Short-Term Success (this semester) would mean getting my social media pages established and picking up attention.

I will know I'm successful by the metrics on social media, followers, views and through producing quality, easily consumable, content etc.

I see myself getting more traction towards my music, helping me grow into an up and coming artist that people want to see live.

My ability to create engaging content that entices people to click links is stopping me along with the self-doubt and fear of failure. Ignoring trolls online has always been difficult as I am quite reactionary and take things personally when my art is criticised.

Long-Term Success

Long-Term Success for me would mean being able to spread a message, telling people they aren't alone with their struggles with mental health - as is a core focus of my music. As a secondary, it would also mean living a luxury life, however, this isn't as important of a goal. I would like to be considered in a conversation for greatest artist/producer of all time, though ambitious.

I'll know I'm successful when I have sold out stadiums - showing people care and want to see me live. I will be able to live with no worries about finances and keep doing what I love.

I see myself helping several acts through my label and standing on the stage of a stadium venue

To get there - I will need to work significantly on my networking & business skills and my overall presence and persona, as talking to people becomes one of my flaws

I struggle with self doubt and motivation.

Strength:

I strive to improve everything, even if it's perfect and I often get lost doing so.

Solution:

Share work with peers to see if my self doubt is rational

I started off ok, I came to uni and moved with a good mindset, however, external factors got in the way. My own mental health affected my ability to function and my mum's cancer treatment took a lot of my attention and focus.

I had little to no equipment setup for a while, as I was moving my stuff over to home and after setting it up again, I had to help and work around the house.

I also struggled due to time management as the free time I did have I didn't use wisely.

What Could've Helped?

I'm still adjusting to education after 2 years away from it, so I'm unsure on what methods suit me to keep me on track and working. If my external factors weren't playing a huge role in the first semester, I feel a rigid plan and clear idea of how I wanted the end goal to look, could have helped me streamline and submit my work in time.

I also want to improve my social media presence, as this will be the way to start seeing numbers and keep me motivated. It will also be something to add to my padlet in the future.

Lastly I want to really improve efficiency, as this was what caused me to miss the deadline last time. Streamlining every process to make it as efficient as possible, to get work done quicker and feel great doing it.

• Potential Challenges

  
  

  The potential challenge will be keeping myself going without burning out or losing motivation. This is an extra struggle for me and there's not much I can do besides making sure I drill habits into myself and stay organised

  
  

  Another challenge I might face, in a similar vane, is self doubt and the fear of failure as I'm aiming for 1sts this time around which may cause me to overthink and sit on ideas for too long.

  
  

  Though the idea of doing a remix is exciting to me, and I know I can do it, It's something I haven't much tried in the past.

  
  

• Potential Opportunities For Collabs

  
  

  Using my networking from my interactions on social media I can work with the people asking to collab

  
  

  I can potentially work with one of my classmates, Beanie. in particular, as we share similar styles and now both work in Ableton Live.

  
  

  I can work with Lamour to help me finish something if I have an idea that I'm stuck with.

  
  

• Skillsets That Can Be Developed

  
  

  There are definitely skillset I can develop, as I've always wanted to learn different genres and be pushed out of my comfort zone. I feel confident in my work going forward, as I'm much more involved and motivated, by using 1-1s with several tutors, the mindset I have now is definitely a skillset I have developed.

  
  

  The idea of a remix scared me slightly, as this isn't an avenue I thought I'd ever delve into in my career, nor be interested in. Upon developing a few ideas I wasn't happy with, I stuck to trying again until I started to explore my options seriously according to my own music taste, and styles, experimenting with sounds and effects to begin, but finding a sound and style I liked.

  
  

• Initial Ideas

  
  

  My initial ideas were to do a remix of the classic, 'what is love', by Haddaway. I felt unconfident with this but kept trying things to see what might sound good, with enough time and experience.

  
  

  (See media 4)

In terms of the original, I am still drafting ideas but I'm feeling more confident about this than the remix. (See Media 5 & 6)

I would love to headline a show and have people sing the lyrics I wrote in a bad place, back to me.

Success would also mean producing for my own record label and helping young talent get recognition and express themselves in the way they want.

To motivate me, I think about and visualise what the results could look like from hard work and pushing myself out of my comfort zone. I remind myself that I'm a professional and that 'not feeling it' is just a state of mind that I can break.

I am attempting to make something in my DAW every day, for as long as I feel, with no expectations as this allows me to freely create without criticism and self-doubt. By throwing ideas at a wall to see what sticks, when something does it often brings about spurts of inspiration and motivation.

I'm trying to make a habit of adding every plan and important event into my calendar to make sure I don't forget anything and to make my life easier

I'm also staying in regular contact with a lot of the staff at Waterbear to get as much advice and knowledge as possible. In particular, my work with Lamour should help keep me motivated, as it means I get the knowhow to make content and finish songs, ultimately, so I can see the numbers increase, motivating me to stay working.

The key skills I'm looking to develop and showcase are my ability to multi-genre and experiment with my sound whilst keeping the mix together. I want to showcase how creative I can be with my mixing.

• At this stage, do you think the tracks chosen to showcase the above skills and techniques for this module will be original, cover tracks or a mixture? If you're working with covers, will they be authentic recreations or creative and stylistic arrangements of covers?

At first I played with 'What Is Love' by Haddaway, however, after some reconsideration, my remix will be of The Weeknd's 'Starboy', while working with my remix, I would like to put enough of a spin on it to stand as an original unique remix showcasing my sound at this point.

• What genre(s)/style(s) will you be working in to showcase these techniques and skills?

I will be working mainly in Cinematic EDM/Trap while potenitally incorporating elements of Dubstep

• How will you demonstrate contrast in your work?

I will demonstrate contrast by making a Creatively mixed, remix showcasing experimental techniques, while simultaneously showing a more simple but effective repetitive rap beat that would be used for more bestselling, client based work.

• Will you work on your own (solo) or as part of a band/collaboration?

Though I'm more comfortable and more experienced working alone, I would like to attempt to collab and improve my teamwork and networking. Whether in this assignment or one to come.

• What initial ideas do you already have that you might develop - START TO EVIDENCE THESE in your development diary (audio clips, scratch lyrics, chord patterns, tabs, demos, videos, titles, concepts, exercises, scales etc.)

See Week 4 plan

In the past, quality and quantity were synonymous for me, as, at one point, I was making good quality songs night after night. At the time, for my experience, the songs were high quality. Now I rarely managed to put any vocals on a track, however, I am a lot more experienced with my mixing and mastering, so things sound a lot more professional even if not finished or properly started.

I think, at this stage, I would rather release 100 Unpolished tracks to see what people like and people don't like. Though, my standards for what is and isn't polished may be higher than most due to the equipment I use and what I have at my disposal.

To Do

(See Media ? & ?)

After an attempt in 2023, I lost motivation. I'm hoping this time it might be different as last time I had a lot of negative reception, I wasn't seeing results and I don't think I was representing myself in a way that was true to me and my brand.

I spoke to Lamour in a 1-1 and it motivated me to start working and stop overthinking it. I've started producing simple but effective, quick content.

I also spoke to greg, who showed me what would start to open up if I take the leap and just start doing it.

🔴 - Required Padlet Entries (Anything from lessons & Canvas)

🔵 - Required Practical Assignment Plans & Progress (Anything to do with the practical assignment, planning & mix chain breakdowns etc.)

🟠 - Exterior Development (Anything outside of work relating to the assignment: 1-1s, Beatmaking Results, Content Links, Research & Related Videos/Channels I've been watching etc.)

🟢 - Media (Attachments & Files)

My approach doesn't often hinder or help creativity or motivation, I just do when I feel like doing. Sometimes, however, I'll go to do something because I feel like getting work done, and I will stare at a blank screen for hours.

I have definitely been stuck in ruts of professionalism, where nothing sounds good and I critique everything too much

A lot of my favourite artists often release around 2-4 years between each album. For most this seems to be the goldilocks zone as it's long enough so each artist can create something with careful planning and perfecting but not too long to kill all the hype. I feel as though to get to this point, you have to stay somewhat consistent with EPs, Singles and live shows in the time between projects.

I think releasing music too consistently allows no time to innovate and means people get bored of your sound too easily.

My strengths from the first study block were all production, style & composition based. In WBE101 I had a solid set of ideas and a very good mix to submit, though it didn't get submitted in time. Since then I have been getting more done and staying more motivated. I've been experimenting with a lot of tricks and effects with my processing, style and my mixing, learning more each time. I'm hoping to showcase these skills in my work this time around

In the first module, I was indecisive and picky, overthinking what the best foot to put forward was. I struggled a lot with time management and my process in general was all over the place due to my indecisiveness and family situation. This module I have started trying to properly develop myself as an artist and producer, trying to go above and beyond to get things done.

I have recently been working with Lamour to establish my presence online. We've agreed to spend a day working on a track together at spring tank that we'll take to release. I can capitalise on both this and the connections I could potentially make through posting content. I also have classmates I could potentially work with to help create a track

I have a tendency to burn out and lose focus. I have recently been feeling mentally unwell and this could potentially massively affect my work. I feel as though trying to be too unique and 'out there' may affect my overall quality and sound of my work.

My routine is chaotic & sporadic

Opportunity to develop:

I can harness the chaos to get a range of tasks done in one sitting. If I can make this a habit, I'll get all my work done in no time.

I usually opt for very 80s sounding synth designs that I patch in on serum. My drums are usually a contemporary take on 80s drum patterns depending on what I'm aiming to create. I use a variety of different bass sounds to create different vibes and rhythm. I use mostly digital instruments and sounds as I find them a lot more versatile to work with, though I would like to start recording in and playing my instruments. I love experimenting with arpeggios and creating different movements.

I'm very inspired by 80s pop and various indie dream-pop bands, as well as bands like chase Atlantic that have a very unique sound and style

See:

'Space Song' - (Beach House, Depression Cherry, 2015)

'It's Easy' - (Yot Club, Santolina, 2022)

'Dancer In The Dark' - (Chase Atlantic, Chase Atlantic, 2017)

Genres:

My genre varies a lot, but the usual genres I choose as an artist are pop, rap and r&b mixed with dream pop and shoe gaze elements.

Lyrics:

I often write lyrics based on a concept or experience. I want to improve my lyric writing to be able to tell stories and narratives better

Tonality/Mood:

My production style uses a lot of filtered reverbs, detuning and distortion to create atmospheric and dreamy soundscapes to support the main features of the mix. I play around with detuning a lot too.

Rhythm:

I like using 80s style drums and heavy side chain to create a pulsing rhythm. I use a lot of different pulse basses to establish a good bounce

Melody:

My Melodys are often a varied mix of soft synth arps and analog leads

Chords:

I like to experiment with chords. I use a lot of 7th and 9th chords, paired with suspended 11th chords that convey a very cinematic vibe

Dynamics:

I experiment with velocities a lot, especially with drums. I like using swells and cuts to add and remove energy

Arrangment:

Most of the time I use this format -

Intro

Verse

Pre-Chorus

Chorus

Bridge

Verse 2

Pre-Chorus

Extended Chorus

Outro

I like dropping elements in and out of different stages in the song and seeing what I can create to fill the gaps of space

Performance Features:

I use a lot of my higher register, as I'm a 4 octave baritone/tenor, especially in my harmony layers, occasionally I like to drop my voice an octave and use lower registers for more somber songs. Other than my voice, I don't really perform and record yet.

Cultural Significance:

I want to be one of the voices of the new generation and wave of musicians who would rather be genreless. I believe as artists, we shouldn't be bound by genre

1) I love music. I have been obsessed with melody and rhythm from a very young age, I grew up being a self-taught multi-instrumentalist and started using my first DAW at 6 years old. I have listened to music nearly every day of my life, trying to understand what it is that makes music so magical and emotionally moving for me.

2) Having a music career would allow me to 'never work a day in my life' (Szathmary, 1982), as it's something I love and having the liberty to work from wherever I want, doing tasks I really enjoy doing, is my number 1 dream.

3) Music is a tool to spread a message. I want to be able to to spread awareness for mental health, injustice in the world and use my platform for good causes

I understand this rules out a lot of customers who would prefer to get things done in a certain amount of time, but the clients that understand my vision will hopefully recognise that the service they get will be of pristine quality when they receive it.

Unfortunately the procrastination is not something I can currently control, nor is it something I can fix due to it being hard wired into my brain. Because of this, a lot more planning has to go into everything I do. When I fail to plan or stick to a plan, everything goes out of the window.

At this point, I had both of my tracks mostly finished, I just needed to catch up with my padlet, which I ended up putting off for ages while I made a start on my other assignment.

Feelings:

I felt very overwhelmed and a lot of pressure but remained motivated to get my work done eventually. Learning my adjusted deadlines gave me some relief but time was still ticking and I am still feeling some pressure now.

Evaluation:

What went well was the tracks and creative process. I completed both tracks in a good amount of time, both with clear direction and ease.

What went wrong, to start, I got very overwhelmed with the amount of work for me to complete in, what I thought was, a short amount of time. Another thing that went wrong is the mixing on my remix, I ended up being caught up with my mix and overproducing a lot of aspects, which had me strip back my mix several times.

Analysis:

The factors that contributed were a mix of ADHD, perfectionism and general mood. As I started to get more and more tired throughout the semester, my mood worsened and made me less productive. This complicated things down the line, as I got bogged down trying to catch up on past weeks of padlet but getting nothing done.

Conclusion:

For this assignment, I would change my remix and do a better job next time around. In terms of managing and written work, I would definitely try to do my padlet weekly, so as not to get too overwhelmed.

I have learned a lot from this semester, in terms of remixing and enhancing my mix especially.

Action Plan:

Next time around, I will carefully consider my options regarding the criteria and what I want my end product to sound like.

I will also be doing my written work every week and being more active with my peers and exterior work to note down on my padlet.

1) running out of time

2) not being very fond of my remix

Bishu - Campbell, D. (2024) His Broken Mic Does Crazy Sound Design, YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzYSZRseS4E (Accessed: 07 February 2025).

Aiden Kenway - Kenway, A. (2024) How ‘Parking Lot’ by Travis Scott & Mustard was Made (100% Accurate), YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0je9_UU9bo (Accessed: 07 February 2025).

Virtual Riot - Brunn, C. (2023) Studio Time S2 EP3 - Track From Scratch, YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kR2ubmupvQc (Accessed: 07 February 2025).