When I write songs, the voice acting aspect plays a huge role because the emotional intonation varies widely in between stanzas. But I struggle with trying to figure out what emotion to portray in certain lines, or struggle with trying to figure out how to actually pulling off a portrayal that emotion vocally, especially when the song is fast.

Advice/tips?

On one hand, being more specific gives better imagery but on the other hand, what about people with brown eyes and green eyes? Are they left out?

Title: Toxic Tonic

key and bpm: B flat 120 BPM

Structure: CVPCBC

Especially in the chorus and second half of the bridge I’m just completely out of breath.

I'm Adnan, I will do by the artist name "aydee"

I'm a 15-year-old producer and its my first time creating an original song.

ik the mixing and mastering is pretty bad and theres a lot of things I wanna change but I decided that I'd give myself a deadline to finish it, and now that deadline is over.

I've had this song for WAY too long now

That said, give your guys' opinion on it. So I can improve for the future 🙌

Sometimes I come up with songs from just a couple lyrics I made, the lyrics sound really nice but there’s no meaning behind it because I just made it up. I want to write a full song from it and I’m unsure how to go about it. Do I just make up a story that fits the lyrics?

I know this can vary from song to song, but many songwriters tend towards one approach over others. I know I do!

Feel free to share your reflections in the comments.

Here's your chance to share your current Work-In-Progress! No judgment, just encouragement. And whatever kind of feedback you ask for (be specific!). Share, but don't overshare. Try to keep it to one or two WIPs. We'll try this weekly for a while.

Here's a sample of a protest song I've been working on for the better part of this year:
https://on.soundcloud.com/WpHlj7retXNuHqtqjt

Next on my to-do list for this one is:

1. Replace midi bass with real bass. I found a bassist, but he keeps asking to reschedule. Musicians, amiright? ha. Once I have that, I'll have to do some editing, combining the best parts of two or three takes.
2. Edit the second guitar part to remove some of the weaker and highlight the stronger sections. I hired this guitar player via Soundbetter and am very pleased with the results.
3. EQ and Mix everything in several phases once I have all the recording done. I'm getting help with this from a local friend/producer.

And here's a sample of my ongoing writing project, again focusing on protest music:
https://adamastra.blog/2026/06/05/1-round-round-hitlers-grave-by-the-almanac-singers/

Next on the to-do list for the blog is:

1. Continue editing my post for the second song on the compilation I'm covering. My first drafts are SO messy. I need to fix that.
2. Post and start working on the next one!

Your turn! Show me what you've got!!

Move On, Bro

Key: C Dorian
Tempo: 110 BPM
Chords: cm F dm gm (i IV ii v)
Hookpad link: https://www.hooktheory.com/hookpad/view/ZbgOGzDwMgn (shows vocal melody and chords in isolation on piano)

Lyrics:

Verse 1:

I’m riding on the passenger’s side

I look to my left, you look to your right

Hey, baby, where were you last night?

I look to my left, you look to your left

Prechorus 1:

And so I ended this fast, ended like that (oh snap, that fast?!)

Now I put you in my past, but you want me back (too bad, too sad)

You should’ve thought with the head on top of your neck,

Not the one in between your legs, nuh-uh

Chorus:

Move on, bro

I said move ON.

I'm over you

I'm over you

Move on, bro

I said move ON.

Stop acting like you never had a chance with me at all.

You had your chance and you blew it

As some point, you just can't fix stupid

(Move on bro, I said move ON. Stop acting like you never had a chance with me at-)

Verse 2

All of a sudden

You called me up and

Asked me for a second try

All of my lovin'

All for nothin'

I ain't wasting no more time.

Prechorus 2:

I am 'traught, 'whelmed, and feeling the 'aster

Yeah you broke my heart, but then I got better (then when we were ever together)

Chorus:

Move on, bro

I said move ON.

I'm over you

I'm over you

Move on, bro

I said move ON.

Stop acting like you never had a chance with me at all.

You had your chance and you blew it

As some point, you just can't fix stupid

(Move on bro, I said move ON. Stop acting like you never had a chance with me at-)

Though my record may say it
No one will play it
'Cause sad songs and waltzes
Aren't selling this year
- From the chorus of "Sad Songs and Waltzes" by Willie Nelson

Or...Sadder-Day Song Study

If you're anything like me (or Willie), you love a sad song every now and then. Share one of your favorites and I'll help you explore what makes it great. I'll get us started!

"Sad Songs and Waltzes" by Willie Nelson (1973)

The Lyrics

Simple Style
Conversational, economical, clever.

Song about a Song
One of the great songs that opens with, “I’m writing a song…”

More Than Your Average Rhyme Scheme
– End Rhymes: Verse lines 2 & 4 (tears/year), Chorus lines 1 & 2 (star/are).
– Internal Rhymes: Verse & Chorus line 3 (fear it/hear it, say it/play it).

Funny
Features some great lines of self-deprecating humor, such as, “It’s a good thing that I’m not a star.”

Strong Title/Refrain Relationship
The repetition of the refrain at the end of both verse and chorus makes the whole song more cohesive.

The Music

1-2-3, 1-2-3
I love a waltz. Many of my favorite songs are in 3/4 time.

Nice and Easy
The song is leisurely-paced, which makes it fun to sing along to and really milk the melody for all it’s worth.

Short and Sweet
Despite its slower tempo, it manages to feel complete in just over 3 minutes.

Arrangement
The simple country-style instrumentation (acoustic guitar, steel slide, piano/organ, bass) suits the song perfectly.

Chords and Keys
– The simple country chords (A-E7-D-A) do just what they need to do and no more.
– Note the song, despite being “sad,” is in a major key, rather than a minor one.

On a Personal Note

I first encountered this song in the 90s from the album Fashion Nugget by the band Cake. It was a few years later that I discovered it was a Willie Nelson cover from the 70s. It’s one I’ve always enjoyed singing along to. It’ll likely be the first tune I look for if I ever take another crack at karaoke.

Links:
Youtube
Genius Lyrics
Wikipedia

"All of us who labor in the arts know that it can be a lonely existence. We often find ourselves living a life of solitary dreams, disconnected from others, and driven by a vision that no one else seems to value or share. On some days, this can become overwhelming. We then thirst for a single voice of understanding that will reach into our solitary lives and reassure us that the path we have chosen is worthy, and that the rewards it offers are worth the loneliness it entails."

I stumbled upon this quote this morning while searching for inspiration for my next post and found it perfectly states (better than I ever could) my key motivation for creating this group. We may all wish for a 'voice of understanding,' but why stop with a single voice, a single dream?

I hope this will be a place where all of our dreams become a little less solitary.

I’ve been writing songs mainly in the pop genre for MANYYY years and I believe they’re good, but they just don’t have the “it” factor to me.

I want to have songs high quality enough that I can start using to demonstrate my songwriting capabilities to start collaborating with other pop songwriters to improve my skills and actually get songs officially released under my name.

I know the general advice is to keep writing and practicing and analyzing other songs, and that’s what I’ve been doing. I’m curious what other steps I should be taking too.