That is. Until recently. Until today.

Let’s take some factors into consideration. I’m now in college, and so the entire Christmas break seriously felt like a mere long break instead of giving me that special holiday feeling that I’ve, to date, have always felt before for ever year prior. That, combined with a certain deadline I had to meet on the 31st and my mother’s recent condition had me … staying home. For the first time in years, I spent my new year at home.

And for the first time in my life, I practically spent my new year’s alone.

The experience was quite unique to me. While everyone else in the world was firing fireworks like there was no tomorrow, I was merely doing the last touch-ups on my work and minding the small requests that my mother asked of me from time to time.

By the time I finished with work, I spent the rest of the time walking around the house. It felt so surreal. On a day like this, I was on my own. Almost a foreshadowing of a future life I could have … on my own on new year’s doing work. The mere thought of that gave me some chills …

But a little while later it occurred to me that I was pretty much free to do anything until 12 AM hit. So what did I do before the 12 AMs years before? I’d be either outside watching or lighting fireworks, or most likely sitting on a couch listening to music, playing on a portable console or on a guitar.

People say there are certain things you can do on a new year that may grant you extra luck. The one example I recall was jumping when 12 AM came with coins or something to make that year a financially successful one. With that in mind, I tried something different, and something I’ll remember forever with this post as a stark reminder.

I left the computer, picked up the acoustic, opened some curtains to reveal the firework-lit sky,

started playing the guitar,

and started singing.

2011 was the year when I finally found more reason to not give a damn anymore if my voice’s range was so low. Somewhere deep inside me, I’ve always wanted to sing as best as I could, and now that I’m finally able to do that after eighteen years of my life, I want to make sure I get to that goal. So I played and sang to wish luck on that specific endeavor, where I can truly be unashamed of my voice and what I can sing with it, that no other person in this world can ever replicate. My voice, my passion for music, my song.

I played most of my originals. It was almost 12 AM in a few minutes, so I decided to perform the one song that started it all, To Say Hello.

The song was finished.

The fireworks roared louder than before at the end of it all.

12 AM struck.

The performer stood up, to the windows, and thanks to a certain dare given by a friend,

He shouted …

——————–

Once again, the world goes full circle within a bit more than a year. I have learned from experience, have found new inspiration, have gone through more of what life has to offer me as a student and as a musician. Suddenly, the theme of romance wasn’t so alien to me anymore, and the many, many hardships of college. All that while I continued to compose and find myself getting even further than before. But just like the original, it has an ending, and at the end of all the continued support of every single listener out there, here is what I will once more give to you.

——————–

LEAF XCEED Music Division - Website Releases II

LEAF XCEED Music Division – Website Releases II
192 kbps – Stereo
157 MB (incl. SOTU)

1. Once Upon A December
2. Summer Breeze
3. Murmurs In The Wind
4. Tomorrow’s Dawn
5. Cerulean Tears
6. Winter Night’s Journey (Through The Storm)
7. Path Of Ruin
8. Wind Valley
9. Luminarium Nova
10. Never Forget
11. Forest Labyrinth
12. The End Of 1000 Years
13. Greener Greens
14. Death’s Embrace
15. Universal Rift
16. For Alexandria
17. Clockwork Sky
18. Time For My Tea
19. The Eclipse Of Time
20. Peter’s Kite
21. First Day High: School Is Magic
22. Amazon Moon
23. Wherever The Wind Takes Me
24. Interludio
25. The King’s Commandment
26. 8-Bit Glory
27. Dear You [ver. XCEED]

——————–

If it wasn’t any more obvious, this is the sequel compilation album of all my works from 2010 to 2011. They’re all available separately too if you check the Download Hub, but this has entirely new content altogether you will most likely find nowhere else but this package In terms of genre, there are many more original compositions in the classical genre, but more notably the original metal compositions this time around that weren’t very present in the previous, amongst the already well-established video game metal remixes.

The bonus content here is quite hefty this time around. It may be enough of a reason to download the archive even if you already have some of the songs. Included in the bonus content are five never before publicly released songs on this site, except for one that’s also on SoundCloud. There’s also ten concepts and attempts of originals and remixes never finished, and finally, the 2009-2010 17-minute video game remix EP, Soundtrack Of The Underground.

Remixed Games: Bloody Wolf, Mega Man 6, Legend Of Legaia, Atelier Annie: Alchemist Of Sera Island, Deep Blue & Ranger X

——————–

LEAF XCEED Music Division - Soundtrack Of The Underground

LEAF XCEED Music Division – Soundtrack Of The Underground
192 kbps – Stereo
24 MB

1. Bloody Wolf
2. Flame Man – Thermal Flare
3. Light In Darkness
4. Nibelung Valesti
5. Storm Bringer
6. Indigo Sea
7. Maximum Security

——————–

AND JUST BECAUSE HE STILL WANTS THIS PART OF THE PAGE RETAINED, I’d like to thank Mikey Daza for being imba, pro and swaggish.

Enjoy the album. See you in the next one … not necessarily Website Releases III, but who knows, it may be something greater
~Ramon Roberto T. Nario, president of LEAF XCEED, head of the Music Division

——————–

These works are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License, since I can, and it makes my works all legal & fancy.

Life has been difficult. Things have been harsh. Academically, emotionally, and even with regards to this. But one thing I’ve been really longing for is to finally get back on track with LEAF XCEED Music Division, as most of you already come here to expect. and I’ve had so many projects lined up plus some new ones that came to mind that I want to let you guys know of. In fact, this post will have never before publicized specific information about what’s going to happen in the future, so I hope you’ll like it

Let’s first discuss the matter at hand that most people have probably grown tired of waiting for; the final compilation release of Website Releases II. I’ve been delaying it for quite some time now, and I deeply apologize to anyone who has been waiting for it. One thing I will promise though is that we WILL see its release this December. It will be out before the end of 2011. Like the original it will have all Website Releases II songs plus an even heftier bonus pack.

Why? It won’t just have betas of unreleased songs, it’ll have an EP that never had the opportunity for release. Hell, it was finished between 2009 and 2010. Heard of it or not on this blog before, it goes under the name of “Soundtrack Of The Underground”, an EP in order to arrange the more seriously obscure video game tracks that never were arranged in a certain fashion before (…like, say, video game metal the XCEED way, lol). Around 17 minutes, it has remixes from both recent and obscure consoles, the obscure one specifically being notable for the console in question is the TurboGrafx-16. All this exclusive only to the final package of Website Releases II, amongst some other bonuses. Makes it more appealing XD

Next. Discussion now falls on what happens next after the end of the Website Releases series. I would’ve continued with Website Releases III if I wasn’t already aiming for anything higher. I plan to be more EP-centric when it comes to small releases instead of just single tracks; Soundtrack To The Underground being an example of what I plan to do. Short, 3+ song EPs all having a central theme.

Currently, here’s my list of planned or ideal EPs in no particular order:

1. Super Robot Taisen: Original Generation 1 & 2 EP
- Might as well, right? I’ve already done one, and it ended up being a landmark remix that started many things for me. And the soundtrack is awesome.
2. My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic EP
- Yup, you heard me. A My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic remix EP. Maybe I’m not extremely into it like a lot of others, but I am nonetheless a legitimate supporter of the show, and will not hesitate to give my own twist on Daniel Ingram‘s creations. Specifically Cutie Mark Crusaders.
3. Valkyrie Profile EP
- This idea’s quite new, but is my top priority as of writing. This is a Valkyrie Profile remix EP, and my first attempt at tackling Motoi Sakuraba‘s time signatures. Oh wait, second. You’ll understand why it’s the second once you get Soundtrack Of The Underground. The man’s compositions for this game are filled with so much power (especially that boss theme), and when I heard them I just knew they would work so well with my remixing style and would thus be my next priority right after finishing up Website Releases II.

As of now, those are all my more concrete plans for EPs. Now for the more full-fledged album-type releases. These will probably be prioritized much less than the easier EPs, but nonetheless are planned:

1. Original Album
- The original album of video game power metal and otherwise compositions that’s been planned for a long time now. Around two to three finished songs. I will most likely take a long time to even get to work on this again XD
2. Original MIDI Album
- Once upon a time, LEAF XCEED Music Division was LEAF Music Division with a whole lot of original MIDI compositions that were so full of melodies and ideas never heard of before. Majority of them, at least. Unless you’re the type of person who has everything I’ve ever made, and I doubt any of you are XD This will be a “two disc” album, with the second CD containing the works rendered in MIDI as they originally were, and the first being my new take on them as LEAF XCEED Music Division. I’d like to work on this more than the Original Album, and also because most of the songs have been done years ago. Don’t get me wrong though; I’m sure the sound of this album will be a dynamic change compared to my recent works that makes me wish I was 14 again.
3. Mega Man X Remix Soundtrack
- Have I mentioned this? I’m remixing the entire Mega Man X soundtrack … as in, all of it. The game has always had a special place for me since it was one of the first SNES games with a really beautiful soundtrack that I couldn’t forget. Inspired by a certain Reddit post somewhere that’s since been archived. But yes, I will credit the guy.

UGH. GOD. I ended up typing a lot more than the actual update post I made before. But I guess that just goes to show just how much I’ve got lined up for the world to hear. So many plans, so many things to do, but all of them have to be done step by step!

At least this time, you guys have an idea of what you’re gonna get from LEAF XCEED Music Division then. I’m gonna finish my soundtrack work, finish Website Releases II and get ready to keep moving forward. The world’s not gonna wait for me? I’ll catch up. Maybe even one day surpass it, and I will have all the listeners to thank.

Peace out.

Have a free piano track for all your efforts in reading through that huge post. XD