Friends by Marshmello and Anne-Marie
Sick Boy by The Chainsmokers
After writing the chorus, I created a piano chord progression, which is also in the intro.
I ran the chord progression through an arpeggiator to make it more rhythmic and exciting. In the verses, I gave the same arpeggiated chord progression to a synthesizer.
Next, I added a drum beat, a bass line and pad at the end of the verse.
I put all the parts together and created the music for the verse.
The chorus uses the same chord progression from the intro, but the arpeggiator turned it into a buoyant dance pattern.
For the chorus, I created an arpeggiated synth line using the root notes of the chord progression. The bass line uses that same arpeggiating pattern with different articulations. I kept the same drum beat from the verse, but added an extra hi-hat.
Putting everything together resulted in a fun, upbeat chorus.
Originally, I was planning to have a longer chorus, but the vocal melody changed, resulting in the formation of a post-chorus. The drum beat and the arpeggiated synth carried over from the chorus, into the post chorus. I added a more vigorous piano riff and a bass line that stays on the lower octave, rather than switching octaves.
Here is the post-chorus.
Next, I made the bridge. I thought about adding lyrics, but I liked the way the music sounded without vocals, so I kept it instrumental.
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I used the same piano chord progression as the verses, but added an extra neighboring note to each chord. Keeping bass in unison with the piano, gave the bridge a monolithic quality.
I created a synth line that arpeggiates intermittently and a more relaxed drum beat for the bridge.
All together it sounds like this.
To end the song, I created an outro, which would give dancers time to slowly wind down. I used the same piano riff as the post-chorus and the synth line from the bridge, this time arpeggiating continuously.
Together, it sounds like this.
Here is an instrumental version of Vacation Days with all the parts together.
I created this song in Logic Pro X. I used an EXS24 acoustic piano. Pads and synths are from Omnisphere and Serum. I used a combination of drum kits from Battery 4 and Logic Pro X. I used Logic’s arpeggiator MIDI plug-in on many instruments. I used Neutron 2, iZotope Nectar, and Logic effects for the vocals.
I wrote the lyrics for this song in the Summer 2019, when my vacation was coming to an end. I wanted to express my discontent in an upbeat way, using EDM-Pop production techniques.
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I listened to the music of EDM artists Marshmello and The Chainsmokers for reference. Both artist have collaborated with pop artists and used acoustic instruments in their songs. I planned to use my own voice in the song, like the Chainsmokers did in their song “Sick Boy”. Some of my references are: