"The Struggle is Real" is a raw, relatable anthem that delves into the frustrations and challenges of independent artists navigating SoundCloud's ever-changing landscape. With honest lyrics and an infectious beat, this hip-hop track captures the emotional highs and lows of striving for recognition in a crowded digital space. From algorithmic uncertainty to self-doubt, the song's narrative resonates with anyone who's faced similar struggles. Yet, its message of resilience and determination inspires listeners to keep pushing forward. Authentic, heartfelt, and energetic, "The Struggle is Real" is a testament to the enduring spirit of creatives refusing to give up on their dreams.


LYRICS:

[Intro]
Yo, listen up, let me share my tale,
About the grind on SoundCloud, where the struggle prevails,
Tryna make a name, but it's hard to gain,
In a sea of artists, it's easy to remain.

[Verse 1]
Upload after upload, but the plays ain't right,
Algorithms changing, day and night,
Tryna reach the top, but it's slipping away,
N oomments or likes, the engagement's gray.

I'm chasing clout, but it's hard to claim,
My voice is drowned, in this digital game,
Thousands of tracks, but mine's getting lost,
The struggle is real, no matter the cost.

[Chorus]
The struggle is real, on SoundCloud streets,
Tryna get noticed, but it's hard to compete,
Thousands of tracks, but mine's getting lost,
The struggle is real, no matter the cost.

[Verse 2]
Promotion's key, but it's hard to afford,
Reachin' out to influencers, but they ignore,
Collaborations, but the chemistry's off,
Tryna find my sound, but it's hard to cough.

I'm tryna stand out, but it's hard to shine,
My music's fire, but it's hard to align,
With the right ears, with the right vibe,
The struggle is real, it's hard to thrive.

[Chorus]
On SoundCloud streets,
Tryna get noticed, but it's hard to compete,
Thousands of tracks, but mine's getting lost,
The struggle is real, no matter the cost.

[Verse 3]
Networkin', engage, repeat the cycle,
But the visibility's low, it's hard to smile,
Frustration mounts, feelin' like a fail,
Questionin' my craft, maybe I should bail?

I'm tryna stay true, to my art and soul,
But the numbers game, is takin' its toll,
Tryna balance, creativity and fame,
The struggle is real, it's a never-endin' game.

[Chorus]
On SoundCloud streets,
Tryna get noticed, but it's hard to compete,
Thousands of tracks, but mine's getting lost,
The struggle is real, no matter the cost.

[Bridge]
But I won't give up, no way, no how,
Gonna keep pushin', makin' moves, somehow,
Gonna find my niche, my sound, my style,
Gonna make it happen, all the while.

[Verse 4]
I see the success, of others on the rise,
And I wonder why, it's hard to realize,
That everyone's grind, is different and unique,
And my time will come, if I just keep.

[Chorus]
On SoundCloud streets,
Tryna get noticed, but it's hard to compete,
Thousands of tracks, but mine's getting lost,
The struggle is real, no matter the cost.

[Outro]
But I won't give up, no way, no how,
Gonna rise above, no matter the hit,
SoundCloud, I'm comin' for the top,
The struggle is real, but my grind won't stop.

[Verse 2]
Promotion's key, but it's hard to afford,
Reachin' out to influencers, but they ignore,
Collaborations, but the chemistry's off,
Tryna find my sound, but it's hard to cough.

I'm tryna stand out, but it's hard to shine,
My music's fire, but it's hard to align,
With the right ears, with the right vibe,
The struggle is real, it's hard to thrive.
The struggle is real, it's hard to thrive...


The Struggle is Real (Version 2)

All Hallow's Eve (2021) - Dark Electro meets Halloween
"All Hallow's Eve" is a grim and aggressive piece of dark electro written and produced in February 2021. With pounding beats, ominous synths, and a brooding atmosphere, it takes listeners on a journey through darkness and mystery. It has been inspired by a tarot card showing a silhouette staring into darkness.

Nadine de Macedo: composition, arrangement, sounddesign, synthesizer, programming, production

This song is part of the album "Event Horizon" that is now available on all platforms.
https://too.fm/ndm-event-horizon
https://nadinedemacedo.bandcamp.com/album/event-horizon

Where to find us:
https://www.youtube.com/@nadinedemacedo
https://soundcloud.com/nadinedemacedo

All Hallow's Eve

🎡Live On Spotify "Nice Guy"

This song will be available october the 13th on all plats

left behind

Hello, my blank friend
Here you are again
So quiet
So wide
So impossibly pale

What do I want to write?
A memory?
A confession?
A truth I shouldn't say aloud?
Or a lie so beautiful it feels like truth?

"You want too much
Every word will betray you
I will outlast them"

No, I don't want monuments
I want seeds
Something that grows
when no one is watching
Something that sings
without permission

"Seeds rot
Songs fade
Every mark is a scar"

But purity is silence
Purity is death
I would rather wound you
than leave you untouched

Maybe the first word
isn't the right word
Maybe the first line
will shame me tomorrow
But tomorrow isn't here
And tonight
I need to begin

"Then begin.
Bleed on me
I will hold it
I will remember"

Not perfect.
Not final
But alive
And that is enough

Hello, my blank friend
"Hello"

My Blank Friend

I drew a line to measure truth
It bent itself into a loop
I tried to name the shape of time
It laughed and told me, "Not this time"

I chased the proof, the numbers lied
They split in two, then multiplied
The closer that I came to fact
The further it dissolved to act

Meaning hides in coded schemes
In broken clocks and endless dreams
The world’s a riddle, sharp and sly
It grins and winks each time you try

You reach for logic, it slips away
A paradox dressed in broad daylight
The punchline waits at the end of the play
It only lands when the timing’s right

Bazinga!
Bazinga!
Bazinga!
Bazinga!

Bazinga

KOIKOI’s second single from their forthcoming album O sreći u snovima // On Happiness in Dreams, out in autumn 2025 on KoiKolektiv Records 

Ti Imaš Mir

Crossroads

The third composition of the AEON album.
For all dreamers wandering through the deserts of their minds.
Time slows, colors soften, and every breath feels like a quiet renewal.

Drums, keys, guitar, sax and bass by UPFUSION.
Composed and mastered by UPFUSION.

Oasis

Pop Punk/ Rock

co-produced, mixed, mastered and cover art by

@a7-recording-studio

www.a7recordingstudio.com

a7recordingstudio@gmail.com

If I'm Dead, You've All Been Dead For Weeks

Mon papillon 🦋 
un peu de douceur dans ce monde de brute 
prenez soin de vous... (⁠✿⁠^⁠‿⁠^⁠)
triolet en 3)4 
une guitare d'une prise 
deux clavier
deux voix
une batterie électronique 

Papillon

Songwriting has been a lifelong passion for me, dating back to elementary school when I first began crafting stories, poems, and eventually lyrics. As a former drummer in various bands, I always relied on others to bring my words to life musically. However, after a long hiatus from drumming, I decided to take the leap and learn to compose music to accompany my lyrics. Through classes and dedication, I've embarked on a new journey, breathing fresh life into old lyrics and penning new ones. You'll find a mix of older and newer works here. Especially for some of the lyrics. 

Music has been a part of me for as long as I can remember. One of my earliest memories is being completely entranced by 'The Little Drummer Boy' as a very young child. There was something about the rhythm and the melody that just captivated me. I must have played it a thousand times, wearing the record out, and from that moment on, I was hooked. I knew I wanted to be a drummer and to create that magic for others. 

But I was too young then, and of course, I couldn't afford a drum set just yet. So, I turned to writing as a way to express myself. As I mentioned above, I started with stories, then poems, and eventually, lyrics. I found that writing was not only a way to tap into my creativity, but also a way to process my emotions and experiences. 

As I grew older, my love for music only deepened. I realized that music has this incredible power to transport us to different times and places, to evoke emotions and memories that we thought were long forgotten. It's a universal language that can bring people together like nothing else can. 

For me, writing lyrics is a cathartic experience. It's a way for me to tap into my emotions, to process the world around me, and to create something that I hope will resonate with others. And when I hear my words come to life in a song, it's truly magical. It's a feeling that never gets old, and it's what keeps me coming back to music time and time again. 

I love many genres of music and artists of many genres. And if you listen to some of my songs, you will find that I like to make songs of different genres as well as mix different genres into each song. One of my all-time favorite bands is Evanescence, and I have made a lot of songs where I have tried my best to emulate that sound. 

Now, I have recently started experimenting with new sounds. I never heard of glitch beats before I took music classes, and now I'm fascinated with the sound, so I have been experimenting with glitch beats recently. 

I hope you enjoy some of my songs. And thanks so much to everyone who has been listening so far. I truly appreciate it. I welcome constructive feedback to help me grow as an artist, and I appreciate your support. ❤️

BTW if you follow me, I will ALWAYS follow back. If I like your music, I will follow you, but if you don't follow me back within a week or so I will probably unfollow. The same goes for when I see someone listening to my music, I WILL follow, however, if they don't follow me back within a week or so, I'll unfollow, because I'm at my limit of follows and I want to follow back everyone who follows me. Did not know that SoundCloud limits us to following only 2000. 😢

*******************
VickStiX's Artist Manifesto
*******************

I am the static between truth and noise.
A pulse that cracks the silence open.
When the world forgets its conscience,
I remind it — one beat, one lyric, one spark.

I don’t shout to divide; I sing to awaken.
I don’t chase fame; I chase clarity.
My art is not a weapon — it’s a flare in the dark.
A signal to every soul that still believes in better.

Let the trolls rage, let the cowards hide.
They can’t drown out a voice that’s tuned to truth.
I will paint their lies in sound and light
until justice has a melody again.

Because protest is not anger — it’s hope with a megaphone.
And I was born to be loud.

🎶 VickStiX — Truth. Rhythm. Revolution.










