SONGWRITING COMPETITION - SWC091 March 2025 - results in preparation

[Mister Fox]

A quick update:

Since I saw some of you not giving feedback to @Soni2Music, and nobody said a word about this, I went back to the Song Collection post to check on the entries.

Turns out that the entry was removed from SoundCloud, and the user in question didn't respond any further, despite vising the community forum in the afternoon on 25th. Since we've ran into these issues before, I made backups of entries beforehand and are temporarily providing an alternative download to at least give this entry a fair listen. Please check the Song Collection post again.

I've also reached out on Discord and via Email, to ask why this decision was made and why there was no further communication / participation. If I don't hear back by Saturday, 29th March, I will move this entry into the "Bonus Entries" section.


Those of you that already posted feedback:

Considering that the missing entry is accessible again, you're free to add to your feedback post if you want.

In fact... I kindly ask you (the participant) to add some more feedback than "sounds good, I like ABC" (as mentioned in this post and the full Rule Book). Please also invest the time to at least write 2-3 sentences about what you learned this month (personal reflection) -- this is part of the game mechanic.

You can add these changes to your post until the deadline of the Feedback and Voting Period has been reached (01-APR-2025 23:59 UTC+2/CEST).


And please add documentation to your entry post (as in: what synths/samples did you use - you can add more if you want, but you don't need to post every individual FX plugin).



Thank you for your time.

[Chasey24]

1)
In other words, it was not a place I should have participated in.

I hope this can be translated from English well. First, I'm glad you participated in this competition. Second, I really like your composition, especially the piano parts. Lastly, I will tell you something I've learned from experience in life, and from my relatively brief experience in composing music. If you really enjoy doing something like songwriting or anything else artistic, such as painting; the only way to develop your skills and get better is to keep doing it and keep learning. I'm not a great composer, but if I keep composing and learning, I will get better. For example, I was recently listening to some music I had composed from four years ago, and I heard incredible improvement from then to now. I guess my point is this: if you like writing music, this is a great place to participate and you belong here.

[Strange]

And to be honest, I was very surprised (and a bit shocked) with the fact that some would love to hear lyrics on top. What I created is miles away from a „real“ hip hop beat/production. I don’t see myself or anyone rapping to this type/style of production. This is just background music with a similar character as lofi beats, just with polished and clean sounds. Heck, what I produced is not even a beat you would want to freestyle. On the other hand, I imagine a r&b singer would fit, because of the slow tempo.
I would recommend you to dive deeper into hip hop and urban music in general to get a better feeling on how to separate the different niches and styles if you find the time and have interest, of course.

Hey man, genres are only borders in the mind of people who needs Drawers in their head. Do what you like or do the unexpected. I like your beat!

[EatMe]

.. some said my entry needed more melody ..

.. I hope you guys understand what I want to say with this. ..

The material given for the competition to use was so unharmonious and a melody would never make any good with the given chord sequence material.
So I'm very glad that you did not even try, and kept it with the chords. It would have disturbed more than make it good earcandy.

I understand about composing and playing melodies, yes, but that's with a composition of something more suitable for a melody...
Example jazz with 1 sample instruments: EatMe - Surplus.mp3
project file for Renoise of Surplus: https://mega.nz/#!VyARyDRZ!f-AQwWz8fFYw ... uTF9CIARvw

Kbai.

[Marc Fey]

First, many thanks to Mister Fox for this challenge and all the work that goes with it.
Secondly, very happy to be part of this community and to have finally been able to participate.
Great tracks here, nice job everyone, not easy to choose...

FEEDBACK:

► Show Spoiler

To begin, sorry for the comments to come which could not be technically right, I'm only a hobbyist... I listen more with my feelings.

alphageeks: nice track with many changes in the arrangement, so it's never boring. The chord progression is well respected.
I like the piano parts which bring nice color but I find it undermixed, I'd like to hear it as the lead instrument. I guess the guitar noises are intended to bring realism but I find them too louds... Not a fan of the stutter effect at 1:34 but it's purely a matter of taste. Great job!

juhu: I really like your orchestral track, much improved from the R1! I can't imagine all the work involved, but it's impressive. The chord progression seems respected (hard to check each chord). Each instrument naturally finds its place, the mix seems good (I'm not a specialist), I don't mind the lack of drums. I can see this music in a 70s detective story as the end credits!

efemgie: I really think it's a well done track even it's not the style of music I listen to. I guess many automations must have been done, which give a great sense of movement! Pure energy for the whole day, or throughout the night, or both! It's a shame that the chord progression doesn't really start until around 2:00...

APi_ZZ: great track! At first listen, I was a bit worried by the clarinet, an instrument I don't like very much in general (who knows why?). But after listening to it, it doesn't bother me anymore! I really like the organ parts and the mix of all these instruments which don't necessarily go together. I rarely use choirs and you've inspired me to give it a try soon! The chord progression is well respected, the end is perhaps a bit abrupt but it's the challenge that makes it so.

EatMe: chord progression well respected too, four times the same but to my mind with not enough variation throughout the track, apart from the drums. Bass synth too distorted to my taste but I guess it's the style of music that makes it so. The end with a moving filter is original, it's a good idea. I like the french title!

EsteveCorbera: the structure is original with these mixed chord progressions! Many layers (too?) to begin, then some piano notes (same velocity?), then a synth for a long intro. The track really begins around 2:00 with a great arrangement, the drums are welcome here! Perhaps the piano melody could have been more developed... Nice job.

Soni2Music: I didn't have the time to listen your track before you delete it...

Strange: I love it, a really catchy song that follows the chord progression without the feeling it's the case! I think your voice is very right and the back vocals (from you?) are super efficient! Really great job, not much to say as for me it's near perfect (and like a fine tribute to Eric Clapton)! I just wish you'd provide the lyrics...

Mellow Browne: excellent track, nice chord progression even if it suits not entirely the challenge. I love all these vintage sounds, you have mixed them very well. And really great drums, sound recording is top, it's always good to here real instruments. Great vibe to relax!

Chasey24: I like your guitars, I find you really succeed to make them realistic (but I'm not a guitarist), more than mine anyway! I'm not a fan of the sort of mallets but it's just my taste. The bridge is welcome to breathe and reboot the end of the track.

Blang: Nice track, your classical guitar fits very well with this vibe and the contrast between it and the background synth works very well. Perhaps too short, maybe...

VCA-089: an excellent 80's track, very well produced! Very punchy with several themes, a lot of little details always make it captivating.
It's a shame that the chord progression is a bit forgotten but in another way that's what sets it apart!

ThomC: great cinematic track, I'm not an expert in this music genre but it's like the beginning of a big holywood film! I close my eyes and imagine... So sad that it's too short!

VOTE:

► Show Spoiler

1. Strange
2. juhu
3. Mellow Browne
4. VCA-089
5. Blang

SELF REFLECTION:

► Show Spoiler

I'd been wanting to participate in these challenges for a long time, and I finally took the plunge with a bit of time on my hands.
The theme was really fun. With its compositional limitations, I initially struggled to conceive of a track structure. I couldn't see how to finish it, hence the fade-out.
To keep it from being too repetitive, I actually created two different parts, doubled the tempo, and added melodies.
This gave me another opportunity to try creating realistic guitar parts using my plugins, I'm not sure I succeeded but I'm here to learn...
And perhaps I should have made a shorter track.
Anyway it was fascinating to see how a same chord progression could result in such different compositions!

[Marc Fey]

As expected, if your English is weak, you have to rely on translation tools, which makes the process complicated.
Also, the more conditions imposed at the start and end, the more you worry about them, and the less you can concentrate on making music.
In other words, it was not a place I should have participated in.

I'm a hobbyst like you and English is not my native language, like you.
It's my first challenge here, and it made me want to continue even though there is a gap between me and most of the other participants!
We are here to learn.

Please, reconsider your position and keep with us!

[Mister Fox]

Another quick update:

The entry by @Soni2Music has official been withdrawn.

The entry is no longer accessible to anybody (also on "kind request"). The entry can no longer be voted for. To those that gave extra feedback already, or those that edited in feedback - appreciated. Whether or not you gave feedback on this entry will not have an influence on the Bonus Point mechanic.

Apologies for the inconvenience.



This results in 13 active entries/users still in the game (from originally 14).
Including today, there are 5 days left for feedback/voting.


Please don't forget to update your posts with:
personal reflection, maybe some more fleshed out feedback, and your "entry submission" posts with at least rudimentary technical documentation.

[Koekepan]

The material given for the competition to use was so unharmonious and a melody would never make any good with the given chord sequence material.
So I'm very glad that you did not even try, and kept it with the chords. It would have disturbed more than make it good earcandy.

OK, weird, my previous response seems to have vanished.

Anyway, short version: The material was quite harmonious. In fact, with only a tiny exception (D major instead of D minor) it really stayed within the same key the whole time, and the progression was quite consistent with functional harmony, compatible with the Common Practice Era. Any fairly reasonable application of voice leading with appropriate rhythms would have been able to keep up. I don't know what you mean by it being unharmonious, but by any modern standard it was easy mode.

Please, do explain exactly how harmony and melody were difficult, because even the typical gavotte was more harmonically sophisticated, to say nothing of madrigals.

[Mellow Browne]

Hey man, genres are only borders in the mind of people who needs Drawers in their head. Do what you like or do the unexpected. I like your beat!

Hey Peter, you're absolutely right and I totally understand what you mean. I still think it is a good thing to "understand" and feel the differences/nuances between the various styles etc., especially when you are a music creator. It gives you more options and visions on how you can blend these things together.
Glad you like it!

[Strange]

Hey man, genres are only borders in the mind of people who needs Drawers in their head. Do what you like or do the unexpected. I like your beat!

Hey Peter, you're absolutely right and I totally understand what you mean. I still think it is a good thing to "understand" and feel the differences/nuances between the various styles etc., especially when you are a music creator. It gives you more options and visions on how you can blend these things together.
Glad you like it!

Yes, I agree!