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Participating in Nostr Cypher #NC9 was a unique speedy music challenge. You get a beat/arrangement early on Friday, you need to send your vocals by Sunday. It is music in high gear.

I spend most of my Sunday composing a few rap verses. Voice tired from composing out loud, I quickly record them and send them in, deleting and rewriting in the process.

Can a creative journey spark through a challenge? I've been a dormant rapper, could I retap into that creative flow? Could I compose verses to a beat? In the past, I've free-styled to compose, arrangements later. I don't know what rhymes, I hear how the words sound, that's my rhyming dictionary. What would I write about? Although it was clear that #bitcoin and #nostr would make it into the verses, I had no idea what my mind would draw from. Music is a bit of a mystery, even to the composer.

Could I do this in time? Uploading to nostr:npub1stemstrls4f5plqeqkeq43gtjhtycuqd9w25v5r5z5ygaq2n2sjsd6mul5 was faster than I thought, I’ve yet to dive into nostr:npub1yfg0d955c2jrj2080ew7pa4xrtj7x7s7umt28wh0zurwmxgpyj9shwv6vg , but I'm still sending the files in past the midnight deadline. By early Monday we could already hear a final mix of the song with extra effects on everyone's vocals.

Could #NostrCypher have a weekly topic to write about? Open music means anyone could compose about anything happening in their lives and roaming in their minds. Perhaps having a weekly goal could help when blending different perspectives.

#NC9 was a good test, in a supportive community environment, but it was tough. Although I may sporadically drop in a couple of verses to future nostr cyphers, I'd like my personal music journey to be different, to take its own time.

I don't think we can yet imagine how nostr is reshaping music and opening doors to new possibilities. Eager to see more of the creativity happening in #nostrmusic and future nostr cyphers. Grateful to all.

✌️

Special thanks to:

nostr:npub1ehg5cqekjlj2jqqhc7z9y2sjq4am42dntahcyn225twv9xdu2m2sl5qe5t

nostr:npub1dy7zsvk7jwd547xvmpptzlc9muhd64g7txvf60zwlxjyj4aj78as6hljz5

nostr:npub14r2jt7q3xwmaksypjh6gk5trt4x072ul857shyfld2mxm6aqw6fsrklg7y

nostr:npub1fnn2h0tgm2mwnl0kar5ez25wztum2w0q0rrrf326n0ljn999znwsqf4xnx

nostr:npub1qfc7rwddjl3lzhkhgge8ch82xjfm6e3gqcgk8zm6pahz3tvvl7gq88xnrh

nostr:npub1ezw0xm0w52rd4yfdg9zlw9qvwdy46alzelklkefptrd203m37tuq4djmeg

nostr:npub1e2wk36e9vg8uw40phrrkkhc4tax8a9ken3fjcyy63vmdyz9aee2sk9el27

nostr:npub1stemstrls4f5plqeqkeq43gtjhtycuqd9w25v5r5z5ygaq2n2sjsd6mul5

nostr:npub1yfg0d955c2jrj2080ew7pa4xrtj7x7s7umt28wh0zurwmxgpyj9shwv6vg nostr:note12w53nyfm4ata2gc24yu9xalv6tughhaxwmyr4wqeje564d6uqcaq2hwkq3

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Discussion

Deleted Account 2y ago

I’m so very glad you took the step to jump into NC9 ! I believe your lyrical side is pretty impeccable . Maybe a little boost of confidence after a few more would help ease your vocal chords ;)

elidy 2y ago

🙏 Grateful

Account deleted 2y ago

I totally understand wanting to make “on topic” songs, but to me that wouldn’t be a cypher. Sometimes we get close to it, if the beat suggests topics with the sample it uses (see #NC3 for example) or when people pay attention to what has already been posted before ( some drop their verses on Friday, #NC5 has elements of it).

I like to be surprised by the beat on Friday and the just let it flow without overthinking it. A cypher is just a group of people gathered in circle in the street to spit bars, there is no theme. It’s practice, where the magic often happens. But the magic happens when people feed off each other and the energy starts to resonate, even without a theme.

Cypher rap tends to not have themes, it’s lyrical wordplays, punchlines, bravado, but of course the temptation to spit facts and dwell on issues is always there. Some of these cyphers or elements of them will be turned into tracks, reshaped, polished and all, and some won’t.

What makes a cypher a cypher is the gathering of people to make music on the spot. We have slowed down the process for #nostrcypher. I try to keep the spirit of a cypher by not overthinking my wringing, keeping it succinct and get my stem out as quickly as possible, it’s a different creative experience which can help the creative process overall and other more polished work.

I’m really glad you participated on this one. 🫂 In the end, the cypher happens daily on nostr:npub1stemstrls4f5plqeqkeq43gtjhtycuqd9w25v5r5z5ygaq2n2sjsd6mul5 the instrumental are there, giving birth to multiple songs, being remixed, getting 3rd lives, each at their own speed with their own objectives. I can’t wait for them to start unleashing updates 😬

elidy 2y ago

Thank you, gek. Beautiful way of looking at #nostrcyphers.

Stemstr 2y ago

💜