2021 has been a crazy year for some, and a quiet year for others. For me, I’d consider it as both. 2021 was the craziest year for all of the music going around, but it was the quietest in that it is the year I have released the least amount of music. Despite that, I have released more EPs this year than I did last year by a singular EP.
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Topic One: Top JK Tracks in 2021
I’m doing my end-of-year top music a bit differently this year. Instead of doing a Top 10 for both electronic and cinematic/orchestral music, I’ll be doing a Top 15 for all of my music for 2021.
We start the top 15 with my second cyberpunk (as it is apparently called, as I was told on my Roll it Back song last year) song I’ve been told this is basically a VIP of Roll it Back, but it isn’t. It is actually just Roll it Back with a completely different melody and progression, while also in the style of Roll it Back. The general flow of the song is just what basic cyberpunk is, but in my own style. I’ve been told that the original is preferred for the charm and composition, while this version is more preferred for the mixing and flow.
14. Andromeda Galaxy (from The Universe, Volume 2)
This is basically a VIP of my old song Andromeda. Andromeda Galaxy is the perfect representation on if I made Andromeda in 2021. Frankly, the only reason I’m placing this song here is the second drop. While it isn’t my best drop that I have made, the certain character it has is quite unique. It’s basically if you combine hybrid trap with melodic dubstep. It has the beefy sub that you’d hear in trap music, while also having the atmosphere of a full-fledged melodic dubstep tune.
13. INCVSE - BONK ~ Kysertron Remix
You know the top 15 is getting jumbled when a remix makes the list. The main reason this made the top 15 is the sound design. I might agree that if you showed this to someone and didn’t tell them I made it, the only thing that would give it way would be the sound design of the introduction. The third drop is mainly what makes the remix stand out (while also taking the design from the second drop).
12. Inversion
So… the first song released in 2021 makes it into the top 15. The only thing that makes this song stand out is the fact that this is my first orchestral trance song. Trance is a genre I tend to make quite swiftly, albeit seldom. The reason I tend to stay away from making this genre is the fact that I may make too much of it, as I am a melodic dubstep producer now (as I’m trying to make myself out to be).
11. Messier 81 (from The Universe, Volume 2)
If you put on basic Kysertron melodic dubstep and ranked it up over 30 times, this song would almost perfectly represent that. The drops in this song are just full-on crazy, while the melody parts are laidback yet groovy. The drumstep switch-up also provides the much faster energy leading to the end of the track. There isn’t much else about this track other than it is a normal Kysertron track times 30.
10. Aura of a Ghost (AIM 2021)
Even though this song did not win Art-Inspired Music 2021, it deserves a spot in the top 15. This song could have been a missed opportunity if I had stopped mid-production. I said that because I had actually lost motivation in the middle of producing the second drop of this song. I am so glad that I managed to finish it in the end, because it will stand out as one of my most unique projects to date. Also big thanks to @VortexSupernova who inspired me to make this song, because it wouldn’t exist without them.
9. A Nightmare in Disguise VIP (from Year 20 EP)
Who knew I would make a VIP of my 300th song A Nightmare in Disguise? In my opinion, out of all of three songs in Year 20 EP, this song is first in best atmosphere. Also, I have had people point out the length of this song… 8 minutes and 30 seconds. That is quite long for something that isn’t a medley. At the time, the second drop was one of the best drops I have ever done.
Of all the songs to be in the top 15, this has to be the one with the most unique sound design. It isn’t bass-heavy, nor is it anything spectacular, but it is just groovy. Big thanks to @Vista-Sound13 for the major inspiration for this song. It was so fun to make, and it deserves to be placed in the top 15.
7. Emotionless Adventure (“Alexithymia” VIP) (from Year 20 EP)
Looking back to this, I have no words on just how unique this was compared to the rest of my music up to this point. The story behind this song was actually a very sorrowful one. The original’s story is based on a person who is unable to process or express emotions, and the VIP’s story is the journey in getting the ability to these emotions. Honestly, I have had people tell me “how could you explain the struggle of having alexithymia if you don’t have it?” I just tried to portray the hardships as best as I could.
6. Funky (from Kysertron, Part 1: The Origin)
Honestly, out of all the house songs that I have made, Funky has to be the single-most unique house song I have ever made. It is my first future house song (even though the first drop is just normal GDJK/Kysertron house). The song name speaks for itself for this song. It’s just Kysertron house in all its glory. House has to be the genre I love making the most, and for good reason as well.
5. In Profundis Inferorum (An Orchestral Medley)
This song will forever be one of the biggest projects I have ever done involving a singular track of any kind. This is by far my biggest orchestral project ever, and my biggest project since Keeping the Impacts as far as composition goes. It proves over 14 minutes of nonstop exploration of the depths of the Underworld, including the idea of the 9 circles of Hell. I was asked if I would do something like this in the future, and I responded to something along the lines of “my next orchestral medleys likely won’t be near as long, but they could live up to the expectations of this one”.
It seems to be that the people who like this song more than the other songs in the Judgment EP are the ones who generally prefer this type of experimentation over the others. The EP as a whole consisted of the experimentation of genres I’ve never tried before hand (with the except of Tribulation, being an experimentation of the darker area of midtempo instead of midtempo cyberpunk/synthwave). Even though I’ve had riddim producers prefer Judgment over Fate, I’ve had most people tell me the experimentation of Fate is better than the rest.
3. 1984 (with M4D-BOX and Unknvwn Face)
I originally did not even want to put this in my top 15, but I had to much fun making the collab with these two people. It stands out as something I don’t make, but these two do very well… synthpop. There’s a lot of good moments, and it has a lot of groovy ones as well. I look forward to doing a collab with these two again in the future.
2. potatohouse
Yeah… How did a meme song end up here, much less place so high? Well… This started out as a random 15-minute house drop challenge that quickly became what it is today. The simplicity behind the song also brings forth the basic appeal… even if there is none. On top of that, why is potatohouse ranked above Funky? Even though Funky is more unique, the general character of this song is what makes it so good. Despite the drops being very basic, the drops are some of the most unique drops that I have ever made.
1. Kysertron: The Origin (from Kysertron, Part 1: The Origin)
It was really close for the top 3, but I had to choose this one. It was my introductory song in my debut EP under the alias of “Kysertron”. It introduced new sound design, while also combining it with my 2020 sound design. The energy being maintained throughout provides the feeling of a dramatic transformation, hence the new alias. I’ve also received reactions stating that it provides the best representation of my sound design to its fullest, and this song as the full honor of having such a title. It may not have been my most popular on Newgrounds, but it deserves the top spot for my end-of-year Top 15 (as I may do from now on).
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Topic Two: 2022 Projects
Recovery and Control EP (Sequel to Imminent Outbreak EP)
This project has sadly been postponed to 2022, but there was a reason for it. I actually have a couple surprises for this EP, but I'm not going to spoil anything until it is officially announced. :O
In the Mind of Kyser
This is planned to be a 20-track album that will be made over the year of 2022. It will be my biggest project EVER, far surpassing Lost in Space in all areas. As of now, I have already started on this project. What is this project even about, anyways? In the big picture, it is just where I just try to make what I love to make, with a LOT of experimentation. There will be some new things here and there, and I will promise this to be my best project of all time as well.
The Universe, Volume 3
As of right now, this is only a concept at the moment. I did stars with Volume 1, and I did galaxies for Volume 2... so what would be bigger than a galaxy that I could use for Volume 3? Actually, I already decided that I would not do the galaxy clusters, but I will still do the usually method of things, but it will be for something else.
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Topic Three: New Alias of "Kysertron"
I did say last year that "RealGDJK" would be my new alias, but it later turned into an interim alias. While RealGDJK was what I was known as for almost everything outside of music, I wanted to have a name that would help me stand out (and something that doesn't look like a bunch of random letters). I will still have "RealGDJK" as my game alias, but "Kysertron" is here to stay as my official alias for music!
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Topic Four: Final Thoughts of 2021
2021 was my least active year as far of the amount of music I've released. However, I've kept my promise of sacrificing the high quantity of tracks with the much better production I have in 2021, and I will keep that promise in 2022.
What does this mean for me in 2022? Well... if all goes to plan, then 2022 will be in between 2020 and 2021 as far as how much music I make.
Anyways, that is my 2021 end-of-year post. Let 2022 bring many good things to all of you, and I hope you have a Happy New Year! :D