From Beats to Nightmares: The Journey of Median

In June 2020, an exciting opportunity arose when Median's brother introduced him to Veloren, an open-source game that allows community contributions. Seizing this chance, Median dedicated three months to creating music for the game. His efforts resulted in two of his compositions, “A Solemn Quest” and “Oceania,” being featured in the game, alongside several sound effects. This achievement marked a pivotal moment in his career, as it was the first time his work was included in a public project.

However, the following years were challenging. The quarantine period brought a decline in motivation and creativity. Median struggled to advance in his music, hindered by limited resources—a cracked version of FL Studio, basic headphones, and no additional equipment. The difficulties of the pandemic era took a toll on his mental health, further stalling his musical progress.

Median struggled to advance in his music, hindered by limited resources—a cracked version of FL Studio, basic headphones, and no additional equipment.

It wasn't until 2022 that Median found a new direction. He began writing lyrics for the first time, an initially daunting task that gradually became more natural. Encouraged by his best friend, Jon, who convinced him to invest in proper musical equipment and switch to Cubase for greater convenience, Median rediscovered his passion for music. This marked the beginning of a new chapter, as he embarked on the journey to create his album.

One of the standout tracks from this period was born during a two-day music session at Jon's house in April 2023. The song, inspired by recent nightmares that evoked feelings of hopelessness, danger, and fear, started with a simple piano riff and quickly developed into a full-fledged track. Median sought to capture the intensity of these emotions, often overlooked in music, despite being prevalent in literature and television.

The production of the song was a lengthy process, involving months of collaboration with Jon. The project file was initially stuck on Jon's computer until December 2023, when Median resumed work on it. After numerous revisions, notes, and adjustments, the song was finally completed. Jon handled the mixing and mastering, with Median providing input throughout.

For the cover art, Median faced another challenge—learning to use a camera for the first time. With his mom’s boyfriend's help, they ventured into a field with a flashlight and other equipment to capture the perfect images. Median then blended the photos in Photoshop, with guidance from Jon, to create the final cover art.

From the initial beats in 2017 to the deeply personal and emotionally charged tracks of today, Median’s journey is one of perseverance, creativity, and continuous growth. Each step, from contributing to Veloren to overcoming the challenges of quarantine, has shaped the artist he is today, ready to share his unique sound with the world.