Ice Formations

Time Rival

Ever since I got my piano, I've been interested in making these ambient looping sketches. I just sit in front of the piano with a stereo pair of mics and play it into a series of delays. There's something very peaceful about being off the grid and connected to the instrument. Each little click of a hammer, buzz of a string, or squeak of the seat gets incorporated into the music.

Ice Formations is a collection of 4 of these works. There's a wintry vibe going on here that seems perfect for the time of year, but there's also this internal warmth that perhaps is trying to tell you that everything's alright. Sometimes that's all you need to hear. If this year has been rough for you, like it has been for literally everyone that lives on this planet, I made this for you.

credits
released December 4, 2020

Instruments Used:
Antique Upright Piano
Roland Juno DS-88
Hyve Synth
Ellitone Multi Synth
Time Plate
Rival Plate

Software Used:
Reaper DAW

Effects by:
Goodhertz
Audio Damage
Unfiltered Audio
Stillwell Audio
Valhalla DSP


Written, Performed, Recorded, Produced & Mastered by Michael Southard
Artwork by Michael Southard

Ever since I got my piano, I've been interested in making these ambient looping sketches. I just sit in front of the piano with a stereo pair of mics and play it into a series of delays. There's something very peaceful about being off the grid and connected to the instrument. Each little click of a hammer, buzz of a string, or squeak of the seat gets incorporated into the music.
Ice Formations is a collection of 4 of these works. There's a wintry vibe going on here that seems perfect for the time of year, but there's also this internal warmth that perhaps is trying to tell you that everything's alright. Sometimes that's all you need to hear. If this year has been rough for you, like it has been for literally everyone that lives on this planet, I made this for you.
credits
released December 4, 2020
Instruments Used:
Antique Upright Piano
Roland Juno DS-88
Hyve Synth
Ellitone Multi Synth
Time Plate
Rival Plate
Software Used:
Reaper DAW
Effects by:
Goodhertz
Audio Damage
Unfiltered Audio
Stillwell Audio
Valhalla DSP
Written, Performed, Recorded, Produced &amp; Mastered by Michael Southard
Artwork by Michael Southard

Ice Formation I

Ice Formation II

Ice Formation III

Ice Formation IV

Fell

At the very beginning of the covid lockdown I started making these one take looping improvisations on kalimba, piano, and early versions of my contact mic instruments. I made dozens of tracks like this along with videos of me performing them. I knew I wanted to compile the best moments from this series but I didn't really know how to approach it. So I tabled them and went on my merry way. After setting them aside for a few months I've revisited them and found a group of 9 tracks that encapsulate my feelings during that time. With a little bit of audio magic and a couple good head scratching sessions, I'm excited to bring you "Fell". 20 minutes of a man figuring out what the new world might sound like.

credits
released September 4, 2020

Improvised, recorded & produced by Michael Southard
Mastered by Michael Southard
Artwork by Michael Southard

At the very beginning of the covid lockdown I started making these one take looping improvisations on kalimba, piano, and early versions of my contact mic instruments. I made dozens of tracks like this along with videos of me performing them. I knew I wanted to compile the best moments from this series but I didn't really know how to approach it. So I tabled them and went on my merry way. After setting them aside for a few months I've revisited them and found a group of 9 tracks that encapsulate my feelings during that time. With a little bit of audio magic and a couple good head scratching sessions, I'm excited to bring you "Fell". 20 minutes of a man figuring out what the new world might sound like.
credits
released September 4, 2020
Improvised, recorded &amp; produced by Michael Southard
Mastered by Michael Southard
Artwork by Michael Southard

Breakfast With Birdsong

Ellipses

Another Mournful Call and Response

Another Mournful Call and Response by Time Rival

Locus

Currents

Theme from Withdrawn

Surface Contact

Substructure

King Hexed

Box of Time

Box of Time is a unique series of works made between May 15th and May 20th, 2020. Each track has the same odd instrumentation and workflow.

I had acquired an antique upright piano right before COVID had started to shut down the world, and was not able to get a tuner to come to my house at the time. I had been working on some projects around the house and I had fashioned two DIY electroacoustic instruments out of some scrap wood and contact microphones that I have since named "Time Plate" & "Rival Plate" I had picked up a hand made synthesizer from Etsy called the Ellitone Multi Synth to help pass the time during lock-down. It doesn't have quantized pitch so I was able to match it to the piano. And finally my trusty Roland Juno DS-88 which i was able to adjust the tuning to get close enough to the piano to work.

I knew there was some sort of magical interplay between this odd set of instruments, and it would be gone forever once I would finally get a tuner out to work on my piano. So I recorded these performances. It's not my most refined work. Some areas may even be considered "rough" or "sloppy", but I feel the liveliness, the electricity in these pieces when I listen back. And luckily enough, I had just started using Instagram and was filming all of my performances. So if you want to see exactly how this album was made, there is video documentation at the link below.

credits
released July 3, 2020

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SEE HOW I MADE THIS MUSIC


www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHhFvPe36DPQRfSwpJn3AumbfqPXk_Gxr

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Written & Produced by Michael Southard
Mastered by Michael Southard
Artwork by Michael Southard

Box of Time is a unique series of works made between May 15th and May 20th, 2020. Each track has the same odd instrumentation and workflow.
I had acquired an antique upright piano right before COVID had started to shut down the world, and was not able to get a tuner to come to my house at the time. I had been working on some projects around the house and I had fashioned two DIY electroacoustic instruments out of some scrap wood and contact microphones that I have since named "Time Plate" &amp; "Rival Plate" I had picked up a hand made synthesizer from Etsy called the Ellitone Multi Synth to help pass the time during lock-down. It doesn't have quantized pitch so I was able to match it to the piano. And finally my trusty Roland Juno DS-88 which i was able to adjust the tuning to get close enough to the piano to work.
I knew there was some sort of magical interplay between this odd set of instruments, and it would be gone forever once I would finally get a tuner out to work on my piano. So I recorded these performances. It's not my most refined work. Some areas may even be considered "rough" or "sloppy", but I feel the liveliness, the electricity in these pieces when I listen back. And luckily enough, I had just started using Instagram and was filming all of my performances. So if you want to see exactly how this album was made, there is video documentation at the link below.
credits
released July 3, 2020
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
SEE HOW I MADE THIS MUSIC
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHhFvPe36DPQRfSwpJn3AumbfqPXk_Gxr">www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHhFvPe36DPQRfSwpJn3AumbfqPXk_Gxr</a>
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Written &amp; Produced by Michael Southard
Mastered by Michael Southard
Artwork by Michael Southard

Punchy Sunrise

Foreshadowing

 Box of Time

Monuments at Night

Endless Reflections

Indoors

Home Diaires 018: Time Rival - Indoors

Home Diaries is an invitation to artists and musicians to create an album or EP to document their personal experience during the lockdown or social distancing conditions that are upon us, due to the coronavirus outbreak. The series reflects a range of sounds, styles and ideas, as each artist portrays their own reflections uniquely. Each release is digital only for now, as we hope to raise what we can to help keep our label ticking over at this time. The releases feature a recurring polaroid image of a small lonely house, with a coloured filter chosen by the artist for each respective release. We interview each artist and this is included as a bonus PDF with the download. You can also check out the Home Diaries series on Spotify if you prefer, which will be available to stream in due course.

For our next Home Diaries, we’re joined by Michael Southard who records as Time Rival and also runs the Triplicate Records label. Based in Richmond, Illinois in the United States, Michael and his wife have already been quite used to home working for their respective jobs. One of the challenges has been fitting this full-time since the pandemic, around the needs of their two young children.

Michael has still managed to work in some free-time into his new-found routine by getting up early and this space has been mostly reserved for music. Household environments and every day objects, toys and sounds were used to develop modern classical compositions and contemporary soundscapes. Some pieces feel intimate, particularly when piano notes and strings combine, whereas others feel cavernous and dreamy. 'Indoors' was created during a time when a new routine was being established by this family and if you allow yourself the time to absorb this mini album in full, you'll be struck by a sheer level of detail, order and balance. 

credits
released June 5, 2020

Written, produced and mastered by Michael Southard
Artwork by Harry Towell

Home Diaires 018: Time Rival - Indoors
Home Diaries is an invitation to artists and musicians to create an album or EP to document their personal experience during the lockdown or social distancing conditions that are upon us, due to the coronavirus outbreak. The series reflects a range of sounds, styles and ideas, as each artist portrays their own reflections uniquely. Each release is digital only for now, as we hope to raise what we can to help keep our label ticking over at this time. The releases feature a recurring polaroid image of a small lonely house, with a coloured filter chosen by the artist for each respective release. We interview each artist and this is included as a bonus PDF with the download. You can also check out the Home Diaries series on Spotify if you prefer, which will be available to stream in due course.
For our next Home Diaries, we’re joined by Michael Southard who records as Time Rival and also runs the Triplicate Records label. Based in Richmond, Illinois in the United States, Michael and his wife have already been quite used to home working for their respective jobs. One of the challenges has been fitting this full-time since the pandemic, around the needs of their two young children.
Michael has still managed to work in some free-time into his new-found routine by getting up early and this space has been mostly reserved for music. Household environments and every day objects, toys and sounds were used to develop modern classical compositions and contemporary soundscapes. Some pieces feel intimate, particularly when piano notes and strings combine, whereas others feel cavernous and dreamy. 'Indoors' was created during a time when a new routine was being established by this family and if you allow yourself the time to absorb this mini album in full, you'll be struck by a sheer level of detail, order and balance. 
credits
released June 5, 2020
Written, produced and mastered by Michael Southard
Artwork by Harry Towell

#livelooping