2024-MAR-01 Info: Check out Songwriting Competition 079 if you're into "Synthwave" music making.

SONGWRITING COMPETITION - SWC068 April 2023 - Winners announced

Thematic Songwriting Competition - recurrence: monthly
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Mister Fox
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SONGWRITING COMPETITION - SWC068 April 2023 - Winners announced

#1

Post by Mister Fox »

Hello and welcome to the Songwriting Competition 068 - April 2023



:information_source: BEFORE WE GET STARTED:
  • Please consult the official and very simple "Rules and Guidelines" (TL;DR version) for the Songwriting Competition regarding principles of the game, it's engaging game mechanics (allowed editing/re-submission of your entry until the deadline has been reached) and upload/submission guidelines.
  • The general idea of this game is to "...just make music", to also challenge yourself by stepping a bit out of your comfort zone, and take a dip at realms you've never worked in before. Instrumentals are just as welcome as productions with vocals.
  • The Genre and "Premise" of this months challenge can be found in in post #002
  • Filename Template (NEW): SWC068__ArtistName__TrackName.wav and/or .mp3
Read more about this month's competition further down below. And if you got any question, please also reach out on Discord.



.
:arrow_right: SONGWRITING COMPETITION THREAD INDEX

Post #001 -- Introduction post and index for the various stages of the Songwriting Competition. Will be updated as we progress
Post #002 -- Submission Period: General Information, Source Material, Sponsors
Post #003 -- Cheat Sheet: A couple of examples / audio demos for this month's challenge (limited if genre is "free to select")
Post #038 -- Voting: Summarized entries and start of voting process
Post #067 -- Results: Results of the Songwriting Competition
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SONGWRITING COMPETITION - SWC068 April 2023 - Submissions until 24-04-2023 23:59 UTC+2/CEST

#2

Post by Mister Fox »

CURRENT CHALLENGE - GENERAL INFORMATION

Time Frame: Saturday, 01st April 2023 to Monday, 24th April 2023 (24 days)

Challenge submission will end on 24-APR-2023, 23:59 UTC+2/CEST (Germany) - until further notice.

Want to find out if you're still within the deadline, please either consult the Global Countdown (dedicated page), or the countdown on the landing site. There will also be short reminders on Social Media and on Discord. Does the game time frame feel too long? Why not set a personal shorter one of 5-7 days absolute max to push yourself to focus on the essentials, then use the rest of the time to ask for feedback and possible refinements. :idea:



SONGWRITING THEME: "Postcards" (Picture Theme)
GENRE: free to select


Image
Image Source: Pixabay (via Pexels), released under Creative Commons CC0



A few word about this month's theme:
Staff (Mister Fox) wrote: We're having a "Picture Theme" this month.

There will be no extensive brief with twists and turns. Please have a look, get inspired by both the image and the theme, let your mind wander for a bit. Then start writing. :pencil2: :musical_keyboard: :notes:


EDIT 12-APR-2023 -- a short explanation of the concept of this month's game:

The general idea is to draw inspiration from the picture. However do not solely fixate on that particular photo and it's details alone. Rather focus on the "overarching concept". It could be plain postcards with short conversations, it could be souvenirs, it could be something from a beloved person which carries a lot of memories.

How you interpret that photo and the given theme, is up to you.
.



Your task for this Songwriting Competition:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This month, you can create a production in any music genre you feel like.

You set your own parameters and limitations, e.g. style and genre, melodic questions and counter arguments. As long as you don't exceed 10 minutes of runtime, neither have endless padded out repetition. Please keep us listeners engaged. And as usual - vocals are optional. Don't feel pressured to provide any.


Just make music!
And I hope you'll have fun this month. :headphones:


Songwriting Rule Summary / Add-On Rules:
► Show Spoiler

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


:arrow_right: LICENSE SPONSORS (Bonus Prizes):

A huge thank you goes to our very generous License Sponsors for this month's game. Those being (in alphabetical order):

Cherry Audio, Ghostwave Audio, Hollow Sun, Hornet Plugins, IK Multimedia, JRR Sounds, kv331 audio, Luftrum, Musiclab, Rekkerd Sounds, satyatunes - Sound / Graphic Design, and Tone2.


A detailed list of offerings can be found in the following information block.
► Show Spoiler
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Good luck to all participants.
And most importantly, have fun!
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SONGWRITING COMPETITION - SWC068 April 2023 - Submissions until 24-04-2023 23:59 UTC+2/CEST

#3

Post by Mister Fox »

AUDIO EXAMPLES:
---------------------

Articles and Info Pages:

A great starting point is the "Addendum"/Supplementary thread for the Songwriting Competition
Songwriting Competition - Addendum: Music Maps and BPM Charts

Since the genre this month is "free to select", there are no clear pointers




Music examples (selection for inspiration, 00 videos):

No music examples available this month. But I can always recommend to enter random genre search words either into Youtube, Spotify or whatever music streaming services you prefer using.
.



Please also check in with the following threads in the the Gear Talk sub-forum, if you're on the look-out for new tools:
Places to fuel your GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) (the starting point if you're in need of audio tools -- from free to affordable).


if you're new to/need help with songwriting - please check out the following tools:
► Show Spoiler

More tools of the trade
► Show Spoiler


UPDATED: 31-MAR-2023 05:10 UTC+2, updated 11-APR-2023 06:50 UTC+2
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Re: SONGWRITING COMPETITION - SWC068 April 2023 - Submissions until 24-04-2023 23:59 UTC+2/CEST

#4

Post by A Future in Noise »

Hi, I just thoght that I might reveal my strange nickmame: Hereit is. Not everyone has heard this record. I'm totally out of of inspiration. Maybe better tomorrow who knows. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aj_8oRKubpk
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SONGWRITING COMPETITION - SWC068 April 2023 - Submissions until 24-04-2023 23:59 UTC+2/CEST

#5

Post by Mister Fox »

A friendly reminder:
Including today, 14 days left to submit your production.

So far, we have 0 entries -- and barely any game interaction.



If you want to access the extended game mechanics of the Songwriting Competition (asking for feedback during production), please try to release your first edits within the next 7 days to have enough time to get possible feedback (if needed/wanted) and continue to work on your song.

And to those sitting on the fence - please don't feel scared off and think "the bar is set too high, I will never make it" - set yourself a shorter private deadline. Just make music, submit your entry, join the conversation. See where this goes.

By joining, you're already a winner. The rest is bonus. :tu:
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Re: SONGWRITING COMPETITION - SWC068 April 2023 - Submissions until 24-04-2023 23:59 UTC+2/CEST

#6

Post by A Future in Noise »



The postcard above is (obviously) the one I was inspired by.

Equipment used:

Electric guitar: BurnOut. (Origin: Unclear.) Acoustic guitar: Cort AD 810.

DAW: REAPER

Modo bass, modo drums, NI Kontakt Player Organ, Blue3 Organ.

Some other free drumsamples from the Internet imported into Shortcircuit.

NadIR cabinet from Ignite amps with IR-files from the internet (Ampeg V4-B Custom 4x12, mtg-2).

Independence Free delay and low cut filter. Two times Reverberate LE and IR files from Samplicity. Tube Amp from Voxengo. Hybrit ampsim from Le Pou. JS transient controller.

EQ: ReaEQ (Cockos) and TR5 EQ-81 (IK Multimedia)

What's Expected From Me

Verse1:
I admit, a bad habit
trying to get it all
to simply grab it
run and never fall
they made me feel small

Verse2:
Some champagne and a limo
it was my only call
when me and Timo
met outside the mall
an evening that ...
[Prechorus]
fall
an event to be forgotten
to remember?

Chorus1:
Just outside my window
they are playing
somehow I feel it's against the law
still it happens
every day
I wonder what's expected from me?

Verse3:
I have a foot shackle, baby
but I'm rather tall
I think that maybe
I'll make it to the hall
so no Summer ...
[Prechorus]
Ball
masquerades are not my business
I'm (much) too honest!

Chorus2:
Just outside my window
they are playing
somehow I feel it's against the law
still it happens
every day
and
I know what was expected ...

Bridge:
… from me
Maybe I will get released
soon
surely
my name will be carved
in a stone

[Chorus (instrumental)]
Last edited by A Future in Noise on Mon Apr 24, 2023 10:12 CEST, edited 14 times in total.
_StillBorn
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Re: SONGWRITING COMPETITION - SWC068 April 2023 - Submissions until 24-04-2023 23:59 UTC+2/CEST

#7

Post by _StillBorn »

Super stupid question but havent attended one of these before.

Is this the picture, I am to get inspiration from? Or is it any postcard(s)?
Image
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Re: SONGWRITING COMPETITION - SWC068 April 2023 - Submissions until 24-04-2023 23:59 UTC+2/CEST

#8

Post by A Future in Noise »

_StillBorn wrote:
Tue Apr 11, 2023 15:36 CEST
Is this the picture, I am to get inspiration from? Or is it any postcard(s)?
:phones:
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Re: SONGWRITING COMPETITION - SWC068 April 2023 - Submissions until 24-04-2023 23:59 UTC+2/CEST

#9

Post by The Exponent »

I have the same doubt as @_StillBorn. What's the theme? Is it this particular postcard picture or the word "postcards"?
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Re: SONGWRITING COMPETITION - SWC068 April 2023 - Submissions until 24-04-2023 23:59 UTC+2/CEST

#10

Post by The Exponent »

A Future in Noise wrote:
Tue Apr 11, 2023 15:31 CEST
These words came to me very quickly. No more than five minutes. The only problem is that I don't really know what the lyrics is about. Maybe it will become clear when I write (have to) write the lyrics for the verses (which don't even exist musically yet).

My main question: Is the lyrics for the chorus OK, or is it too weird?
I like the snippet you've posted! It doesn't sound weird at all, it flows well. Please do finish it, looking forward to it :hyper:
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