djpretzel

WHOOP WHOOP!!! The Album has an official Name now : Shonen Remix Jump! Volume 1
Figuring out how to get this title on the consent form so artists can get that form done !! 
Edit: Found it lol. Sending off the email now  

This music makes me wanna dance and be all happy. i love it, added to my wake up music list for sure! 

hi, i wanted to say that i've been listening to music on this website anonymously for over 10 years, and found this old account i made with zero posts because i felt compelled to say that this is a fantastic remix that just feels good.

Interesting read, although I'm a little less disheartened than you are I believe. I think this post has a lot in common with the "do you still make ReMixes" thread of a while back, since it touches upon why you are an artist, and what you expect to get out of it. If you truly want a personal connection with your audience, then I understand the online world can be a little disheartening. I find that the best connections with the audience come from live shows. But, other personal connections I get is with peers, and that is MUCH easier online. Working together with others, getting feedback from judges at OCR, discussing exactly the things we are discussing now - those are valuable things only made possible through the possibilities of an online community and social media.
Yes, social media (and/or internet 2.0/3.0) can bring out the worst in people and there is indeed so much content that it makes it hard to stand out. But I have YouTube videos, music, art and more that I frequently enjoy and keep coming back to and I am certainly not alone. Yes, it makes it hard for us to be noticed when there are so many others out there, but without it we wouldn't be noticed at all. I wouldn't be able to be an artist and to do the things I do without these technological developments. Furthermore, I think that we now live in a period where apps and social media rise just to get that personal connection with an artist as long as you are also an artist "offline". Especially here in the Netherlands (where you're also based I see) there are more and more initiatives to be able to meet personally with artists, see niche performances or art and to connect on a deeper level. So while I really recognize and understand the dark side of it all (and we've all had bad experiences), I also think it gives us possibilities that we didn't have before. It's up to us to determine why we do what we do and what we want to get out of it, and then decide on the ideal platform to pursue that. Because just randomly dropping something online (facebook/youtube/wherever) will indeed lead to just a consumerist connection. At least that's what I think of the issues you described
 
P.S. I also have high regards for the "commercial" artists that are perhaps not always the best in their musical skills, but as entrepreneurs and business(wo)men, they have a lot of skills to be able to get where they are. If building a company or a brand is your passion, and you can combine that successfully with an art form, it takes a lot of determination and skills to be able to achieve success and I really respect that.

Very interesting concept this time around!

It's time for BadAss to return!
David L. Puga and I return to direct BadAss: Paragons and Renegades (title may change). But this isn't your "regular" BadAss; this time the heroes get the spotlight! From the grittiest anti-heroes to the most determined heroes, it's time for the protagonists to show us what they've got! The album itself will have genre restrictions like previous BadAss albums, but with a twist: there's one 'Paragons' disc (mainly directed by me) and one 'Renegades' disc (mainly directed by David), each with a different genre. So let's see who wins while still being a BadAss doing it!
The Paragon disc is about adventure, determination and courage. Think of the Chrono Trigger theme, "Flameheart"by Two Steps From Hell (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQMpRWuT6hk), and the 'X-Training' theme from X-Men First Class (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUCA6w0Zz-k) but it is certainly not limited by orchestral. Rock themes like the 80s/90s cartoons and shows (Biker Mice from Mars, Power Rangers or Airwolf) are also good examples and electronic music is certainly appreciated as well! Base line: getting you pumped up and ready for adventure! Make sure to send me an example of the vibe you're going for to check if it fits the album!
The Renegade disc is more "regular" BadAss style, especially BadAss II. In other words, not the big epic or symphonic rock from BadAss 3 (which is perhaps better suited for the Paragon disc), but raw and gritty is the name of the game and rock and dark electronic music will be the go-to style here. We want to show the world that protagonists can be at least as BadAss as the bosses, so let their inner darkness out on this side of the album! For references (and awesome music), check out BadAss 2. Be sure to check in with David if you want to make a mix for this disc!
More details will follow, but we're aiming for about 20 tracks (balanced between the discs) and we want to complete this in about a year (BadAss 3 took 14 months to be sent to eval, so let's see if we can do it in 12 this time around!). And suffice to say, only (anti-)hero themes are eligible this time around! Are you going to be part of the next BadAss album? Let's see if you've got what it takes!
 
Directors:
David L. Puga (The Joker) Pavos Audio Engineer:
Stevo Bortz (Level99) Tracklist (18):
 
Paragon (9):
"The Hidden Ones (Assassin's Creed 2 & Origins - Ezio & Bayek)" by Pavos "Time Warrior (Chrono Trigger - Crono)" by Sam Dillard "Chariot of the Moon (Final Fantasy 4 - Cecil)" by Rebecca E Tripp "Revenge on the Terror From The Deep (Chrono Trigger - Magus)" by Audio Mocha & Pandora's Bread "Human After All (Sundered - Eshe)" by David L. Puga, XPRTNovice "Part of Me (Celeste - Madeline)" by HeyMagurany "Whip of Justice (Castlevania 4 - Simon Belmont)" by HoboKa, sykozealot "Apex Predator (Metroid Series - Samus)" by Chernabogue "Spirit of the Sword (Zelda Skyward Sword - Fi)" by McVaffe
  Renegade (9):
"Devils Lament (DooM Series - Doom Slayer)" by Lashmush "Fire Cleanses All (Gargoyle's Quest - Firebrand)" by Mak Eightman "Blood is Everywhere (Blood - Caleb)" by Clem "Eternal Shadow (DMC5 - Nero)" by Steele "Bassbag (Duke Nukem 3D - Duke Nukem)" by bLiNd "Righteous Ragemaster Rocketship Rampage (ToeJam and Earl - Toejam and Earl)" by Garpocalypse, Willrock "The Butcher of Bavikin (Witcher 3 - Geralt)" by Gunderslam "City of Lost Things (Earthworm Jim - Earthworm Jim)" by Justin Lassen "And Hell Followed Him (Darksiders 2 - Death)" by David L. Puga, Mak Eightman  

I just want to say, I'm seriously impressed that you managed to include most of my favourite musical genres into one single song, and one which invokes such fond memories of a game that (I'm sorry to say this) I don't have a lot of memory from in general. (These things happen when you grow up with a Sega Genesis, and don't play Link's Awakening until on the Virtual Console... but anyway.)
And also, I for one am glad this took a turn from the sombre tone it apparently was going to have initially, and instead is so light-hearted and fun.
OK. Time to download. And thank you.

Haha, another track from workshop made it here  I fondly remember listening to this one a lot of times back then, and, of course, remember liking it a lot! Very reminiscent of some Shnabubula's stuff from NES Jams, and that's certainly a good thing. Not the most common blend of components here - bits of jazz, chiptune and whatnot, but, hey, it works. Works very well, for sure  Very good job, man!

Pitch it then. Make it happen. Literally one of the first things I did after I had made the initial project thread and put out a recruitment call, I went down the list from A to Z of all my favorite remixers and painstakingly sent off DMs to each and every one of them (limit 5 per day for these forums) hoping to recruit them to the project. 80% never responded back or even read the DMs. 10% will politely say no for whatever reason. However, the remaining 10% will surprise you and be on board to creating tracks for the album. You just never know until you ask!

I use ocremix from about 10 years, but i have never posted a message.
This is the first time because i couldn't resisted after listened this amazing remix.
We spend years playing Sonowboard Kids with my friends. For me is one of the best multiplayer games for N64.
I remember more beautiful songs in the grass, night and sand tracks.
Excellent work man!! Thanks a lot for the contribution.

I have a solid connection to Final Fantasy 4, and the original is one of many favourites from the soundtrack. I've got to say, I got a ridiculous amount of joy hearing it interpreted in this way! Well done!

Chipping in, what DFW is saying is true. It's a lot of work managing an album, but I've personally found it very rewarding and satisfactory (hence doing my 3rd album gig, as the Terranigma co-director this time). There's something about working with artists, see and help their vision come to life bit by bit and unleashing the combined tracks unto the world that has a certain something to it. It can feel like cat herding at times, but for me it has been worth it. Having a manageable album vision and scope and clear deadlines (I prefer albums projects that can be finished within 1 year) definitely helps. Either way, it is typically a process that takes months at least (sometimes years, with large gaps of inactivity if you're unlucky), depending on the vision, scope, directing and that does involve a commitment of time and energy from the director(s). I've seen projects stall because the director(s) started enthusiastically but couldn't keep the time and energy committed to it to see things through to the end.
Maybe directing your own album is not something you want to do, but if it is something you're considering, I hope it helps to give you a sense of the things you might run into rather than going in blind.

There is also nothing stopping you from becoming director and gathering together awesome talent and managing an entire album on your own. (granted, I had help in the way of @Modus, who was invaluable) But anyone can make an album become reality. Arcadia Legends is proof of that. However, it is a lot of work, keeping up to date on both remixers,, artists and more and making sure everything is flowing smoothly and on time. It takes a lot of organization and patience and definitely a lot of micro and macro managing. It will not be easy, but if you are passionate about the project, others will see that and hopefully will want to join and make it a reality too with you.

When i describe this to folks who have no idea about vgm remixes, I usually lead with "Bon Jovi-ish"
Universally, I've been advised this is a Good Thing(tm)

A clever reinvention of a classic!

Huh.
Punch me in the face if that doesn't sound a lot like the Batman Beyond soundtrack too.

GOOD SHIT!

What did you think? Post your opinion of this ReMix.

When I was listening to this album for the first time, I wasn't really looking at the tracklist, but when this track started playing, I immidiately recognized it as a djp's work To my mind, there's just a whole lot of similarities to some of his previous works for sure. The strings reminded of his excellent "Red Waltz" and "What the Ocean Taught the Forest", the funkier bits seem to come staight from "Love Hurts" and "Fortuna Favors the Funk", and the rock-ish parts certainly make me think of "Dark Storm". This is some solid atmospheric stuff, and while it's a relatively short piece, it definitely goes places, being a really cool sonic adventure  Mad props for this sweet track!

I actually like this better than the source. Military Facility Dungeon is one of those universally-popular tracks from the original OST, along with Ixa'Taka, but it's also one of the more quagmire-ish dungeons, so you hear this on loop for.. um, a while. This digests so smoothly, and it's really emotive and.. well, beautiful.
The viola front and center is courageous and pays off. It owns the stage and dances with the lead synth. I just love the expressiveness, and its tinge of melancholy.
And that's why I recommend The Milk-Fudge Donut.

As someone who listened to the "Love Hurts" Sonic 1 remix two hundred times over the last 15 years, this almost sounds like a sequel to that song. Or a companion piece, at least. I'd agree that it's better than the source, for sure. And I actually quite like that I need to turn it up a little!

@His Infinite Machine This issue has been resolved and the mirror should now be functional; many many thanks to Robert, the mirror's owner, for his assistance.

I am very excited to welcome the one and only @djpretzel onto the project! He's very kindly agreed to pick up the Freedom source and I am extremely excited to see what he does with the track. Welcome aboard, boss!

@His Infinite Machine This issue has been resolved and the mirror should now be functional; many many thanks to Robert, the mirror's owner, for his assistance.

So this was a bit of an interesting track for me. I wasn't really sure how this song would be realized since the original melody was pretty rough to work with and interpret. So imagine my shock and surprise when @TSori came back to me with a trumpet heavy version of Drachma's theme which was a far cry from the more formal and somewhat steadfast mournful tune that one could describe Drachma as being. However, it was very sparse, light in the polish department and definitely in no stage to present as a final track. @TSori himself said he wished he had more skills to make it into the vision he wanted. I told him not to write himself off just yet, because I actually liked the direction he took the song. Knowing that @Deedubs had helped @Supercoolmike out on his track earlier on the album (Which @Supercoolmike should totally submit for eval and approval to OCR!), I took a chance and asked him again to see if he'd assist in helping @TSori out. @Deedubs was gracious yet again and found the challenge invigorating since it caused him to pare down his style rather than build it up, a unique remixing endeavor! What came out of this collaboration was a charming mix that can't help but bring a smile to my face. And the best compliment of all? Whenever it comes on the car stereo, my boys refuse to have us turn off the engine or get out of the car until the song finishes playing! You can't get better feedback than that!