Joé McKen ♪ Composer
@music.joemcken.net
Music account · Freelance composer in Québec, Canada · New releases & announcements · He/him · Personal account: @joemcken.net
» Commissions: https://bit.ly/JMComms
» Socials & music pages on my website: https://joemcken.net
» Commissions: https://bit.ly/JMComms
» Socials & music pages on my website: https://joemcken.net
Pinned
Joé McKen ♪ Composer
@music.joemcken.net
· Jul 29
Elegy
Sometimes, you write music for a general audience, or for a popular project. Other times, you decide to combine the themes from two late-90s Discovery Channe...
www.youtube.com
🎵 NEW MUSIC: Elegy 🎵
Sometimes, you write music for a general audience, or for a popular project. Other times, you decide to combine the themes from two late-90s Discovery Channel documentaries about the Titanic for fun. (That is, if you’re a giant nerd.)
➡ BANDCAMP
➡ SOUNDCLOUD
➡ YOUTUBE
Sometimes, you write music for a general audience, or for a popular project. Other times, you decide to combine the themes from two late-90s Discovery Channel documentaries about the Titanic for fun. (That is, if you’re a giant nerd.)
➡ BANDCAMP
➡ SOUNDCLOUD
➡ YOUTUBE
Always amazing when I listen to some old movie/TV/videogame soundtrack I haven’t heard since childhood and realize, “Oh, so THAT’s where I got this particular musical motif/rhythm/etc. that’s been stuck in my head all my life.”
November 17, 2025 at 2:54 AM
Always amazing when I listen to some old movie/TV/videogame soundtrack I haven’t heard since childhood and realize, “Oh, so THAT’s where I got this particular musical motif/rhythm/etc. that’s been stuck in my head all my life.”
It’s funny …
When I started writing music, it was heavily melodic; I was mediocre with harmony and texture, so I focused on making hummable tunes instead.
Since then, it’s somehow switched: Texture and tonality are the first things to come to mind when composing, whereas melody has become harder.
When I started writing music, it was heavily melodic; I was mediocre with harmony and texture, so I focused on making hummable tunes instead.
Since then, it’s somehow switched: Texture and tonality are the first things to come to mind when composing, whereas melody has become harder.
November 13, 2025 at 1:33 PM
It’s funny …
When I started writing music, it was heavily melodic; I was mediocre with harmony and texture, so I focused on making hummable tunes instead.
Since then, it’s somehow switched: Texture and tonality are the first things to come to mind when composing, whereas melody has become harder.
When I started writing music, it was heavily melodic; I was mediocre with harmony and texture, so I focused on making hummable tunes instead.
Since then, it’s somehow switched: Texture and tonality are the first things to come to mind when composing, whereas melody has become harder.
Reposted by Joé McKen ♪ Composer
Update: All my accounts were reinstated at some point in the last couple days. (I say “at some point” ’cause I only just noticed when I checked on a whim. Didn’t get any emails or anything.)
Apparently a bunch of folks who got swept up in the recent ban wave are getting unbanned.
Apparently a bunch of folks who got swept up in the recent ban wave are getting unbanned.
Seems Xitter is cracking down on third-party apps tonight, ’cause all my accounts – which I accessed through OldTweetDeck – just got permanently suspended simultaneously for “inauthentic behavior”. Lol.
I mainly lurked there, since *so many* peeps I follow still haven’t moved to Bluesky. 😔
I mainly lurked there, since *so many* peeps I follow still haven’t moved to Bluesky. 😔
November 8, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Update: All my accounts were reinstated at some point in the last couple days. (I say “at some point” ’cause I only just noticed when I checked on a whim. Didn’t get any emails or anything.)
Apparently a bunch of folks who got swept up in the recent ban wave are getting unbanned.
Apparently a bunch of folks who got swept up in the recent ban wave are getting unbanned.
Reposted by Joé McKen ♪ Composer
Seems Xitter is cracking down on third-party apps tonight, ’cause all my accounts – which I accessed through OldTweetDeck – just got permanently suspended simultaneously for “inauthentic behavior”. Lol.
I mainly lurked there, since *so many* peeps I follow still haven’t moved to Bluesky. 😔
I mainly lurked there, since *so many* peeps I follow still haven’t moved to Bluesky. 😔
November 6, 2025 at 5:36 AM
Seems Xitter is cracking down on third-party apps tonight, ’cause all my accounts – which I accessed through OldTweetDeck – just got permanently suspended simultaneously for “inauthentic behavior”. Lol.
I mainly lurked there, since *so many* peeps I follow still haven’t moved to Bluesky. 😔
I mainly lurked there, since *so many* peeps I follow still haven’t moved to Bluesky. 😔
Reposted by Joé McKen ♪ Composer
Equally terrifying addendum:
Only VST2 plugins supported.
(Seriously, Avid, add VST3 support to Sibelius already. It’s over 15 years old, and most new plugins are VST3-only. Are you waiting until Sibelius users can’t use any new plugins at all?)
Only VST2 plugins supported.
(Seriously, Avid, add VST3 support to Sibelius already. It’s over 15 years old, and most new plugins are VST3-only. Are you waiting until Sibelius users can’t use any new plugins at all?)
October 12, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Equally terrifying addendum:
Only VST2 plugins supported.
(Seriously, Avid, add VST3 support to Sibelius already. It’s over 15 years old, and most new plugins are VST3-only. Are you waiting until Sibelius users can’t use any new plugins at all?)
Only VST2 plugins supported.
(Seriously, Avid, add VST3 support to Sibelius already. It’s over 15 years old, and most new plugins are VST3-only. Are you waiting until Sibelius users can’t use any new plugins at all?)
Reposted by Joé McKen ♪ Composer
In honor of Spooky Month, share a 4-word horror story that only someone in your profession would understand:
Only VST3 plugins supported.
Only VST3 plugins supported.
In honor of Spooky Month, share a 4-word horror story that only someone in your profession would understand:
Scans cropped out instruments.
Scans cropped out instruments.
In honor of spooky month, share a 4 word horror story that only someone in your profession would understand
I'll go first: Six page commercial lease.
I'll go first: Six page commercial lease.
October 12, 2025 at 10:23 PM
In honor of Spooky Month, share a 4-word horror story that only someone in your profession would understand:
Only VST3 plugins supported.
Only VST3 plugins supported.
Reposted by Joé McKen ♪ Composer
Transcribing sheet music with 20+ staves and absolutely no instrument names (and sometimes not even instrument group brackets) is FUN, lemme tell ya.
SO MUCH FUN.
SO MUCH FUN.
October 12, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Transcribing sheet music with 20+ staves and absolutely no instrument names (and sometimes not even instrument group brackets) is FUN, lemme tell ya.
SO MUCH FUN.
SO MUCH FUN.
Reposted by Joé McKen ♪ Composer
In honor of Spooky Month, share a 4-word horror story that only someone in your profession would understand:
Scans cropped out instruments.
Scans cropped out instruments.
In honor of spooky month, share a 4 word horror story that only someone in your profession would understand
I'll go first: Six page commercial lease.
I'll go first: Six page commercial lease.
October 12, 2025 at 10:11 PM
In honor of Spooky Month, share a 4-word horror story that only someone in your profession would understand:
Scans cropped out instruments.
Scans cropped out instruments.
Reposted by Joé McKen ♪ Composer
For the pianists
October 11, 2025 at 4:05 PM
For the pianists
Reposted by Joé McKen ♪ Composer
I can’t believe Twitter rebranded to be a double sharp
September 7, 2025 at 3:03 PM
I can’t believe Twitter rebranded to be a double sharp
Not my first time posting this, but I just love this piece so much.
VIOLET MELODY - Patrik Pietschmann (Original Piano Music)
YouTube video by Patrik Pietschmann
www.youtube.com
August 23, 2025 at 2:00 AM
Not my first time posting this, but I just love this piece so much.
Reposted by Joé McKen ♪ Composer
Happy release day to Sword of the Sea, the latest game from Giant Squid, with ethereal soundtrack by @awintory.bsky.social :) I once again had the privilege of recording woodwinds, including this beautiful Mayan triple harmony drone flute. It has a haunting voice that's all throughout the score 🪈
August 19, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Happy release day to Sword of the Sea, the latest game from Giant Squid, with ethereal soundtrack by @awintory.bsky.social :) I once again had the privilege of recording woodwinds, including this beautiful Mayan triple harmony drone flute. It has a haunting voice that's all throughout the score 🪈
TFW you wake up with a new melody playing all fully-formed in your head, but you have no sounds in your music arsenal that could capture it, and you have no projects to use it in, and you have so much to do anyway, so you have to ignore it and let it disappear. 😔
August 4, 2025 at 7:09 PM
TFW you wake up with a new melody playing all fully-formed in your head, but you have no sounds in your music arsenal that could capture it, and you have no projects to use it in, and you have so much to do anyway, so you have to ignore it and let it disappear. 😔
Reposted by Joé McKen ♪ Composer
Every few months someone reads a terms of service and spots the *basically necessary* copyright license that any site that handles 3rd party content HAS TO HAVE to avoid getting sued out of existence by awful copyright lawyers and freaks out. Mike here explains why.
OK, gather 'round, kiddies - let's do a "why are lawyers like this" thread.
Specifically, let's do a "why does the simplest software come with mandatory IP licenses that assert claims to all the rights you have in the universe, up to and possibly not excluding in your firstborn offspring.
Specifically, let's do a "why does the simplest software come with mandatory IP licenses that assert claims to all the rights you have in the universe, up to and possibly not excluding in your firstborn offspring.
Bye forever, WeTransfer.
July 15, 2025 at 6:46 AM
Every few months someone reads a terms of service and spots the *basically necessary* copyright license that any site that handles 3rd party content HAS TO HAVE to avoid getting sued out of existence by awful copyright lawyers and freaks out. Mike here explains why.
Sod it. This account’s collecting dust, and I feel like rambling a bit, so here we go.
I’m feeling musically blueballed right now.
This will take some explaining.
1/
I’m feeling musically blueballed right now.
This will take some explaining.
1/
June 29, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Sod it. This account’s collecting dust, and I feel like rambling a bit, so here we go.
I’m feeling musically blueballed right now.
This will take some explaining.
1/
I’m feeling musically blueballed right now.
This will take some explaining.
1/
Good on them for clarifying the ToS language, though arguably it shouldn’t have been necessary.
Can we all move on now?
Can we all move on now?
2/6) We’re revising the Terms of Use to make it absolutely clear: SoundCloud will not use your content to train generative AI models that aim to replicate or synthesize your voice, music, or likeness (see detailed terms below).
May 14, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Good on them for clarifying the ToS language, though arguably it shouldn’t have been necessary.
Can we all move on now?
Can we all move on now?
Reposted by Joé McKen ♪ Composer
Do we have a title for this piece? “Lament for Ghorman”, maybe?
Obviously hits 10 times harder if you hear it after just finishing the episode it’s attached to, but it’s still quite the lovely, tragic piece on its own.
Obviously hits 10 times harder if you hear it after just finishing the episode it’s attached to, but it’s still quite the lovely, tragic piece on its own.
STAR WARS Andor S2E8 End Credits Music Theme
YouTube video by Sith Lord Online
www.youtube.com
May 14, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Do we have a title for this piece? “Lament for Ghorman”, maybe?
Obviously hits 10 times harder if you hear it after just finishing the episode it’s attached to, but it’s still quite the lovely, tragic piece on its own.
Obviously hits 10 times harder if you hear it after just finishing the episode it’s attached to, but it’s still quite the lovely, tragic piece on its own.
Quick thread with my thoughts regarding the “SoundCloud mentions ‘AI training’ in their terms of service” panic going around, and why maybe people should slow down a bit before yanking all their content from [checks] every social-media and art-sharing website ever:
Seems SoundCloud’s fallen into the old trap of “include anodyne but easily misinterpreted boilerplate language in your ToS to allow your systems to display/recommend users’ works → Users misinterpret it and get angry → Have to explain everything all over again”
May 12, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Quick thread with my thoughts regarding the “SoundCloud mentions ‘AI training’ in their terms of service” panic going around, and why maybe people should slow down a bit before yanking all their content from [checks] every social-media and art-sharing website ever:
One of my favorite things to do:
» Notice lovely background music in YouTube video
» Identify it with Shazam (assuming it isn’t credited in the description, which it rarely is …)
» Add it to my playlist
Got a small but growing collection of esoteric atmospheric tracks happening
Tonight’s find:
» Notice lovely background music in YouTube video
» Identify it with Shazam (assuming it isn’t credited in the description, which it rarely is …)
» Add it to my playlist
Got a small but growing collection of esoteric atmospheric tracks happening
Tonight’s find:
Inception
YouTube video by Falls - Topic
www.youtube.com
March 31, 2025 at 8:17 AM
One of my favorite things to do:
» Notice lovely background music in YouTube video
» Identify it with Shazam (assuming it isn’t credited in the description, which it rarely is …)
» Add it to my playlist
Got a small but growing collection of esoteric atmospheric tracks happening
Tonight’s find:
» Notice lovely background music in YouTube video
» Identify it with Shazam (assuming it isn’t credited in the description, which it rarely is …)
» Add it to my playlist
Got a small but growing collection of esoteric atmospheric tracks happening
Tonight’s find:
[blows dust off account]
I mentioned my revised thoughts on ‘The Wild Robot’, so I figured I’d comment on the OST, which I’m currently binging for the second time in a row:
It’s excellent, of course.
But I was not prepared for the choir that suddenly kicks in at the end of the penultimate track.
I mentioned my revised thoughts on ‘The Wild Robot’, so I figured I’d comment on the OST, which I’m currently binging for the second time in a row:
It’s excellent, of course.
But I was not prepared for the choir that suddenly kicks in at the end of the penultimate track.
February 28, 2025 at 1:46 PM
[blows dust off account]
I mentioned my revised thoughts on ‘The Wild Robot’, so I figured I’d comment on the OST, which I’m currently binging for the second time in a row:
It’s excellent, of course.
But I was not prepared for the choir that suddenly kicks in at the end of the penultimate track.
I mentioned my revised thoughts on ‘The Wild Robot’, so I figured I’d comment on the OST, which I’m currently binging for the second time in a row:
It’s excellent, of course.
But I was not prepared for the choir that suddenly kicks in at the end of the penultimate track.
This is the one and only true Threatening Music Notation on Bsky. Accept no other.
Hello, Bluesky! Excerpt from Brian Ferneyhough's Time and Motion Study for bass clarinet.
December 12, 2024 at 9:58 PM
This is the one and only true Threatening Music Notation on Bsky. Accept no other.
Holy fuck Audacity’s “crossfade clips” plugin is so fast and simple and good I’m a bit mad I haven’t tried it until now
December 12, 2024 at 4:22 AM
Holy fuck Audacity’s “crossfade clips” plugin is so fast and simple and good I’m a bit mad I haven’t tried it until now
Reposted by Joé McKen ♪ Composer
Reposted by Joé McKen ♪ Composer
Optimist: The cup is half full
Pessimist: The cup is half empty
Musician: If I wet my finger and rub it around the rim of the cup it makes a cool sound
Pessimist: The cup is half empty
Musician: If I wet my finger and rub it around the rim of the cup it makes a cool sound
November 23, 2024 at 10:27 PM
Optimist: The cup is half full
Pessimist: The cup is half empty
Musician: If I wet my finger and rub it around the rim of the cup it makes a cool sound
Pessimist: The cup is half empty
Musician: If I wet my finger and rub it around the rim of the cup it makes a cool sound
Just a quick li’l proof-of-life wave hello. I’m in between projects at the moment, and I’m again caught up in non-music-related work that consume all my free time, so it may be a while before I start my next musical project. (Unless someone commissions me – that always takes precedence.) ✌
October 14, 2024 at 8:08 AM
Just a quick li’l proof-of-life wave hello. I’m in between projects at the moment, and I’m again caught up in non-music-related work that consume all my free time, so it may be a while before I start my next musical project. (Unless someone commissions me – that always takes precedence.) ✌