[Production Notes] Carrying Passing Thoughts on a New Moon [Self-Proclaimed Unknown BMS Artist Speaks Out! & A-1 ClimaX 2025]

Abstract

This note is a detailed explanation of my entry, "New Moon Removes your Memories" (hereinafter referred to as "New Moon..."), for the BMS event "Self-Proclaimed Unknown BMS Artist Speaks Out! & A-1 ClimaX 2025".

I would like to discuss mainly the song's structure and motifs, the scenery and text that appear in the BGA, and the ghosts that are occasionally visible. I want to talk about parts that I couldn't fully cover in the ReadMe.

1. About "New Moon..."

If you are curious about what kind of song it is, please listen to this ↓.

If you want to play it as a BMS, please download it here.
Also, please write an impression (feedback on the chart, song, video, etc.) by 6/8.Hurry up!!!!

2. Theme

"Old-fashioned song with difficult rhythm"

I had made one song before creating this one, and that song was in 3/4 time(unreleased). At this point, I realized that making 3/4 time music was fun (≒ I can't make good four-on-the-floor tracks), so I created this as a sort of sequel.

However, there was a song I focused on because I wanted to add a little twist. That was Camellia's "After Everything Becomes a Phantom" included in KONAMI's rhythm game "SOUND VOLTEX".

This song is composed in 79 BPM with 3 measures, 3/4 time, and triplets, and it is cited as one of the most difficult songs to score in the game.

I also wanted to respect this sense of rhythm, and when I was creating it, I realized I had created it in 77 BPM with 4 measures, 3/4 time, and triplets (though it is 231 BPM in the BMS).

This is because, due to FL Studio's settings, I couldn't make it 3 measures. I guess it's not possible, right...?

But thanks to that, a structure was created where there is a Swing component within a relaxed four-on-the-floor beat, and also a Swing within that 3/4 time—a Swing within a Swing.

From here, "there are two Swings" ⇒ Bi (a prefix meaning two in English), so I was initially thinking of "Bi-Swing Melody" (BSM).

From there, I took inspiration from the "New Moon" in the title and focused on "Swing-by," a technique that "uses a planet's gravity to change an orbit."

Since "Swing by" also includes the meaning in English of "dropping by quickly rather than staying for a long time," and because of the song's overall characteristic of having its phrases change dizzyingly (not repeating for long periods), the genre of this song has officially become "Swing-By Core".

I don't know where the "Core" part came from, though...

I'd like to talk about the chord progression, but the chord names don't come to mind right away, so my own way of composing is,

Create the melody ⇒ Input the bassline ⇒
String notes together to a degree that doesn't sound strange to the ear ⇒ Let the bass play around

I create it in that flow. By the way, I input the kick and snare last.

3. About the BGA

The BGA is created with several landscapes and Wingdings (a font name) that flow by occasionally. The landscapes are basically processed into pixel art. I create them using Aviutl.

As for the overall image of the BGA, since the song also has a retro feel, I am conscious of an epilogue where "after clearing the game and the ending plays, the characters who appeared until now are saying something".

Also, although I was unconscious of it, there were parts where I was influenced by the movies of "Kaiwai" (community) songs, and it seems it appeared in the song's style as well. It was only after it was pointed out that I thought, "Indeed." The Kaiwai songs I like are Denpa-Kujira's "Kuneru Engeizer". Also, things like 2-go Aniki's "Shiriana". It sounds terrible when written out, but it's the song from the "Shibamata MAD" on Nico Nico Douga.

Now, I would like to briefly touch upon the BGA from here.

My room. I cleaned it before taking the photo.

This area is a part that is especially like a community song.
I output the audio for each part, create a waveform for each, and display them.
Also, since I made it pixel-style overall, it adds to the community feel.

An intersection. I took this when there was absolutely no one passing by.

Basically, the image is that this ghost-like character is saying the lines.
Right now, it's the one lying down.

This is the sunset seen from town. I haven't forgotten my childhood wonder, so I try to take photos whenever I see a beautiful sunset.

Actually, this is the title.

This is Heijo-kyo in Nara. The palace seen on the side should still be there.
I think I went around autumn. It was nice to see pampas grass spread out everywhere.

A tunnel. Only this pixel art has the foreground tunnel and the sky separated into different layers.

Whether it's cool or not, I do get the feeling of wanting to sit there for some reason.

I added some vertical noise to give it a somewhat mysterious feel,
but at this stage, I was just filled with the desire to finish the BGA quickly.
By the way, the bicycle in the foreground was mine. I've already scrapped it, though.

That's what it is.
I thought repeating the same characters would give the impression of things breaking down, and I wasn't entirely wrong. I was in a hurry.

By the way, this part that follows doesn't have any particular deep meaning. However, looking back at it calmly after making it, I feel like it would have been better to write these characters in Wingdings.

This is the famous bamboo forest in Arashiyama, Kyoto.
Usually, this place is overflowing with people, but Kyoto during the COVID-19 pandemic had absolutely no tourists, which was amazing.

By the way, the version uploaded to YouTube and the one used as the BGA are slightly different. This is because when I created the movie, I had the audio turned on, but when converting it to a BGA, I turned the audio off before converting to MP4...

As a result, the parts where the waveform appeared stopped displaying because I had turned the audio off. I messed up.

Now, you might see ghosts appearing here and there, but I originally planned to make them look a bit more human.

I intended to draw a girl with a slightly dark atmosphere holding a camera. I also wanted to animate her a little, so I had created the foundation for the movie.

I had prepared a pen tablet to draw the girl, but it turned out it wasn't compatible with Windows 11, so I had to draw with a mouse.

Moreover, at that point, it was only n hours before the deadline, so I was panicking like crazy. I thought I had to do something, so I left it to AI for a moment, butthis isn't itwas the kind of girl that came out, so I had no choice but to draw with the mouse.

That's how the ghost-kun, with his simple shape and ease of animation, was born. That's right,the reason he is a ghost is because he is easy to draw.

However, achieving smooth animation with a small number of frames was extremely difficult, so I used morphing to make it move smoothly.
I actually only prepared three images, but I used some tricks to make it move smoothly.

If you look closely, you can still see some roughness, but by placing it as a semi-transparent element against a colorful background, I thought that roughness might actually contribute to a sense of realism.

It should basically appear everywhere except in my own room, so please try to find it.

4. Conclusion

In the event I'm participating in, "Self-Proclaimed Unknown BMS Artist Speaks Out! & A-1 ClimaX 2025," there are many diverse works besides my own, so please find your favorites and give them a 10-point impression.

By the way.
I initially thought I didn't need to add things like background music for the song selection screen or jacket art, but looking back, I regret that I should have included them.

That is all. Thank you for reading until the end.

Matakama (@mtkm576)