homemde Baklva in the kitchen

Quiet goings on in the background.

Even though I’m prone to having periods of quietness online, there’s still something or other happening in the background. I’m an 80s child after all, half of my life has been spent without the presence of the internet. Usually doing something creative or other in my bedroom (Often involving Amiga).

Madeeha on Soundtracker in the 90s

So every now and then, I revert back to a totally offline state where I naturally avoid social media and want to just get on with stuff without any external noise. Maybe I’m an oddball but this works for me.

Though I’ve got a lot of messages I need to reply to and things to catch up on. If you’re someone who has messaged and not received a reply from me yet, I do apologize, I’m not ignoring you. My mind has LOTS going on simultaneously and things go around it in a few directions at the same time. I will however, catch up on it all and get back to you. Thanks for being patient with me!

So putting aside the usual plentiful things that life generally throws at us, aside, I’ll be sharing all what I’ve been up to throughout this month. Firstly the creation of the next music album has already begun. I’ve created two tracks already and with some new and exciting samples. Well, new to use at least, the synthesizers I’ve sampled from are vintage classics used a lot in the 80s. I have sampled from the classic Roland Juno60 and Juno106 synthesizers. Yes which means I’ve spent hours sampling also.

Polyend tracker, Roland juno boutique synth and yamaha reface cs synth on wooden floor

So I’m quite liking the sound of the first two tracks of the next album and so is Rich. I think I’m going to carry on, let it flow and not lose the thread. I have a goal of releasing it before the end of the year to brighten up the upcoming darker months a little. However, we’re still in summer (even though it was quite a cold and wet one mostly) so I’m going to cherish it for however long it’s here.

And with regards to the image above, yes I am one of those odd people who sit in strange places. Whether it’s on the hallway floor, or on the stairs, or a window ledge. I just find it gives a different feeling or atmosphere. I tend to also create in those odd places as the environment I’m in somehow engraves into the memory of whatever I’m creating. (Yes I know I’m weird, but that’s probably why you follow me ;-)) )

Though I’m wondering if it’s the reason why Neelix loves to be around me too. He must relate to my behaviour ;-))

Neelix on the coffee table

Of course, he takes it to a level where I can’t.

Neelix sitting on the vinyl record shelf

Speaking of creativity and Neelix, I’m also working on three oil paintings at the moment (the third one isn’t in the photo below).

oil paintings in progress

That may sound a lot but to me personally at least, before I can paint another layer, I have to let it harden which takes a few days. So it sorta makes sense to work on another while the first one is hardening. Speaking of art, I’ve been the local ‘Henna lady’ around here lately. After doing some on my own arm, Rich’s daughter wanted it on hers.

Maddi and Rich's daughter's arms with Henna on

Of course, henna has been my thing most of my life as I’m Arab and it’s a part of my culture. It’s nice to share that around, along with the cooking. I’m starting to be known for my baklava, falafel and other Middle Eastern dishes. Rich’s niece also wanted some done on her hand.

Maddi and Rich's Niece's hand with Henna on

Rich’s daughter and I have also been making healthy guilt free gummy bears and other gummies. Which we finished off half a jar of while watching 80s movies. I’m sure Mr Miyagi would approve.

Making healthy gummy bears
healthy gummy worm

Not to mention an unexpected game of Monopoly on the old board from my childhood, talk about a blast from the past. I can’t believe she beat me! Though I haven’t played for decades so I’m rusty. Looking forward to the next game ;-))

Rich's daughter and I playing monopoly

Going back onto music creation, I’m considering doing something on OctaMed for at least a couple of tracks on my next album. Even though I much prefer the interface of Soundtracker Pro 2, I know that Octamed is functionally superior and I wish to explore it more.

Perhaps even linking up the Amiga with the Polyend tracker, which I have to say, I’m enjoying using more and more. I might make a follow up video to my review one after I’ve used it and got to know it a bit more.

I’m quite excited about linking my Amiga to the Polyend Tracker and using it with Octamed. I still want to do a couple of tracks on Soundtracker pro 2 in good old 4 channel Amiga fashion.

In fact I want to make a video about trackers and my personal thoughts on them. Also a few people have said some thought provoking things in comments around and I wish to mention those and my thoughts about them also.

The last project video I did a couple of weeks ago was about me trying to link two Amiga computers together each with Soundtracker pro 2, to create 8 channels. Unfortunately I couldn’t get it working 100% as it should but there were a few suggestions.

If you missed that video and wish to watch it then it’s linked here:


Anyway, I will keep this post short(ish) and sweet. And leave you with Mr Bale, a bit of a private joke between a certain person and I ;-))

However he’s cheerful enough for everyone to appreciate.

hay bale with funny face

Adios!

9 responses to “Quiet goings on in the background.”

  1. Corey Ostman avatar
    Corey Ostman

    ¡Hola, Maddi! Thanks for the post, I always smile when I see the email alert. Our summer in New England has been wet and cold, too. We don’t mind and nature really enjoys this weather. Henna art is super popular with our nieces in the Philippines. The Monopoly board brings back so many memories. I’ve inherited my mom’s board from 1941 and my uncle’s board from 1936. They have wooden player tokens, houses and hotels. All hail, Mr. Bale!!

    1. Maddi avatar

      ¡Hola, Corey! When ‘New’ England was created didn’t they think to improve on the weather from the older version? :-p Really bad joke, sorry, i’ve got it out of my system now!
      1941 and 1936 Monopoly boards? wow, how long has Monopoly been going?!?
      this one is the 1970s London board. After this game I had, I think I need to get more houses.
      Thanks Corey, I hope you have a nice week.

  2. Jason Marrison avatar
    Jason Marrison

    Hiya Maddi ☺️

    Ah yes, the creative mind is always busy and very much like yourself l do plenty of stuff offline and then share if l feel l want to or if l think it might be of interest. I think people go the other way in the extreme and share absolutely everything down to the breakfast they have every morning lol 😂

    Which of course is fine, but it’s not my cup of tea as l am a private person at heart. I definitely link in to the whole 80’s kid, make your own entertainment and be happy doing your own thing vibe as well and that goes more for me being an only child and not having many friends at school etc.

    Super excited to hear new tracks and another album is on the way, l can’t wait!! Paradox is my daily driver and gets played at least 2-3 times a day and l wasn’t expect a new release this year, so that would be awesome!!

    Love the continued art projects as well and l think l noticed them in the last video in the background perhaps 🤔 and the henna tattooing Fiona was particularly interested in as much as l am about the Arabic food and baking ☺️👍🏼

    Anyways, l hope that you, Rich, that adorable Mr.Neelix and everyone there is well, (including Christian Bale at the end lol 😂)

    J ☺️

    1. Maddi avatar

      Hey Jason!

      Honestly it feels kinda refreshing when keeping yourself offline. After all it was the default state before the early-mid 2000s, now everyones default state seems to be online lol. Which if you think about it enough, kinda feels a bit unsettling.

      I know what you mean about sharing every little thing on social media, I’m quite a private person myself believe it or not, I know it doesn’t seem like it since i’ve chosen to be a content creator LOL! I think I share less about myself than someone who isn’t.

      Yes, i’m quite excited about the upcoming album also, I’m aiming for it to be done before the year is out, how reality pans out I’m not sure, but I have a goal at least, let’s see what flows 🙂

      Haha again if you and Fiona were local I’d offer to do some henna on her hand, then we could enjoy some home made Baklawa.

      lol! Christian Bale, he’s looking rather strawy these days ;-))
      Thanks J, I hope you and Fiona are doing well 🙂

  3. Paul Jackson avatar
    Paul Jackson

    Hi Maddi

    One batch of gummies, two tracks into the next album, three oil paintings on the go… I reckon you must have more hours in your days than the rest of us!

    It’s that boundless creativity (that’s certainly not weird), musical inspiration (modern and retro) and the incredible nostalgia hit (I do enjoy those Nostalgia Time videos) that are just some of the reasons I follow. 😁

    Now, apart from wondering if that is a gummy worm or a gummy snake, I’m slightly concerned I missed the memo about regular gummies not being guilt free. Oh dear…. 🤣

    1. Maddi avatar

      Hey Paul,

      I may not have more hours in my days (actually maybe, I don’t sleep as well as I should 🙁 ) but I think it might help that I’m a little scatterbrained, my heads going off in 3 different directions simultaneously sometimes and I’m not sure it’s always a good thing lol.

      i definitely need to film more Nostalgia Time videos, I have a list of games I want to play for it. If you don’t find me weird it means you might be also lol! But then who the freak wants to be “normal”. We only live once 🙂

      You’re not the only one who questioned if they’re gummy worms. The moment I received them, I thought the same even though they’re advertised as ‘worms’. By the sounds of it, it seems you’re a lover of gummies? 😀

  4. Paul Jackson avatar
    Paul Jackson

    Might I suggest it’s all a matter of perspective?
    Perhaps “scatterbrained, my heads going off in 3 different directions simultaneously” is more a case of “multi-tasking” and maybe “weird” is really just “one of a kind”.

    You raise a valid point though, we only live once so, you know what, I’m good with weird too! Heheh. 🤣

    I’ve not had gummies for a while. I may have just checked if I can add them to my online shop, which is fine, because I read somewhere once that ALL gummies are guilt free… at least that’s how I remember it. 😁

    1. Maddi avatar

      “Might I suggest it’s all a matter of perspective?” You’re so kind haha bless you 🙂

      ” you know what, I’m good with weird too! Heheh. 🤣”

      Now i’m hoping after this you don’t start walking around the place with gummy cola bottles up your nostrils 😀

      You have an online shop? or do you mean when you’re shopping online? Don’t tell me you sell gummies lol!

      1. Paul Jackson avatar
        Paul Jackson

        LOL!
        What somebody chooses to do with gummy cola bottles behind closed doors is perhaps best kept to themselves.

        To clarify, I did mean add to my online supermarket shopping order for home delivery. Having now DOUBLE checked, they also have sugar coated fizzy cola bottle gummies too.

        I have to be honest. When I signed up to this whole “weird” lifestyle option I didn’t realise the level of commitment required.
        I may be in over my head….
        Is it too late to change my mind? 🤣

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