Our Picks

Not a natural state of affairs for songwriters to be writing happy songs..... but this is your challenge!
 
You might do well to pick a song form, rhyme scheme etc that supports a happy song. That aside, it can be a good idea to write happy songs in specific relation to something.... for example,
 
spring or summer
going to a party or partying in general
love
overcoming odds
memories  
 
Whatever you choose to focus on, your challenge is to write the happiest of happy, joyous songs ever written. It might help to I magine it is to be used in a children’s movie or tv show, or an advertisement etc.
 
Have fun with this!

The Song Title Association Game has to be one of the longest running active topics on our forum currently running for over a decade. A fun way to discover music together! Go check it out.

http://bit.ly/2qFWtv3

BandLab Technologies today announced the relaunch of Cakewalk SONAR as “Cakewalk by BandLab”. Cakewalk by BandLab is free-to-download, for all BandLab users.
 

 
Cakewalk has been a top developer of innovative music products for more than 30 years.
 
Cakewalk users include Grammy®-winning and Emmy®-winning producers, sound designers, composers, and recording engineers. Cakewalk products have been used to create professional audio for the music industry, television and film productions, broadcast, and video games.
 
https://cakewalk.bandlab.com/
 
Bandlab
 
BandLab Technologies is a collective of global music brands. Their flagship product, BandLab, is used to create and share music.
 
Musicians and producers, to find out more, you can read the full announcement from Bandlab here.

Building A Fanbase - Breaking Dependencies
 
At some point you need to reach beyond your friends and family.
 
After all, what are the chances that your grandfather is a fan of speed metal? Even if they are, that does not mean they like all speed metal bands. They would have bands they click with, and bands they don’t.
 
Family and friends want to pat you on the back and give you a cheer for special oaccasions, but generally not much more.
 
It is ultimately more productive to focus on finding fans. Finding people who gravitate towards the music you make... and then build on them.

A new thread, to collect together current music production tips. Feel free to add yours!
 
 
 
Vocals. 
 
Avoid Reverb. They will make your vocals muddy and distant. Instead, learn how to use a stereo slap back delay properly. Trust me, you will thank me. Your vocals will sound more current and more professional... at least in terms of production.
 
If you still feel it needs a touch of reverb, use it minimally on the side chain.

Are you a Twitter user? Are you using it, or planning to use it,  to get the word out about your songs?

Join the Twitter Collective.

Read the full post for details!
 

Lyrics Writing Challenge # 14: Cut Up About It

The challenge is to write some lyrics that still manage to convey emotion and a thread of storyline inspired by recent news.

To write the lyrics you should use the cut-up technique.

You must use the source text at the end of the forum post.

Read the forum post for full details!

Songstuff interview with New Jersey Songwriter and artist, Jennifer Doll, 22. Currently studying in, Florida Jennifer released her debut EP entitled "The Crystal Hours" in November, 2017. Since then, she has collaborated with film directors and fellow musicians, having maintained steady airtime on Internet radio shows.
 


 

This blog post is mainly for artists, but much of it can be applied to songwriters.... although generally scaled down a little.
 
As an indie, this is perhaps one of the most fundamental questions.
 
Realistically there are some major constraints in place:
 
Lack of budget Poor contacts Poor tools, or awareness of their need Poor knowledge Poor use of actual assets (sometimes even knowing what is an asset and what is not) No team  
The sad truth is, that the lower your budget, the more you rely upon contacts, tools, knowledge, good use of assets and a good team.
 
The fact that many don't have good contacts, tools, knowledge etc. is not a reason to continue to do nothing. It should be the alarm call that slaps you about the face and pushes you work hard and work smart, every single day.
 
In Indie-land, there is no magical success fairy. No one will swoop in, wave a wand and solve all your problems. Frustratingly, it appears that many artists are happy to wait for such a fairy. They only realise the fairy isn’t going to arrive when years have passed, they are playing similar gigs to years before and still few people know they exist.
 
As an indie, The buck stops with you. There is no hiding behind “we have no money” or “we didn’t get the opportunities”.
 
Work smarter, and harder.
 
Luckily you come to Songstuff for your information and support.

Read the full blog post...

http://bit.ly/2syzpBL
 
 
 
 

What does everyone think of this - do you see it as a game changer for independent artists releasing their own music?
 
http://www.wired.co.uk/article/blockchain-disrupting-music-mycelia?utm_content=buffer5c442&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

I have created an area within the Electric Knights club for anyone who is an electronic/synth genre artist to post their music for review and inclusion within the Electric Knights Featured Artist/Song blog.

 
I have created an area within the Electric Knights club for anyone who is an electronic/synth genre artist to post there music for review and inclusion within the Electric Knights Featured Artist/Song blog.
 
 

Hello!
I understand that a lot of members here are very serious about their music, whether they are in it professionally or as a hobby. I’m really interested to know the story behind your drive to pursue music in the way you are. Was it an obvious thing all along? Or a light-bulb moment? Or a case of “I don’t know.. let me give it a try.. viola, it’s working!” Or something else?
I’m not trying to be an interviewer here   But as I search for more clarity about my own place in music, it would really help to know your little stories. It could possibly inspire some others, too.
Thanks
Sreyashi/Sumi

Hi gang
 
Give your own description, no googling or pulling from another site or book, no plagiarising...
 
Your description should include a definition of “refrain”, a description of “chorus”, and how they relate to each other.
 
As an incentive, the best answer wins 10,000 displays of a banner ad for their music (finished songs, artist page, iTunes listing, or lyrics / music only page for lyricists or instrumentalists/composers) on the Songstuff community.
 
The selected winner (as selected by me) can submit their banner should be supplied in two sizes...
 
720x90 and 468x60
 
This opportunity will close on Monday at 00:01am.
 
Have fun
 
Cheers
 
John

I thought I would use this place to give an idea of what I am hoping to achieve over the coming year in relation to music releases.
 
Currently I have one single released on 01/12/2017 - Heroes which is currently featured on this site.
 
I have a second single - Beyond The Veil - ready for release, but I am trying to identify a list of songs at the moment that I can use with BTV for an EP and future EP's. I have an idea of each EP having around four songs, two being a bit more upbeat, one slower and one instrumental. I want to have this list before tying myself down to a release date for BTV, as I hope to have them releasing on a regular basis after that.
 
At the moment, I am reworking three of my older tracks, which I see as tracks for the EP's. One of them is 'I Will Not Surrender', which is the song I previously recorded with a producer. I am now trying to make it sound more inline with the other songs.
 
I am hoping the first EP will be the first quarter of this year, with another to follow each quarter after that. Well that's the plan.
 
Speak soon.
 
Cheers.
 
Richard

Hannah Clive
Remember To Breathe
Out Now
 
This is a song I heard last night on Chris Watts inthemoog radio station on NCCR and immediately thought I needed to feature.
 
Hannah Clive is a versatile multi-genre artist and has been around the scene for a few years now, having released music back in 2012 and a self-entitled EP in 2016, which contained the single "Kiss of Life". She has been a BBC Introducing in London artist and has sang with Ray Charles at the age of 17. For more information, please visit her website at www.hannahclive.com.
 
Remember to Breathe isn't your typical Electronic style, as it combines a touch of Country and Singer/Songwriter to the mix, but the song stands on it's own and benefits greatly from her musical influences, which include Kate Bush. My first thought upon hearing this song last night, was I could imagine Kate Bush sitting at the piano, singing this song and this was before I realised she was one of Hannah's influences. The piano melody is wonderful and echoes the hauntingly beautiful feeling you get when you hear Kate Bush playing along to one of her songs.
 
The lyrics are also wonderful and have a 'Torch Song' kind of thing going on, which just adds to the whole package.
 
The instrumentation and production on this track are excellent and wouldn't feel out of place playing on a TV programme or film.
 
If you haven't heard of Hannah or this song, I would advise you to do so.
 
The single artwork is by one of the members of (IAM)WARFACE, who are friends of Hannah and who I hope to have as next week's featured song.
 
Link to iTunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/remember-to-breathe-single/1313261460
 
 

Sombremoon
Blurred Reality
Out Now
 
Sombremoon are Steve Loxley and Amanda Jane Rogers, a synth based duo that I heard about just after joining Twitter again this year.
 
Steve and Amanda met on Twitter in 2014 and have attended several gigs together, as they have a similar musical interest. In 2015, they released a song called Recovery as Ds73 featuring Amanda, which was well received on Soundcloud. As a result of this they decided to form a band for their next work together.
 
Their first single release was a fantastic piece of synthpop called Blurred Reality, which was released in 2017. It has the feeling of Depeche Mode and OMD fused together, but with a female singer. Amanda's vocal harks back to the kind of vocal you could only hear in the late 70's / early 80's, which is a lovely change to all the wailing you hear in songs nowadays. The music is infectious, with a strong melody and a lovely use of instrumentation. This song was an immediate purchase for me as it had everything I love about synth based music.
 
Since that initial release, the duo have been releasing remixed versions of the track all done by my producer Mark Kendrick (aka Fused), which take in a different range of styles from OMD to Erasure. The remixes add a different dimension to what is already a solid track and should definitely be on anyone's list to listen to and put on repeat.
 
Sombremoon are currently working on their next single called Hereafter, which I have been lucky enough to have heard a demo of and it is another excellent track in the making. They are hoping to release this song in the coming months and it will contain a rework of the Recovery track.
 
Sombremoon are active on Twitter and can be heard on the majority of internet based radio shows.
 
Link to iTunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/blurred-reality-single/1296511863
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/blurred-reality-re-fused-single/1321159124
 
 

Hi all

I am looking for various instrumentalists to help finish off a rock opera that is 97% done. Just need a few bit parts that are currently synthesizers to be recorded with real instruments if possible. Looking for flute, harp, violin/viola, and open to other instruments. I will provide guide tracks, bed music, and sheet music (if requested...you are open to interpret the music how you see fit). You must be able to record independently, and then send me an isolated WAV (or MP3) track of your instrument, and I will add it to the master tracks. The songs will serve as a soundtrack to a long-form video, and you will be given credit. message me if interested.

This is a song called Get Well Reasonably Soon by my band Head Of Light Entertainment. We always get labelled as quirky. I've no idea why!!
 
 

Man With Glasses
A Weak Tomorrow
Release date: 22/12/2017
 

Hi all.
 
I have set up The Electric Knights Club as a place for all like-minded persons, whether musicians or just enthusiasts to join, hang around and discuss anything electronic music related. We can discuss upcoming music releases, plugins, synths etc, or any topics that might interest you.
 
From humble beginnings I hope it will grow into something great.
 
Cheers
 
Richard

Jigsaw Sequence - Richard Tracey

Interview with Richard about Jigsaw Sequence and his new single, "Heroes"

http://bit.ly/2jla4E8

Interview with Geraint Luff about his latest album "Fairytales and Fears"

http://bit.ly/2ArUsZ8

Inthemoog radio show will debut 2 members songs tomorrow 29/11/2017 from 1900 to 2200 hours GMT.
Jenn will have Hidden Nightmares played
Richard will have Heroes played
Please tune in to the show to show support for indie artists.
@chriswatts1965
@NCCRradio

Hello everyone.
 
I was just thinking. It’s getting close that time of year again (the older I get, the closer it’s seems to get every year) and I thought I would ask all the members, what you would like for Xmas this year (not from me or SongStuff I might add). 
 
Now, we will keep it specific to music and keep it clean.
 
But if you were to get that one thing music related from Xmas, what would it be?
 
 
For me it would be the Omnisphere 2 synth plugin. This is like the holy grail of synth plugins, but is never reduced in price and I just can’t justify it to myself. So if I wanted anything for Xmas, it would be for my family to chip in together and buy it for me.
 
Now you........