The first question I asked myself while thinking of a name: joke title or serious title? I chose the joke title (h/t Joanne). I’ve been a big fan of Muse for years. Their unparalleled live theatrics, dramatic orchestral arrangements, and dark minor tonalities reminiscent of classical Russian composers. And on top of all of it, Matt Bellamy’s virtuosic, unapologetic electric guitar playing.
That said, I definitely didn’t start this piece as an homage to one of my favorite bands. I simply started as I start most of these things, with an electric keyboard part. I really like the slight distortion on the wurlitzer, giving it a subtle satisfying crunch. Then I went hunting for some sort of pad sound, before knowing what this was going to sound like, and I chose a string pad. When I heard the strings, I started to hear Muse, and the rest was history. Distorted bass, timpani rolls, piano flourishes…
And electric guitar! I had a lot of fun just being a guitarist for a while, looping the song and just workshopping guitar parts. It’s not perfect but at this point, I’m proud of myself if I’m spending upwards of 30 minutes on a single part. Means I’m taking things seriously! And the harmonies! The parts may not be perfect but the fact that I pulled guitar harmonies straight from the 80s is sorta perfect.