Elearning World podcast

A song about living in a toxic relationship with someone that uses and manipulates you, in various ways, and it gets stronger the longer you put up with it and stay involved. Musically I think I was maybe influenced by later Depeche Mode on this one? As with all the tracks on Early Years it was rescued and revived from demo's created in the 1980's and 1990's that were never released.

A song about sitting in my flat looking out the window on a rainy day, and I think I must have been a bit sad? The chorus is actually a poem written by my friend's young daughter - Abigail Wojick - so if you ever see this Abby get in touch, lol. I was struck by the beautiful simplicity of her words. As with all the tracks on Early Years it was rescued and revived from demo's created in the 1980's and 1990's that were never released.

Written about a girlfriend in my 20's. The song is full of expectation and excitement, and reflects on how someone can change your emotional state when they enter your life, and how you look forward to the future. For the music geeks most of the Saxophone is from the original demo - which I played on an Ensoniq ASR-10 - Ensoniq made the Mirage - the first affordable sampling keyboard). I seem to remember the original piano was played by my friend Paul? I'm not sure it sounds particularly 80's, but I feel it's just a good strong song. As with all the tracks on Early Years it was rescued and revived from demo's created in the 1980's and 1990's that were never released.

A song written about a crazy jealous girlfriend I had who tried to destroy my photo album - remember those? (the photo album I mean, not the crazy girlfriend, lol). For the geeks out there you can clearly hear the original Roland TR707 drum machine and Sequential Circuits Prophet synth mixed in here ad there :-) As with all the tracks on Early Years it was rescued and revived from demo's created in the 1980's and 1990's that were never released.

Written for / about my girlfriend Sian. It's one of the most romantic and sexiest songs I've written lyrically ... makes me blush, lol. I don't think it sounds a s strongly 80's as some of the others tracks, but I am quite pleased with the overall soundscape and arrangement. As with all the tracks on Early Years it was rescued and revived from demo's created in the 1980's and 1990's that were never released.

This is from a demo in the late 1980's that was never released. I feel it's got a very strong 80's dance club vibe, and I think some Human League influence probably. It's only got about a dozen words, lol, which summarise the end of a relationship in a 100% succinct and non emotional way. As with all the tracks on Early Years it was rescued and revived from demo's created in the 1980's and 1990's that were never released.

This song was written about a friend of mine who was having trust issues with her boyfriend. Even so, it's a lively upbeat song, with an ultimately optimistic message. I've managed to keep the original late 80's feel I think? As with all the tracks on Early Years it was rescued and revived from demo's created in the 1980's and 1990's that were never released.

A simple song about the end of a relationship. The phrase 'Hey Hey' is basically the sound of resignation. It's also known as my "La-la-la" song because of the end section, lol. As with all the tracks on Early Years it was rescued and revived from demo's created in the 1980's and 1990's that were never released.

A song all about hoping that the next day will be better than the last. Sometimes we just drag ourselves through daily life, just 'turning the wheel', and hoping that something will make our life better one day. This is a song about that.

A song about being independent, and people saying you are "living the dream" but you really don't feel like that. It's got a sort of Indie Pop feel maybe? My youngest daughter Olivia made the cover art :-)

A song about being in a family, with all the stresses and mundane moments that creates, but not taking your partner for granted, which is very easy to do. It's about taking your eye off the situation, and missing the things that are most important, and recognising and celebrating those. Musically I think there is something slightly U2 about this (although I think it's just he sound palette and maybe arrangement in places).

A song about how two people can live together but incredibly still be so very far apart and see the same things so differently. It tries to capture that "He said, she said" breakdown process, which seems so similar whether we are 15, or 50.

A song written for, and about, a really special friend of mine. I like the way it goes through different movements, from quite manic, to very melodic, and the guitar is almost Pink Floyd like (not that I am comparing myself!!!). I also like the way the words don't follow a standard verse > chorus approach, but just 'appear where they do' is an almost random way.

A nice EDM (Electronic Dance Music) piece with a rock guitar - which is quite usual. With thanks to Emilie for the spoken words, which is a quote from "The Little Prince" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Little_Prince

A song about seeing someone from afar that looks so perfect, but the reality can never live up to that perception. I guess we all have those moments when we see a stranger walk past that catches our eye? Musically it's quite an unusual arrangement, with elements that are deliberately out of tune or dissonant.

A song about seeing someone who looks like perfection from afar, but you know that it isn't real. It's a perfect little pop song, and doesn't ry to be anything else. The chord progression is very simple, and something I can teach my young daughters :-) I like the way the string arrangement works, and there's something that reminds me of REM on the overall production of the song?

This is a song about how ordinary everyday life can mean you miss small things that are actually important, and how it's easy to take for granted the things and people around you, and it's not until these things are gone you realised how incredibly important they were, and are.

A relatively simple song all about wanting life to just be a little bit better day by day ... or at least one day! Haha. This is the 'unplugged' style acoustic version, so it's trimmed back, with no big drums, and guitars are 'held back' and not too hard sounding.

This song is written by Mandy Boots (mandy DOT boots22@gmail.com. Production by Stuart Mealor. Recorded in Darwin, Australia using Apple Logic Pro. Mandy Boots: Vocals, Guitar(s). Stuart Mealor: lead guitar, drums, bass, synths. Mixed and mastered by Stuart Mealor, using Lurssen Mastering Console. Mandy's SoundCloud page is here: https://on.soundcloud.com/VHHBiVPWVHbXKRSPA

This is a cover version of the song made famous by The Mama's and Papa's - it's a classic 1960's song, very simple, but a lovely melody :-) Jules has a nice voice, that reminds me of the 1940's british singers during the war.

This is a 'light' or fun song (written completely on guitar). It's about an interaction with a specific girl in Darwin (who shall remain nameless) and my realisation, as if it should be needed, that image and appearance are relatively unimportantly, and what really matters is personality, behaviour, kindness, and basic manners. Artwork: https://www.vecteezy.com/vector-art/11020199-abstract-warped-diagonal-striped-vector-background-vector-curved-twisted-slanting-waved-lines-texture

Just a demo for Tyler, or Taylor, lol.

This song is written about relationship breakdowns, presented with a somewhat ironic perspective. The music grew into something reminiscent of 1980's pop, with echoes of Depeche Mode, Duran Duran, and similar. Not an altogether bad thing I guess? Like a number of my songs these days it develops from one musical theme into a different one towards the end, and gets a bit manic, lol.

This song was written after a couple of mornings when I woke up and realised I had been dreaming about the one person in the world I never want to think about ever again. It felt like torture - even when I am asleep I can't get away from it. The true meaning of a nightmare. So a number of people have said to me "Ahhhh, dreaming of you, that must be a nice song all about love." Errrrr, nope, quite the opposite - and I quite like that 'surprise' in the song.

Well, this song is certainly a bit unusual. It's quite a powerful piece of music, and not a standard "song" as such. The lyrics revolve around what it's like to live with someone who has depression, even if you don't recognise it as such at the time. So the music is supposed to be equally dark. Music to slash your wrists by? Hopefully not! But definitely music to reflect upon.

This song is about watching your children growing up, and realising that one day they will be faster, smarter, and have way more energy, and accepting that you will not see their whole life, and they will experience and achieve things after you are gone - which is sad - but because we love them we can celebrate their life in advance - and let them know how much we would have enjoyed sharing those things, and how proud we would be of the things they do in their lives.

This song always makes me smile because the sentiment and meaning is so utterly sad and frustrating, but the actual tune (and video) is so bouncy and amusing - but I really like that contradiction, so it's almost like getting two things for the price of one you know?

This song is a little;e about the irony of when people see you, and what's you're doing, and say "You are living the dream." And what they don't see, below and underneath, is something completely different and quite the opposite. It's more directly about relationship troubles, and finally understanding how one person can simply use another.

Lyrically this is an incredibly simple song - which feels right given it's simple meaning. The song is to my two daughters, and my feelings around the facts I didn't have any great desire to have children, but now I have them they truly are the most important people in my life, and have fundamentally changed who I am. So I guess it's also a song which may resonate for many other parents too.

This song is about being on your own, and lonely, and finding it difficult to interact with others due to past experiences.

This version of Pluto is composed in Apple Logic Pro, and predominantly uses instruments from the AMAZING Spitfire Audio LABS - thanks SO much gals and gals over there - there is no way I could realise the music I'm making here without such incredible and freely available instruments like these. LABS instruments used on this Pluto 2022 version include: Foghorn, Trumpet Fields, Strings 2, Astral Forms, Pedal Pads, Drums, Percussion, Micah's Choir, Frozen Strings, and Organic Textures. The piece also uses some Strings from the Spitfire Audio BBC Symphony Orchestra Discovery plugin. Finally, there are some loops from Cymantics, and a couple of small articulations from software instruments such as Zebralette.

Although Holst didn't compose a piece for Earth for his Planets Suite, I decided after adding Pluto that I needed to add Earth also. I've tried to keep a similar orchestral feel for this to fit with the others pieces in Planets 2022.

Although Holst did not compose music for Pluto (he composed the Planet Suite during 1914 and 1917 and of course Pluto was not discovered until 1930), and it has been re-classified as a Dwarf Planet, for my generation Pluto WAS a planet(!) and so I've added this unique piece to Planets 2022.

My re-interpretation of Mars, by Gustav Holst.

My re-interpretation of Venus by Gustav Holst from his amazing Planets Suite.

My re-imagining of Saturn by Gustav Holst from his Planets Suite.

My re-imagined version of Gustav Holst's Saturn, from his Planets Suite.

My re-interpretation of Gustav Holst's Uranus, from The Planets Suite.

This is my re-imagining of Neptune by Gustav Holst.

My re-imagining of Mercury by Gustav Holst.

A song about how we struggle when relationships are hopeless.

Sometimes, musically, simplicity says it all. Communication is key, and without it there can be no path to happiness.

Aside from the most stunning voice of all time, Ella had a personality that was so beautiful and humble, she is an inspiration, and her singing is one of the things worth living for.

Just a fun track for driving along to, when you want to be on your own, and get into that hypnotic state.

A song that seems very simple, but has subtle complexities, both musically and lyrically.

I hate this saying. It's like a non comment. An excuse.

Sometimes you think you are the centre of the universe, and sometimes you realise it was someone else all along.

This is basically about those times when you are all alone with your thoughts, on a beach, and watching an amazing sunset.

This month on the podcast Stuart and Tabitha chat in-depth about new features in Moodle 3.3.

This month Stuart and Richard discuss Articulate Storyline, and how it can be used in Moodle.

This month we chat with Eduardo Lina, a Moodle enthusiast and language teacher in Israel.