Songwriting Project unit 9
Lift Me Up Demo
Finn and I started to write this song at the end of the summer, we recorded a little demo where we experimented with structure and effects such as reverb, delay, and overdubbing vocals. Everything you hear vocal wise is my natural voice, we really wanted to write something that really exposed my range and I believe we have achieved this though the demo. We discarded the song for a month because it's so different from anything we have written before and we believed that it was almost a Pop ballad rather than the neo soul inspired tracks we had been writing before; now we have agreed to take the song back into the studio and completely transform it using a combination of elements from jazz, soul, and other genres. I am also not a major fan of the lyrics from the 2nd verse, I definitely have written better so will rewrite them, there are also no lyrics in the chorus which I was meant to write but have decided that it completely works without them.
A Love Sublime
This project was a complete experiment which started with simple chords followed by a vocoder plugin that my friend and I found on Ableton, we sampled a 'snip it' from a very old record which loops throughout, and used a reverse piano plugin for extra effect.I then used a loop pedal for my vocals and jammed some lyrics/melody ideas which developed into a poetic verse in which I recorded, then overdubbed and added lots of harmonies for an angelic chorus effect. The Interlude builds up with a whole lot of reverb and swooping sound effects, we then added a simple kick drum which we felt really added to the tension of the track; there is also a sustained organ which is very low in the mix which I added by accident but feel that it's really works so have decided to keep. I feel that this project really related to the ‘lift me up’ song that myself and Finn have been writing as it is quite abstract, electronic and futuristic.
Reference Tracks:
‘Is It Cold In The Water?’ by SOPHIE
is a song that I feel relates to both tracks as it is very electronic and atmospheric. The Vocalist really uses her range and head voice in the song which is what I have done in Both songs. The sub bass I feel really makes the song and I definitely think ‘Lift Me Up’ could do with a deep sub bass and more electronic elements. I also really love how the track builds tension and has decorative elements that fade in and out throughout the track.
The lyrics are simple but so effective and that is what I have tried to create in "A love Sublime" focusing more on the music and arrangement.
The High- kelela
Again this track is completely electronic and is from an album that I have been listening on repeat for about 2 years, it has definitely inspired me from its sparseness and raw vocal with touches of delay, harmonising, reverb and other vocal effects. I Love how the electronic sounds almost move around the vocals. The delay on the kick throughout the song really adds to the production.
Ive also been completely inspired by kelela's lyric writing and the way she words everyday life in such a poetic form.
Under Your spell
"Your spell"started off lyrically and then I found 4 chords that really worked with the melody in my head. I always find that I work better when I start a song lyrically rather than musically but I took the lyrics and chord progression to my keys player Finn and we both developed it from there and gave the song structure. The lyrics are very personal to me and I wasn’t quite sure what I was writing about until I had written the song. It is about being completely Infatuated by someone rather than being in love with them, in a way that is mentally unhealthy and isolating, I don’t want to give the whole story away as I would prefer for people to interpret the lyrics in their own way as that is how I like to connect with a song.
The next step for Finn and I is to take the project to the studio, which I am really excited about doing as the lyrics are really special to me, I would like to keep the song as sparse as possible to really focus on the vocals and lyrics. I hope to add the finished product to my FMP at the end of the college year.
Reference Tracks:
Avenue- H.E.R
Avenue will definitely be one of our reference tracks when we take Under Your Spell into the studio. I am a massive fan about how the vocals are layered in this song.
I think the use of delay is beautiful, and I love how the song builds for the start of the verses then climaxes in its own way in the chorus. I think the layered piano and synth is really effective.
I also love the vocal transformer that is mixed quietly under the Vox it makes the vocals sound more whole. There are a few decorative elements such as the snare and shaker that comes in just before the chorus and stops after the chorus ends.
​
​
UNder Your Spell
​
I am drowning
In your sweet sweet talk
Your passion intwined in me
Submersed in the moment
Can you feel my heart strings
Twisted now unraveling
Educate my feeling
my mind won't stop reeling
confused but its appealing
to you
And Im lost
Immersed by you
And I'm adrift
Under your spell
Under your spell
Under your spell
​
I am blinded
By your lies, its frustrating
That I can't see you're controlling me
Submersed in the moment
Can you feel my heart strings
Twisted now unraveling
​
Educate my feelings
my head won't stop reeling
frustrated but its appealing
to you
​
And Im lost
Immersed by you
And I'm adrift
Under your spell
Under your spell
Under your spell
​
​
​