Ankyl

I started creating music as Anykl back in 2019 and loved learning the production process along with teaching my kids how to create music. All of my songs are named by my kids and they even helped me create some of them. I created all of the album artwork using Procreate on iPad and my main recording software is Garageband. I use the name Ankyl as I'm a huge fan of Ankylosaurus. Ankyl also means "bent and twisted loop" and I use a lot of loops in my music.

Songs and their background

• Can't say what I say - This was the first song I published. I had a blast making it and it started me down the path of creating more music. The funny thing about this song is how it was named. I was driving my oldest son to pre-school and I played the song for him. I asked him what he thought the name should be. Without hesitation he said, "Can't say what I say". It was such an awesome title that I didn't think twice about it.
• Flexing Ivy and Raindbow Whale - I created these songs at the same time. I started to play with different loops from other programs, but still came back to Garageband for the final production. Like with most of my songs, these were named by my kids and I love the vivid picture it gives to go along with the music.
• 80s Animals EP
• Fennec Takes Charge - The naming of this was also done by my kids, but it sparked an idea for a music video that I haven't had a chance to work on. Picture a side scrolling music video in 8 bit format with a Fennec Fox sitting. As the music starts the fox picks up speed and starts running. As the song progresses the fox transitions through multiple landscapes including the desert, forest, mountains etc. As the song comes to an end, the fox is back in the desert, slows down and then enters the small hole in the ground where they live. One day I'll get around to creating this, but in the interim, use this mental picture while listening to the song.
• Splash of the Salmon - Splash of the Salmon, also named by my kids, has a similar vision for a music video as Fennec Takes Charge. For this song immagine salmon migrating upstream and jumping in and out of the water. At one point in the song it gets more muffled and at that point the salmon is deep under water. The video continues until the Salmon reach their destination. Unsure if this would be 8bit, but I could still see it being animated.
• Stunning In the 80s - This song is currently the only song that I named without my kids' involvemnet. I use more of an 80s beat in this song and it was the first song that I connected an external piano to get the melody in the middle. It was fun incorporating an instrument outside of the loops I use and merging everything together. I always think if I was an adult in the 80s I would have worn a miami vice style suit and of course that would look stunning :)
• The Rise of the Dragons - My oldest really got into dragons so that is was sparked the name for this, but this also has a vivid music video focus that goes along with the song. Imagine a horizon coming into focus with a setting sun. Suddenly a dot starts to come into focus. It starts getting bigger and bigger until you can make out the shape of a dragon. Then you start to see more dots. As the song continues more of the dragons come into shape as the head in your direction. They continue to fly and eventually fly higher so they are out of the view of the horizon while the sun sets.
• Sentimental Earthquake - Inspiration for this song struck one weekend when I was playing games with my kids. After creating the song, my oldest named it and my middle child designed the album cover. It was a blast to collaborate with them on this!