Ambient music rescued me from becoming disconnected from a passion to be a creative through audio expression. What intrigued me was a conversation with a friend who likened ambient as the new classical music. Chris, I tick the box with every one of your points. At the age of 63 I quit my job, started a music production enterprise, created a track, published on spotify, apple etc. Was lucky to run into a wellness retreat director, who heard my track and immediately commissioned me to produce an album for their retreats ( due this November !). I wish I had done this a long time ago. You and your videos have been a reference point that has helped light my path. Thank you (I may reach out to help plan my album ... nothing like time pressure :)
It may be just me but I am not interested in releasing tracks or being signed. For me, ambient is about shutting yourself away for a few hours in an atmospheric environment, creating and interacting with the music. It’s about mindfulness, relaxation and emotional experiences. Your videos are truly inspiring. Perhaps you could make some content about how we can interact with the music with this in mind.
I love how passionate you are for this and not just to amp people up for the sake of a video but genuinely care. I've watched a lot of S1gns and the pure excitement inspires me.
That's crazy, you uploaded this a day after I started my own ambient era! Your channel has been very inspiring, thanks for getting me on the right track :)
I started my musical journey in 1981 as the keyboardist for Desire. Played in a few bands after that, but I wanted to create original music. I was tired of playing the classics. Over the decades, I'd built a collection of classic analog synths, but wasn't doing much with them. By 2005, computer based production tools had advanced to the point that there simply was no excuse left for me to not have a go at making an album. By 2010, I'd completed my first album, with Steve Roach as mastering engineer. The rest is history. My love affair with synthesizers and ambient music is absolutely a lifestyle, but I split my time between that, fine art and graphic design/video production, the latter being the endeavor that pays the bills. While making ambient music (at least at first) won't make one rich, I was never into it for the money. I do it, because I simply don't know how NOT to. It feeds my soul to make this music and to share my work with others. They can have my synthesizers when they pry them from my cold dead hands! I love your channel, Chris, and I love your work. I wish you all the success you deserve. Cheers and stay busy. -hhh
I always had a deep love for evolving pads. I used them for long extended band sessions and for providing background music for venues. I also wanted to produce music that did more than what they normally do for humans. I want to tap into something that would accompany healing. Whether you are connecting to yourself or to a source bigger than the universe, or you receiving a spa treatment or massage, I wanted to make music that would multiply the healing you receive from them. With S1gnOfL1fe, I have started my journey towards this goal. And it's fascinating! Thank you Chris for providing all the tools to make this process possible!❤
I'm a child of the 70's (yeah, middle of last century!). My ambient journey began when I first heard Olias of Sunhillow (1976), by Jon Anderson. Now, in retirement, I finally have the time (and head space) to pursue making my own ambient. Thanks for being there to support my journey. I appreciate your passion and guidance. I've been with you on Patreon for a while now and find value there.
I have no idea which stage of this Ambient Era I'm currently in 😅. What I can say is that I'm enjoying what I'm doing. Another fact is that you are one of the few people who influenced me tremendously and made me find my own path. Keep up the good work, mate🚀 - people who are influenced by you very often become fantastic artists ⭐
Very interesting to me that your friend specifically asked you if you had ever heard Solar Fields. That exact question is something I ask anybody I know who's even vaguely interested in electronic music. Magnus has been such an absolutely MASSIVE influence on my desire to become a producer. Then I discovered Ultimae records and have never been the same since. I discovered electronic music in my mid teens, with the likes of aphex twin, squarepusher, shpongle, boards of Canada etc. it was confounding and fascinating music to me. But it wasn't until I discovered Ultimae around 18-19 years old that it hit me. "This is it" I thought. But it took me until September of last year to actually learn how to use a DAW and start making my own music at the age of 32. I'm 33 now. Like you, I started in metal and prog mostly. Which I still enjoy a lot of that stuff. But experimental ambient, down tempo, idm electronic is my home. Very cool to hear Solar Fields getting shout outs! Most people I've ever asked have no idea who he is, so it's good to know there are other initiates out there! Love your work Chris! Keep em coming, brother!
Omgosh! Chris its like your the ambient mentalist. Most of what you said is like you read my mind. I started learning all things music production around this time last year, that would enable me to create ambient muisic. I didnt even know what a DAW was, a vst, sound design or let alone any music theory at all. In March this year my beautiful Ableton suite came into my world and all i can think of from that moment till now is producing ambient music with Ableton. Your fantastic TH-cam, Patreon and Discord channels have all been a central supporting pillar in inspiring and allowing me to fulfil my ambient musical dreams, goals and passions. Thank you so much Chris 🙏❤️🙏 😊
I opened my eyes to music with Led Zeppelin, Depp Purple and Rush, then it came Pink Floyd. I remember the shock I felt (and not only myself) when Kraftwerk appeared, probably the first ever 100% electronic music, definitely the first I ever heard. And then Tangerine Dream and Klaus Schulze brought electronic music where it should be, at spiritual levels never imagined before. Then it came the "dark era of music" how I call it, with things like Boney M and ABBA, and all the trance current which pushed electronic music into derisory. I have retreated myself into Bach and Beethoven and symphonic music. And then I have discovered a French label, Ultimae, I think you know it: Solar Fields, Martin Nonstatic, and many others. And then along came Spotted Peccary, another great promoter of ambient (probably my favorite now), with marvelous artists.... And then you appeared on my youtube feed. 😀 That was at the time of "Branches in the Sky". That was the time when I cancelled my subscription to Spotify and frequented more often Bandcamp.
Talking about new chapters. Today was my last day at a job it was time to leave. Kind of a fun coincidence. You want to know where I'm coming from. I'm a classically trained singer and composer. (Took the day job route because stable paycheck means roof over head) As for ambient era. I have this idea bouncing around in my brain of getting the bare bones of a bunch of ambient tracks recorded with synths, then flush out the rest of each track for orchestra, making a nice symphonic ambient fusion thing. I'm also fiddling around with some synth wave tracks.
This video hits uncannily close to home! The last video I was watching before this was literally Martin Sturtzer’s newest home concert. I have been very focused on ambient lately and have written several new ambient pieces. I recently got Omnisphere and I have been absolutely obsessed with it. I also come from a background of metal. My dad helped reintroduce me to electronic music and I’ve been writing since 2019.
If I think about it my first release in 2009 was ambient. But it was labeled downtempo back then. Then I made a bunch of other genres but yes, I think I am re-entering my Ambient era.
I am right there with you.with your comment about the weird crossover between metalheads and ambient musicians I got into synths, as a metalhead, listening to the weird eerie textural synth intros and breakdowns in my favorite metal songs. Those bits inspired me to think of musical instruments and effects as ways to create evocative ambience that added to the felt experience of the songs they were in. The more i got into playing metal, the more and more i realized i liked the textural synth parts the best,and started playing them by themselves and creating music focused around them instead Fear factory just wasnt as cool, without Rhys Fulber Dio wasnt as awesome without Claude Schnell etc Around then, i learned about the BBC Radiophonics labs soundtrack work, and early Kraut/Spacerock stuff like Tangerine Dream. at the same time people introduced me to Carbon Based LIfeforms, Robert Rich Lustmord and Black Mountain Transmitter, and my life changed. If i listen to Metal at all now, its the very psychedelic Stoner/Doom stuff with prominent dubby effects and synthwork, where the ambience is still front and center vs just producer frosting
Chris, you are the 'Ambient Guru'. I started down an 'Ambient' path after studying minimalism composers in the early nineties (and coming across music from Tangerine dream, Orbital, FSOL, Brian Eno, etc. (partially via a CD collection called 'A brief history of Ambient vol1/2)).. although I'd say there's no need to lock yourself into a musical category.. just make stuff you enjoy, for me that is sounds/music that are relaxing/chilled out.
Another great video, Chris! It's because of you that I switched from Reason over to Ableton and started my Ambient journey in earnest. Your tutorials gave me the courage to move on from simple tinkering to actually arranging complete tracks and coming up with a full album that less than two weeks ago was released through CD Baby! Please continue with the positive and thoughtful tutorials, and the encouraging words that I'm sure have motivated many others in addition to myself. If you're ever over here in the greater Sacramento area give me a shout, the beer's on me!
That's so awesome! I'd love to hear it. If you're on discord, please join our server (Synphaera) and share it with everyone! Here's the invite: discord.gg/4QFS84rSCc I'll take you up on that beer someday! Cheers.
I'm starting a new era in music but in my case is instrumental symphonic black metal, although I listen to ambient most of the time for everything else I do basically.
The only real "hit" I had on streamings is a track curated to an ambient spotify playlist. I'm still thinking about that sign. Maybe could be the path.
I personally am getting into modular synths on vcv rack and using syntorial. It's the perfect way to slowly sink yourself into music theory alongside playing an instrument. At least for me, it is, as I love experimenting with sound.
So I thought I wanted to make Ambient, something in the background easy listening film track ish, but it hasn't turned out like that & I'm not sure it ever will, as I would really like to be able to make something more like Shpongle, but a number of problems still to solve, the Production/Engineering, Musical Ability, & there's probably much more but I don't know what I don't know.
Klaus Schulze, Yes, the early Pink Floyd influenced me musically in my early years. I lost myself in their soundscapes. Music was my “drug”. 30 years later, I bought my first synthesizer and discovered that it is now possible to create these soundscapes myself. In my DAW I mainly use VITAL and ALCHEMY and the ABELTON products. They are easy to use and can still create complex soundscapes. With STEPIC I can create the sequential rhythms of Klaus Schulze. I've already learned a lot from Chris. I have already received a lot of tips that have saved me a lot of time, but have also created many musical possibilities.
You say you're using Alchemy and Ableton products; are you using Logic Pro with Ableton Hardware? I would love to have Alchemy while still being able to use a DAW that is not necessarily Logic Pro (nothing against Logic Pro, but I currently use Reaper).
I'm not using Alchemy with Ableton anymore. My only copy of Alchemy is Version 1, which was pre-Logic and my installers are for the Mac and not the PC, unfortunately. That said, there are better options out there these days. Have a look at Minimal Audio Current.
It's a little difficult to hear you over the loud music. Also, it seems a bit strange to say that creative life choices should be determined by algorithms, 😢
I think ambient combined with other genres is beautiful as is ambient itself, everyone should be utilising it
Ambient music rescued me from becoming disconnected from a passion to be a creative through audio expression. What intrigued me was a conversation with a friend who likened ambient as the new classical music. Chris, I tick the box with every one of your points. At the age of 63 I quit my job, started a music production enterprise, created a track, published on spotify, apple etc. Was lucky to run into a wellness retreat director, who heard my track and immediately commissioned me to produce an album for their retreats ( due this November !). I wish I had done this a long time ago. You and your videos have been a reference point that has helped light my path. Thank you (I may reach out to help plan my album ... nothing like time pressure :)
It may be just me but I am not interested in releasing tracks or being signed. For me, ambient is about shutting yourself away for a few hours in an atmospheric environment, creating and interacting with the music. It’s about mindfulness, relaxation and emotional experiences. Your videos are truly inspiring. Perhaps you could make some content about how we can interact with the music with this in mind.
I love how passionate you are for this and not just to amp people up for the sake of a video but genuinely care. I've watched a lot of S1gns and the pure excitement inspires me.
That's crazy, you uploaded this a day after I started my own ambient era!
Your channel has been very inspiring, thanks for getting me on the right track :)
Of course! Join us on discord and share your journey with us: discord.gg/4QFS84rSCc
I started my musical journey in 1981 as the keyboardist for Desire. Played in a few bands after that, but I wanted to create original music. I was tired of playing the classics. Over the decades, I'd built a collection of classic analog synths, but wasn't doing much with them. By 2005, computer based production tools had advanced to the point that there simply was no excuse left for me to not have a go at making an album. By 2010, I'd completed my first album, with Steve Roach as mastering engineer. The rest is history. My love affair with synthesizers and ambient music is absolutely a lifestyle, but I split my time between that, fine art and graphic design/video production, the latter being the endeavor that pays the bills. While making ambient music (at least at first) won't make one rich, I was never into it for the money. I do it, because I simply don't know how NOT to. It feeds my soul to make this music and to share my work with others.
They can have my synthesizers when they pry them from my cold dead hands!
I love your channel, Chris, and I love your work. I wish you all the success you deserve. Cheers and stay busy. -hhh
I always had a deep love for evolving pads. I used them for long extended band sessions and for providing background music for venues. I also wanted to produce music that did more than what they normally do for humans. I want to tap into something that would accompany healing. Whether you are connecting to yourself or to a source bigger than the universe, or you receiving a spa treatment or massage, I wanted to make music that would multiply the healing you receive from them. With S1gnOfL1fe, I have started my journey towards this goal. And it's fascinating! Thank you Chris for providing all the tools to make this process possible!❤
I'm a child of the 70's (yeah, middle of last century!). My ambient journey began when I first heard Olias of Sunhillow (1976), by Jon Anderson. Now, in retirement, I finally have the time (and head space) to pursue making my own ambient. Thanks for being there to support my journey. I appreciate your passion and guidance. I've been with you on Patreon for a while now and find value there.
I appreciate you and I'm glad you're finding so much value in my Patreon. Good to hear your story too! Keep on truckin'
I have no idea which stage of this Ambient Era I'm currently in 😅. What I can say is that I'm enjoying what I'm doing. Another fact is that you are one of the few people who influenced me tremendously and made me find my own path. Keep up the good work, mate🚀 - people who are influenced by you very often become fantastic artists ⭐
Very interesting to me that your friend specifically asked you if you had ever heard Solar Fields. That exact question is something I ask anybody I know who's even vaguely interested in electronic music. Magnus has been such an absolutely MASSIVE influence on my desire to become a producer. Then I discovered Ultimae records and have never been the same since.
I discovered electronic music in my mid teens, with the likes of aphex twin, squarepusher, shpongle, boards of Canada etc. it was confounding and fascinating music to me.
But it wasn't until I discovered Ultimae around 18-19 years old that it hit me. "This is it" I thought. But it took me until September of last year to actually learn how to use a DAW and start making my own music at the age of 32. I'm 33 now.
Like you, I started in metal and prog mostly. Which I still enjoy a lot of that stuff. But experimental ambient, down tempo, idm electronic is my home.
Very cool to hear Solar Fields getting shout outs! Most people I've ever asked have no idea who he is, so it's good to know there are other initiates out there!
Love your work Chris! Keep em coming, brother!
Omgosh! Chris its like your the ambient mentalist. Most of what you said is like you read my mind. I started learning all things music production around this time last year, that would enable me to create ambient muisic. I didnt even know what a DAW was, a vst, sound design or let alone any music theory at all. In March this year my beautiful Ableton suite came into my world and all i can think of from that moment till now is producing ambient music with Ableton. Your fantastic TH-cam, Patreon and Discord channels have all been a central supporting pillar in inspiring and allowing me to fulfil my ambient musical dreams, goals and passions. Thank you so much Chris 🙏❤️🙏 😊
WOOHOO!! Love to hear it SandyStarSong! Thank you for sharing your gifts with the world. Appreciate you fam!
I opened my eyes to music with Led Zeppelin, Depp Purple and Rush, then it came Pink Floyd. I remember the shock I felt (and not only myself) when Kraftwerk appeared, probably the first ever 100% electronic music, definitely the first I ever heard. And then Tangerine Dream and Klaus Schulze brought electronic music where it should be, at spiritual levels never imagined before. Then it came the "dark era of music" how I call it, with things like Boney M and ABBA, and all the trance current which pushed electronic music into derisory.
I have retreated myself into Bach and Beethoven and symphonic music. And then I have discovered a French label, Ultimae, I think you know it: Solar Fields, Martin Nonstatic, and many others. And then along came Spotted Peccary, another great promoter of ambient (probably my favorite now), with marvelous artists.... And then you appeared on my youtube feed. 😀 That was at the time of "Branches in the Sky". That was the time when I cancelled my subscription to Spotify and frequented more often Bandcamp.
Talking about new chapters. Today was my last day at a job it was time to leave. Kind of a fun coincidence.
You want to know where I'm coming from. I'm a classically trained singer and composer. (Took the day job route because stable paycheck means roof over head) As for ambient era. I have this idea bouncing around in my brain of getting the bare bones of a bunch of ambient tracks recorded with synths, then flush out the rest of each track for orchestra, making a nice symphonic ambient fusion thing.
I'm also fiddling around with some synth wave tracks.
Mine was listening to Tangerine Dream as a younger self
Wouaa it's so true and and I have 25 years of music behind me
yes... you we're definitely speaking to me, my friend! the factory has been in heavy production lately 😀🎹
Much love 💗 Chris welcome 🙏🏻 to the new ambient era
Nice introduction. A bit of feedback, the backgroundmusic aftter the intro gets a bit too loud so its hard to understand you :)
This video hits uncannily close to home! The last video I was watching before this was literally Martin Sturtzer’s newest home concert. I have been very focused on ambient lately and have written several new ambient pieces. I recently got Omnisphere and I have been absolutely obsessed with it. I also come from a background of metal. My dad helped reintroduce me to electronic music and I’ve been writing since 2019.
Similar paths! Very interesting. Glad you finally found your true calling!
damn right, Kid! ...I AM ready! ...let's goooooooo......
If I think about it my first release in 2009 was ambient. But it was labeled downtempo back then. Then I made a bunch of other genres but yes, I think I am re-entering my Ambient era.
I am right there with you.with your comment about the weird crossover between metalheads and ambient musicians
I got into synths, as a metalhead, listening to the weird eerie textural synth intros and breakdowns in my favorite metal songs. Those bits inspired me to think of musical instruments and effects as ways to create evocative ambience that added to the felt experience of the songs they were in.
The more i got into playing metal, the more and more i realized i liked the textural synth parts the best,and started playing them by themselves and creating music focused around them instead
Fear factory just wasnt as cool, without Rhys Fulber Dio wasnt as awesome without Claude Schnell etc
Around then, i learned about the BBC Radiophonics labs soundtrack work, and early Kraut/Spacerock stuff like Tangerine Dream. at the same time people introduced me to Carbon Based LIfeforms, Robert Rich Lustmord and Black Mountain Transmitter, and my life changed.
If i listen to Metal at all now, its the very psychedelic Stoner/Doom stuff with prominent dubby effects and synthwork, where the ambience is still front and center vs just producer frosting
Chris, you are the 'Ambient Guru'. I started down an 'Ambient' path after studying minimalism composers in the early nineties (and coming across music from Tangerine dream, Orbital, FSOL, Brian Eno, etc. (partially via a CD collection called 'A brief history of Ambient vol1/2)).. although I'd say there's no need to lock yourself into a musical category.. just make stuff you enjoy, for me that is sounds/music that are relaxing/chilled out.
Thank you Chris for your awesome tutorials.... I am on my Ambient creative journey thanks to you!
Another great video, Chris! It's because of you that I switched from Reason over to Ableton and started my Ambient journey in earnest. Your tutorials gave me the courage to move on from simple tinkering to actually arranging complete tracks and coming up with a full album that less than two weeks ago was released through CD Baby! Please continue with the positive and thoughtful tutorials, and the encouraging words that I'm sure have motivated many others in addition to myself. If you're ever over here in the greater Sacramento area give me a shout, the beer's on me!
That's so awesome! I'd love to hear it. If you're on discord, please join our server (Synphaera) and share it with everyone! Here's the invite: discord.gg/4QFS84rSCc
I'll take you up on that beer someday! Cheers.
My ambient era is now! Thanks, Chris! Towards 100k and the stars!
LET'S GOOOOOO!!!!!
I don't know if it's the universe or the algorithm sending me a message but it's like this video was made just for me.
Exactly! This is your s1gn. 😉
Thanks Chris for helping me on my ambient journey!
I started with guitar, and a handful of pedals. Now I'm diving into sound design, and things are getting so much more interesting!
Love it!
I'm starting a new era in music but in my case is instrumental symphonic black metal, although I listen to ambient most of the time for everything else I do basically.
The only real "hit" I had on streamings is a track curated to an ambient spotify playlist. I'm still thinking about that sign. Maybe could be the path.
Thank you s1gns
I personally am getting into modular synths on vcv rack and using syntorial. It's the perfect way to slowly sink yourself into music theory alongside playing an instrument. At least for me, it is, as I love experimenting with sound.
Same here! I was just losing myself in experimentation last night. Never gets old!
I also came from heavy-metal!!
Signs
Damn ambient content creators - I'm one of your stepping stones to 100K 📈 Before this vid 😉
My ambient era is a result of not having a suitable voice for singing
So I thought I wanted to make Ambient, something in the background easy listening film track ish, but it hasn't turned out like that & I'm not sure it ever will, as I would really like to be able to make something more like Shpongle, but a number of problems still to solve, the Production/Engineering, Musical Ability, & there's probably much more but I don't know what I don't know.
True! We don't know what we don't even know but we CAN learn. Keep pushing yourself forward and perhaps you'll get there someday!
Klaus Schulze, Yes, the early Pink Floyd influenced me musically in my early years. I lost myself in their soundscapes. Music was my “drug”. 30 years later, I bought my first synthesizer and discovered that it is now possible to create these soundscapes myself. In my DAW I mainly use VITAL and ALCHEMY and the ABELTON products. They are easy to use and can still create complex soundscapes. With STEPIC I can create the sequential rhythms of Klaus Schulze.
I've already learned a lot from Chris. I have already received a lot of tips that have saved me a lot of time, but have also created many musical possibilities.
Stepic is life! Thank you for sharing!
You say you're using Alchemy and Ableton products; are you using Logic Pro with Ableton Hardware? I would love to have Alchemy while still being able to use a DAW that is not necessarily Logic Pro (nothing against Logic Pro, but I currently use Reaper).
@@7percentSolution I was lucky enough to buy quite a few packs from Alchemy before Apple took over Alchemy. So I'm not tied to Logic Pro.
@@7percentSolution I was lucky enough to be able to buy many packs from Alchemy before Apple took over Alchemy.
I'm not using Alchemy with Ableton anymore. My only copy of Alchemy is Version 1, which was pre-Logic and my installers are for the Mac and not the PC, unfortunately. That said, there are better options out there these days. Have a look at Minimal Audio Current.
💯k Lets go!
Hello S1gns! :)
What's up!
Me first read Amun Ra.
but what is the track playing in the background called?
It's called the Thorn video soundtrack slowed down to 74 BPM 😂
🙌
❤❤❤
It's a little difficult to hear you over the loud music.
Also, it seems a bit strange to say that creative life choices should be determined by algorithms, 😢
Lol, funny video)
I like your message, but the background music is really distractingly loud and repetitive (especially for ambient!), drowning out what you are saying.