Three years ago, I posted an announcement that new music was forthcoming. I guess it wasn’t entirely untrue. I have breathed some life into this little eccentric project of mine. Four tracks are finished, two more to go and I will have a little something to share. The collection should be posted this summer (2026).
Over these three years I have continued to play and reconfigure. My equipment has expanded a little and I have found new ways to experiment. I plan to release a simple video walking through what I used and how I recorded the tracks for this upcoming song collection as well to serve as a sort of personal log on my current process.
More to come by July, 2026.
Leave a CommentLife has settled. Time to begin recording again. Expect something different soon.
much love,
Ryan S
Leave a CommentThe Umbra Scryer project is still alive, albeit somewhat quiet as of late. I recently began taking lessons to help improve my piano playing technique. For years I have played synth-action keyboards and recently decided that to take my music to the next level I need to improve my technique.
There are plans to play at an open stage in the near future. Look for that sometime soon.
Leave a CommentHere is another track that will likely make the cut for the first Umbra Scryer EP. Now that I have time, I have been working more diligently on creative endeavors.
Not all of the new tracks will be this pace. There are solid plans for some hard-hitting tracks on the way.
Leave a CommentThis is the first release of the Umbra Scryer project. The current plan is for most (all?) releases to feature both a music and video component. I am unsure if every song released will feature a full video, but there will most certainly be a visual aspect for each one.
More on that as it unfolds.
Leave a CommentWanted to post two of my favorites from the recent release.
The first is fire mind. This track was constructed when I was reflecting on extreme problems with ruminations and the resulting anxiety that comes with them.
This next track is one I wrote in response to online culture.
The album is only six tracks in length. Stream it in full on the music page here, or stream/download it for free from my bandcamp page. I also have some select tracks up on SoundCloud.
Leave a CommentA new machine xi album is on the horizon. Right now I’m in the process of finishing up the mix (not my strong suit…). I am very pleased with this one, and see it as a major jump ahead in quality from manifest (the first album).
The new album is titled reflection and should be out on the bandcamp page within a week or so.
Once this is finished and out, I plan to work on the Umbra Scryer project (for which my blog site has been named). Umbra Scryer will be a Dark Ambient/Drone music project. It is going to feature some new gear and new ideas. I’m very excited to be pushing this out there.
Concerning Umbra Scryer — I’m undecided on whether I will be releasing this work as a full album, or tracks as I complete them. I’m very tempted to release as I complete tracks on Sound Cloud, then do a full album release on Bandcamp. We’ll see what happens.
Leave a CommentI have decided to start a new solo music project under the nom de plume of Umbra Scryer. The idea is going to be for me to capture free flow synth experiments. I will be using a sequencer and drum machine, so it will be rehearsed, just not multi-tracked. I am still working out how I can record this and still mix it… as my setup goes now everything is piped into a single mixer with one out going to a DI box. My recording capabilities can handle four inputs, but getting those from my rig to the computer will be a bit challenging. Hopefully more on this within the next few months.
Leave a CommentRecently saw GY!BE in Columbus (link to a small section – NOT recorded by me), and it was an amazing experience. Their music has always had a huge impact on me, but seeing them live gave me a new appreciation for their work. The video backdrop and seeing them all work together took an already intense musical experience to the next level. The frission at times elevated to an intensity that brought tears to my eyes. Not an open weeping, though… more like tears of emotional intensity. This got me thinking on why live performance is so important to fully experiencing the message and emotion artists are conveying.
When done right, there is a deep connection between the audience and performer(s). The sound pours out, and the audience rides on it. The visuals, the performers, the music and the audience all become intertwined in an intricate web of the experience. Especially with bands like GY!BE. Live performance can be transformative in ways that make experiencing the pre-recorded music a more enriched experience after the fact. Those new emotions and experiences from the live performance surface, akin to a familiar scent that brings back a strong memory.
Live performances are something that stick with a person. The accumulation of experiences build a palate that enriches our personal universe, and I want as many colors on my palate as possible.
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