…timeless quality becomes evident. Digging through your phone can unravel some pretty interesting song layout gems. Oftentimes there’s a distinct aura about these little fragments music, raw intention you may call it.
Sometimes it’s really flustering, how hard the conversion of this energy to the final production can turn out to be. Because a special song layout has so much evident intensity, just the way they are, they have to be handled with care.
So first things first – let’s find a way to identify these unique layouts. It’s definitely an experiment, and you’ll have to tweak this checklist to make it work for you perfectly.
Emancipation from fashion
A distinct sign of great layout quality is that it builds on the vibe of its musical core. This means it leans towards a form of emancipation, from any type of fashionable hype or trending topic.
You can find this within melodic or lyrical structures, but also textures that have a very unique feel.
If something feels strong and self-sufficient in the way it transports energy, it’s a good sign that you’re on to something absolutely worthwhile.
It acts as a creative catalyst
Great ideas can start a whole dynamic of creative processes, just like domino stones: It starts with a hint of something, just a sketch, but the underlying emotion sets free a whole array of colors and impressions.
A solid indicator of layout greatness is that, even if you end up forming it to something completely different, it pushes you towards the creation of various other ideas.
Find your creative catalysts and try to hold on to a surge of energy – as opposed to biting teeth out on one, fixed structure.
Let things flow and be open to winding roads of musical composition and production.
It has something addictive
Funny how recordings, even limited to mobile device quality, can turn into addictive little loops.
You’re definitely on to something if you catch yourself choosing a low-res audio recording from your phone as an urban soundtrack to your daily routine.
Getting sucked into a repetitious idea, even if it’s completely raw without any forceful appeal, is a great sign of layout greatness.
It gets collaborators buzzing
A truly special layout can have the potential of getting collaborators buzzing with excitement.
The first impression of this little piece of music should spark similar or an equal amount of excitement with the creators you work with.
Of course, the context of a given presentation also acts as an influencing factor. It makes a difference if you present something on the subway, via earbuds, or in a peaceful studio setting.
Be very aware of the way your collaborators react to your layouts. This is the first step in establishing an inter-subjective bridge in the way a piece of music works.
It stands the test of time
Getting back to something you created a while ago can be quite revealing.
You’ll know right away if your layout has the potential of being something special, if it stands the test of time.
We are confronted with so many influences and ideas during the course of a week, think about months or years. Tastes change rapidly and so do creative inclinations. Revisiting a piece of music of what you created is essential when identifying the potential of a given layout.
0 be the first one to show some appreciation for this!