As most of you know, there's a contest going on called the 2021 Art Inspired Music Contest, which started in April 16. The idea of the contest was that you make a song inspired by a piece of art from the Newgrounds Art Portal. We could do a song about anything so long as it's not rated A art and that the song was original work. As in no remixes, no covers etc. It also states that the songs should be between 3 - 6 minutes. So getting inspired I made a song based on @OddJorge7's picture: Battle Damaged Gojira

So getting inspired I created a song based on that picture as seen here:

Probably one of the best things I've ever done and what made me the most happy about it was that @OddJorge7 liked the work when he could have easily destroyed me.

I submitted my work to the contest, I got rejected. Their reason? Because it was 40 seconds over the 6 minute maximum. 40 fucking seconds. Now I wouldn't have minded that so much and even told my fans and listeners not to get mad should they happen to like this song. The person was doing their job and enforcing their rules. However there's something I didn't tell you all which I feel needs to be addressed. The host informed me through private message, that it's not the quality of my work they do not like, but rather if I wanted to stay in the contest, they'd give me a leniency of 20 seconds over 6 minutes. Needless to say that didn't make me feel any better. I refused because I felt if I altered this song in any way to fit in with their rules, I'd ruin the work. Music I've worked so hard on in making. So I just labelled it rejected and tried to move on. With quiet, dignity and grace. However much like Fredrick Frankenstein, said quiet dignity and grace only lasted for so long. While I respected their decision to reject me and do not blame them personally. I do feel as though there is something inherently wrong with rules like this. It also gives me the impression that the host cares not for the quality of one's work, so long as they conform to their rules. What kind of crap is that? I was raised to believe that art in all forms, is an expression of one's self. Their views, their dreams, their goals. Music is no exception. Nothing is too long as long as you got great quality in your work.

So while I do genuinely wish my fellow musicians luck on the contest, I formally protest it. No one should sacrifice their artistic freedom just to win a prize and if you value your own artistic freedom, you should protest too. I will not review, vote, fave or add to the playlist any music that's been entered save for what I've done before my rejection. I don't care if your stuff is good or if it helps me level up. I do not support this contest and I think the rules of the song's length is probably the most petty thing I've ever heard.

And from a site like this that started off as Anti-Establishment, it's probably the most hypocritical thing I've ever heard.

My internet got knocked out due to an error by a technician, so while I was waiting I took more time to add a few more to my art.

First, Blood Sucking Alien:

My first attempt at a comedic comic here.

Second, One Way Out:

My first attempt at 3D Art, with something I did for kicks.

Third, the Badge of Fate:

Meant to post this one on April 13, but couldn't. Fate in it's simplest form.

Fourth, Creeping March of War:

First loop song on here and one of the few times I'm afraid of my own creation.

Normally I would probably save any news page for if I gotten to higher level numbers. However, like 12, I hold the number 13 in high regard. While most people consider the number 13 to be an unlucky number, I consider it the opposite. For whenever I see the number I've often got the best luck. So to celebrate my levelling up to 13 I created a song. A song that takes all the bad luck and paranoia of bad luck and puts it into a tense synth experience. I present to you: Lucky 13.

To celebrate my achieving Level 12, since 12 is both a lucky and a religious number depending on what you believe, I posted my recent badge as seen here:

Making it my 12th CIEIR Badge.

However it just hit me, while I have ideas of my own regarding these badges, I was wondering if there are other concepts you all suggest could try to cover with these. I only ask that you follow the following guidelines.

1. No fanart or fanart characters. These badges are meant to represent real life concepts, not be used as an extension of your love of fictional characters. Not that I judge.
2. Don't suggest what I already covered. To further explain, what I mean is that don't suggest a badge that is already there. Nor do anything sneaky by using synonyms. For example. Don't suggest a Badge of Hate when there's already a Badge of Anger which covers hate as well.
3. Don't suggest how I should draw these badges. You can suggest which concept I could cover Rule 2 aside, but these badges are how I view these concepts. If you want your view to be expressed, then make your own.
4. No NSFW stuff. Nothing against those that like it, but this project is meant to be seen by everyone.
5. Most importantly, the other four aside, have fun.

I look forward to hearing your suggestions.

The past three months on this site, I've been doing nothing but Promoting My Work, helping others promote theirs and most importantly: Reviewing and Voting for other's works. Now I have mentioned once before, that my reviews and votes are honest. Even if I don't write full paragraphs. That has been nothing but the truth. However, that being said, in the past three months I have been getting to know the features on the site, to better do those tasks above and more. Through that I discovered a vary peculiar quirk on the site. The Level System. When I first voted I saw that the words "2 XP" which I guess means "Experience Points." I thought that was odd. Then I kept doing it seeing that I can only do it a certain amount of times a day. I've seldom done it and it's why it often takes me long to review and vote for the works on the people I followed or got added as friends. Rest assure I plan to vote and review every single one of them. In the past three months I went up to 11 levels. With 150 points to go to get to 12. 3 Months and 11 to 12 levels as I write this. If I go at this rate I could reach the highest level in 15 more months.

I personally thinks this makes the site more fun. It's like we're all our own personal RPG game characters. We level up our own way. But I was wondering what the significance of it is. As well as wondering what the other parts were.

For example I figured out that EXP: Rank was counting down. Hence why the higher levels are in the thousands.

However I never understood the voting power part. I was wondering if anyone who's been on here longer than I have could tell me.

After a great conclusion of the contest which can be seen here, I didn't win, but I did have the honor of my entries being placed in Xinxinix's collection. Which is much appreciated. Over the past month and a half I've been trying to expand on my previous entry. A lot of ideas flooded to me that day. One of which was simple. Making more badges and selling them as merchandise. So while I waited until the contest was officially over, I made other concept badges. Right now I'm only selling them as digital posters, but if I play my cards right I could actually make buttons out of them.

CIEIR Music proudly presents: The First Four CIEIR Badges.

The Badge of Love:

The Badge of Life:

The Badge of Courage:

The Badge of Wealth:

The Badge of Defense:

The Badge of Attack:

The Badge of Music:

The Badge of Death:

The Badge of Knowledge:

The Badge of Anger:

The Badge of Dreams:

The Badge of Luck:

There will be more coming soon, when I think of other aspects to cover.

If you want a copy of these lovely posters click here:

CIEIR Music Ko-Fi Shop

Each one $1 each.

Within the last month I entered an art contest. The theme of the contest, was to come up with your own concept of love. So long as it was an original idea or you had original characters, the sky wast he limit on how your concept would be. While I do not expect to win, mainly because I've had bad luck in contests before. Not even a consolation prize, that bad. It has however inspired me to not only create my own concept as seen here. It has also inspired me to make a song based on said concept, as well as do my first foray into merchandising. Which I have been told before, would help get more people interested in buying my music. As mentioned in my previous news post, I use Ko-Fi as a tip jar. I found out that I could also use it as a shop, to sell any merchandise I want in an effort to increase interest in my brand. So I thought the first thing I'd do would be to sell this concept as a digital poster as seen here. Should this prove successful I plan on expanding this concept to other mediums. Such as T-Shirts, Buttons/Badges, and so on. Maybe even come up with sequel concepts based on other aspects of life. On top of advertising this, I would like the people following me to tell me what they think.

When I was a kid, one thing that often entertained me was seeing street musicians. Whether it's one lone person on a guitar or a full band, it was always entertaining to see. With the pandemic happening as well as the world changing and converting to adapt to the digital age, it's often more difficult for any musician for that matter, be it on the streets or at home to make money in their work, let alone tips.

When I first started CIEIRMusic, one of my first goals was to invoke my love for street musicians in all aspects including the money-making aspects and encourage fellow musicians to do the same. I believe no musician should be without a tip jar.

On my official website I have invoked this love by setting up a section dedicated for me to use various funding sites, as a form of tip jar on the digital level.

As seen here which leads to here and in turn leads to sites such as this and that.

On top of advertising my Tip Jar, I propose to my fellow musicians and artists, that you do the same thing in similar manners. That you all get tip jars of your own. A very wise person once told me that $5 here and $10 there can get you very far in the long run even if you're not selling anything, because it all eventually accumulates to at worst extra money in your pocket for the bare essentials and at best a vast amounts of great wealth. It's one of the reasons why I advertise my songs so cheap. I suggest that all who follow me, use whatever crowd funding site they feel comfortable using, to do this. No artist should be without a tip jar.

Long time viewer of this site, first time user. I am mostly here to promote my music to both independent game developers or those who need music for their videos. My main site is https://shanethemusician.bandcamp.com/ and I will also be uploading songs that may pique your interest.