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You are here: Home / Music / A 25-year Epic Journey

2nd September 2020 by Ben Barden

A 25-year Epic Journey

Way, way back in September 1995… I wrote my first proper song.

I’d written bits and pieces of music before then, none of it very good, and none of it even close to being finished.

That first track was called “Waiting for the Sun”. It’s a bit basic.

Fast-forward 10 years to 2005. I was tired of saying that I write music, but without anything to show for it. I had a pile of about 100 unfinished tracks, mostly as MIDI files. I set out to finish enough tracks to put together an album. Over the next few years, I ended up finishing enough tracks for five albums, before taking a break in 2009.

It took until 2016 for me to do anything new. I decided to try a new artist name – “GFD”. I did three more albums under that name, then an album remixing my first two albums, and two more albums under my own name. Eleven in total. (Album 10 was called “Ten”, in case anyone lost count.)

Over the last 25 years (wow I’m old), I’ve tried a few ways to get my music out there. I posted on music forums, built an instrumental music site (lyricless.com), paid for promotions on last.fm, handed out CDs to friends, even posted CDs to people around the world. It worked ok, but my music is pretty niche, and the quality of the recordings wasn’t the best when I started out. Though, I think it’s improved over the last few years.

So, what now? Well, I’ve reverted to using “GFD” as my artist name, upgraded my Soundcloud account, and had a go at mastering one of my tracks. I’ve added some basic artwork, and uploaded it to stores using Repost by Soundcloud.

The track has been approved, and will hit streaming services in a couple of weeks. It only took 25 years! So, a truly epic journey… and the track is quite aptly titled Epic Journey.

Epic Journey by GFD hits Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Google Play, Tidal, Shazam, and Deezer on September 18th, 2020.

Filed Under: Music

About the author

Web dev, bug finder, writer of niche music
Founder/coder at switchscores.com
Product Manager at Octopus Energy / Kraken Technologies Read More…

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New music now on Spotify! It's a disco EP - well, New music now on Spotify! It's a disco EP - well, some of it. Search for GFD and look for this pic. Or use this link, but you'll have to copy it: https://open.spotify.com/album/04eiQOEeJZiOThpRyjm60w?si=gsRT8JHwQHeQFXIPqTyw_g&utm_source=copy-link
New disco/dance album, coming to Spotify etc in a New disco/dance album, coming to Spotify etc in a couple of weeks πŸ˜πŸ•ΊπŸ’₯❀
I love this game. Very happy to have it on the #Ni I love this game. Very happy to have it on the #NintendoSwitch !
So much food, but it was good! So much food, but it was good!
What? You got up, it's not your seat anymore #cats What? You got up, it's not your seat anymore #catsofinstagram
Lots of snow! #uksnow Lots of snow! #uksnow
This was good! Nothing clever but πŸ˜πŸ‘ This was good! Nothing clever but πŸ˜πŸ‘
Watching Sophie Ellis Bextor on Graham Norton with Watching Sophie Ellis Bextor on Graham Norton with a band wearing animal masks/heads. A very 2020 way to round out a very surreal year. Great music, too! #HappyNewYear2021
Lunch was good today! Lunch was good today!
Guildford Castle, 25th Dec 2020. Merry Christmas. Guildford Castle, 25th Dec 2020. Merry Christmas. 

#loveguildford #guildford #guildfordcastle #christmas
Winter sun. Winter sun.
Sunday walk. Sunday walk.
Sunday afternoon walk. Sunday afternoon walk.
This year's #topnine ... This year's #topnine ...
#glutenfree beers πŸ˜πŸ•Ί Oh hey, my latest musi #glutenfree beers πŸ˜πŸ•Ί

Oh hey, my latest music is now up on Spotify! Link in my profile!
New music coming soon to #spotify and most other o New music coming soon to #spotify and most other online stores. Release date tbc.

This is my 3rd release, containing 2 tracks: November Dawn, and Legacy Layers.

The tracks originally featured as part of my self-produced albums, Symmetry 1 and 2. Each track on Symmetry 1 has a companion track on Symmetry 2. These two are cut from the same cloth and are a kind of "trance guitar" style.

Newly-mastered for 2020, I think the music sounds nice and fresh. Maybe you'll like them!

Slowly building up my discography... you can find me under the name "GFD".
4pm. Must be November. 4pm. Must be November.
The #glutenfree way to have beer and Pringles. πŸ•Ί
Just arrive: Thirty years of #thedivinecomedy boxs Just arrive: Thirty years of #thedivinecomedy boxset 😁 this should be good. I've been a fan since 1996, and know the albums well. But I've missed loads of B-sides - and I know there are plenty. This set is a huge collection of music and will take some time to get through fully!!
Coffee time! Coffee time!
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