2023 International RPM Challenge

Winners List

 

Worldwide Listening Party: March 11, 2023 • Need to update a link or file? You can do it with this form.

RECORDABOUTLENGTHCOUNTRYSTATE/PROVCITYLISTEN
{AN}EeL2023 RPM ChallengeThis project was composed in a very spontaneous & free way, a little looser than usual ( Even for me ) I'm quite pleased with the results & hope you will be as wellEPCanadaOntarioCottage CountryLINK
ABSTRXNStrataIt's almost entirely modular synth with plentiful generative elements. This music was composed as layers of ambient atmospheres, and plays best as a background during meditation, or other activities This album is dedicated to Donna D. 100% of all sales/streaming/merch proceeds go to help Humane Indiana- Northwest Indiana's premier animal shelter- in supporting and rescuing animals in need. Please help us help them!AlbumUSAIllinoisChicagoLINK
acousticRPM 2023Various inspirations that came up once I sat down to write. Typical of me some emotional son gs and some that make you think. Did this all stumbling around (still) learning how to use the most basic GarageBand.AlbumUSANew HampshireNorthfieldLINK
am/fm dreamsNo Confettiour 16th consecutive RPM record. Just jammin the basementAlbumCanadaNewfoundland and LabradorMount Pearl/St.John'sLINK
AMUCFarewell, Ms RorschachA mix of electronic, chiptunes, and progressive rock, programmed primarily with Jeskola Buzz. Lyrics were flowing this year, so there are more vocals this time around.AlbumUSAMassachusettsWorcesterLINK
Apple CinnamonRound TwoWe didn't have as much time this year to dedicate to this album, but we had lots of fun doing it together. We made this album in our basement once our kids were settled to bed in the night.AlbumCanadaNewfoundland and LabradorCBSLINK
AuOHSynergies - Volume 1 to 4Recorded using the ROLI Noise App, and Studio One. I recorded a series of instrumental tracks independent of each other and combined them to create a tune. With each volume in this series, you can listen to the synergized track, then listen to the individual components which stand on their own as legitimate compositions. By taking this approach to sound delivery, the goal is to appreciate the role perspective plays in the listening experience and the elements of content that resonates with the receiversBoxed SetCanadaManitobaWinnipegLINK
Black Dragon Fighting SocietyE.P.23A DNB E.P. I wanted each track to have an organic element to it alongside the electronic soundsEPUKBristolLINK
BoschendalYou don't need meSingleUKSouthamptonLINK
Brainquake & Linn FribergUntwist The Reality (Eyes On The Horizon)One of the pieces for the latest iteration of INTENT: https://github.com/linfri/INTENTSingleSwedenNorrköping (+ Antwerp, Belgium)LINK
Butterflies Fiveacid house t-shirtIt's a song with guitars and stuff. Spacey thing with astronaut guitar sound.SingleUSAIllinoisChicagoLINK
Buzz HummerDeath by CheeseAlbumCanadaOntarioNiagara-on-the-LakeLINK
Cat Amongst The PigeonsHuman Murmuration Nation EPThis year was the first that I had attempted more than one track. I knew I wanted some very different styles. I started with the piano and went from there.EPUKLondonLINK
Charisma TreesTranslucent EPAn instrumental demo EP, recorded in the spare room of my new flatEPUKLeedsLINK
Chuck MelchinSongs From The Treehouse Volume 1I am a singer songwriter, formerly the front person for the alt.country band The Bean Pickers Union, and now the Bluest Sky. I also have a home studio where I record demos and lo-fi records for myself and friends. I recorded this record there, and I played all the instruments. I think several of these songs will be candidates for the next Bluest Sky record.dAlbumUSANew HampshireExeterLINK
Clinically CasualCasually CaffeinatedAlbumUSANew HampshirePortsmouthLINK
Code FourSongs We Wrote in the Back of an AmbulanceSongs about EMS, written and recorded as an in-joke between two EMTs.AlbumUSANew JerseyCranfordLINK
corpus colossala love letter to technology, dying, and youI had a psychotic break and had to be hospitalized during the recording of this record. The triggers for the break included going to a casino, and thinking a lot about technology, dying, and love. this album is a spiritual successor to the song "eyes wide", which I released around 6 months ago. eyes wide was very ego driven. so was this record, but in a much more compassionate and honest way.EPCanadaOntarioPeterboroughLINK
Count CromulentThrillhouseA LOUD concoction of desert rock and doom metal - an ode to all things heavyAlbumCanadaNewfoundland and LabradorSt. John'sLINK
Cranky RabbitRPM Challenge 2023A confused cold collation of creative desperation where the artist convulses in various directions in search of his muse before buckling under the pressureSingleNew ZealandParaparaumuLINK
Dave RichardsonAurora Toward UsAlbumUSAVermontWindsorLINK
David ThorleyThe Lost ChordNostalgia sets in as winter starts to lift. Reassembled from the reclaimed parts of a concept album that clapped out before it got off the forecourt, my songs this year reflect on Englishness with a strange yearning for a time I’m not sure ever existed. Or perhaps it did but shouldn’t have. Like England’s towns, this album is a higgledy-piggledy collation of shreds and patches, ancient runes and modern anxiety. a ten-song jumble of operettas, elephants, taxidermic animals, brass bands, aristocrats, criminals and association football.AlbumUKLondonLINK
dc.prattRPM 2023I made a collection of noises in Ableton Live, with a little bit of tweaking in Reaper.EPUSAPennsylvaniaPittsburghLINK
DhedbeatsHerbsIt's a trippy lofi track that brings you back to warmer weather and 4AM housepartiesSingleCanadaOntarioPeterboroughLINK
Distinct Kicking MotionDouble SixesI put a twist on my Six-Pack EP series. It's two Six-Packs... but the sixth track is as long as the previous five put together.AlbumUSANew YorkRochesterLINK
DJ GhiaMartini Bar MemoriesMade an album reflecting some of my DJ'ing roots. Realized late last year that I hadn't really tried making music on my own and this was a chance to try something.AlbumUSANew HampshireRochesterLINK
dusk cloakthe crystal stairClimb the crystal stair and lose track of time in an otherworldly excursion to a mythical sonic landscape.AlbumUSAMainePortlandLINK
DweebRock RockI like rocks, so I made a rock album about rocks.EPUSAPennsylvaniaSwarthmoreLINK
Ellen Reid and Mark HunterOf Dumpsters and FiresWe made a midwinter experimental spoken word album inspired by St. John's and late December darkness.AlbumCanadaNewfoundland and LabradorSt. John'sLINK
Ethan GoughA Semi-Healed HeartI made a concept album telling the story of a heartbreak due to unrequited love. It's special to me because it's one of my favourite works to date. I hear snippets in my head here and there and turn them into songs by structuring and expanding them. This is my 10th consecutive RPM and 13th in total.AlbumCanadaNewfoundland and LabradorSt. John'sLINK
filt℞driveDark Lies the TribeTwo synthwave tracks, which I had to submit early (busy times). The first track is more 'trance' in style, the lead was made using a Sequential Prophet-6. The second is my favourite, it's more downtempo and the lead was made using a KORG Minilogue xd. The drums for both were made on an Elektron Analog RYTM. I hope you enjoy, and may RPM continue for unto Aeons of Aeons.^_^!SingleIrelandGalwayLINK
First Born SunA Bird in the HandMy first attempt at the RPM Challenge, A Bird in the Hand is a collection of alternative pop songs. 90% of the material was written over two weeks in February 2023. Recording and production was done during the writing process.AlbumAustraliaCanberraLINK
FormulaXFDRPM 2023My first completion of RPM! The three tracks are testaments to my development in the craft of 2000s style tranceEPUSANew HampshireGraftonLINK
Frank and Jackie GesekReflectionsBegan with Reflections of changes and looking forward and backAlbumUSANew HampshireLebanonLINK
GoldparalaxDouble VisionStarted with random samples and VST sounds I hadn't previewed and used to start the track.SingleUSANew YorkGlen CoveLINK
Gravestone13 TalesImprovisational electronic/jazz musicAlbumUSAMaineCape ElizabethLINK
Guy Capecelatro III & Nate LabanArtificial LightIt's a collaboration between Guy and Nate.AlbumUSANew HampshireDoverLINK
harbhajunkiedo i saya sweet dreamy tune from my <3SingleCanadaOntarioPeterboroughLINK
Heather ColorsRELAXWe set out to create an immersive 10 minute project inspired by 90s hip-hop, lo-fi and 80s nostalgia, in the style of a low budget radio broadcast.EPUSANew HampshireHamptonLINK
HYOUKAWhat Even is My Style?This EP is the result of my exploration of my inspirations and influences! I tried doing a good portion of my own sound design rather than solely relying on presets. However, beyond that, my main goal for this year was properly structuring the songs, which I believe I managed to do in varying degrees of success.EPCanadaNewfoundland and LabradorLabrador CityLINK
International Call CentreQUOTAI made an upbeat, nostalgic, and quirky album that you can dance to and relax at the same time. QUOTA is special to me because it was a deep learning experience to mix, master, and use a digital audio workstation to craft my sound. I produced the music primarily using GarageBand and a Casio keyboard.AlbumCanadaOntarioTorontoLINK
Jai Mohanoptimistic"optimistic" is, at its core, an album about leaving things behind, about the all-consuming places we go. but it is also an album about hope, about putting things together, about the light that makes its way through cracks.AlbumUSANew YorkBrooklynLINK
Jarrett OsbornAuxA driving alt rock album, with a few variations sprinkled in. RPM album #13!AlbumUSANew HampshireSalemLINK
Jeff BurchettMusic for Heists, Volume One: Art and JewelsMusic for Heists, Volume One: Art and Jewels was recorded between January 31, 2023 and February 1, 2023 (US EST) for the 2023 RPM Challenge. This album is an attempt to treat the act of composition and recording as a conversation instead of trying to carve out a permanent sonic monument. Each of these songs was composed and performed with focused intent to communicate a transient experience, thought, or belief, and to honor the process of exploration and creation.AlbumUSAVirginiaCliftonLINK
Jeff ForanCoconut Groove IIOfficial Sound Track for the long-awaited reboot of the "Coconut Groove" beach-based RPG by Gameboy.EPCanadaNewfoundland and LabradorSt. John'sLINK
Joe Spuds RiekertBilly Bighead's Birthday BashIt just all spilled out of my brainEPUSAConnecticutMilfordLINK
Joel David HickmanPiece a pattern, pattern in pieces 2023Electric and acoustic instrumental guitar album. Experimental and contrapuntal guitar compositions. Amplified and using effect pedals.AlbumUSAIndianaHebronLINK
JohannesSonderI decided to do some kind of metal. I tried out some production techniques I haven't used before.EPFinlandTurkuLINK
Jordi Heras FauqueNuevo compendio de claves de accesoAssembling keys and guitar parts that led me to a lot of experimentationAlbumSpainCerdanyola del VallèsLINK
Josh AckermanReally Productive Monday (RPM)I did the RPM around a decade ago with some friends , These days I am quite busy between work and kids. I really just wanted to get back into writing music. I thought this might be a great way to do so. I recorded this album alone this time to try to fit into life's busy schedule.EPCanadaNewfoundland and LabradorShoal HarbourLINK
Justin MathewsElectrons & Polymers5 songs of harp and/or modular synthEPCanadaOntarioWaterlooLINK
Ka!Tencaity?I made it as a follow up to my release Street Lights. I wanted to make a release that had great beats, great vocals, and i wanted this to be my magnum opus. I had one of my favorite local artists to feature on the track listed.AlbumUSANew HampshireLancasterLINK
Kru$hed I¢e feat. Li'l BawlerIt's a Bit of a Bitch (Bein' a Baby 'Bout Now)Hilarious hip-hop lyric from the perspective of an infant. Baby samples all over the place. I play trumpet all across the track as well. Groovy, Euro-disco feel with some laughs.SingleUSACaliforniaPalm SpringsLINK
LärmschutzFireAlbumNetherlandsUtrechtLINK
Larry 'Red' StoltenbergCollaborationsAll of the songs feature lyrics by others. I sing and play guitar on all of them.EPUSAIowaAmesLINK
Liam BowesFebruaryAlbumCanadaNewfoundland and LabradorSt. John'sLINK
Life Patternskill screenAfter a bunch of false starts during 2022, of albums that were started and abandoned and an ever-growing pile of WIPs, I finally stayed focused long enough to make a new album. It's called Kill Screen and is heavily inspired by ambient jungle/liquid DnB, which I started getting into at some point last year and haven't stopped listening to since then. It was a huge part of my formative years, mainly via video game soundtrack, that I'd never gone back to and properly appreciate.AlbumPortugalLisboaLINK
Little FaunaHome/Sick E.PWhen I decided I wanted to participate in RPM this year, I knew that whatever I ended up creating had to be unapologetically tender and genuine. That's what "Home/Sick" is for me. Writing for this E.P felt like being a small child again, staring down into the darkness at the bottom of the basement stairs; except this time with someone there holding my hand. These songs explore the dark and nostalgic parts of childhood trauma, relationships, and healing.EPCanadaNewfoundland and LabradorSt. John'sLINK
looprockRipped Picture MagicFirst composition in years, done in 4 days using bitwig studio for the first time.AlbumUSATexasAustinLINK
Mariya BoykoUnder the Sea 1 VibraphoneIt's about floating in a warm lake, on a sunny afternoon.AlbumCanadaOntarioTorontoLINK
Mark HunterThe Country ManPunk and last minute but I did itSingleCanadaNewfoundland and LabradorSt. John'sLINK
Mark McShaneAnother RunInspired by local New Year's Eve fireworks lighting up the sky through the trees, and helped by a few beverages, started hearing this melody and lyrics, reflecting on the past few years and hoping it was time for a change...SingleAustraliaSydneyLINK
Matthew VivianFirst LightI made an instrumental synth track on my iPad, using Garageband. It’s meant to evoke a sense of hope and beauty, and it sounds like something you would find in a film score.SingleCanadaNewfoundland and LabradorSt. John’sLINK
meorkatConcrete MusicI made an ambient/experimental album. It's special to me because I wanted to challenge myself to make a record using only field recordings, using sounds from my home and surrounding areas. To make this project, I used a portable field recorder to capture the audio, and then processed that audio through my modular synthesizer.AlbumCanadaNew BrunswickSaint JohnLINK
MieremetCleansing #2This is the second record of Mieremet, I just release albums in the month of February... clean noise to bleach yer eardrums!EPNetherlandsGroningenLINK
Mike KaySlow Memory of DaysThis is an example of how I'm still trying to find my sound. Many new techniques (for me) on this, so maybe we can call it exploratory? It's the story of shadows, and those of us who make them.EPAustraliaParramattaLINK
mltybrnstRecorded over 3 days and maybe as many sessions per day. It all kind of just came together.AlbumCanadaNewfoundland and LabradorSt. John'sLINK
Monchy StreetCowgirlHow I felt.AlbumCanadaNewfoundland and LabradorMount PearlLINK
Mr Andrew ESLStop, GoI’m a singer songwriter, amateur comedian, gamificationator, teacher and student, pursuing my Master’s degree in educational sciences. My life is my research project and this song is part of a longitudinal case study on the effects of authentic modern music on early ESL education.SingleCanadaQuebecHudsonLINK
My Happy DayLeft Alone / Invisible DecayWe wrote the first track in tribute to our previous bassist, who had to leave due to personal problems. The second track is about a tragic personal experience from a former friend who passed away. We recorded these songs in our guitarist's home studio and he mixed and mastered it. These songs are sad and were really hard to perform.SingleNorwayTrondheimLINK
Nate MonoxideRedjacketThis year I decided to limit myself to only using one guitar tone (POD Farm),one bass tone (POD farm),one drum kit setup (Alesis Nitro running into EZDrummer's pop-punk pack),and only ever having one lead vocal and one harmony vocal at a time (recorded in CoolEdit Pro). The recording process was intense, with over 14 hours each day being put into writing and recording. The end result sounds a lot more raw but more consistent than my previous six albums. I'm happy with how it turned out.AlbumUKWhitehavenLINK
NeilerinoNew CobwebsThis is the first musical project that I've finished by myself!EPCanadaNewfoundland and LabradorSt. John'sLINK
NimbostrataThe Shadows Of The PastSomething very contemplative, it should resonate with those who like ambient pieces by certain Ultimae artists. Attempting to see the light in the end of the tunnel from the current location.SingleSwedenNorrköpingLINK
nOT MadThe House My Father BuiltThis is year 13 for nOT Mad in the Challenge. Makes every February my most creative month with the added benefit of it being very social with friends contributing.SingleUSAVirginiaGreenbackvilleLINK
Oonark KlaesALL - a Tokyo travelthis is a product of a travel. far from home ive been here a few month.EPJapantokyoLINK
particledotsCanistered For Future ReferenceAlbumUSAArizonaPhoenixLINK
Personal Space InvadersATMOSFEARI guess it's a kinda concept album? Just hit record and laid down what came out of meAlbumCanadaNewfoundland and LabradorMount PearlLINK
Peter MenziesDial 993 ContentmentA local coined the phrase "I set a date with Contentment" and I was allowed to use this as a song idea. The idea makes me laught a lot!SingleCanadaYukonDawson CityLINK
Petty VendettaDancing About ArchitectureI wanted to limit my options this year, so I went with an electronic dance-oriented album, done entirely with Native Instruments Maschine.AlbumUSAWashingtonSeattleLINK
phog masheeenGood Luck With Your Senior YearI used topics in the news for inspiration. Topics that stood out.SingleUSACaliforniaJoshua TreeLINK
QLOIDemoI haven't recorded any music in 20 years. I picked up an 8 track with the intention of recording an "album" but only produced a "single". Something is more than nothing so in that I feel accomplished. Thanks RPM.SingleCanadaNewfoundland and LabradorSt. John'sLINK
Randy MailletOur Little AngelsA song for my granddaughters.SingleCanadaOntarioPerth RoadLINK
Red RobbinsElectric FUI played a Roland FP-7 piano through a Boss GT-1000 guitar effects multi pedal. I'm interested in tones and noise, and the structure and dynamics of sound.SingleCanadaBritish ColumbiaBurnabyLINK
Ricia RaeRuckUsA mix of guitars, beats, bass, my crash, and various synthesizers. Made it in my basement studio surrounded by too many instruments and possibilities! It was a blast to make.AlbumCanadaOntarioEloraLINK
Safest Outbound SparrowsSpirit HostI started the month with one concept and a plan to make a 5 track ep. After pivoting and doubting myself enough time to give myself whiplash, I ended up with a full 10 track album that blends spoken word pieces, chiptune, and ambient/noise into something far more cohesive than I thought it was going to be! All that because of the RPM challenge forcing me to stop doubting, and just get it done.AlbumUKChesterLINK
Sheltered PlaybackEqual PartsGuitar, samples, beats, drones. Tried previous years to record something, but didn't, so happy this year to submit something.AlbumCanadaNewfoundland and LabradorSt. John'sLINK
Slaughter SongsSpace Man Axe Murderer BluesA collection of dystopian tales of humanity's bleak future. I'm trying to combine Hip-Hop with Death Metal, and this is my first frankenstein-esque concoction. Made it solo in my office with a DAW, guitar, keyboard, and patience.EPUSAMarylandFort WashingtonLINK
Solus28 Days on AridiaThis was a great way to force myself back into it after a 5 year hiatus from making music! I tried to make a desert-rock inspired album with some psychedelic elements. Surprisingly (to me),I managed to come up with a few ideas this month that I really love, and I plan to take some time to flesh out some ideas from this EP a bit more and use them toward a full length release.EPCanadaAlbertaCalgaryLINK
SomnambulanceSomnambulanceA largely improvised outing with Thom Keith, Tim Webb and Jonny Peiffer.AlbumUSANew HampshireExeterLINK
Stone Age CultThe Getawayin the moment musicSingleUSAIndianaThe TempleLINK
Stranger AngelsTime Is Just A Different PlaceThis record is composed of stitched together fragments. It includes soft synths, drums, guitar and very little filtering.AlbumUSAOhioCincinnatiLINK
SummerfieldUnintended Acid Trip...I combined a bunch of genres I like and smashed them together. It's messy but I had fun making it.EPUSADelawareWilmingtonLINK
System of the BeatIT'S A WICKED WORLDMixes and beats produced / arranged in mostly Groovepad, Garageband, & Bandlab, most vocals from Freesound.org. Thank you to all the artists who supply their great talents to freesound.org and all the great music apps out there. Thank you for listening. RPM ROCKS!!Boxed SetUSANew JerseyBoontonLINK
T.Z172 Hours @ The Dream MachineI made these songs using a variety of music app loops, beats and sound fx(garageband, groovepad, bandlab). Some of the tracks were mixed with vocals and sound fx I found on freesound.org as well. Its a mix of electronic genres.Thank you for listening!AlbumUSANew JerseyNetcongLINK
TenSopSaxopBUGSBUGS the music is the soundtrack to BUGS the novel I ewcwntly published.AlbumUSANew HampshirePortsmouthLINK
The DisintegrationistObject With FeelingsThis album processed a lot of thoughts and emotions around realizing I'm autistic. I've been grappling with the question of what is a real feeling and this came out of exploring that.AlbumCanadaQuebecMontrealLINK
The Galaxy Between UsWaiting For The BoysThe first song I've written, recorded, and produced.SingleUSATennesseeNashvilleLINK
The HandsanitigersHPAI-nessMy daughters and I made the record. I use this challenge as a way to enjoy the creative process and hopefully inspire my kids along the way. It also serves as a great record of events. Time and place. As my kids, and myself, continue to age.AlbumUSAOregonSpringfieldLINK
The MaadmenSuperwokeWe wanted to explore behind the curtain of the woke movement to see what is really going on. So, we did exploratory surgery and made a collection of tracks with all the themes that suited the subject. What we got was, we think, our best work to date. Multiple genres and too much fun. We each created parts of the tracks separately as we are spread out across the globe, then put it all together here in Tokyo. Hope you all enjoy it as much as we did. Peace & LuvAlbumJapanTokyoLINK
The RelectricsThe Girl Without a NameImagine if you awoke in a dream and you met a woman and this woman kissed you with the loving warmth of a million suns and you instantly felt you were in the one place you belonged. She told you she loved you. And she told you to find her as the dream faded to blackness and you couldn't shake the feeling that she was real and this was not. You realized that you were living in a simulation. Maybe you have lived through thousands of simulations, and worse; maybe you are simulated too. You are Frankenstein's creation, you are the monster, the experiment that wasn't considered a success, but she loved you. And now you know she holds the answers and you must find her again. You must escape this simulation before you are deleted entirely; before they delete her too.AlbumUSANew HampshireNowhereLINK
The Wawa ProjectLiesA commentary on todays politicsSingleCanadaOntarioKingstonLINK
Tim HazeltonCalifornia SoberThis record is acoustic guitar, ukulele, bass, and vocals. Kind of a rock vibe. Some dark songs, some love songs, some dark love songs... Recorded in my basement music room on GarageBand for Mac.AlbumUSANew HampshireHoldernessLINK
TotoRobynEchoes of DreamscapesEchoes of Dreamscapes is my first full ambient album. I've really dug into the exploration of ambient music in the last few months. Composing ambient music creates an exploratory atmosphere for me to escape the hecticness of everyday life. I hope this album gives peace and serenity to those that listen to it. This album was made by a combination of synthisizers and effects pedals.AlbumUSAMassachusettsBostonLINK
Umbrella State BroadcastingMay-December (Aging and the Body Mix, Prof. Scrubbum-Downs Encounter)This is a self-remix. I don't know if that's allowed, but I did it anyway. It came surprisingly easy into being, it was fun.SingleCanadaNewfoundland and LabradorCorner BrookLINK
WeinerThe Unbearable Being of LightnessSongs about the quotidian alienation of living in 2023.AlbumUSAMarylandBethesdaLINK
WGPrpmEnjoy a mix of classic synths and analog drums. A big thanks goes out to all of those who have not interfered in our work. Enjoy our music!SingleGermanyBerlinLINK
winterkeepSpring WavesI was taking some time out on a recent camping trip with my kids and ended up sat on a sun-warmed rock by a lake as the sun set. I took a field recording of the waves and that was the seed for this track ✌️SingleNew ZealandQueenstownLINK