Mix Challenge

• Please consult the official "Rules and Guidelines" for the Songwriting Competition regarding principles of the game and upload/submission guidelines. As of August 2020, we have some more engaging game mechanics that allow you to submit your entry, gather feedback and then re-upload with enhancements until the deadline has been reached
• IMPORTANT: please use the following naming convention for your productions (artist name = forum username):
  • SWC000_ArtistName_TrackName.wav and/or .mp3
• IMPORTANT: if you only submit your production through Soundcloud, name your files properly prior to uploading and make the production downloadable. The forum can also convert your links into a Soundcloud player through the [soundcloud] BBcode from the text editor (orange square with a white cloud in it)

Staff (Mister Fox) wrote:September somewhat established as a "Mental Health Awareness Month" on our audio community. And just like the "Community Scramble", I would like to keep certain fixed "themes" throughout the year. I find that it is important to talk about these health related issues, not brush them away, not stigmatize them. September is also world wide "Suicide Prevention Month", so I'd love to keep up the conversation.


The year 2020 has been a very strange ordeal for all of us. On top of our ever growing world problems (global warming, nature disasters, etc), we also got a global pandemic, saw plenty of restrictions especially towards beloved ones, lockdowns of areas lasting for several weeks, continued "social distancing". While certain media groups pushed the narrative of "we can do this!" (especially the music industry), that doesn't mean one is getting out of this without any lasting effects. Especially towards one's mental health.


There has been a certain trend for the Songwriting Competition this year, which manifested in form of a request for more relaxed music, or chill-out rather. Something where you can just sit back, relax, and let your mind wander. The world is currently chaotic enough, and music does help with escapism and healing.

A thing that is currently huge on streaming services like Youtube and Spotify righ, is the so called "Lofi Hip Hop" genre, some might even call it "Chillhop". To the majority of the audience, it is advertised as "relaxation music" and "music for learning". And strangely enough - it works (at least for me - if I have to write long texts like this one), especially if you look at the comments of these streams that are about personal struggles in various shapes and forms. There are plenty of names for this particular genre, plenty of people that will probably dissect it. Music is highly subjective and the lines are thin. But at it's essence, it is basically "Downbeat" music. Just less ambient heavy pads and with a more relaxed hip hop beat. I've posted plenty of examples (like usual) down below in Post #3.

You might be asking "what? Hip Hop music again? Didn't we have this in July already?!", and you're definitely right. But the main criticism here was, that people were forced to rap, while our community shows an affinity towards instrumentals still. The Chill-Out Songwriting Competition in May 2020 was really well taken. So why not fuse these two genres and try something new?




Your task for this Songwriting Competition:
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This month, you can create a production in the so called "Lo-fi Hip Hop" genre

Lo-fi Hip Hop has it's roots in "Downtempo" music (umbrella term, which also covers "Chill-out music"), but is fused with a more mellow beat (in this case hip hop beats). The overall concept is to relax, chill out, put your mind off of things. If you listen to various examples from all over the internet, you will hear fairly simplistic chord progressions, a lot of piano and/or acoustic guitars, sometimes even clean electric guitars and barely any vocals or voice samples. I've heard a lot of bpm variations, but most of them are between 60 to 90bpm (half-time).

"Lo-fi Hip Hop" can sound "wobbly" and "worn out" in places (as if run from old tapes and/or a VHS), but the overall package is still quite modern and "hi-fi" sounding. It is not(!) "Vaporwave" though, where there is more focus on synths and pads, glitching and worn out VHS tapes. These genres are a so called "micro-genre". People will interpret them as they seem fit. So you have to go by your gut instinct - perfect for this month IMO.




This month is about spreading awareness of mental health

Feel free to share the word via social media with the hashtags:
#MentalHealth and #PositiveMentalAttitude



Important Footnote:

If you know of somebody that is suffering from depression, showing signs of self harm or having suicidal thoughts - don't look away, do not lock this person out. Reach out, re-connect, offer help - and may it only be an ear that listens to a story. If you know of somebody that is suffering anxiety or is showing signs of severe introversion, don't pressure this person, be mindful and understanding, give him/her enough space if needed.

Never ever treat this person with disrespect or shrug away a subliminal cry for help. It is hard to judge how a person's mind works, sometimes the person you try to help is locking you out or will brush you away. Sometimes you could be bombarded with walls of texts or unexpected outbursts. The walls could be thick, they could be paper thin. Every single word can be measured in gold without you knowing. Be patient, be kind, just... be there.

If in doubt, contact local aid agencies that are specialized in this field.

• create a production fitting to the given theme, genre and general premise
• you can use any tool that is at your disposal (samples, virtual instruments and/or real instruments)
• IMPORTANT: if you use non-licensed material (no royalty free material from sample CDs, etc), give full credit to the source material
• do not go higher than -14LUFS ILk/-1dBTP in terms of perceived loudness (mastering). Music doesn't have to be squashed to bits in order to be impactful
• for newcomers: no cover versions or remixes, no ripped acapella's
• ADD-ON RULES:
  • <no add-on rules specified>

canese wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 07, 2020 00:10 CEST

This it's what I got so far: https://www.dropbox.com/s/b7fb5u4w9p0d8 ... l.mp3?dl=0

canese wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 07, 2020 00:10 CEST

Now, this is more suitable for me. Last month competition was tough and I didn't manage to get a song that I liked. But it seems my vibe is more towards chill sounds. I created this starting from drums and I had this melody in my head and just stacked more instruments around it. This it's what I got so far: https://www.dropbox.com/s/b7fb5u4w9p0d8 ... l.mp3?dl=0

Bass is a Massive preset with just distortion.
Guitar and piano are from Nexus 2
Electric guitar it's from Fl Studio plugin.
Drum kit are from stacked samples.
Bells and pads are from massive and Sakura from FL Studio.

Ty for listening