PROD LAB - DEMO 4 BY AXEL

Original Song by Anjelo.

Guitar - Gary
Cajon - Anjelo
Vocalists - Raizel and Anjelo
Tambourine - Shiao Han 
Bass - Jin Xiang 
Keyboard - Shiao Han
Lyrics - Anjelo and Axel

Microphones:
SHURE BETA87A - Vocals and Room 
AT 4081 - Guitar
AKG D112 - Cajon
DI - Bass & Keys

Location: Studio F1/F2

Chords: Dm F Bb Bbm Am Dm G C

Lyrics:
INTRO (8 BARS)

VERSE (16 BARS)
Talk to me
I know, it ain’t easy
So let’s sit around and take it slow
We’ve got all night, although it’s a little cold

Dry those tears
You don’t have to cry, or fear
Cause there’s no more lies and no more fights Girl right now it’s just you and I
It’s just you and I, oh

PRE-CHORUS (8 BARS)
Heartaches and heartbreaks are things we’re bound to find 
Blood red eyes and broken smiles are things we use to get by

Been there many times before, been broke, been hurt, been on the floor So talk to me, we’ll talk this through, just you and me, just you and me oh

CHORUS (Dm F Bb G7 to C) (8 BARS) 
Just talk to me x3
So come on down and talk to me
Just talk to me x3
So come on down and talk to me oh

INSTRUMENTAL (8 BARS)

VERSE (16 BARS)
Walk with me
Down the road
Where we’ll be all night
As we leave all of our troubles behind 
With nothing but a drink by our side

Don’t give in
Getting over fights, within
Cos most things in life are temporary 
Problems, people, your adversaries 
Till the day we’ll be free

PRE-CHORUS (8 BARS)
Heartaches and heartbreaks are things we’re bound to find 
Blood red eyes and broken smiles are things we use to get by

Been there many times before, been broke, been hurt, been on the floor So talk to me, we’ll talk this through, just you and me, just you and me oh

CHORUS (Dm F Bb G7 to C) (8 BARS) 
Just talk to me x3
So come on down and talk to me
Just talk to me x3
So come on down and talk to me oh

PROD - 44 - Axel - Demo 4

PROD LAB - DEMO 5

Musicians:
Guitar - Gary 
Cajon - AJ 
Vocalists - Raizel, AJ and Axel 
Tambourine - Shiao Han
Bass - Jin Xiang
Keyboard - Shiao Han
MIDI - Dong Heng 

Microphones:  
SHURE BETA87A - Vocals and Room 
AT2020 - Vocals (Axel) 
AT 4081 - Guitar 
AKG D112 - Cajon
DI - Bass & Keys

Location: 
Studio F1/F2 & Axel's Home 

Chords: 
Dm F Bb Bbm Am Dm G C


Lyrics:
INTRO (8 BARS)

VERSE (16 BARS) 
Talk to me 
I know, it ain't easy  
So let's sit around and take it slow 
We've got all night, although it's a little cold 

Dry those tears 
You don't have to cry, or fear 
Cause there's no more lies and no more fights 
Girl right now it's just you and I 
It's just you and I, oh

PRE-CHORUS (8 BARS)
Heartaches and heartbreaks are things we're bound to find 
Blood red eyes and broken smiles are things we use to get by
Been there many times before, been broke, been hurt, been on the floor 
So talk to me, we'll talk this through, just you and me, just you and me oh

CHORUS (Dm F Bb G7 to C) (8 BARS)
Just talk to me x3 
So come on down and talk to me 
Just talk to me x3 
So come on down and talk to me oh

INSTRUMENTAL (8 BARS)
Just talk to me
Baby, baby

BREAK (8 BARS)
Just talk to me
Breaking through the problems right in front of me
Yeah I got you, swear I got you
Even though the whole world hate us prospering

And we, take it to another level never holding back
How you ever growing if you don't reflect?
Pedal to the metal like my last name Toretto
One rule: don't settle

VERSE (16 BARS)
Walk with me 
Down the road 
Where we'll be all night 
As we leave all of our troubles behind 
With nothing but a drink by our side

Don't give in 
Getting over fights, within 
Cos most things in life are temporary 
Problems, people, your adversaries 
Till the day we'll be free

PRE-CHORUS (8 BARS)
Heartaches and heartbreaks are things we're bound to find 
Blood red eyes and broken smiles are things we use to get by
Been there many times before, been broke, been hurt, been on the floor 
So talk to me, we'll talk this through, just you and me, just you and me oh

CHORUS (Dm F Bb G7 to C) (8 BARS)
Just talk to me x3 So come on down and talk to me 
Just talk to me x3 So come on down and talk to me oh

PROD - 44 - Axel - Demo 5

Credits: Axel

Mic: AT2020

Location: 'Home' Studio

Samples from Splice.

Lyrics:
[VERSE]
All the lil things we said
God damn got me really out of place (hmm-mm)
Games that we played yeah yeah
Like i’m running in a maze

Take me back to past oh yeah
'Cause I don’t really wanna stay
You the one that got away
Do I have a say? Nah, I’m stuck in a phase now

It’s a shame, it’s a shame
Thought about the ring, but it’ll never be the same 
Like I got a different bed, know it’s in my head 
Am I better off dead? 

[PRE HOOK]
Feel the rumble in my chest 
Hear the waves crashing whenever I’m depressed
And the storm cause a mess, signal of my distress
Tryna' keep myself afloat, i’m questioning the rest like…

[INTERLUDE]

[HOOK]
I’m submerged and sinking lower
Tell me why it’s getting colder

Remember 'bout forever (forever)
What it means to say forever (forever)
Tell me would you stay forever (forever)
Now i’m drowning in forever (dead)

[VERSE]
The way we handled...shit i’m very fed up
Yeah we never settle, though I knew it was a gamble

Had the thought that we going too fast
But always my intention girl to make you my last
I was speeding out my mind, don’t bother if imma' crash
When I talk about it now, i’m thinking like “who cares?”

My favorite place, right next to you
Between us, so I know what you facing too
No matter what the weather bring
Know my mind was on a wedding ring

[PRE HOOK]
Feel the rumble in my chest 
Hear the waves crashing whenever I’m depressed
And the storm cause a mess, signal of my distress
Tryna' keep myself afloat but I’m struggling to pull like…

[INTERLUDE]
I know forever ain’t true cos forever don’t last, forever don’t last

[HOOK]
I’m submerged and sinking lower
Tell me why it’s getting colder

Remember 'bout forever (forever)
What it means to say forever (forever)
Tell me would you stay forever (forever)
Now i’m drowning in forever (dead)

drown in forever

PROW WEEK 1 

SUMMARY
As I started out with this piece, I wanted it to have this feel-good California chilling kinda vibe to it. With my rap style for this, I decided to try some Old Kanye style, something like his The College Dropout/Graduation days, the slower flows and less is more lyrics. As you can hear from the first half of the track, I think my delivery of it was pretty decent, captured the whole vibe I wanted. As I build the piece further, I feel like the repeating "But why you runnin' away" sample got to me, it gave me other ideas and interpretations of the sentence. 

Recently I had an argument with a close friend and she literally ran away from the problem without telling me what's up, so with that in my head the past days I felt this is the perfect platform for me to vent how I feel and also to go with what the song is saying perfectly.

DIFFERENTIATION FACTOR
The sudden change in topic and vibe was smooth yet you can feel something different is coming. I didn't go for the typical ABABCB structure either. I feel this piece stands out from how different the two parts are in terms of lyrics and style of delivery. While the first verse is more feel-good and talking about how i'm never runnin' away from what I want and my end goal, second verse touches on something more personal yet it encapsulates the whole "runnin' away" theme perfectly.

DELIVERY
It's clear i'm the best person among my batch-mates to deliver this as it's more personal for me first and foremost, and i'm also the only rapper. 

Credits: Axel

Mic: AT2020

Location: 'Home' Studio

Samples from Splice.


Lyrics:

[VERSE]
We came a long way
Now on to better days
We hustle all day
Late nights to heaven’s gates

Now they know me when they bump into me
The lil ones bumpin to me, i’m who they coming to see

Yeah, we feel good, held it down and I still would
Way back was the lil dude, now i’m bout to get it like real soon

That Old Ye, that Old Ye
In for the kill like OJ
Hard times, been thru it all
Never ran away, they know who to call

[HOOK]
Never running away
Never running away
Never running away
So why you running away?
x2

[TRANSITION]

[INTERLUDE]
Why? Why?
Tell me why you runnin'

[VERSE 2]
Yeah I been thinking bout, you got me disappointed
Yeah you told me that, guess now i’m misinformed and
You hypocritical, acting metaphysical
Shit is now ridiculous, now tell me why you acting up

Not affecting ya? Lying bish, step it up
Funny how you never defended when i’m attacking em
Back then in my position, when I’m the bystander
Now you flipped the switch and fucked up by my standards

“If I got a problem with you? Then imma say it”
Nah you didn’t, now you tripping over words cos you can’t face it
I’m staying hella nice and reaching out becos you matter
But you wanna read the texts and ignore, now you cancelled 

And I mean that with love....no...not really
You’re everything you said you are, except you couldn’t be
Now you pulling that same shit that you went thru
We’ll never be the same, so all the best and bless you

Never/Why You? (Runnin' Away)

PROW WEEK 2


SUMMARY
The idea of the song is based on a scenario/story of how you and your loved one, your partner, has been doing great together and you two, through the fights between, always end up standing tall and coming out stronger from it. However, you realize that things have not been the same in terms of how your partner acts and it was so subtle it took you long enough to take note of it. But since the day you've taken note of the behaviour, it gets worse and overtime, your partner gradually becomes somebody you no longer know, she/he is not acting or talking like she/he used to. You're very confused and she/he doesn't spill the beans to you either. Your loved one's body is there but the soul is elsewhere. You're questioning the whole situation and why it has happened.

DIFFERENTIATION FACTOR
What makes this piece different is the story and the style of the song coming together. I can't recall ever hearing a piece or sound like that with the same concept or idea backing it, but that aside, I feel the story behind the track is pretty compelling and off the norm that you would hear nowadays in love-related songs. It usually the love you very much happy love, the one sided love, the break up song and that's just a few of the common themes. So putting all of that aside, I thought of this story/idea that I feel matches this instrumental completely. 

DELIVERY
To push the idea/concept of vulnerability, I decided on letting the keys, which already has the smooth melody and chord combination, to be the standalone instrument for the most parts. Only bringing in the drums and bass at the chorus and second half of the verse. I also wrote the melodies and sang the chorus which is obviously is not my forte but i'm using DMAT projects as a platform for me to explore. I feel my main vulnerability in music right now is singing so me doing just that will further push the impact i'm trying to give off. I also tried out different tones and timbres as you can hear from the chorus to the verse, how it went from something higher pitched to way lower once the rap comes in. To me, it plays off my desperation or sanity problems, showing how much my partner losing herself is bothering me.


Credits: Axel

Mic: AT2020

Location: My Living Room

Samples from Splice.

Lyrics:

[CHORUS]
Tell me why you’re away
(So away now)

Left our love astray
(Where you go?)

Tell me why you’re away
(so away)

Long nights got me thinking bout us
So who’s right? Now we tamper our trust


[VERSE]
“You’re my other half” I’m questioning that statement
Cos lately, got me running outta patience
Look in the mirror, tell me what do you see
Tell me where is she, or tell me how do you live

What’s your favourite past time? What’s your favourite food?
Where we met the last time? What’s your favourite tune?
Found my home in you, now it’s all gone
Praying we never turn to a lost cause


[CHORUS]
Tell me why you’re away
(So away now)

Left our love astray
(Where you go?)

Tell me why you’re away
(so away)

Long nights got me thinking bout us
So who’s right? Now we tamper our trust

away

PROW WEEK 3

SUMMARY
The idea of the song is based on a the season, Summer, which is practically every single day in sunny Singapore. However with Summer, I wanted to also portray and describe how this girl makes me feel like Summer, and how she's my Summer. At the same time, giving off that feel-good summer vibe through out the track. I also intended to have a catchy hook that makes you wanna dance or groove to it.

DIFFERENTIATION FACTOR
What makes this piece different is the how I brought the context of how Singapore is Summer everyday and I used that to describe how the girl makes me feel a certain way everyday. I went to listen to a couple of the summer hit songs before settling on mine and I tried to take a little bit from each song and adding my own flavour to getting what I now have. With the subtle corny lyrics that doesn't go overboard, witty at times too and playful, it's not the usual typical summer song you would hear on the radio or charts.

DELIVERY
To push the idea/concept of Summer, I decided to have the melody played in such a way that it captures that whole feeling of Summer right off the bat. Once the instrumental comes in, it already sets the tone of what to expect. With the catchy drums consistent in the verses, I decided to write my verses in such a way that it doesn't clash in terms of rhythm. With the chorus, because of my incompetence with singing, I felt adding the pitch corrector was a nice touch as it makes it sound more animated and provides more movement. Has that T-Pain feel to it. For the post-hook, I needed something catchy and to catch the listener by surprise, I added the shakers etc to add more percussive elements to it, I also wrote the repetitive rhythm and melody so it gets stuck in your head easily. 

Credits: Axel

Mic: AT2020

Location: My Living Room

Samples from Splice.

Lyrics:

[VERSE]
Summertime madness
That’s every damn day in this city doing backflips
Pretty restless, but i’m attracted
Girls wit the dress all backless

Tell me if you got the plans or a mans
You could come thru bring a couple friends
Getting pretty hot, yeah it’s go time
We gon' set it off for the whole night

[HOOK]
Summer, don’t lie
It’s everyday and
This heart of mine
Belongs to you

Summer, don’t lie
So tell me won’t you come back tonight?
My baby girl

[POST-HOOK]
You my summer summer summer ay
I’ll never find another ay
Like summer summer summer ay
Ain’t nothing I would rather ay

Summer summer summer ay
Never find another ay
Summer summer summer ay
Nothing I would rather ay

[VERSE]
Tell me, tell me what you do to me
I know you really love that tomfoolery
But wit that aside, I keep it real witchu
And you doing just that, not fooling me

So we, tease and we flirting somemore
Skirts with no drawers, i’m praising the lord
Intentions are pure, intentions are pure
Wait...kiss and we ‘uh’ on the floor

[TRANSITION]
No breaks if you tryna get paid
But summer time yeah we bouta get cray

[HOOK]
Summer, don’t lie
It’s everyday and
This heart of mine
Belongs to you

Summer, don’t lie
So tell me won’t you come back tonight?
My baby girl

[POST-HOOK]
You my summer summer summer ay
I’ll never find another ay
Like summer summer summer ay
Ain’t nothing I would rather ay

Summer summer summer ay
Never find another ay
Summer summer summer ay
Nothing I would rather ay

Summer

PROW WEEK 4

SUMMARY
The idea of the song is to base my song around a person, and channel him/her through my lyrics and delivery. The person of choice here is New Jack, a retired wrestler, due to his infamous history and also growing up a pro wrestling fan and watching it daily, i've known him and his controversy actions since I was younger and I want to be able to portray that whole aggression and destructive force that comes along with the name, New Jack.

DIFFERENTIATION FACTOR
What makes this piece different is the how I brought the New Jack in and talked about him, I brought it actual experiences and tendencies of him, and I even chose a very aggressive style to represent the perception. The lyrics are far from the norm too, as I also brought it my own experiences and frustrations and put it into one heavy, hard-hitting track.

DELIVERY
To push the idea/concept of New Jack, I was inspired by XXXTENTACION or Scarlxrd in terms of the mix and angry screamo rap. With the mix, I made sure to push up the kick and 808s so it would peak, and for my vocals, I added the distortion effect along with reverb and EQ to get  that grungy feel and sound. I have to deliver my vocals with more conviction and movement to bring out that "deranged" feel.


Credits: Axel

Mic: AT2020

Location: My Living Room

Samples from Splice.

Lyrics:

INTRO
First off, fuck you like du du du du
Keep talking that shit while i’m changing the rule

VERSE
See me in person and act like we’re cool
Funny I show em I never could lose
Impressive to who? I been ridiculed
All of the time I been playing the fool

Roaming round the city with the gat, ay
Staring right through like you made out of glass
Gotta go hard then they coming correct
OG ‘refs’ send me off for dissent

Call me New Jack
Hand me the weapons, the match is in session
Ay, I’m like New Jack
Gotta make em bleed, or i’m never gon leave

Pushing the boundaries and kill what’s in front of me
New Jack, ain’t no stopping me 
Put up the bounty most wanted they finding me
You not defining me, dead when you lie to me

I been quiet at the back now i’m poppin off 
Ayy, see the lil boys with a lotta talk
Worried bout my presence in the scene, fuck you mean
Imma burn the place up with the molotovs

Step up to the ring get bladed 
Staple gun all y’all faces 
Gettin to the top of the scaffold
You Vic Grimes boy tell me what you scared for?

Call me New Jack
Hand me the weapons, the match is in session
Ay, i’m like New Jack
Gotta make em bleed, or i’m never gon leave

Fuck a cosign or your validation 
All that shit going round all fabricated
Y’all animated i’m the A-Side yeah
Lil bitch it’s your bedtime

NEW JACK

PROW WEEK 5

SUMMARY
The idea of the song is to write a story about how two people in a relationship aren't good for or to each other but yet they still stick around despite being "no good for me". Diving into deeper details about how one side of the couple really feels.

DIFFERENTIATION FACTOR
What makes this piece different is the lyrical content and how we delivered a R&B vibe to it with the melodies and harmonies incorporated. We didn't want to touch on typical topics you hear in your everyday songs and we feel storytelling is an important aspect in having your music stand out but with the right accompaniment. 

DELIVERY
To push the idea/concept of No Good, the beat was made in a way that it gives off this reflective and moody vibe right off the bat. Through that, it blends the melodies and what we're saying in our lyrics perfectly. There's also a nice flow in the lyrics and how it's a build up in the verse to something bigger.


Credits: Axel
Vocals: Zora Smith

Mic: AT2020

Location: Zora's Room.

Samples from Splice.

Lyrics:

INTRO
Call me 
Cause I need 
somebody
to hold me

But you’re no good for me
Oh, you’re no good to me
You’re no good 

VERSE 
Don’t make me think about 
How i ran out of my luck
Life used to be a breeze, just you and me 
the only way to go was up
And now, we’re slipping and falling down
All we built is just crashing down, on me 

You pushed the blame on me 
Pointing out everything wrong with me   

I keep, rewinding, replaying, anxiety racing, repeat and repeat and repeat
Only one trapped in the passengers seat, you driving 180 on a 40 street  

Mmm, I slow, you speed
I follow, you lead
If it’s up to me
I’d heal and you bleed 
I’m the only one that you’ll ever gonna need 

PRE HOOK 
Cause you’re my only weakness, yeah 
You’re my only sweetness, yeah
You’re my only secret, but
You’re no good for me 
You’re no good for me
You’re no good

HOOK 
Call me, call me cause I need somebody
Somebody to tell me that everything’s okay
Won't you tell me that everything’s okay

But you’ve been lying to me yeah, lying to me yeah
Mmm… You’re no good for me
You’re no good to me 
You’re no good 
(x2)

No Good

PROW WEEK 6

SUMMARY
The idea of the song is to put the whole 'The Purge' inspiration and concept into the track, letting it be the perfect representation and mix of my personal feelings and emotions, combined with 'The Purge' movie come-to-life and what I would do if it's all real, along with braggadocio and gory lyrics to match. 


DIFFERENTIATION FACTOR
What makes this piece different is how I brought a whole movie concept into the track, that aside, I actually drifted away from the movie contents but played by the 'rules' of how an actual 'Purge' works as mentioned in my lyrics. 

DELIVERY
To push the idea/concept of THIS IS NOT A TEST and to give it the same feels and vibes as when you watch the movie or trailer, I incorporated bits of the actual Purge announcement in the intro. From there, there's an alarm/siren that's ongoing through out the track to represent the chaos ongoing during an actual 'Purge'. With my lyrics, I went into more gory details like how i'll decapitate the head and hang it from my ceiling to show the level of seriousness this whole track is at. I added screaming and panic noises during the outro to show that everybody is still frantic and afraid, running for their lives but by the end of it all, everything stops with a gunshot.


Credits: Axel

Mic: Rode NT1-A

Location: Dinz's Room.

Samples from Splice.

Lyrics:

VERSE
This is not a test boy, i’m murking in the dark
Now i’m coming for your neck boy, the murders in the park
Yeah ‘Dis Ain’t What You Want’ Lil Durk on you bitches
Y’all be talking and talking but never do nothing to kill us

I been walking the walk and, now I be eyeing my environment 
Sick of this play nice, hol up’ don’t let me say twice
I’ll pull up wit the ski mask, dumbass you better think fast
If we check for the substance, boy you’ll fail the pee test

Gathered all the targets now i’m planning for the killing
I take em from their loved ones, give a fuck what they feeling
Decapitate them, then proceed to hang em from the ceiling
Hit em like piñatas, we counting up plenty commas

Yeah this is not a test, slit your throat and leave the mess
As a warning for all y’all, my dog can eat the rest
It’s quality control, where i’m at you’ll never know
Be the last one standing, bodies we left em cold


HOOK
This is not a test
You better run

This is not a test
Pull out the gun

This is not a test 
What I’ve become

If you thinking it’s the end boy it’s only just begun
x2

THIS IS NOT A TEST

PROW WEEK 7

SUMMARY
The idea of the song is really just me reminiscing about the old times and how things has changed for me, for the better, through hard work and sacrifices. I like where I am now in my life and I feel like i've made it past a phase that right now, i'm set for bigger things in stall hence why I don't want to go back. 

DIFFERENTIATION FACTOR
What makes this piece different is how the beat is made in such a way that it goes with the topic and content of the lyrics really well. I had the idea of the track before the beat was even made and to be able to pull off that perfect vibe, honest and vulnerable, the same for my lyrics, makes it very heartfelt and unique.

DELIVERY
To push the idea/concept of Not Going Back, I played with my vocal tones a lot. Having taken inspiration from how Kendrick Lamar is able to change his vocal tone and style at will, I decided to experiment myself. I tried a different tone and pronounce the words in such a way that I wouldn't usually for the 'HOOK'. With the verses, there's this uneasy feeling with the high pitched vocals roaming in the background and also the messiness in the 'INTERLUDE', all of these is to represent my mind/conscious and how i'm not alone with all my choices.


Credits: Axel

Mic: AT2020

Location: My Living/Bedroom Room

Samples from Splice.

Lyrics:
HOOK 
Not goin back, not goin back
To the old me, not-not goin back
Run to the bank, and i’m cashin the cheque
With the music, i’m not holdin back

Not goin back, not goin back
To the old me, not-not goin back
Writin the track, and i’m splashin the facts
Made it this far, i’m not goin back

VERSE 
Not goin back, not gonna crash
Mom and pops, they know i’m the best
Did it before, what is in-store?
Do what I want, don’t need the applause

Finer days and i’m wishin
That it’s always stays, never missin
But can’t ever blur my vision
Tryna’ distract the man on my mission

I go psycho, i’m trigger happy
I run amok, so i stay on top
Not-not crazy, look what you made me
Shut me up, so they don’t hear the talk

Yeah I been independent, should I stay independent?
If they left and abandoned me, I pray to the heavens
For their peace in the present, found my piece in the pattern
Spoil the plans never let em, I decease with my passion ahh

HOOK 
Not goin back, not goin back
To the old me, not-not goin back
Run to the bank, and i’m cashin the cheque
With the music, i’m not holdin back

Not goin back, not goin back
To the old me, not-not goin back
Writin the track, and i’m splashin the facts
Made it this far, i’m not goin back

INTERLUDE
In my zone
Yeah i’m in my zone, till it’s set in stone

VERSE
Till it’s set in stone, ain’t finished
Now i’m Popeye wit the spinach
See the tough times, i’ve lived it
Thru the hard work, ain’t gifted

In a better place than I was before
Now a couple jokers wanna see the fall
But I, stay grindin no lie
Yappin all day but I pay no mind (yup)

20 now but no 20/20
Can’t see clear but the vision let me
Do it my way like a vigilante
Half full cos it’s never empty

HOOK
Not goin back, not goin back
To the old me, not-not goin back
Run to the bank, and i’m cashin the cheque
With the music, i’m not holdin back

Not goin back, not goin back
To the old me, not-not goin back
Writin the track, and i’m splashin the facts
Made it this far, i’m not goin back

Axel DMAT