube! </span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #222222"><span style="color:#FFFFFF;">Please stay tuned, and thank you for reading and listening!</span><br><br><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="VfvEp8O8R4Q" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/VfvEp8O8R4Q/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VfvEp8O8R4Q?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="200" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe><br><br><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="iGPim_mL824" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/iGPim_mL824/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iGPim_mL824?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="200" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 17.0px Helvetica; min-height: 20.0px"> </p>Alyssa E. Wattstag:alyssaewattsmusic.com,2005:Post/35066862015-02-04T17:00:05-08:002015-12-10T00:58:49-08:00Updates (It's been a while)<strong>WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2015</strong><br>Hello all, and Happy Belated New Year.<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #222222"><br><span style="color:#FFFFFF;">I realize that it has been a while since I have updated this website with any new blog posts. I must apologize for that. </span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #222222"><span style="color:#FFFFFF;">For that first half of last year, I didn't have much going on in terms of film projects to work on or share anything about. And the summer had been difficult with the illness of my mother, who was diagnosed with breast cancer. (I'm happy to say she is now a breast cancer survivor. ♥ ) Also, I have been dealing with the recent loss of another dear family dog, Koko, over the December holidays, which has greatly saddened and upset me and my family. At the same time, I have been trying to get some things together in terms of my personal life and career. </span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #222222"><span style="color:#FFFFFF;">But fear not. On the plus side, I have been working on more film projects last fall season, as well as personal projects. So, as it is yet another new year, I have a lot more motivation, and I plan on updating this website with more music projects I've been working on, film-wise and otherwise. I also hope to include my thoughts on many things music in here too, as I have meant to earlier.<br><br>And, a happy surprise will be coming to this website very, <em>very</em> soon...!</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #222222"><span style="color:#FFFFFF;">Please stay tuned, and thank you very much for your understanding. </span></p>Alyssa E. Wattstag:alyssaewattsmusic.com,2005:Post/28741442014-04-15T20:47:50-07:002015-12-11T16:20:55-08:00Ruby Moon<strong>TUESDAY APRIL 15, 2014</strong><br><span class="font_regular">I saw something amazing on the night of April 14th... a Total Lunar Eclipse.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span class="font_regular">I love seeing interesting stuff that happens in the night sky... the moon getting close to Jupiter or Venus, rare trips to the desert to view meteor showers, the Venus Transit, comets...</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span class="font_regular">But this particular event, the Total Lunar Eclipse... it brings all sorts of emotions for me, too. The last time I saw a total lunar eclipse was back in August 27 2007, and it was the last night I ever saw our late family dog Ruby alive.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span class="font_regular">So whenever there would be a total lunar eclipse (which, well, there aren't that many), I would question whether or not to look at it at the risk of my heart flooding with sadness at seeing such a beautiful sight. A partial lunar eclipse would illicit similar feelings, but not as intensely as a Total "blood moon" lunar eclipse.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span class="font_regular">Last time the eclipse was total, it was very cloudy that December 11, 2011. But in our warm Spring, it was fairly clear, except for some thin clouds.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span class="font_regular">I went ahead and viewed it. And, yes, I did let some tears flow. But I also tried to enjoy it for the it's beauty and the science/astronomy aspect of it, and that helped the hurt I felt from losing our precious dog. You never really truly get over the passing of a beloved canine companion, no matter how many years have passed.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span class="font_regular">My dad even took out his old telescope, so I got to look at the moon through that. At one point, the moon reminded me of Neapolitan ice cream... neat sections of vanilla, chocolate, and (dark) strawberry. Mainly, about three quarters of the moon was red while the rest was a light copper tone.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span class="font_regular">Some people call it the "Blood Moon." Personally, I call it the "Ruby Moon," because I believe in my heart of hearts, it's her special way of showing us she's okay and happy.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span class="font_regular">The reason I bring this up, is because back in 2007, I've composed a music piece to honor her memory. And after 7 years, I was hoping to finally reveal this piece.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span class="font_regular">But I'm afraid I can't show it quite yet....</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span class="font_regular">With better instruments to use in my digital audio workstation, I am going to make improvements to the piece. Or... perhaps I may even record it again from scratch, and compare how I've done it then with how I'll do it now.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span class="font_regular">It will probably be one of the most meaningful pieces of music I've ever composed.</span></p>Alyssa E. Wattstag:alyssaewattsmusic.com,2005:Post/23150752014-01-01T17:31:34-08:002015-12-10T01:11:35-08:00Greetings!<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="font_regular"><strong>WEDNESDAY JANUARY 1, 2014</strong></span><br><span class="font_large">Greetings to all! And Happy New year!!</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">Welcome to my website's first blog post! :)</p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">Normally, I would not be the "type" to host a blog related to my career interest, but after Bandzoogle went through vast improvements (thank you Bandzoogle! <span style="color:#FF0000;"><3</span>), I found myself making some much needed changes around in my website, including changing the design while keeping the desired red and black color scheme. I have eliminated a couple of unnecessary pages on the menu and, as a result, came up with two new sections to add. One will be for background information on select tracks in this website. </p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">The other, is of course, this very blog you see now! </p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">Essentially, what will go down here will be my thoughts about many things music; perhaps discussion on some music scores from certain films and or television shows; concepts I find interesting in books about music and scoring; describing the progress and my processes of current projects I am working on; talking about my other passions that influence my music; or something as fun as telling about a funny thing that has happened to me musically at one point or another in my life... which has happened to many of us, I'm sure!</p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">At any rate, you can count on just about all of my blog entries to be something related to music, whether it is about my music, scoring, or music in general. And I'll try not to make it boring... This I promise!</p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">Thank you for reading, and <em>stay tuned...!</em></p>Alyssa E. Watts