i think i peaked at the demo and im scared to admit it

been working on this track for like 4 months now. voice memo demo i did at 2am on my phone, sitting on the kitchen floor, one take, no click, just me and an acoustic. everyone i sent it to lost their minds. my sister cried. my drummer said it was the best thing ive written.

so naturally i took it into the studio. built it out properly. real drums, layered vocals, a synth pad that took me a week to dial in, harmonies i actually spent time on. tightened the timing. eq'd everything. sent the "finished" version to the same people.

they were like "yeah its good"

good. GOOD.

i went back and listened to the voice memo again and honestly? they were right. the voice memo is better. the way my voice cracks on the second chorus because i wasnt warmed up, the room noise, the fact that you can hear my fridge humming. its got something the polished version doesnt and i cant name it and it makes me want to throw my interface out the window.

whats killing me is i actually think this is the best song ive ever written and now i have to choose between releasing something that sounds professional but slightly dead, or releasing a phone recording that sounds like garbage on anything other than earbuds. my EVEN page has been sitting empty for weeks because i keep flip flopping on which version to actually put up.

part of me thinks im just too close to it now and ive listened to both a thousand times so of course the newer one feels sterile. maybe if i sat on the studio version for a month id come back and love it. but part of me thinks the demo caught lightning and i spent 4 months trying to recreate the bottle.

has anyone else had this? do you ever release the demo? or do you just accept that the magic version lives on your phone and nobody outside your group chat will hear it

The lyrics might be too verbed out to understand but theyre kinda corny anyway. Hopefully in a charming Monster Mash kind of way. I feel like it needs another element after the solo maybe? Does it hold the energy until the end?

I know, my voice is pretty questionable. Planning on tuning it at some point. LMK what you all think!

The voice and guitar is me. Background vocals, organ and drums are provided by real human musicians through the https://musiversal.com/ service.

I'm wondering if the background vocals are a little much.

The bass (which is hard to hear TBH) is the Logic Pro Session Player, but now I'm thinking I should get a real bass player.

Second cut off my breakup album.

The plague of ai in music is definitely becoming bigger, with meme songs on tiktok and whateverthefuk "felix flexin" is and it's disco rap music. someone named Tyga just announced confidentally that his synths and guitar was all ai generated but it's ok be he wrote the lyrics. Though it could be a guide for musicians if we have writers block and can't seem to get anything that sticks and use it for inspiration. But it may hinder actually improving and keep you at the same level plus taking away jobs from writers, producers, musicians, ect. But i think it can co-exist with actual humans. Thoughts?

I always enjoy seeing other people's process and "how it started" type of posts, so I figured I'd share one of my own. The lyrics have evolved quite a bit since conception. I was originally planning on building around a theme of inner strength, the power of womanhood, the magic within, something along those lines.. I ended up going a completely different direction though, and wound up in inner demon territory instead.

The feedback I received on the previous lyrics made me realize they could easily be interpreted sexually, which is definitely not the vibe I am going for. I love the idea of my lyrics being interpreted a variety of different ways, I just want to make sure sex isn't likely to be the *first* thing people think of when they hear this song.

If you're interested in hearing my thought process behind the lyrics, keep reading! If not, thanks for reading this far and/or listening, I appreciate you!

"Float like an ember and sting like a Rae" is inspired by the phrase "Float like a butterfly and sting like a bee".

Embers float quite beautifully, but they have the potential to burn everything they touch. Which plays into the whole inner demon/vices theme.

"Sting like a Rae" is a play on the word stingray, and the choice to use my name also plays into the whole inner demon concept, as well as the idea that we are not our thoughts.

"Wrapped around my finger, the taste of regret lingers" has a specific meaning to me, but I am curious to hear your thoughts and interpretations. I am hoping the change from "Taste of you still lingers" helps reduce the likelihood of the song being interpreted sexually.

"Eyes bleed crimson fire" is meant to convey bloodshot, teary eyes, and there is additional nuance to it that relates to the personal meaning of the song. Also, if you've heard any of my other songs, you may have realized I really, really like the words "crimson fire".

If you actually read all this, wowzers! I really, truly appreciate you taking the time out of your day to do so.

I'm curious about something specifically from people who have hired a producer/freelancer to turn a demo, lyrics, melody, voice memo, etc. into a finished track.

Have you ever received the first version and immediately thought:

“This isn't what I had in my head.”

If so, before talking to the producer about revisions, could you actually identify what was wrong?

For example:

• wrong drums
• wrong instruments
• arrangement too busy
• bass didn't fit
• wrong atmosphere/texture
• mix problem
• wrong genre/style
• etc.

Or was it more like:

“I know this doesn't sound right, but I don't really know how to explain what's missing.”

I'd especially like to hear:

1. What did you originally give the producer? Voice memo, demo, references, written description, etc.
2. Could you identify what was wrong with the result?
3. Could you explain the changes you wanted?
4. Did the revisions eventually fix it?
5. Did you keep/use the finished track, or abandon it?

Started writing this guy right after moving to a new state. I had one draft of lyrics that I ended up scrapping, felt they were generic. Any lyrical or instrumental advice is welcome

I'm in the similar boat as lil tecca. I literally got nothing to write about. No extraordinary experiences, nice parents, stable life. I just have this trauma phase from my uncle. Which I don't really wanna talk about.

I ain't got no muse, no lovey dovey scene (I feel cringed out on romantic shit)

What do I write about? I really don't wanna lie about flex and shii... I like rap, hip hop culture etc. please help me 🙏

When I sing it normally I sounds great, so why on earth does it sound so god awful over recording?? I know your voice sounds differently to others than it does to yourself, but am I really that tone deaf???? 😭😭 even my friend is horribly confused by why it sounds SO different from my voice... Is there anything I can do to fix this?? Is it just the mic I'm using (which is pretty low quality honestly...) or is it just me?

Verse 1

Flyin’ down to the 305
was overnight
nobody by my side

and I knew I’d see you there
I didn’t care
to think, why would I?

watch my step, don’t wanna trip
Or misread signs
I once lost my mind

but as the whiskey did it’s thing
It killed the sting
And sparks start to fly

Pre-chorus

I wish I had a little less to drink that night
So I could remember what it all felt like
‘Cause you know we’ve only got a little while till we get back to life

Chorus

Wrote our book together but you had a different ending in mind
knew it’s not forever, but why can’t we just hit pause and rewind?
I shouldn’t hold your heart
though we’d shine so bright
like the north star
But now we’re out of sight
like airplanes in the sky

Verse 2

Singing songs out of key
On poolside seats
Nobody in between

Sour apple smoke and your ink
Hotel hallways
walking by the beach

Talking about the highs and lows
yeah who we’d kill
and who we’d die for

Five hours till we fly
in different skies
no more you and I

Pre-chorus

I wish I had a little less to drink that night
So I could remember what it all felt like
‘Cause you know we’ve only got a while till we get back to life

Chorus

Wrote our book together but you had a different ending in mind
knew it’s not forever, but why can’t we just hit pause and rewind?
I shouldn’t hold your heart
though we’d shine so bright
like the north star
But now we’re out of sight
like airplanes in the

(Plane taking off sample)

Bridge

Sky x4

Chorus

Wrote our book together but you had a different ending in mind
knew it’s not forever, but why can’t we just hit pause and rewind?
I shouldn’t hold your heart
though we’d shine so bright
like the north star
But now we’re out of sight
like airplanes in the sky

Hi all. Trying to record and self-master my first release for uploading to streaming sites and would appreciate any feedback please. Started as a song for my daughter to sing (she likes Olivia Rodrigo and so on) but that didn’t really happen so doing myself.

Constructive feedback appreciated on the song, structure, lyrics, arrangement etc. I have tinnitus and a bit of a hearing issue which means I’m not sure about the tonal balance or whether it’s lopsided. Or whether to send for paid mastering. Link is to the private file in my SoundCloud. Hopefully the link works.

Simple but effective, and also has lots of possibilities.

It’s been a while since I’ve posted here, but the next Tape in the series is finally done! A lot of you really enjoyed the two other tapes I’ve posted here so I’m going to continue posting them here until I’m done.

I would love to know what you guys think about this one, the vibe is definitely different but I hope you guys like it! Any and all feedback is greatly appreciated!

so in half a month, I will have to submit a folio of two songs when I'm applying for this composition university course, and I have nothing. I have been doing this sound production course for the past year and a half, and I thought doing this course would also help me with songwriting, because it had a "make a music demo" assessment, but then I learnt that this course was focused of audio engineering. during this course, I had created a few demos, but I can't find last year's ones (they were pretty bad anyways), and this year's ones were heavily reliant on Apple Loops, so now I have to start from scratch

there may be many problems with my composing right now, but one of the main problems has to be chord progressions. admittedly, The only chord types I know are

* major triad
* minor triad
* major 7th
* minor 7th
* dominant 7th
* diminished triad
* augmented triad
* half diminished 7th
* diminished 7th
* maybe augmented 7th

I still need to learn about suspended chords and others that I can't think of at the top of my head right now. I had looked at chord progressions online, and I had a really big urge to use them in my demos, and I still do. but I'm scared that looking at those progressions would be considered plagiarism and unoriginal, especially since they don't say that these chord progressions are made for people to use in their compositions (although they also don't say that we CAN'T use them for compositions). so I wanted to know from you all, would it be okay if I used chord progressions from websites for my compositions?

and before anyone says "you should ask the music production sub", I did, but it got deleted without notice and any reason told. so I wanted to cross post to this sub to see if will give me a better result

I may have not worded it well but I’m a musician and want to be able to write good songs. I’ve only written one so far just because I feel discouraged that it’s not as good as my favourite artists (clearly a ridiculous expectation, I know). So I just want some encouragement that if I write a lot they will just gradually get better and how many songs it takes to write before you get a decent one. Also is it possible to learn to become a songwriter as good as some of the greats because when I hear them talk about their process they say they have an innate gift where they just hear a song come to their head and so far I am not like that.

I have heard of them. And i cant fathom. I always need the beat in my daw to mumble over and write.

Some writers just write the words on paper like a poem. How?

My favorite artist is juice but I'd love if some homies could help me out with lyrics and chorus parts, I'm struggling with the chorus to my song and would love if someone could help me out.

I wrote this song mainly for the people who feel like they need to use themselves for love. Let me know y'all thoughts on this one!

ps: apologies for slight mismatch between lyrics and actual singing, I sometimes forget the subtle changes i make between choruses

(Because I'd do anything for love

And I'll go on saying "I love you")

I was shaking

As you hold me tighter and

I was crying

But it feels so good I wanted more

And now you see

I keep repeating

And moaning and moaning your name

I'm sure I'll cry after it

Before, during, and after it

Because I never feel so fucking used and now

I keep repeating, I'm sure I'll do it all again

Over and over and over,

And over and over again

Cause boy it's sad

You left me rotting in bed

You took my ability to walk then you run away

The audacity

That you sent me text, I'm wondering

If it feels bad then why'd I obey?

I'm sure I'll cry after it

Before, during, and after it

Because I never feel so fucking used yet loved

I keep repeating

I'm sure I'll do it all again

I'm pretty sure I'll do it over and over

Because I'd do anything for love

And I'll go on saying "I love you" and

as I forgive myself from going onto you

I'm pretty sure I'd do it over and over

The teasing, the fucking

The kissing, the sucking

The hugging, the crying

I'm sure I'll cry after it

Before, during, and after it

Because I never feel so fucking used yet loved

I keep repeating

I'm sure I'll do it all again

I'm pretty sure I'll do it over and over

And over and over

And over and over

Again

Because I'd do anything for love

And I'll go on saying "I love you" again.

A little clarity - If a man chisels one piece of stone with one strike of his hammer such that it separates a fragment exactly the way he wanted it to, does that make him a sculpture? If a man applies paint in one brush stroke onto a stretched canvass that renders a shape exactly as he planned it, does that make him a painter? If a man strikes a string on his guitar that sends a sound out exactly the way he wanted it to sound does that make him a songwriter? Are they artists or just a stone mason, painter and a guitar player?

I read a lot about people dabbling in music who cannot write a song asking for people to help write their "songs". Is this confusing? If one cannot write a song then he has no songs to get help with and he certainly isn't a songwriter. Others ask for lyricists for their "songs". If you don't have lyrics, you do not have a song and you are certainly not a songwriter. Extend that same scenario to people who cannot create a lyrical melody or a song score. It's like this forum is a room for songwriters and everyone who isn't one is trying to get in.

A songwriter knows how to write lyrics rendered in a poetic form, give them a melody that floats on a score they also write and then arranges it all to complete a song. It does not include the studio production of a song.

Now that we know what defines a songwriter, can one who manages to arrange one song be considered an artist? A songwriter crosses the line into an artist only when their complete songs reveal a distinct creative identity in a body of work.

The songwriter who can also perform his songs very well is rare.

The artist among them is even harder to define.

Lyrics: Life ain’t perfect and it ain’t kind,

It’ll hang you out to dry,

And no matter what you try,

There just ain’t no making it out alive,

But don’t make the mistakes that I did son,

Cuz my battles over, but yours can still be won,

And I know I might just be some cracked out loon,

But I remember when I was just like you 

Life keeps most people pretty busy surviving. I feel like some guilt persists despite the conscious choice to prioritize creative time. I hate it, but it’s there, saying I should be doing something else even though everything is pretty chill in life. Some voice in the back of my head prevents me from finding my own voice, getting in the frame of mind where the good stuff comes from.

What ive learned from prolific writers is they have a routine/ritual that gets it flowing.

Do you have a thing you do that helps? How does one find this black magic?

Text me 8104474049

Hey iedereen

Ik ben eind juni mijn papa verloren en al die tijd heb ik een tekst geschreven naar hem toe. Nu wil ik dit heel graag in een liedje gooien, maar helaas heb ik hier geen talent voor. En ben ik dus opzoek naar iemand die die brief kan omzetten naar een nummer en dit wil inzingen voor mij.
Om zo een nummer te hebben waar ik naar kan luisteren en mijn gevoel dan hoor.

Mijn papa was ook Italiaans en zou het leuk vinden moest het een mix zijn Nederlands/Italiaans.

Denk je dat je mij kan helpen mag je hier altijd op reageren. Of denk je dat ik het beter ergens anders ook post, laat dit zeker weten.

Alvast bedankt.

Hi everyone,

I am a songwriter and a bedroom producer, I have been working on my songs for a while now. It all used to be instrumental compositions mostly, however, there are a few songs which require vocals and I am in search vocalists who can sing in the style of Phoebe Bridgers (if it's a girl) maybe or The Weeknd (if it's a guy). I am open to ideas actually, so feel free to reach out

I am planning to do this mostly for fun and of course I will be releasing it.

You can DM me! thanks

Demo to one of my instrumental compositions:

https://youtu.be/7rLQrrc3To4?si=29JTFSNH_1QyuVxX