2025-APR-01 Info: We've got two games this month! MC103 with a (German) Pop/Rock production, and SWC092 with a new picture theme.

SONGWRITING COMPETITION - SWC091 March 2025 - results in preparation

Thematic Songwriting Competition - recurrence: monthly
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Mister Fox
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SONGWRITING COMPETITION - SWC091 March 2025 - Submissions until 24-MAR-2025 23:59 UTC+1/CET

#41

Post by Mister Fox »

:arrow_right: A friendly reminder:
We're in the final 24 hours to submit your production.


Please get your production ready and submitted (through the forum) today.

To make it easier for me to create the collection post, please update your initial post with the appropriate links (final version), or explicitly mark your entry as "final entry". Please also don't forget to make your files accessible to download. Thank you.


This is especially directed at the newcomers to the community, and those that didn't participate in a while:
@alphageeks (check the filename template again, no technical documentation - you can use deepl.com as helper, which is a bit better than Google Translate)
@efemgie (check the filename template again, also your song revisions are scattered throughout the thread)
@Marc Fey (check the filename template again, especially the underscores)
@EatMe (check the filename template again)
@Soni2Music (entry not downloadable, filename template - you can change that inside SoundCloud, no documentation)
@Strange (entry not downloadable)

All this will not result in a disqualification, but bonus point reduction on the final score sheet. The only criteria to get disqualified from the Songwriting Competition, is by not participating in the final feedback / vote mechanic. More about that after the submission round has ended (25th March).

The filename template has been mentioned in post #002.



We have 10 entries so far (not counting withdrawn entries) :headphones:
We reached the mark to get our usual 3-position podium. If we manage to reach/exceed 15 entries, the podium can expand to 5 positions.

Looking forward to more entries throughout the day.
Chasey24
Posts: 20
Joined: Sat Mar 23, 2024 18:58 CET

Re: SONGWRITING COMPETITION - SWC091 March 2025 - Submissions until 24-MAR-2025 23:59 UTC+1/CET

#42

Post by Chasey24 »

Greetings and salutations,

I enjoyed composing with this chord progression. As a hobbyist, I always feel rushed to finish these competitions. But, I actually made it in time to submit this month(although I wish I had more time to polish the production...didn't have time to do any volume automation).
I attempted to give a little variation to the sixteen bar progression in some sections. All sixteen bars are used, except in the bridge section, where I only used the latter half. As far as the genre: I try not to focus in one genre, unless the occasion calls for a specific one. I guess I would call this soft rock or pop? All virtual instruments used - no vocals. For the intro, I happened across a unique pad in the Lunaris Kontakt instrument. One of the four voices is kind of de-tuned and delayed. I was going to mute that voice, but it grew on me the more I listened, so it's kind of a "happy accident".

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/r9ivofx5 ... qgfb3&dl=0
► Show Spoiler
Last edited by Chasey24 on Mon Mar 24, 2025 18:19 CET, edited 2 times in total.
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Mister Fox
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SONGWRITING COMPETITION - SWC091 March 2025 - Submissions until 24-MAR-2025 23:59 UTC+1/CET

#43

Post by Mister Fox »

Great to read that you could make it in time, @Chasey24.

Just as information - as with other participants, please do check your filename for white spaces and double underscores.
Strange
Posts: 38
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Re: SONGWRITING COMPETITION - SWC091 March 2025 - Submissions until 24-MAR-2025 23:59 UTC+1/CET

#44

Post by Strange »

Mister Fox wrote:
Mon Mar 24, 2025 00:19 CET
:arrow_right: A friendly reminder:
We're in the final 24 hours to submit your production.



This is especially directed at the newcomers to the community, and those that didn't participate in a while:
@alphageeks (check the filename template again, no technical documentation - you can use deepl.com as helper, which is a bit better than Google Translate)
@efemgie (check the filename template again, also your song revisions are scattered throughout the thread)
@Marc Fey (check the filename template again, especially the underscores)
@EatMe (check the filename template again)
@Soni2Music (entry not downloadable, filename template - you can change that inside SoundCloud, no documentation)
@Strange (entry not downloadable)
I added a download-link in my first post #39
Strange
Posts: 38
Joined: Fri Jun 14, 2024 07:32 CEST

Re: SONGWRITING COMPETITION - SWC091 March 2025 - Submissions until 24-MAR-2025 23:59 UTC+1/CET

#45

Post by Strange »

Mellow Browne wrote:
Sun Mar 23, 2025 23:06 CET
Hi,

here is my entry for this month:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PHvNpH ... share_link


To get a more hiphop/funk/r&b vibe I had to invert the chords and add a 7th. On a few occasions I even completely swapped the chords to get some variation. I tried to keep the band performance engaging and added some ear candy here and there.

Drums were recorded with a Zoom L-12 using a cheap Superlux microphone set, a SM57 clone as snare bottom and a Lewitt LCT 240 as Kick out.

Other instruments:
Bass: ModoBass 2
Piano: Arturia Piano V2
Wurlitzer: Arturia Wurli V2
Guitar: RealGMS
Synth: Pigments
Bell Melo: Pigments
Mello Flute: Arturia Mellotron
Organ Like: Arturia Farfisa
Hi MellowBrowne,

cool idea, reminds me of Warren G's "Regulate" from 1994. I'd like to hear your rhymes on this beat, maybe it needs a catchier hook.
Thanks for sharing and awsome to hear your life-drums.

cheers
Peter
Blang
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Re: SONGWRITING COMPETITION - SWC091 March 2025 - Submissions until 24-MAR-2025 23:59 UTC+1/CET

#46

Post by Blang »

Hi fellow music makers,

For this challenge I wanted to make a lofi hiphop beat. For that vibe I added a 7th to all the chords to make it more jazz-like. To get a nice base with some movement I added an arpeggiator to the midi chords and ran it through my analog synth (Behringer Pro-800) while tweaking the knobs. All notes are delayed a bit to give it this laidback, wonky feel in combination with the drums that have a slightly different groove; After that some pads through the same synth. Just so that I had enough structure to come up with a melody. My classical guitar turned out to work better for the melody than my more jazzy electric guitar; It creates nice contrast with the synthetic sounds.
It’s hard to make a 2 bar drum pattern not feel stale after a while. That’s why I played the bass more freely; doing about 4-5 takes throughout and then picking the best parts.
The beat is programmed with samples I recorded myself.

I hope you get some studying done with this one :P
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aleaHO ... sp=sharing
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VCA-089
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Re: SONGWRITING COMPETITION - SWC091 March 2025 - Submissions until 24-MAR-2025 23:59 UTC+1/CET

#47

Post by VCA-089 »

My submission: Ashes Of Time

WAV: https://drive.google.com/file/d/14hicW8 ... sp=sharing
MP3: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1J2VP1m ... sp=sharing

An 80's inspired synth-rock piece, as I thought that this chord progression would fit perfectly for this type of song.

It seems that I've misunderstood the rules about the chord progression (modified it quite drastically at some places). I realized it too late, when the main parts of the arrangement were done. I will leave it as it is.

Instruments and techniques:

1. The drums are a combination of samples from TR-707 and 505 drum machines.
2. The provided chord progression was used for the piano arrangement. The whole song was built around it. The main piano part is the SampleScience "Cinematic Piano" library. The chords and melody are separate instances processed differently. The chords are slightly EQed and compressed and the melody has a very strong modulation effect on it."Room Piano" used for the bass notes. Additionally, "Drone Piano" is a reversed and looped piano library that is playing the same chords as the main part, creating a sort of a synth-like pad.
3. The electric guitars are MusicLab's "RealLPC". Two instances for the rhythm and one for the solo. Processed with "TH-U" guitar suite, a typical 80's mid-gain guitar sound;
4. The main lead synthesizer is "Repro-5". A simple unison lead with glide;
5. "Dexed" is used for the bass part, synth-arp and SFX;
6. "PG-8X" is used for the bright synth-keys layered with piano chords;
7. FL Studio "FLEX" playing the sounds from the general MIDI library is used for the synth-choir and brass chords layered with the piano chords;
8. Some of the sounds from "Ocean Swift - Sounds Of Life" free sample library were used to create transition effects;
9. BPB "Dirty VHS" is a lo-fi effect switching on and off in some sections of the song (mainly in the breakdowns).

Technical details:
► Show Spoiler
alphageeks
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Re: SONGWRITING COMPETITION - SWC091 March 2025 - Submissions until 24-MAR-2025 23:59 UTC+1/CET

#48

Post by alphageeks »

Soni2Music wrote:
Sun Mar 23, 2025 14:40 CET
I really enjoyed the tropical imagery and bright melody. I think it's a really good song.
alphageeks
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Re: SONGWRITING COMPETITION - SWC091 March 2025 - Submissions until 24-MAR-2025 23:59 UTC+1/CET

#49

Post by alphageeks »

Strange wrote:
Sun Mar 23, 2025 22:31 CET
Hi,

I like this chord progression, thank you Mr.Fox.
As I started playing around with these chords they reminded me of Forever Man by Eric Clapton. So I started a funky souly version... it ended up here

I hope you like it.

Recorded during last week in my little homestudio:
DAW: Cubase 14
Drums: EZ Drummer 3
Piano: EZ KEys 2
Bass: Sandberg California II Umbo 5-string with UAD Apollo, Ampeg B15N
Guitars: Squire Strat, Sire Larry Carlton Les Paul with UAD Apollo, Fender deluxe Amp
Micro: slatedigital ML 1, U47-model

Sorry for the unconvenience, but I didn't use soundcloud for a while. Here you can get the download of the song:
https://os5.mycloud.com/action/share/a3 ... 9b375d7a20
The light melody and pleasant vocals were very good.
Great band sound.
alphageeks
Posts: 15
Joined: Thu Mar 06, 2025 01:07 CET
Contact:

Re: SONGWRITING COMPETITION - SWC091 March 2025 - Submissions until 24-MAR-2025 23:59 UTC+1/CET

#50

Post by alphageeks »

Mellow Browne wrote:
Sun Mar 23, 2025 23:06 CET
Hi,

here is my entry for this month:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PHvNpH ... share_link


To get a more hiphop/funk/r&b vibe I had to invert the chords and add a 7th. On a few occasions I even completely swapped the chords to get some variation. I tried to keep the band performance engaging and added some ear candy here and there.

Drums were recorded with a Zoom L-12 using a cheap Superlux microphone set, a SM57 clone as snare bottom and a Lewitt LCT 240 as Kick out.

Other instruments:
Bass: ModoBass 2
Piano: Arturia Piano V2
Wurlitzer: Arturia Wurli V2
Guitar: RealGMS
Synth: Pigments
Bell Melo: Pigments
Mello Flute: Arturia Mellotron
Organ Like: Arturia Farfisa
I felt that the melody had a very sophisticated, calm atmosphere.
It's a very good song with a rich development.
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