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