What Music Needs

In this blog I want to explore the creation of music of all kinds, from a personal perspective as a composer and piano student. Unlike most of the tutors and experts posting material, I am not coming from a position of knowledge and skill, but struggling to put together what I have learnt and what I know into meaningful music. I don’t embrace any particular genre or style of music; I just want to achieve a broad understanding of how it works.You can find other tracks I have written by searching the music platform of your choice for ’Jon Jermey’ (early works and easy listening), ’One-Five-One East’ (Neoclassical) and ’Thirty-Four South’ (Ambient and experimental tracks).I am removing some very early material from these platforms and will add it here as time permits....more

Jon Jermey

All Episodes (200)

From new to old

From new to old From old to new

1. Out of the Box

Sep 02,2023 03:12
2. The Fabric of Reality

Sep 01,2023 04:30
3. Eleven-O-Five

Aug 31,2023 05:09
4. Rake’s Progress

Aug 30,2023 02:50
5. Don’t Mind If I Do

Aug 29,2023 03:12
6. Baking the Beeth

Aug 28,2023 03:48
7. Remote Places

Aug 27,2023 03:34
8. Urban Fortress

Aug 26,2023 06:30
9. In a Vitreous Humour

Aug 24,2023 03:27
10. Go To Sleep, Little Monster

Aug 23,2023 03:49
11. The Watercourse

Aug 22,2023 03:05
12. First Light

Aug 21,2023 04:08
13. The Click Box

Aug 20,2023 02:58
14. Osmosis of Transformation

Drum patterns courtesy of Captain Pikant and drones by Polarity.

Aug 19,2023 03:16
15. Noisemaker

Aug 18,2023 07:33
16. Great Southland

Aug 17,2023 04:20
17. My Own Space

Aug 16,2023 03:29
18. The Werebear

Aug 15,2023 07:09
19. Hear Me

Aug 14,2023 04:16
20. Song Fever

Aug 13,2023 03:54
21. A Sense of Entitlement

Aug 12,2023 07:10
22. Grand Tour

Aug 11,2023 03:24
23. Love Freedom Pain

Aug 10,2023 04:08
24. Everything Turns

Aug 09,2023 03:46
25. Double or Quits

Aug 07,2023 03:27
26. Letter to the Philippians

Yes, it's a tribute to Philip Glass.

Aug 06,2023 05:31
27. Getting the Hang of It

Aug 05,2023 04:30
28. Fireflies

Aug 04,2023 03:57
29. Plasma

An attempt to emulate Transfuser using the various randomisation settings in Bitwig.

Aug 03,2023 03:33
30. Gotta Come Home

Aug 02,2023 03:40
31. You Know That Thing Where...

Aug 01,2023 04:03
32. Born Yesterday

Jul 31,2023 07:14
33. The Quality of Sunlight

Jul 30,2023 03:51
34. Four Million Light Years

Jul 29,2023 06:55
35. Building the Pyramids

Jul 28,2023 09:46
36. Twostep

Jul 26,2023 03:48
37. Here With Me

Jul 25,2023 03:09
38. Are You Sitting Comfortably

Jul 24,2023 04:01
39. Another Part of the Forest

Jul 23,2023 03:39
40. The Blob

Jul 22,2023 04:02
41. As the Crow Flies

Jul 21,2023 03:40
42. Just For Clicks

Jul 20,2023 03:28
43. The Fat Lady Sings

Jul 19,2023 03:19
44. At The Dawn of the Day

Jul 18,2023 04:20
45. Never Say Die

Jul 17,2023 03:37
46. Impasse

Jul 16,2023 02:30
47. The Elephant in the Room

Jul 15,2023 03:15
48. Tentacles

Jul 14,2023 03:45
49. In The Lab

An experimental piece playing with the Project Modulators in the new version of Bitwig.

Jul 12,2023 02:37
50. Candor Defogs Rumor

Based on a video by Oscar from Underdog: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_D3dCSylCg

Jul 11,2023 03:47
51. Ancestral Voices

More fun with the new Captain Chord plugin.

Jul 10,2023 03:51
52. I Accept Pain

Made with the new (to me) Captain Plugins Epic set of AI chord and melody software.

Jul 09,2023 03:14
53. Let It Slide

Jul 08,2023 05:23
54. The Radio Play

Jul 06,2023 04:50
55. Toby’s Theme

Jul 05,2023 03:34
56. Coming To The Boil

Jul 02,2023 03:51
57. Sunday Morning Yum Cha

Jul 01,2023 04:17
58. Horizons

Jun 30,2023 04:08
59. Jimmy’s Blues

Now you know why I don't sing.

Jun 29,2023 03:20
60. All Hail the Prince of Wails

Jun 28,2023 03:44
61. No End Blues

Jun 26,2023 04:29
62. Resurgence

Jun 25,2023 05:42
63. Break, Break, Break

Jun 24,2023 03:33
64. Lamentation

Jun 23,2023 03:46
65. Hiding The Bass

Jun 22,2023 03:39
66. Playing Catchup

Jun 21,2023 03:37
67. A Thoughtful Sailor

Jun 20,2023 03:12
68. First Day Back

Jun 18,2023 06:52
69. Lydia Cuts Loose

Jun 17,2023 03:10
70. Fruit Bowl

Jun 14,2023 09:36
71. Deedle Dee

Jun 12,2023 09:00
72. Deep Fake

Jun 07,2023 07:36
73. Too Much Confusion

Jun 06,2023 03:30
74. Lapsang Souchong

Jun 05,2023 03:52
75. Disturbing Thoughts

Jun 04,2023 03:22
76. Fuzzy Venus

Jun 01,2023 03:22
77. Not Entirely Happy

May 31,2023 03:31
78. A Bird In The Hand

May 30,2023 08:19
79. I Get A Round

May 29,2023 03:15
80. Plink

May 28,2023 03:19
81. Manifestival

May 27,2023 03:54
82. Wordless

May 26,2023 14:51
83. Cold Feet Blues

May 25,2023 03:27
84. Loose Connections

May 24,2023 02:52
85. Brian’s Busy Day

May 23,2023 03:29
86. Through the Night

May 22,2023 04:28
87. Distinguished Company

May 21,2023 04:00
88. Force of Habit

May 20,2023 05:04
89. Talk To Me II

Another exercise in harmony -- with rather different instruments this time.

May 19,2023 04:09
90. Apathetic Thorns

May 18,2023 05:12
91. Trance Fusion

Drum track and beats from the Transfusion plug-in, layered with a little bit of mbira.

May 18,2023 03:38
92. Forever

A straight chord sequence, embellished in the classical manner with passing notes, auxiliary notes and suspensions, and some repeated motifs.

May 18,2023 03:16
93. Hibiscus

May 17,2023 03:33
94. Because I Can

A long ambient drone, built on sounds from the collection of generators created by Boris Kovalev.

May 16,2023 11:38
95. A Brush With Destiny

May 15,2023 03:17
96. Shanghai Lil

May 14,2023 03:47
97. Never Hit Your Grandma With A Shovel

May 13,2023 03:38
98. Fragment XXIII

May 12,2023 03:21
99. Beginnings

May 11,2023 04:37
100. Shaken In A Bag

May 10,2023 04:21
101. Indictment

May 09,2023 04:43
102. Dance of the Hours

May 08,2023 03:31
103. Tunisian Market

May 07,2023 03:25
104. Mr Moto, Mr Chan

May 06,2023 03:07
105. Chrysalis

May 05,2023 04:14
106. Molasses

May 04,2023 05:30
107. Highly Strung

May 02,2023 03:06
108. A Train in Tirana

Apr 30,2023 03:50
109. Cold Bath

Apr 29,2023 04:25
110. Glassworks Blues

Apr 28,2023 03:34
111. Warm Bath

Apr 27,2023 05:41
112. More Than Meets The Ear

Apr 26,2023 03:07
113. I Go To Pieces

Apr 25,2023 04:12
114. Strawberry Jam

Apr 24,2023 03:55
115. Birdlip

Apr 23,2023 03:03
116. Contemplation

Apr 22,2023 03:28
117. Chipping Campden II

Apr 21,2023 03:20
118. Holmes and Watson

Apr 20,2023 04:48
119. Chipping Campden

Apr 19,2023 03:55
120. The Suit Racket

Apr 18,2023 05:42
121. Coventry II

Apr 17,2023 03:06
122. The Visitor

Apr 16,2023 03:52
123. Coventry I

Apr 15,2023 03:00
124. The Ravelled Sleeve of Care

Apr 14,2023 05:27
125. Rugby

Apr 13,2023 02:48
126. What You Don’t Know Can’t Hurt You

Apr 12,2023 05:56
127. Fenny Compton

Apr 11,2023 02:43
128. Contraband

Apr 10,2023 03:15
129. Brouhaha

Apr 08,2023 04:19
130. Deddington

Apr 07,2023 03:06
131. Sturdy’s Castle

Apr 06,2023 03:36
132. Afterparty

Apr 04,2023 08:55
133. Dreaming Spires

Apr 04,2023 04:35
134. Birds of the Night

Apr 02,2023 03:08
135. Mister Infinite

Mar 19,2023 05:04
136. Your Call Is Important To Us

Mar 18,2023 03:16
137. When In Doubt

Mar 17,2023 04:06
138. The Lost Dream

Mar 16,2023 05:20
139. The Custodian

Mar 15,2023 04:00
140. Quentin Cuts Loose

Mar 14,2023 03:23
141. Perpetual Motion Machine

Mar 13,2023 03:34
142. No Turning Back

Mar 12,2023 03:49
143. New and Better Man

Mar 11,2023 03:15
144. Music Box

Mar 10,2023 03:04
145. Lucky Spider

Mar 09,2023 03:42
146. Going Down

Mar 08,2023 04:51
147. Florida Vacation

Mar 07,2023 03:34
148. Double Rainbow

Mar 06,2023 04:16
149. Cobalt Blue

Mar 05,2023 02:58
150. What RU Looking At

Mar 04,2023 05:06
151. Vital Statistics

Mar 03,2023 03:42
152. Outside the Temple Gates

Mar 02,2023 03:38
153. No Sublimer Fin

Mar 01,2023 03:09
154. No Comparison

Feb 28,2023 03:18
155. Don’t Let Me Keep You

Feb 27,2023 03:34
156. Cerebral Fusion

Feb 26,2023 04:13
157. Calling Home

Feb 25,2023 03:40
158. Barberpole

Feb 24,2023 03:13
159. Alien to Me

Feb 23,2023 03:54
160. A Close Game

Feb 22,2023 03:24
161. The Turkish Bath

Feb 21,2023 06:09
162. The Streets of San Remo

Feb 20,2023 05:04
163. Sitting Up and Taking Notice

Feb 19,2023 04:00
164. Part of a Seamless Web

Feb 18,2023 03:36
165. Better

Feb 17,2023 05:36
166. Badminton Tournament

Feb 16,2023 05:02
167. Another Go Round

Feb 15,2023 03:44
168. The End of the Line For Joe

Feb 14,2023 03:53
169. The Enforcer

Feb 13,2023 04:55
170. The Green Butterfly

Feb 12,2023 03:37
171. So Happy Endless Adventures

Feb 11,2023 03:26
172. Rainy Thursday Morning

Feb 10,2023 02:47
173. What Song The Sirens Sang

Feb 09,2023 03:12
174. The World Is Not Yet Exhausted

Feb 09,2023 03:28
175. Trio For Four Guitars

Four guitars because one of them is doubled. The others are Sapphire guitars from a new plugin. About as simple as it gets, really.You can find more of my music on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music and other sites by searching for 'Jon Jermey', 'Thirty-Four South' or 'One-Five-One East'. I am also posting material on Bandcamp -- jonjermey.bandcamp.com.

Feb 08,2023 03:37
176. The Frogs Of Bali -- 140 BPM -- F Major

Based around an ambient track from Bandcamp, with a drone or two and some dreamy abstract piano over the top. You can find more of my music on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music and other sites by searching for 'Jon Jermey', 'Thirty-Four South' or 'One-Five-One East'. I am also posting material on Bandcamp -- jonjermey.bandcamp.com.

Feb 07,2023 03:18
177. Sunday Kind Of Groove -- 90 BPM -- D minor

Based around a drum track, plus a couple of generative drones from Polarity. Most of the rest is from the versatile Vacuum Pro synthesiser, plus the wonderful free DSK Brass saxophones.You can find more of my music on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music and other sites by searching for 'Jon Jermey', 'Thirty-Four South' or 'One-Five-One East'. I am also posting material on Bandcamp -- jonjermey.bandcamp.com.

Feb 06,2023 06:02
178. Relentless -- 140 BPM

Lots of heavy layering. Izotope Iris is on here, along with Captain Beat, voices from the Radio plugin, and many other doubled instruments.You can find more of my music on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music and other sites by searching for 'Jon Jermey', 'Thirty-Four South' or 'One-Five-One East'. I am also posting material on Bandcamp -- jonjermey.bandcamp.com.

Feb 05,2023 04:24
179. It Makes Me Cry -- 136 BPM -- G minor

Constructed entirely from Loopcloud clips. Saxophones make everything better. You can find more of my music on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music and other sites by searching for 'Jon Jermey', 'Thirty-Four South' or 'One-Five-One East'. I am also posting material on Bandcamp -- jonjermey.bandcamp.com.

Feb 04,2023 02:42
180. In The Final Analysis -- 101 BPM -- A Major & F minor

An ambient electronic track. Lines of vibrating sound from Podolski are backed up by some orchestral instruments and layered over sampled sounds from the Radio plugin.You can find more of my music on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music and other sites by searching for 'Jon Jermey', 'Thirty-Four South' or 'One-Five-One East'. I am also posting material on Bandcamp -- jonjermey.bandcamp.com.

Feb 03,2023 03:19
181. Good Heavens, It’s Evans! -- 110 BPM -- Bb minor & D Major

Mr Evans was a pleasant unassuming young man who had the misfortune to teach Physics at my high school. This tribute uses Melotank, the Musical Thing from Decent Sampler, a couple of orchestral instruments from Garritan and -- obviously -- a drum track.You can find more of my music on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music and other sites by searching for 'Jon Jermey', 'Thirty-Four South' or 'One-Five-One East'. I am also posting material on Bandcamp -- jonjermey.bandcamp.com.

Feb 02,2023 03:18
182. Fragility -- 110 BPM -- F minor & A Major

'Fragility' because the damn DAW kept hanging and dropping out tracks while I tried to record it. But I got there in the end. An excursion for Classical.gtr, the AAS player, and a Polarity drone.You can find more of my music on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music and other sites by searching for 'Jon Jermey', 'Thirty-Four South' or 'One-Five-One East'. I am also posting material on Bandcamp -- jonjermey.bandcamp.com.

Feb 01,2023 03:03
183. Don’t Mess With Mister Malcolm -- 135 BPM -- Gb Major & Eb minor

An interesting mix of keys here. Orb did the heavy lifting and the Dreamer synth and DB-33 organ do their bit. I'm not sure who Mr Malcolm is, but he sounds like a man in a hurry.You can find more of my music on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music and other sites by searching for 'Jon Jermey', 'Thirty-Four South' or 'One-Five-One East'. I am also posting material on Bandcamp -- jonjermey.bandcamp.com.

Jan 31,2023 03:08
184. A Thickening Sud -- 120 BPM -- E minor

Built around a guitar riff and a driving drum track. Orb supplied the chords and the Garritan Orchestra thickened the mix up with various string patches and some brass. The ending was a happy accident.You can find more of my music on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music and other sites by searching for 'Jon Jermey', 'Thirty-Four South' or 'One-Five-One East'. I am also posting material on Bandcamp -- jonjermey.bandcamp.com.

Jan 30,2023 02:48
185. Apricot Dream - 94 BPM - G# minor

Named with reference to a well-known German electronic music ensemble, and the new (to me) and intriguing Apricot synth. Lots of reverb, and some sounds from Loopcloud. Orb provided the chords and the bass.You can find more of my music on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music and other sites by searching for 'Jon Jermey', 'Thirty-Four South' or 'One-Five-One East'. I am also posting material on Bandcamp -- jonjermey.bandcamp.com.

Jan 29,2023 05:47
186. Bhairav View - 95 BPM - C Bhairav

The Bhairav scale again -- with the ScandiClavier organ and bass over an Arabic drum kit from Loopcloud. The Podolski synth is in there a couple of times too. You can find more of my music on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music and other sites by searching for 'Jon Jermey', 'Thirty-Four South' or 'One-Five-One East'. I am also posting material on Bandcamp -- jonjermey.bandcamp.com.

Jan 28,2023 03:42
187. Forget -- 110 BPM -- D Major

A cloud drum, a kalimba and a funky bass supplement the tabla from Indian Dreams. Vocal tracks from Loopcloud float above.You can find more of my music on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music and other sites by searching for 'Jon Jermey', 'Thirty-Four South' or 'One-Five-One East'. I am also posting material on Bandcamp -- jonjermey.bandcamp.com.You can find more of my music on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music and other sites by searching for 'Jon Jermey', 'Thirty-Four South' or 'One-Five-One

Jan 27,2023 04:45
188. Ephraim -- 140 BPM -- C Major

Loopcloud Drum gets a run here with lots of reverb, and a glockenspiel backing. The melody starts rather late on a slightly edgy guitar. Classic.gtr comes in a little later, and a couple of choirs give it depth.You can find more of my music on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music and other sites by searching for 'Jon Jermey', 'Thirty-Four South' or 'One-Five-One East'. I am also posting material on Bandcamp -- jonjermey.bandcamp.com.

Jan 26,2023 03:12
189. The Whispering Saviour -- 90 BPM -- C#m & F#m

Breaktweaker and Drumsynth 500 provide the percussion, and two instances of Vital hold the tune, with assistance from Club Voltage and a French violin. The tune shifts to C# minor in the central portion, and then back again. Filtering, rather than volume, is used on the intro and outro sections.You can find more of my music on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music and other sites by searching for 'Jon Jermey', 'Thirty-Four South' or 'One-Five-One East'. I am also posting material on Bandcamp -- jo

Jan 25,2023 03:06
190. Four Fives -- 140 BPM -- various pentatonic scales

Built around a percussion track with a hyperactive piano, this also brings in some nice brass. The same motif appears repeatedly in four pentatonic scales -- hence the name.You can find more of my music on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music and other sites by searching for 'Jon Jermey', 'Thirty-Four South' or 'One-Five-One East'. I am also posting material on Bandcamp -- jonjermey.bandcamp.com.

Jan 24,2023 04:17
191. Fyodor -- 110 BPM -- A minor

A big growly bass against a background of ticking clocks. Basically an experiment with layering the Bitwig Polysynth.You can find more of my music on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music and other sites by searching for 'Jon Jermey', 'Thirty-Four South' or 'One-Five-One East'. I am also posting material on Bandcamp -- jonjermey.bandcamp.com.

Jan 23,2023 03:12
192. The Bigger The Band - 90 BPM - Eb Maj

Moody little jazz piece, based on Orb Chords, with a vibraphone melody and some saxophone and other brass in there.You can find more of my music on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music and other sites by searching for 'Jon Jermey', 'Thirty-Four South' or 'One-Five-One East'. I am also posting material on Bandcamp -- jonjermey.bandcamp.com.

Jan 22,2023 04:44
193. Vintage Vibe -- 80 BPM +/- -- A minor

A bit of a Mick Karn feel here, with some of the melody in the deep percussive base. All the synth sounds come from the Full Bucket synth, and the bass is the FunkBass. Loopcloud Drums helps it along with the Hollywood Beats preset. There is a slow rise in tempo throughout. The ending was a happy accident. You can find more of my music on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music and other sites by searching for 'Jon Jermey' or 'Thirty-Four South'.

Jan 21,2023 04:52
194. Sahel -- 140 BPM -- G#m -- 5/4

The 5/4 rhythm gives the little track an exotic feel. There are a couple of instances of Vital, Strum Session for the guitar line, cloud drums and a table from the wonderful Indian Dreams set as well as conventional percussion from Captain Beat.You can find more of my music on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music and other sites by searching for 'Jon Jermey' or 'Thirty-Four South'.

Jan 20,2023 02:51
195. Quietly Happy -- 100 BPM -- C Dorian

A pleasant little piece with just five layers, built around a guitar line that I played in. The percussion is surprisingly restrained. A Karyorfer cello comes in towards the end to give it a bit of class.You can find more of my music on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music and other sites by searching for 'Jon Jermey' or 'Thirty-Four South'.

Jan 19,2023 03:21
196. Lares and Penates -- 100 BPM -- A minor

Lares and Penates were the Latin names for the two types of Roman household gods. Here they are invoked by two pianos, three synths, and a restrained drum track. Loom is doing the heavy lifting on this one.You can find more of my music on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music and other sites by searching for 'Jon Jermey' or 'Thirty-Four South'.

Jan 18,2023 03:21
197. If Only

Clearly an experimental track, and as with the previous day's effort, I seem to have lost my access to the original Bitwig file. It's obviously built around a drum line, with a lot of detuning on what seem to be synths. Kind of weird, but I like it.You can find more of my music on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music and other sites by searching for 'Jon Jermey' or 'Thirty-Four South'.

Jan 17,2023 05:41
198. Guitar Thing 2 -- 110 BPM

I believe there is an earlier 'Guitar Thing' somewhere in my albums, so you can think of this as a sequel. I've transferred my stuff to a new PC, and lost a few plugins in the process, so it's no longer possible to reconstruct exactly how this was made, but it's obviously got Classical Guitar on it and a choir or two.You can find more of my music on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music and other sites by searching for 'Jon Jermey', 'Thirty-Four South' or 'One-Five-One East'.

Jan 16,2023 03:29
199. All Care But No Responsibility -- 130 BPM -- E minor

A simple percussion-driven track for a small ensemble plus a choir. Lots of delay and reverb in this one.You can find more of my music on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music and other sites by searching for 'Jon Jermey', 'Thirty-Four South' or 'One-Five-One East'.

Jan 15,2023 04:18
200. Last Flight to Phrygia

Not a holiday track, but an exercise in Phrygian mode, with a touch of inspiration from 10CC's 'I'm Mandy, Fly Me'. A couple of generative drones and a plane recording from Bandcamp make up the layers.You can find more of my music on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music and other platforms by searching for 'Jon Jermey', 'Thirty-Four South' or 'One-Five-One East'.

Jan 14,2023 04:21

What Music Needs

All Episodes (200) From new to old From new to old From old to new

All Episodes (200)

From new to old

From new to old From old to new