I told myself in when it was time to renew the galactic dust domain for 2021 that I needed to use it more so that I could justify the cost. So far its working out how I hoped. I don't like to post too often but definitely more than once or twice a year. I've posted 5 new tracks to Bandcamp this year for OverDue Save Points. Made to Shatter, For a Reason, Treasure Map, Groove Beams and Chompin Pellets.

Made to Shatter: when COVID started I played video games for the first few weeks and quickly got back into music. I was playing a gameboy classic that I never beat as a kid. I needed to learn one of the songs on guitar. So I started playing guitar very seriously again. After some amount of time I started trying to write on guitar again. Not a whole ton really struck me until this. I did start a song last year on guitar for my daughter. More to come on that later though. I wrote some lyrics a few days before the riffage and this is some of it. "Made to shatter hopes and dreams
I've gotta throw, away everything I know, everything I think it should be
Gotta let the past die even if it's part of me

For a Reason: I started this back when I was doing shows still for Self-Made Loner. It came together pretty quickly and I love the guitar in the 3rd verse.

Treasure Map, Groove Beams and Chompin Pellets: In 2012 I was trying to do 1 song a day based on a story that Nikola shared with me from when he met one of the Final Fantasy composers (I think?). It was about writing a song per week, then a song per day, then a song per hour. I did these over a few day span along with another one called Kessel Running. I'll post that one eventually. When I named Treasure Map it was shortly after I re-connected with a childhood friend of mine. He moved from the Detroit area to British Columbia when I was maybe 12? We used to write each other letters. One time I sent him a treasure map with something that I burried in the large yard that connected to my backyard.

In addition to that I've been posting a countdown to Riot Fest with my favorite hand pick bands and a short review. I've put these on the StM facebook page and Twitter.

I'm hoping to get the Golden Stickers printed soon. Possibly Shirts and Posters for Self-Destruct Code.

For the first time since 2012. I feel like I'm back in the cut. Thank you very much for your patience and support.

For a Reason

"Dreams and signs - - that push and guide our lives
Forces and vibes that glide when no one drives
Sometimes we fall hard - - to sweeten the surprise
Sometimes we die a little - - to know that we're alive"

For a Reason <-- Click the link for the new song!!!
Maybe I should say tap?

I could write a LOT if information but . . . I don't know that people read all the details. Maybe only one person who reads it all is enough? (Its never enough) It took me a while to figure out what Sample the Martian's new direction would be. It isn't one vector exactly but - but the bulk of what I'm pursuing now musically follows my guitars. I have released a new demo for "Overdue Save Points" on Bandcamp. What that means is you should go listen to all of it. (Again possibly) and report back to me what you like most. I need to get these 27 demos up there and let you guys pick which ones I should give the final touch treatement to. There is a good chance that I have more than 27.

The other thing that is very important for me to say. Every now and again something cool happens to me in terms of music and Sample the Martian. The week after I released Self-Made Loner - abc aired an episode that had my sticker nice and huge in one of the scenes. Maybe that was chance. Maybe someone threw me a bone. I'll never know. When the OA came out - their production company hit me up for art and stuff to use in the show. . . and my sticker made an appearance. When I watched the OA - I was very honored. To me - artistic integrity is very important. Being brave and doing something unique is very important to me. (Or at least trying) and Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij fully embody that. Anonymous Content - as well as Brit and Zal - make some some of the most interesting and fulfilling television that I've ever seen. From Philip K Dick, to The OA, to Counterpart to Mr. Robot.

I don't know why or how these things happen sometimes. They always seem random. The stuff that I push for seems like pushing a rock up hill. Then out of nowhere something awesome happens that I wasn't even thinking of.

~eMpyre ramireX

PS4 to PS5 data transfer rates

PS4 to PS5 data tranfer over Wi-Fi was about 2 MB per second. Yes. That slow. PS4 to PS5 data tranfer over LAN is about 100 MB per second. 188 GB in like thirty something minutes. That's MBps not Mbps. I connected my PS4 to PS5 with an a Ethernet (Cat-5) cable. No additional configuration was needed. Plug and go. Now to figure out how to upgrade my storage oh my PS5. 1TB is nowhere near enough. If anyone knows what the SSD TBW specs are for the PS5 shoot me a line. Please. I'm posting this both for myself to have as future reference and for anyone else who might search for this.

Some stuff for twenty - twenty.

Its been a while since I've posted. It has been a long year. I made the decision to divorce shortly after my last post. Between moving and stress and all of that I've been redefining who I am in a lot of ways. Music is still at the heart of my heart along with my kids.

I a new song to the Bandcamp song a while back but haven't noted it on this website. Its called Robot.exe. It has some of my favorite lyrics and a chorus that is one of my catchiest ever. I have other stuff I want/need to post. The remainder of this year will be pretty difficult at work but with COVID - I've played a lot more music at home. I've been doing some songwriting too. I hope to share some of that with you all soon.

The concept behind what I'm doing here is to start with some songs that are fully written . . . but still need some production. I'm going to upload demos from 27 different songs that I've been working on over the years. Some of them will get polished and will become B-sides. Others will become songs that end up on the next record. Now that the technology exists - its really easy for me to upload and replace a demo with a newer version. So - if you are listening deep like many of you do - you'll get to hear the changes between versions and see the evolution and how I get to a final version of a song.
So - with bandcamp - if you are to purchase now - you'll have access to all 27 demos and their evolved replacements as they happen.

The older replaced versions might not always be available via bandcamp - so if you like something and get attached to it - download it. . . or at the very least make note of the date code if you need to hit me up for it later.

What I'm hoping to do - is take any of the proceeds that I do get and use them to either fund new merch or some software plugins that I'll use for mixing and advanced production.

~eMpyre ramireX

IVx17 Self-Destruct Code

I've finished writing a few new songs - but the first one that will be finished is called: IVx17 Self-Destruct Code. Its about aliens and the end of the world and possibly a techno-organic virus. I'm told that it is plenty complicated like I would hope for. I'm playing and recording on upgraded equipment and software. I am positive that you will hear the difference. I have a semi-rough mix done. Its very close to being arranged the way that I want it to be. Its catchy. The bass hits. It tells an interesting story. Its also something that everyone can relate to. There will be a new T-shirt to go along with this song's release.

I can also confirm that the album that it will be on is titled: Mutants, Humans and Robotrons. I'm not sure how many total tracks there will be but I'd guess between 6 and 10. I'm hoping to release a track every 2 months or so. This is the artwork (close to final) that will appear on the front of the T-Shirt.

~eMpyre ramireX

What does "I'm Back" even mean?

I know that some people don't use Facebook and that is where I post most of my news and happenings. In the years since my last release I've gotten married, had 2 kids and earned a Master's Degree. Now that school is done I've been working on new material. I have 7 songs that are mostly written. Most of them only need a little bit of recording and then some mixing to be finished. I'm not 100% sure how I'll release them but I would expect to hear at least 1 of the tracks by the end of January. A long time ago one of my co-workers and I used to joke that all rappers feel the need to announce that they are "back" on each album . . . I don't think I've mentioned it in any of my songs. . . but it's still worth joking about considering the roads I've taken between releases. Its been a challenge to stay focused and continue writing and creating. I might beat Tool though - at least there is that.