Encoded

Time Rival

I've been a fan of ambient music since my childhood years, going back to 1994 when I first heard "A Warm Place" by Nine Inch Nails. My first thought was "what is this beautiful music and why is it on this album?" and it opened me up to the world of ambient music.

I would try to incorporate ambient textures into all of my work, whether it fit or not because it spoke to me. In 2015 I started releasing music as Time Rival to give myself an outlet for all of my ambient explorations. In 2016 I released my self titled album as an attempt to make something equal parts atmospheric, melodic and engaging with a focus on my (rudimentary) piano skills. I've written and recorded plenty of music since then, but I'm often called back to that album as an example of what my intentions are with ambient music.

Ten years later, I have for you my latest ambient album "Encoded". I've gone back to what I was aiming for when I started the Time Rival journey. Atmospheric, melodic and engaging with a focus on my (still rudimentary) piano skills.

I hope you enjoy it.

Composed & produced by Michael Southard
Mastered by Michael Southard
Artwork by Michael Southard

© 2025 Rumourtone Music LLC

I've been a fan of ambient music since my childhood years, going back to 1994 when I first heard "A Warm Place" by Nine Inch Nails. My first thought was "what is this beautiful music and why is it on this album?" and it opened me up to the world of ambient music.
I would try to incorporate ambient textures into all of my work, whether it fit or not because it spoke to me. In 2015 I started releasing music as Time Rival to give myself an outlet for all of my ambient explorations. In 2016 I released my self titled album as an attempt to make something equal parts atmospheric, melodic and engaging with a focus on my (rudimentary) piano skills. I've written and recorded plenty of music since then, but I'm often called back to that album as an example of what my intentions are with ambient music.
Ten years later, I have for you my latest ambient album "Encoded". I've gone back to what I was aiming for when I started the Time Rival journey. Atmospheric, melodic and engaging with a focus on my (still rudimentary) piano skills.
I hope you enjoy it.
Composed &amp; produced by Michael Southard
Mastered by Michael Southard
Artwork by Michael Southard
© 2025 Rumourtone Music LLC

Porous Boundaries

Turn of the Century

Echidna

Valley Chorus

Encoded in the Waves

Secret Room

Mixing Metals

One Day Before

Treehouse at Dawn

Deleter

Linear Wave

Single take ambient performances on the Roland SP-404 mkII with minimal editing and post processing.

Performed, recorded, produced & mastered by Michael Southard
Artwork by Michael Southard

Single take ambient performances on the Roland SP-404 mkII with minimal editing and post processing.
Performed, recorded, produced &amp; mastered by Michael Southard
Artwork by Michael Southard

Dark Amber

Goldenrod

Sandstone

Ochre

Bronze

Honey

Apricot

Rust

lost in the rain

Atem Archive

w.w (Original Mix)

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a̤̿͠͏̨̡͇̬̪͉͓̠͚͈͚̪̞͌ͤ̒ͭͨͤͧͩ̈́͝ͅt̸̜͙͇̲͓͖͓͍̩̯̀ͭ͗ͨ͂̈́ͧͫ͟͏̨̘̼͋ͪͧ̀͜e̶̢̨̦̲͇͖͍͇͕̘̤̤̗̔ͨ͂͋ͨ̓͝͡m̡̜͖̟͎̩̻͕͌͗̽ͪͤͭ̀̈́͞ by a̤̿͠͏̨̡͇̬̪͉͓̠͚͈͚̪̞͌ͤ̒ͭͨͤͧͩ̈́͝ͅt̸̜͙͇̲͓͖͓͍̩̯̀ͭ͗ͨ͂̈́ͧͫ͟͏̨̘̼͋ͪͧ̀͜e̶̢̨̦̲͇͖͍͇͕̘̤̤̗̔ͨ͂͋ͨ̓͝͡m̡̜͖̟͎̩̻͕͌͗̽ͪͤͭ̀̈́͞

a̤̿͠͏̨̡͇̬̪͉͓̠͚͈͚̪̞͌ͤ̒ͭͨͤͧͩ̈́͝ͅt̸̜͙͇̲͓͖͓͍̩̯̀ͭ͗ͨ͂̈́ͧͫ͟͏̨̘̼͋ͪͧ̀͜e̶̢̨̦̲͇͖͍͇͕̘̤̤̗̔ͨ͂͋ͨ̓͝͡m̡̜͖̟͎̩̻͕͌͗̽ͪͤͭ̀̈́͞ (Original Mix)

zeta_reticuli

LA1000

zeta_reticuli is an exploration of mystery and the unknown, inspired by the enigmatic accounts of Bob Lazar and the Zeta Reticuli star system. Each track is crafted with only two distinctive parts, mirroring the binary nature of Zeta Reticuli itself. This EP delves into themes of alien technology, secret government projects, and the human fascination with uncovering truths hidden in the stars. With gritty guitars, spacious synths, and layered storytelling, zeta_reticuli captures the essence of cosmic wonder and the lingering question: what lies beyond?

zeta_reticuli is an exploration of mystery and the unknown, inspired by the enigmatic accounts of Bob Lazar and the Zeta Reticuli star system. Each track is crafted with only two distinctive parts, mirroring the binary nature of Zeta Reticuli itself. This EP delves into themes of alien technology, secret government projects, and the human fascination with uncovering truths hidden in the stars. With gritty guitars, spacious synths, and layered storytelling, zeta_reticuli captures the essence of cosmic wonder and the lingering question: what lies beyond?

#experimental_soundscapes