Jingo Harleyman: ‘Life in a Korean Movie’, Track No. 7

18th May 2023

The seventh track on the EP ‘Life in a Korean Movie’, Ice-Cold Angels, has been uploaded to YouTube:

All tracks are free to download on the Bandcamp site: 

https://jingoharleyman.bandcamp.com/album/life-in-a-korean-movie 

Track 6 (‘We are the Cyborgs but that’s OK’) was inspired by Asian Sci-fi; Track 7 is another genre piece, this time the gangster film.

‘Ice-Cold Angels’ is the soundtrack to an imaginary crime-action movie, incorporating sounds of explosions, gunfire, speeding cars, police sirens, and gangsters shouting.

Lee Byung-hun … a Korean Alain Delon ? Still from ‘A Bittersweet Life’.

Musically, I chose the key of F and used the Korean Nando – Kyemyonjo scale, limiting myself to the five notes of that pentatonic scale: F G G# A# C.

Again, I was experimenting with the synth effects and sounds on the iPhone Garageband app, and some new guitar tones that were recently added. The ‘Digital Rainfall’ hopefully evokes the constant rain that seems to permeate crime and cyberpunk movies.

Kim Ok-bin in ‘The Villainess’ – fans of ‘John Wick’ will appreciate this film.

The music is non-profit, and I hope to introduce more audiences to Korean cinema and culture. All films are credited in the video. As such, I hope I may claim ‘Fair Use’, the video being for non-commercial artistic and educational purposes.

The next section is just for my own records and will be of no interest to anyone except maybe low-fi recording geeks.

The track is in the Key of F

Tempo 229 4/4 Time

Garageband sequence

Track 1 Classic Drum Machine

Track 2 Audio – Voice – Extreme Tuning

Dialogue from ‘The Villainess’ & ‘Shiri’

Track 3 Liverpool Bass

Track 4 Alchemy Synth – Mallets – Woodblock Space

Track 5 Alchemy Synth – Sound Effects – Digital Rainfall

Tracks 6 – 9 Guitar tones

Track 6 Melted Transistors Guitar amp Distorted

Track 7 Cold Fusion Guitar amp Processed

Track 8: Big Sustain Guitar amp Distorted

Track 9: Moving Lead Distorted

Track 10 Drum Machine – Acoustic – Retro Rock

Track 11 Fuzz Overload Guitar amp Distorted

Track 12 Alchemy Synth – Bass – 70s Classic Synth Bass

Track 13 Alchemy Synth – Sound Effects – Massive Slam

Coming soon … ‘Sassy Girls on the Beach’

Jingo Harleyman: ‘Life in a Korean Movie’, Track No. 6

17th May 2023

The sixth track on the EP ‘Life in a Korean Movie’, We are the Cyborgs, but that’s OK, has been uploaded to YouTube:

All tracks are free to download on the Bandcamp site:  

https://jingoharleyman.bandcamp.com/album/life-in-a-korean-movie

The most experimental piece on the EP, ‘Cyborg’ uses various synth settings and effects to recreate a robotic, electronic soundscape, mixed with some traditional-sounding patriotic marching songs.

The dichotomy of traditional and futuristic sounds is continued by the use of a Chinese pipa set against a heavy bass drum machine.

The music is non-profit, and I hope to introduce more audiences to Korean cinema and culture. All films are credited in the video. As such, I hope I may claim ‘Fair Use’, the video being for non-commercial artistic and educational purposes.

The next section is just for my own records and will be of no interest to anyone except maybe low-fi recording geeks.

The track is in the Key of C

Tempo 110 4/4 Time

Garageband sequence

Track 1 Tweed Rhythm Guitar amp

Track 2 Echolocation Synth

(Alchemy Synth – Rhythmic – Echolocation Synth)

Track 3 Chinese Kit – Percussion

Track 4 Drum Machine – Trap Door

(More – Electronic – Trap Door)

Track 5 Picked Bass

Track 6 Alchemy Synth – Voices – Female Choir Morph

Track 7 Drum Machine – Crate Digger

(Drum Machine – Electronic – Crate Digger)

Track 8: Alchemy Synth – Voices – Girl’s Choir 1

Track 9: Alchemy Synth – Voices – Moving Voice

Track 10 Alchemy Synth – Sound Effects – Transform Flare

Track 11 Pipa (played on synth Keyboard – Other – Pipa)

Track 12 Melted Transistor Guitar amp – Distorted

Track 13 Spy Tremolo Guitar amp – Processed

Tracks 14 & 15 Film Clips ‘SORI’ & ‘Air Doll’

Track 16 Garageband FX

Audio: Voice, Extreme Tuning

Coming soon … ‘Ice-Cold Angels’

Jingo Harleyman: ‘Life in a Korean Movie’, Track No. 5

10th May 2023

The fifth track on the EP ‘Life in a Korean Movie’, Christmas every August, has been uploaded to YouTube:

All tracks are free to download on the Bandcamp site:  

https://jingoharleyman.bandcamp.com/album/life-in-a-korean-movie

A two-chord song that builds to add synths, guzheng and a glockenspiel, evoking the melancholy of this love story that never was.

The inspiration for the track, ‘Christmas in August’ (1998), was one of the first films of New Korean Cinema to combine romance with heart-breaking drama. In later years, two young lovers one with a terminal illness, became something of a cliché, but this film remains one of the best; simple, delicate and very moving

The music is non-profit, and I hope to introduce more audiences to Korean cinema and culture. All films are credited in the video. As such, I hope I may claim ‘Fair Use’, the video being for non-commercial artistic and educational purposes.

The next section is just for my own records and will be of no interest to anyone except maybe low-fi recording geeks.

The track is in the Key of G

Tempo at drum section 133 6/8 Time

Garageband sequence

Track 1 Drum machine: Vintage Kit

Track 2 Clean Stack Guitar amp

Riff: Gm7 (root on the 10th fret, A string) / Cm7 (root on the 3rd fret, A string)

Track 3 Grand Piano

G F# G C / G F# G

Track 4 Alchemy synth – Voices – Girl’s Choir

Chorus selection (Chorus 11 o’clock / Reverb 11)

Track 5 Guzheng

G Am C Em chords

Tracks 6 Film Clips. Audio: Voice, Extreme Tuning

Track 7 Alchemy Synth – Glockenspiel

D G A – E D C

Tracks 8 & 9 Guitar Tones

Track 8: Palace of Mirrors PROCESSED

Track 9: Auditorium CLEAN

Riff: E 15 14 15 B 15 E 14 G 12

E string {C B A} G F# G D F# G {E} [20th – 12th frets)

B string D [15th fret]

G string G [12th fret]

Coming soon … ‘We are the Cyborgs, but that’s OK’

Jingo Harleyman: ‘Life in a Korean Movie’, Track No. 4

9th May 2023

The fourth track on the EP ‘Life in a Korean Movie’, Living in a Korean film‘, has been uploaded to YouTube:

All tracks are free to download on the Bandcamp site:  https://jingoharleyman.bandcamp.com/album/life-in-a-korean-movie

The track is built around a Jazzy chord progression, with audio clips from several of my favourite Korean films.

I tried out some new guitar tones on the Garageband app for some lead notes, and added some synth effects for extra colour and atmosphere.

Many audio clips start mid sentence, as if we are walking past people and catching snippets of conversation.

Astute readers may recognise the YouTube thumbnail as being from ‘Moonlit Winter’ which was mostly filmed in Japan. However the actress, Kim So-hye, is Korean.

The music is non-profit, and I hope to introduce more audiences to Korean cinema and culture. All films are credited in the video. As such, I hope I may claim ‘Fair Use’, the video being for non-commercial artistic and educational purposes.

The next section is just for my own records and will be of no interest to anyone except maybe low-fi recording geeks.

The track is in the Key of G

Tempo at drum section 133

Garageband sequence

Track 1 Drum machine: Vintage Kit

Track 2 Sparkling Clean Guitar amp

Riff: Gmaj 7 / Cm7 / Bm7 and some lead fills on the B & G strings

Track 3 Film Clips. Audio: Voice, Extreme Tuning

Track 4 Synth Pads – Chill Pad.

G D – A D improvisation based on ‘Für Elise’

Track 5 Bass – Liverpool Bass

Follow Chords G – G / C – F# / F# – E

Tracks 6 Film Clips. Audio: Voice, Extreme Tuning

Man at station from ‘Il Mare’ slowed down to extreme

Track 7 Alchemy Synth – Soundscapes – Endless Optimism

Tracks 8 – 10 Guitar Tones.

Track 8: Rich Harmonies CLEAN

Track 9: Thin Rhythm CLEAN

Track 10: Endless Ambient PROCESSED plus Phase Tripper guitar pedal.

Coming soon … ‘Christmas every August’

Jingo Harleyman. ‘Life in a Korean Movie’, Track No. 3

28th April 2023

The third track on the new EP ‘Life in a Korean Movie’, Lover’s Phobia, has been uploaded to YouTube:

All tracks are free to download on the Bandcamp site: https://jingoharleyman.bandcamp.com/album/life-in-a-korean-movie

Another one of my favourite Korean films, another film about two young people in love fated only to share a short time together.

The track is based solely on one chord, Em11, played in two different positions. The first position is on the 5th fret, the second on the 10th.

Both intro guitar riffs are based on the notes of the 5th fret position. The bass plays variations on the notes of the chord.

The mood changes as the tempo slows and guitar arpeggios replace the riffs. The chord moves to the 10th fret position.

The third section has thrashing chords and a faster tempo, along with drums and a more atonal bass, hinting at the unhappiness after the ‘happy’ ending.

The film stars Kang Hye-jung & Cho Seung-woo

The music is non-profit, and I hope to introduce more audiences to Korean cinema and culture. All films are credited in the video. As such, I hope I may claim ‘Fair Use’, the video being for non-commercial artistic and educational purposes.

The next section is just for my own records and will be of no interest to anyone except maybe low-fi recording geeks.

The track is in the Key of Em

Tempo at drum section 187

Garageband sequence

Track 1 Chorus Shimmer (processed Guitar amp)

1st Riff on top 3 strings:

E – A note B – G & E notes G – D note

Track 2 Cool Jazz Combo Guitar amp

2nd Riff: notes of the Em11 chord (5th fret position) on E & B strings.

Tracks 3 & 4 Sparkling Clean Guitar amp

Arpeggios of Em11 chord, 10th fret position.

D, A & E strings, then B, G & D strings.

Track 3 plays the chords, Track 4 uses fingerpicking

Track 5 Alchemy Synth: Mallets, Atlantean Bells

Setting 1: Warm Ring (Chorus at 7 o’clock, Reverb 1) Setting 2: Wooden Mallets

Tracks 6 Drum machine: Live Drums, SoCal

Track 7 Precision Bass

E – G – C – F – E (with variations)

Track 8 Film Clips. Audio: voice, Extreme Tuning

Coming soon … ‘Living in a Korean film’

Jingo Harleyman. ‘Life in a Korean Movie’, Track No. 2

25th April 2023

The second track on the new EP ‘Life in a Korean Movie’, Samaria Girl, has been uploaded to YouTube:

All tracks are free to download on the Bandcamp site: https://jingoharleyman.bandcamp.com/album/life-in-a-korean-movie

The track is based around a simple guitar riff, augmented by two chords (Am & Gmaj7). An upright bass (synth) plays a variation of the main riff. The song develops into a conflict between grand piano and fuzz guitar, representing the two conflicting characters in the film.

I added some dreamy synth mallet sounds for atmosphere and colour, as well as including some dialogue between the two girls.

The film stars Kwak Ji-min and Han Yeo-reum

The music is non-profit, and I hope to introduce more audiences to Korean cinema and culture. All films are credited in the video. As such, I hope I may claim ‘Fair Use’, the video being for non-commercial artistic and educational purposes.

The next section is just for my own records and will be of no interest to anyone except maybe low-fi recording geeks.

The track is in the Key of Am

Tempo is 74

Garageband sequence

Track 1 Classic Stack Guitar amp

(Riff D E G E D C A)

Track 2 Clean Combo Guitar amp

Am (5th fret) – G (Ex B3 G4 D4 Ax E3)

Track 3 Upright bass (played on synth)

D E G E G A

Track 4 Grand Piano

Am – G

Track 5 Industrial Overdrive Guitar amp

Am Pentatonic Scale, 2nd position

(D 7 – 10, G 7 – 9, B 8 – 10)

Tracks 6 & 7 film clips

(Beginning of film, and bathhouse scene)

Track 8 Alchemy Synth. Mallet – ‘Dreamy Bells’ Setting: Dark Chimes. Delay 11 o’clock, Reverb 2/3

Coming soon … ‘Lover’s Phobia’

Jingo Harleyman. ‘Life in a Korean Movie’, Track No. 1

19th April 2023

The opening track on the new EP ‘Life in a Korean Movie’ has just been uploaded to YouTube:

The first track is a sound montage of western and Asian scales mixed with ambient sounds of the Seoul subway, some live K-pop bands addressing their fans, and audio clips from some recent Korean films.

I wanted a feeling of alienation among familiar aspects of city life; subways are similar yet the different languages and customs can be disconcerting.

Sounds appear, grab our attention then vanish, or are replaced by new audio experiences.

The music is non-profit, and I hope to introduce more audiences to Korean cinema and culture. All films are credited in the video. As such, I hope I may claim ‘Fair Use’, the video being for non-commercial artistic and educational purposes.

The next section is just for my own records and will be of no interest to anyone except maybe low-fi recording geeks.

The track is in the Key of E

Tempo is 110

I used two Korean scales:

Gye-mjun-jo pentatonic (E G A B D)

Kyemonjo (E G A B Db)

Garageband sequence

Track 1 Guzheng

Track 2 Pipa

Track 3 Ambient sounds

Track 4 House Drum Machine

Track 5 Substantial Kick (bass synth)

Gye-mjun-jo scale. Riff: E G A B AB AB G E

Track 6 Ambient sounds and film clips

Track 7 Sparkling Clean Guitar Amp

(Kyemonjo Scale)

Track 8 Guzheng

Track 9 Flute

(Kyemonjo Scale)

Track 10 Sunshine Drive Crunchy Guitar Amp

Use a Flange effect.

Chords: Em7 (G0 D1 A1 E0) – Am7 (G5 D6 A6 E5)

Coming soon … ‘Samaria Girl’

Jingo Harleyman on Bandcamp … and it’s all FREE !

2nd December 2022

Yesterday, before work, I finally opened a Bandcamp account for my solo project Jingo Harleyman.

I am really not tech-minded, so completing anything online is a minor victory for me. I still need to add a photo and a bio but at least I have uploaded six tracks, and hope to add more today.

The address is: https://jingoharleyman.bandcamp.com/

The music, which I recorded on various phones and iPad apps, is available to download free of charge.

The six tracks are taken from the twenty-four track project ‘Hari Karachi & the Durango 4’, the soundtrack to an underground cult film.

You may watch clips from the film on YouTube:

Part 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fsmo9VDTZXw&ab_channel=Chadav

Part 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNtSgvvBLLQ&t=284s&ab_channel=Chadav

Part 3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RODBAMlmg8o&t=217s&ab_channel=Chadav

Part 4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jC3p1ChzsUk&t=405s&ab_channel=Chadav

Meanwhile, I need to learn more about Bandcamp and make the dashboard more appealing. Any help, tips or advice will be gratefully appreciated.

Furthermore my band Butterfly Decal also need a Bandcamp page, as we have a number of tracks already completed.

I’m working with my old friend Niall Keohane in this band, and Niall’s technical expertise elevates the low-fi music; he makes it sound professional and epic !

Niall’s also a multi-instrumentalist, and regularly plays gigs and makes recordings.

In case you haven’t heard anything from Butterfly Decal (there are several videos on YouTube), here’s one from Niall, about the love affair between Jazz legend Miles Davis and French singer Juliette Greco:

Thank you all very much for your time

All the best from Sai Gon

Jingo Harleyman – ‘Hari Karachi & the Durango 4’ OST (Part 4)

2nd October 2022

Hari Karachi returns to Singapore

Part 4 of the OST (original soundtrack)

‘Hari Karachi & the Durango 4’

The music was composed and performed by Jingo Harleyman, and is royalty-free; anyone may download the music or use it for non-profit purposes.

Furthermore, all the music is free to use for no-budget or low-budget projects. Please credit the composer:

Music by Jingo Harleyman ⓒ 2022

Hari Karachi is a cybertective, notable for wearing crocodile boots.

In Part 4, the hero confronts the dark web Cicada 126, utilising all his cyberskills to bring down the evil organisation.

The Mai Tai Girls help Karachi get back to Asia, but from a different home base. But are the Durango 4 still on his trail … ?

Now, without further ado, the video:

Thank you to everyone who has watched the video. Your time and support is really appreciated.