Songwriting Guides

Build a Mourning songs that really feel true-to-life and memorable, using honoring specifics (voice, habits), chorus lines, and sharp section flow. You will learn

• Writing around absence with objects
• Honoring specifics (voice, habits)
• Major/minor color for hope and ache
• Breath-aware phrasing for emotion
• Chorus lines that hold gently
• Ritual framing without cliché

Who it is for

• Artists processing loss with honesty and care

What you get

• Memory scene prompts
• Harmonic color menu
• Breath plan worksheet
• Sensitivity checklist

Deliver Maracatu that is tight, finished, and release ready, focusing on mix translation, vocal phrasing, and the details that make this style unmistakable. Expect practical steps you can repeat.Expect practical steps you can repeat.Expect practical steps you can repeat.You will learn

• Parade tempo sweet spots
• Call and response chorus shapes
• Drum ensemble layering with space
• Whistle and break cue language
• Lyric scenes of procession and pride
• Recording big drums without smear

Who it is for

• Songwriters and leaders arranging modern maracatu sets

What you get

• Procession tempo map
• Break cue sheets
• Chorus response templates
• Low end recording guide

Write Slap House that really feels true to roots yet fresh, using swing and velocity for groove, minimal lyrics, and focused lyric tone. You will learn

• Swing and velocity for groove
• Ear-candy rotation without clutter
• 16-bar blocks with clear cues
• Booth rig mix translation
• Minimal lyrics that still hit
• Topliner collaboration flow

Who it is for

• House producers focused on dance-floor function

What you get

• Arrangement stencils
• Groove checklists
• Topline briefs
• Pre-master checks

Shape Son Cubano that is clear, memorable, and moving, focusing on vocal phrasing, hook design, and the details that make this style unmistakable. Expect practical steps you can repeat.Expect practical steps you can repeat.Expect practical steps you can repeat.You will learn

• Clave placement you can feel
• Montuno patterns that rise
• Tres and piano interlock
• Tumbao that pushes without crowding
• Coro and pregon call and response
• Section flow from intro to descarga

Who it is for

• Bands writing modern Cuban son with classic foundations

What you get

• Clave maps
• Montuno starter motifs
• Coro prompt lists
• Arrangement stencils

Build a Talent Shows songs that really feel ready for stages and streams, using pick the sharpest scene for feeling, hooks, and sharp section flow. You will learn

• Pick the sharpest scene for feeling
• Prosody that matches pulse
• Hooks that distill the truth
• Bridge turns that add perspective
• Images over abstracts
• Arrangements that support the story

Who it is for

• Songwriters chasing honest, powerful emotion writing

What you get

• Scene picker worksheet
• Prosody checklist
• Hook distiller
• Arrangement cue map

Create Chutney Soca that is built for replay, focusing on mix translation, lyric tone, and the details that make this style unmistakable. Expect practical steps you can repeat.Expect practical steps you can repeat.Expect practical steps you can repeat.You will learn

• Soca backbeat feel
• Melodic turns that nod to chutney
• Bilingual hook writing with respect
• Call and response chorus lifts
• Brass or synth lines that sparkle
• Mastering for parade and streams

Who it is for

• Artists blending chutney and soca into up tempo anthems

What you get

• Hook translators
• Backbeat groove maps
• Chorus lift templates
• Broadcast safe master notes