2024 has been a VERY interesting year for me. I think 2024, much like 2019, is the beginning of another turnaround.

How will 2025 be compared to 2024?

2025 will actually have a lot of overhaul compared to 2024, which I will explain later in this post.

Topic One: Top JK Tracks of 2024

Going with the tradition since 2023, I will be doing a Top 10 of my personal works of the year.

10. RISK VIP (from Year 24 EP)

We start the top 10 with one of the most unique songs I have ever done. This is probably also one of the most subbass-heavy songs I have ever done. This song, much like the original counterpart, takes the concept of "less is more" and amplifies it. I really hope I can use this concept again later on.

9. Dreamscape Overload

While this is the sequel to my personal best 2023 song, it still deserves a spot here if it didn't meet the same expectations. It is still one of the craziest songs I have ever done, and I hope to use build upon this later on next year.

8. Journey to Space VIP (from Year 23 EP)

It's very interesting to see this song of all songs get in the top 10. However, this VIP is very special to me. I had the VIP to this song planned as far back as 2021 (or right around when Year 20 EP was released). It sounds more like a touch-up of the original, but I think I managed to make it much more than that.

7. I am the Machine (from Kysertron Part 4: The Singularity)

I originally wanted to scrap this project when I first made it in very late 2022. However, since I couldn't easily fill in the final spot for KP4, this took the place. On top of that, I had to make not one but TWO design overhauls for this song.

6. Utopia (from Mind of Kyser)

Ironically, while this is my personal 5th best song of the year, I didn't even plan to have this song released (much like "I am the Machine"). I originally did this song as a concept, but it fit in so well into the Mind of Kyser album that I had to release it.

5. Technophobia (from Kysertron Part 4: The Singularity)

I originally wanted this to be the titular song of KP4, but I realized it would better fit in the context of "Technophobia", so it was moved here. With that fact side, this song is one of the most unique tearout songs I have ever done to date. Ever since 2022 when I started to make tearout, this song is probably one of the best I have ever made.

4. Wonders VIP (from Mind of Kyser)

It's very rare when a VIP ranks so high on these lists for me. However, this VIP in particular is very special to me. I actually started this way back in 2022 when I first began Mind of Kyser. I wanted to make this as distinct from the original as possible, but also make it as bright as possible as the VIP needed to be.

3. Machinations of a Machine (from Kysertron Part 4: The Singularity)

Funny enough, I actually had multiple ideas for this song, which is why there are multiple genres blended in with it. With that fact aside, this song is AMAZING. It is probably one of the best solo dubstep songs I have ever made to date, and I hope to top it next year!

2. Memories of the Past (from Mind of Kyser)

It's crazy how long this project took, much like the album. Memories of the Past is probably the best cinematic piece I have ever made to date. So... why is it only number 2 if it is the best cinematic piece I have ever done? I will explain that in a bit. On the flip side, this would have placed on the top of every year I did the top 10 ranks no matter when I finished it. That's how crazy good the song is.

1. Mirror Shatter (Collab with Luwuc)

I don't think it was even close this year. I could have chosen any other song I made, and this will still top it. It's kinda crazy how a collab song finally takes the top spot, but THIS collab song was and still will be very special to me. Luwuc and I worked very hard with this song, and the results could not have been any better. It is the best of both worlds, and this song is the best from both of us.

Topic Two: 2025 Projects

And here is the big talk about my projects I have planned for the following year.

Part One: Continuing Projects

1. Kysertron, Part 5 (possible conclusion?)

I will make a post later on about my decision here, but I originally had plans to end Kysertron after part 5 when I first started the alias, but that as yet to be decided as of now. THAT SAID... Much like Parts 2 and 4, this planned to be a HUGE turnaround compared to previous EPs I have released.

2. Year 24 EP

I would be lying if I saying I was sticking with the same formula of 4 VIP tracks. I actually added a bit more than that here. Yes... as I am making this post, the EP is already finished (probably the earliest an EP gets finished before its planned release date).

3. World of Damnation (Threequel to Imminent Outbreak)

This EP in particular has been in planning since I made Imminent Outbreak in 2020. I think it's finally time to confirm that I will try to make this in 2025!

Part Two: New Projects

1. Good Vibes EP

So... I originally started this idea as a joke. However, I kinda already have a good chunk of this EP finished, and 2025 hasn't even arrived yet. This is meant to be a huge breakaway from my normal EPs, muck like HIT IT, where I go for a brighter mood/tone throughout the EP.

2. A Mission To Create The Silliest, Goofiest, and Weirdest Song Ever

Okay... so this is a collab idea that I have that may take up a good chunk of 2025 while I work on the other EPs throughout the year. This will be a collab where we will just do whatever, so if you are interested, don't hesitate to DM me (we may have a discord server just for this). However, this has yet to start, but I may start it once 2025 begins.

3. Hive Mind EP

This was originally planned in 2023, but I think I have a good idea for it next year. If you thought KP4 and HELL were the darkest-sounding EPs I have done, this will be on another level of dark... both in design AND in theme. Can't reveal too much yet, also this is still in concept/planning phase at the moment.

4. CURSED EP

This is an EP I actually had planned since HELL. No idea if this will ever get past planning phase, so I will have much to plan for this if I want to go with it.

Topic Three: One Final 2024 Track

So... I originally wanted to do this AFTER my final 2024 release. However, the timing of that and the actual end of 2024 convoluted the process, so I decided to do it now instead. The final release is...

...FLARE! This song is just 12 minutes of fun beats and heavy-hitting flow. Funny enough, I would have this placed in the top 5 of 2024 if it was before this post! Stay tuned for the release December 28!

Topic Four: End of Kysertron?

No... I don't plan to end Kysertron just yet. While I originally wanted to end the alias after KP5, I decided to extend it by another year due to more lore I wanted to further add after KP4 and KP5. I know a lot of people have been wondering when the last Kysertron EP would have been, but I am glad to say that it isn't anytime soon.

So why am I extending the Kysertron alias?

When I originally started Kysertron, I originally wanted to have a trilogy for the alias, but that quickly got extended to 5 EPs. When I started to make KP4, I had to scrap my original idea because it would have been a rather awkward end to an otherwise great alias that I have been building upon.

Is Kysertron Part 6 the new end of Kysertron?

That is also not fully official yet. I have it as the new planned end, but even that isn't planned yet. I will try to figure out what to do... and with Kysertron Part 6 around my 10-year anniversary, I think that seems like a good time to end it (even though it's not official yet).

Topic Five: Final Thoughts of 2025

2024... it was interesting. 2 EPs, still a lot for the average person who may just do an EP a year. However, I had finally finished Mind of Kyser, which is my biggest project TO DATE! With that said, I think 2024 was a more active year for music to me despite the low EP count because of the Mind of Kyser album. I had to get it done sooner or later, and I had a lot of people ask me if I cancelled the project (I wouldn't cancel a project I was almost done with). I think I have done more in 2024 than I have in comparison to the past 3 years. I couldn't be any more grateful for 2024, and I hope I can do more next year.

Anyways, that is my 2024 end-of-year post. Let 2025 bring many good things to you all, and I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! :D

Probably my biggest EP I have done since Kysertron Part 1: The Origin! Now, I will work on my 2025 projects. :)

MIND OF KYSER IS FINALLY OUT NOW!!!!

MY BIGGEST PROJECT TO DATE! This is the full mix of my album "Mind of Kyser"! I have been working on this for 3 years, and I am so happy to have it released!

I might not have a release bigger than this for a long while.

My biggest project TO DATE! This is 3 years in the making, finally REVEALED!

Yep... IT IS FINALLY HAPPENING! (those people who have been reading my posts from a couple years ago may know what this is)

TODAY IS MY 23RD BIRTHDAY!

Keeping up with the annual tradition, I have made an EP made up of 4 VIPs of past tracks of mine. Here's to another year!

https://soundcloud.com/realgdjk/sets/year-23?si=2bcb80f8ba0d48b58f089f4d711cbe65&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing https://open.spotify.com/album/7okP0Fo6guslUTWkj6YYhn?si=dVjTNT-GQwes6vBQfYX4Xg

2023... quite the year, hasn't it? It has been one much like last year, but 2023 has been crazier to a much greater extent.

How did my 2024 compare to 2023?

My 2023 for music seems quiet by number of tracks I published, but I have been doing a lot (I mean A LOT) of experimenting, sound designing, and overhauling my sound designs throughout the year, and it has been both tiresome and presumptively positive (also been working with something else, reading below to find out!).

Topic One: Top JK Tracks of 2023

Unlike 2021 and 2022, I have decided to go with a top 10 instead of the 15.

10. Kysertron: The Evolution (from Kysertron Part 3)

It is kinda sad to have the titular track of my annual titular EP be placed so low, since Kysertron: The Origin was considered my best track of 2021. However, the design choices I made were probably the most innovative I have made in a long while.

9. HIT IT (from HIT IT EP)

To be honest, I didn't think I was going to finish this. This was actually made in the event of a writer's block I had, and then it turned into an EP from there. It is a very fun song.

8. Sanguis Ebulliens (from HELL EP)

This is probably one of my darkest-sounding tracks I have ever made, and it is fitting for the name I chose for it. The deepdub-esque atmosphere combined with the raw energy of the bass results in such a dark tone that I probably need to make more of in the future.

7. Black Holes VIP (from Year 22 EP)

It is weird how I managed to turn an old song into such a marvelous piece, especially with the slightly colorful twist I did in the second drop. I haven't done melodic dubstep like this in a while, but it was nice to return to the genre after my absence from this style.

6. Showdown (from Kysertron Part 3)

Showdown is one of the most unique songs I have ever made in terms of sound design (I spent quite a while on design alone). This narrowly misses the top 5 due to its lackluster introductory composition, but the placement is made up for its composition across both drops.

5. Takeover (from Kysertron Part 3)

It is hard to decide between Showdown and Takeover for best song, but Takeover gets the upper-hand for its introductory composition. The lead-in from the introduction into the drop is probably one of the most impactful transitions I have ever done.

4. Malfunction (from Data Corruption EP)

Fun fact: This song was not meant to be finished. This song was just made as an experiment from just the second drop, but I decided to turn it into a full-length 3-drop song. Moreover, I think this has to be one of my hardest-hitting songs I have ever made to date.

3. Sadomasochism (from HELL EP)

This song features over 6 minutes of immense power. This song is also the first time I have ever combined metal and dubstep into the same song, and I have very happy for the result! Also, this song was made in the key of C, which I have never done in a long while (I actually have done it before becoming Kysertron).

2. Theia

Theia has to be my best dubstep track I have ever made to date. From the layers of the basses to the orchestral layers, the composition of the song personifies the full extent of what I can do to my best abilities (if given enough time). The sound design might also set a milestone for best design I have ever done up to this song.

1. Hyperactive State of the Dreamscape

It was really hard to decide between the top 2, but I think the big psytrance tune I made would have to be my best of the year. It features probably the best orchestral application I have ever done in an EDM song, and it also was one of the songs that won Best of LMMS this year. I think this could be set as a new benchmark for my future songs for similar genres.

Topic Two: 2024 Projects

And here is the big talk about my projects I have planned for the following year.

Part One: Continuing Projects

1. Mind of Kyser

As of making this post, I have almost 85% of the compositional work done! This is what has been holding me back on a lot of the random songs outside of the EPs, and I wanted to do away with those for the time being until I finally finish this album.

2. Kysertron, Part 4

Fun fact: I already have a couple of ideas for the titular EP name. Also, this one may be the most experimental up to this point, and it will likely be the penultimate depending on what happens (also, that "penultimate" reason will be revealed in the future).

3. World of Damnation

This is the big EP that I have been waiting to work on to continue the story from Imminent Outbreak and Recovery and Control.

4. Year 23 EP

Same as last year... 4 VIP tracks.

Part Two: New Projects

So... Awkward to say that I don't really have anything "new" to bring for 2024 (but if I do, it will be completely by chance). However, that isn't a bad thing. I wanted to dedicate 2024 to finishing up past projects that I have been neglecting for the past few years (yes... I have non-scrapped projects from before I became Kysertron). On top of that, most of the year will be dedicated to both Kysertron Part 4 and the big Mind of Kyser album that I've been wanting to finish since 2022.

Topic Three: Final Thoughts of 2023

I never really talked about why my quantity of music since 2021 has taken a nosedive, so this should explain it. Outside of doing EPs, I have also been working on my big album, but I have also had a lot of personal stuff that I've been sorting out. For me, it's all about balancing out all of what I can try to do so I don't stress myself out too much. 2021 and 2023 were two years that have been quite troublesome outside of music for me (work-related stress can do that... sums up a bit of my 2023), but I like where I am right now.

Anyways, that is my 2023 end-of-year post. Let 2024 bring many good things to you all, and I hope you all have a Happy New Year! :D

https://open.spotify.com/album/7bUUA5lCmXqnUvS7vBHOoB?si=1HLOxwIdSuK_tVGCLohF-g

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1e-e_jIo4IULQ7qoB-tDJgl_4YszjnhG

Year 22, HIT IT, Kysertron Part 3, HELL, and Data Corruption... first time I have done 5 EPs in one year... quite impressive.

Okay, maybe one more EP before the year ends.

Okay... maybe one more EP before the year ends.