SHR4C004M-003 Song Prod. & Write Up Template
Task 1: Three Minute Song Production (70%)
Task 2: 1000 Word Write-Up (30%)
Lyrics:
We had our time
But it slipped away
Like a forgotten song
Just one more time
I wish I could go back to then
Right back to when we were young
Right back to when we were young
Unspoken words
Sparks burnt out
I wanna tell you
I wish I could go back to then
I wish I could go back to then
It slipped a way
Like a forgotten song
Just one more time
I wish I could go back to then
I wish I could go back to then
I wish I could go back to then
Process:
I originally wrote this song as an instrumental, however I thought it’d be perfect for this assignment task. Having written this song previously, I also hadn’t been focused on sampling, so I wanted something to compliment the track, rather than completely alter it.
The track takes inspiration from alternative/indie electronic music such as LCD Soundsystem, New Order, Arcade Fire, and Air. While it is reminiscent of older styles of this genre, I try to have a modern take on it, with soulful vocals and angsty lyrics that perhaps a lot of the younger generation can resonate with.
I started with the arpeggiated piano part, taking inspiration from LCD Soundsystem’s ‘All My Friends’. I then layered lots of percussion using Logic drum machines. After this I added a heavily distorted bass synth to contrast the clean sounding piano, which was a stock Logic synth that I manipulated due to it having a slightly de-tuned layer that I wanted to change. The piece had a feeling of a machine/train moving so I added percussion parts that resembled steam coming out of a machine. During mixing, by adding a reverb to one of the snares I created a drone effect that matched the tonal qualities of the track.
I wrote the lyrics about growing apart from a close friend after moving to different cities. After writing them, I sung a quick demo of the vocals over the track so that the person I got to sing it could learn the melody that I wanted. I conducted some research into what microphone techniques LCD Soundsystem used and James Murphy prefers to add the higher frequencies in via EQ rather than from a microphone and that he uses the Senheiser MD409 (Wyeth, 2023) so I chose the AKG 414 to record my vocals, which has a slight roll off in the higher frequencies. When mixing, I used the phat FX plugin to add a bit of grit and depth to the vocals, and added the higher frequencies in EQ. I also used the vintage opto compressor to bring some of the quieter parts forward in the mix. I also sent it to two separate reverb busses, panning one hard left and the other hard right. My vocalist also added some improvisatory harmonies, that I later layered and added Space Designer reverb to. I also added these harmonies to a vocoder which I layered and panned one hard left and the other hard right.
When choosing a vocalist, I decided on someone that would be good on both the more spoken style at the start, and also the reprise of the opening verse which is more sung. I believe the vocalist I chose was a good decision due to his input on my track with the added harmonies and alteration of my melody, as seen in the last vocal line for example.
Sampling:
I chose to sample a synthesised percussion part from LCD Soundsystem’s ‘All My Friends’, and I used Logic’s multi-sampler to manipulate it.
I pitched the sample down using the mapping section to match the tonal qualities of my track and used a filter to take some of the piercing high frequencies out. I wanted to keep the processing limited as I didn’t want it to overpower the track. Again, I was looking for a sample to compliment my track, rather than it be the main focus.
Here is the final sample I used.
Commercial potential:
Due to the current rise of indie/dance electronic artists such as Charli XCX, The Dare, Fat Dog and George Clanton, my composition would succeed commercially in this fast growing genre. This rise in popularity is clear with Charli XCX, a now renown electronic artist, recently selling out a residency at New York’s Barclays Center Arena, alongside a spot at Coachella with clips of her performance going viral on the internet, with trending dance videos to her music. Her music is extremely accessible from a pop viewpoint, making it the perfect introduction to electronic music for people. In addition, her most recent album ‘Brat’ has gained hundreds of millions of streams on Spotify. She currently has 7.9 million followers on Instagram.
Previously smaller electronic artists such as George Clanton are now gaining traction and a larger fan base due to the rise of Charli. George Clanton recently released a collaboration album with TV girl, a much more popular artist with twenty one million monthly listeners on Spotify. This collaboration has gained Clanton over one and a half million monthly listeners and millions of streams.
This is trend in electronic music further cememted by the revival of older electronic artists from the past such as LCD soundsystem, Orbital and Justice, who are all currently touring. The popularity of these artists is clear when you see instances such as LCD Soundsystem’s eight date Brixton Academy residency that is mostly sold out. This shows that this genre of electronic music is still relevant, exposing it to a new younger audience. My song brings elements from older electronic music, giving it a new youthful twist with elements of soul in the vocals.
LCD Soundsystem’s ‘All My Friends’ currently has eighty two million streams on spotify (Spotify, 2025), and 1.4 million views on the YouTube music video (LCD Soundsystem, 2017), with one million streams of their performance of it at Glastonbury last year (BBC Music, 2024).
In conclusion, I believe my song could be a commercial success due to the rise of electronic/indie music due to newer artists such as Charli XCX reinventing the genre for a new audience, and older artists’ revival such as LCD Soundsystem.
References
Wyeth, S (2023) North American Scum: How To Sound Like LCD Soundsystem https://www.gearnews.com/north-american-scum-how-to-sound-like-lcd-soundsystem/ (Accessed 7 May 2025)
Spotify, (2025) LCD Soundsystem. https://open.spotify.com/artist/066X20Nz7iquqkkCW6Jxy6 [Accessed 7 May 2025].
LCD Soundsystem (2017). LCD Soundsystem – All My Friends (Official Video). [online] YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aygY5OqMuKE [Accessed 7 May 2025].
BBC Music (2024). LCD Soundsystem – All My Friends (Glastonbury 2024). [online] YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqxRFxseT98 [Accessed 7 May 2025].
