The Easiest Way To Write A Pop Song 🎵🎙

In this video, Austin shows his entire process of crafting a melody and lyrics for a pop song!
Check Out Our Site (Samples, Presets, MIDI Packs, Courses, & Free Downloads)
makepopmusic.com
Explore Our Start-To-Finish Production Course!
bit.ly/3hWTpYI
---
Listen To Our Podcast!
rss.com/podcasts/thesoundtable/
Join Our Facebook Community - bit.ly/3nXYJe0
Follow us on Instagram: / makepopmusic
Follow us on TikTok: tinyurl.com/4k5c25vf
Subscribe to our KZbin channel for more content on all things pop music!
---
Listen to some of my work!
www.austinhull.com/
spoti.fi/3Z8GaEI
Affiliate Links To My Favorite Gear and Plugins!
Auto-Tune Unlimited: bit.ly/3krYaWI
DAW / Program I Use:
new.steinberg.net/cubase​​​​​​
Vocal Chain:
Mic - Lauten Audio LT-386 Eden
Preamp +Heritage EQ - Audio HA81A
Compressor - AudioScape 76D
I/O - RME UFX ii
---
Follow Austin:
www.austinhull.com
/ austinhullmusic
/ austinhull23​​
www.tiktok.com/saucetinhull
---
Make Pop Music is the #1 resource for independent pop producers, writers, and artists. Thank you for being a subscriber!
My Gear:
DAW: Cubase 12 Pro
Desk: AZ Studio Workstations
Main Microphone: Lauten Audio LT-386 Eden, Lewitt LCT1040
Voiceover Mic: Lauten LS-208
Monitors: Focal Shape 65s with Focal Sub6
Interface: RME UFX ii
Compressor: AudioScape 76D
MIDI Keyboard: M-Audio Code 61
Keyboards: Roland Juno DS88, Roland Juno 106, Arturia PolyBrute
Guitars: Fender American Professional Stratocaster, Gibson Les Paul Studio, Taylor 214 CE Plus
Preamps: Heritage Audio HA81A & Audient ASP800
Extra Microphones: Advanced Audio 251, Slate ML-1, Shure SM7B, JZ BH-1, JZ V67, Lauten Audio LA-320, Lauten Audio LA-220, Lauten Audio LA-120, AKG P170, Sterling ST59
Camera: Sony A7iv
Lens: Sony 24-70mm f2.4
Camera Lights: Aperture Amaran 100Xs
Timestamps:
Intro 0:00
Listening To The Instrumental 1:05
My Process When I Write Vocals 1:55
Fleshing Out A Verse Melody 2:14
Coming Up With Verse Lyrics 3:18
Tracking A Verse Demo Vocal 5:32
Coming Up With The Verse B Melody 6:37
Verse B Lyrics 7:49
Tracking The Verse B Demo Vocal 10:03
Pre-Chorus Melody 11:48
Pre-Chorus Lyrics 12:32
Tracking a Pre-Chorus Demo Vocal 13:40
Where To Go From Here 15:15
Final Listen 15:40
Outro 16:57

[@RenatoRincon]

Unbelievable how Austin writes a hit as if he was just making coffee in the morning

[@supergman312]

Love that you show us the live raw vocal takes. Super cool to see the process start to finish

[@MakePopMusic]

Hahaha yeah, was a bit worried to have my vocal with literally NOTHING on it. But yeah, this is what my raw vocal into the Lauten 208 sounds like!

[@mistermusicenterprise3148]

I am impressed.

[@ManderMurduh]

There's something so satisfying about watching a professional work, in their element, and molding a masterpiece. This is why inloce your videos

[@MC-bf9ip]

Seeing you coming up with these lyrics so quickly is amazing!

[@wil4862]

I hope this channel goes forever. You guys are amazing!

[@AaronOwenSmith]

You work so fast, very impressive and brave to show this part of the process as it can go very wrong sometimes for me.

[@OfficialJAMES97]

I just wanna say thank you for all of the helpful tutorials. Without these videos, I would not be where I am right now. Thank you Austin, for showing me how to make pop music!

[@MusokeMSK]

So cool to see your workflow. This video is a gem💎 will definitely save this for later

[@trollingisasport]

Love this synthwavy vibe

[@SoniqSounds]

Great one Austin!

[@benjaminjakubi]

A Tutorial for a Maneskin Pop Punk Song Would be Perfect😊

[@radioisayah]

I definitely appreciate you. I been wanting to do pop music for a while and this was just what I need to get started.

[@terrymcmann1469]

Well done. Very talented. Thanks.

[@jeremiahlyleseditor437]

Great Job Austin

[@user-kl7zp2se1w]

You perfect producer that i look on youtube!! Big thanks for you!

[@LosantoBeats]

You make it look so easy! Hahaha! Thanks for sharing your process!

[@vintagemastersprod.6448]

and that my fellow producers, we've found the treasure chest!! Pure Gold!!!

[@killa3309]

great video thank you!! you make it look so easy

[@donthayer3243]

Love seeing your process Austin! Definitely inspires me to go write some melodies (something I've been struggling with recently). Also how do you always upload something right on time with something that helps me with my exact problem??😂

[@corbinadler]

austin never disappoints i swear. i would to see a Lucky Daye/funk breakdown someday!

[@freddbonnie3166]

Wooww, love that way of making music, so beautifyl song thank you 😋, I've got inspired thanks to you 👻😍

[@vipulvishwas4960]

❤❤ So much Exclusive Content 🥰 🔥🔥 Much Love, I am learning many Professional Things from you Thanks 🌹

[@looply_music]

Cool Video, that's very cool to see the process.

[@MrPovilytis]

Actually this song is so good!

[@desolstudios]

this is master class

[@megs123roblox7]

This a amazing dude❤😮

[@Lavillerecords]

Great video and great track. 👍

[@shaunsensei6948]

This man is a wizard! Seeing you make this i was in the constant "holy fuckin shit" state

[@Meowdalee]

great stuff

[@JayRuqo]

Your voice is amazing!

[@tordy4963]

😅

[@trollingisasport]

I finally broke through the hang up I've been going through this year with lyric writing partially thanks to this video. I realized that I'm just too good at coming up with melodies that I can't trust myself to come up with the melody completely first. Rather I found I can write ease if I come up with a theme and from that emotion write phrases almost as I was speaking but while I am listening to the song and with correct pitch and rhythm. This way I don't have have the frustration of having a great melody I can't find words that naturally fit.

[@JoeyFTL]

If Taylor Swift wrote a retrowave song. I can diiiig

[@MakePopMusic]

FACTS

[@JoeyFTL]

@@MakePopMusic straight fax

[@darko-91]

u are not going to believe me but this video really inspires me, you make it look very simple and neat

[@Krilin84]

Hey, love these vids, always very interesting! Your vocals in this reminds me of Vandelux and Tailor - By Your Side, and speaking of which, I'd love to see you do a video on how to produce and mix a dry, roomy and organic sound like that song at some point! Thanks, keep up the good stuff!

[@40miles_]

That was good.

[@ericliumusic]

another great video as always! would love to see a pop folk tutorial in the style of Noah Kahan's new deluxe album, or folklore/evermore

[@ac8704]

Inspiration :)

[@Blueberrystop]

Cool!

[@3082frank]

I wish i could sing. 😢 It really makes a huge difference when you can produce and sing. Nice video. Is there a video where you teach how to just come up with melodies.

[@lukeprins458]

Very impressive bro 👍

[@Cwhite.tx23]

5 min in and getting more value from this than a 30 min vid I watched with Ryan Tedder on the same subject 🤷‍♂ Great video - thanks!

[@bmh770]

This is probably the best lyrics writing video. I just brought a ur44c and started using the AI version of cubase12 that came free with the ur44c. Got to get some good advice on cubase. I'm gonna be able to afford the pro version soon. Would you upgrade to pro 12 or wait a bit for a newer version e.g. cubase 13.... love your style and this video is very helpful to me

[@aveahgreen1045]

you have same thoughts about making music process with me friend 😂

[@timothygouws2178]

most helpful tip

[@LonelyStarOfficial]

Can we talk about his angel voice

[@blangelo]

Damn, really good voice bro

[@MakePopMusic]

Thank you! I appreciate that!

[@billyprice4569]

thnx for this vid Austin great as always. What's the pitch correcting software you were using for the vocals, is this stock in cubase. A vid on pitch correction would be super sick. Thanks again

[@iLIDIOMusic]

Thank you

[@Byron101_]

the bass is from Vital, right? like it! wonderful sound, Austin!

[@gyanlobaba231]

please tell how to do ear training so that i can create new melodies. how you get melodies in your head while listetning to chord progressions and music tracks . i am a beginner

[@daveosoriomusic5421]

Awesome... How did You create the vocal melody

[@mystikcid]

Goated

[@esbee-records]

Danke!

[@andrewbenavidez1454]

This was incredible! Noticed the D# was kind of a “return to” note throughout the process, like the overall melody dances around that note. Any reason why?

[@RKPiano1]

Great video as usual! Also if you haven't listened to the new album Sting by Emarosa, I think you could make a really good tutorial on its style!

[@4FOURSTATE]

The channel Makes me wanna Produce some Pop music Bro can you make a Island reggea beat on your next video Requesting all the way from the Pacific🔥❤️

[@jjmusser4487]

You are so good. I need your help.

[@Jet.Set.Go.]

Hello, what notes were used for the instrumental at the start? I really really like the idea

[@hannahmariehardie]

I wish this was an actual song he released publicly

[@blkrap]

Honestly, want a break down on this instrumental! Love the synth pad, too. Are all the synth presets from MPM packs?

[@MakePopMusic]

They are! They’re all from our Vital pack, Synergy! Gonna finish this and do a whole walk through

[@alainpatry]

What was your tracking vocal chain in this one? Compressor on the inserts, Verbsuite on the sends?

[@MakePopMusic]

Lauten 208 into Heritage Audio HA81A into AudioScape76D into RME UFXii Then in my DAW it was just autotune, VMR with a 76 and 2A doing some compression, then Waves Deesser, then Pro-Q3, then Rvox. Send out to Dimension D, VintageVerb on a hall setting at 4.5 seconds, vebsuite on a .5 sec room, and a repeater with a stereo 1/4 delay! My typical starting point chain

[@johnathankaner4365]

Please post a breakdown of this song🙏

[@jmangga5654]

In the melody writing sections, it seems as though you came up with a melody on your first pass and stuck with it. Did you have melodies already planned out before the video? Or do you typically take the first melody that comes to mind? If you do have a slower, more iterative process for coming up with melodies, I think that would be super interesting to see!

[@MakePopMusic]

No, nothing was pre planned. Normally I love the first melody that comes to my mind, but sometimes I'll lay down 3-4 other options and sit with them if I'm not 100% on the idea. This is about as slow as my melody writing process gets honestly

[@martinthe3rd664]

Not to take a stab at Austin here but IMO a slower process helps a ton. For example, in this song all the parts ended up to have a lot of similarities. In fact all sections were dancing around approximately the same notes and also shared some rhythmical & pick-up structures as well. This exact thing imo is what separates a great song from an okay-ish one. The "melodic math" Austin was talking about previously wasn't applied at all here as sections were not consciously contrasted in a more intelligent way. Obviously for a lot of songwriters that conscious contrast doesn't happen automatically but you can work it in if you do spend more than those 20 minutes. And it's well worth it.

[@damkafabrik2147]

maybe is better to use google sheets instead of word like docs. It allows you to comment lines, see alternative lines in another column, numbers, main words, rhymes, etc.

[@kingzluvinproduction]

Is he using melodyne to tune the vocals or ???

[@mikeouter4243]

Великолепно!

[@matenorth]

What is this melodyne type editor? Does Cubase have it built in?

[@MakePopMusic]

Yep! It’s called Vari Audio!

[@ShloimyZaltzman]

Austin this is brilliant, and i'm no amateur :) On the other end, I have my doubts if this is all on the spot, I'm a spontaneous guy and can come up with some cool stuff on the spot but this seems almost impossible - You write the melody on the spot, and remember it with doing just 1 pass, all the turns and melody twists. The lyrics are brilliant, this kind of stuff takes a while to craft... Just curious if this really is on the spot bc it seems that you gave it serious thought before..

[@MakePopMusic]

Nah, this is legitimately all on the spot 😂 I’ve just been doing it long enough to know what does and doesn’t work for my personal style I think

[@ShloimyZaltzman]

@@MakePopMusic Ha! Gotcha bro, damn your talented!

[@ShloimyZaltzman]

Btw great tip for your account, youtube shorts. Concise some of the main elements into a youtube short and your stuff will go viral!

[@athenahmusic]

Site wasn't working to get the freebies I guess. Tried 2 different browsers.

[@DylanDaulay-rp7nj]

Can u show us how to write a Coldplay song

[@rick_amsterdam]

you are so freaking fast..Damn it! lol

[@JoshuaWard-ez6tr]

Hey, could you help me make a beat for a Rihanna demo?

[@njacques3586]

Just me who thinks it sounds like the mako mermaids into😂

[@trevorshawver4344]

that fuckin bass tho 😳

[@MakePopMusic]

From our pack, Synergy 😉

[@trevorshawver4344]

@@MakePopMusic ooooo Im gonna peep that! Thanks 🙏🏻

[@freeskiiwithme]

is that necklace xxbyjaxx?

[@MakePopMusic]

No it’s Ian Charms!

[@FabrizioMartoneMusic]

Charlie Puth / Chainsmokers vibes. Nice!

[@null2089]

DUDE YOU LOOK TOTALLY LIKE CYRUS, FROM SAMARITAN MOVIE

[@malloymdleeds8280]

You made that look too easy 😅.....but great process 👌🏾

[@azul4904]

this is probably gonna be the dumbest question ever, but with these videos i’m always lost right at the beginning with it. writing lyrics and melodies comes naturally to me, but i don’t play any instruments other than singing. my question is, for someone like me, where do you start? how do you “outsource” these instrumentals? i feel like i sound stupid asking this but i genuinely don’t really know how to go about it, and it’s the reason why my songs never go anywhere other than my drawers. can someone help😅?

[@MakePopMusic]

I would say start trying to get into sessions where there is a producer laying down a track with the artist, and you're there to help write lyrics and melodies. Or start hiring producers to help you flesh out your own song ideas. Not a dumb question at all!

[@azul4904]

@@MakePopMusic thank you! that’s very helpful. and if i can bother you with another question, how would you go about it if you were in my situation? i don’t have any friends who produce and i don’t really know how i should approach them for something like this (i don’t really count with much of a budget either so i’m feeling very stuck).

[@badgasaurus4211]

This is probably how Taylor Swift came up with the likes of "Lavender Haze" or how Lewis Capaldi and his team put his last album together. It's the bare minimum that's required to construct a song and yet people lap it up in droves.

[@donny6275]

Make pop punk song like sum 41

[@jonny.9148]

if i paid you could you be my producer?

[@ravagerat]

comment

[@johncracker5217]

Is there any pop music that isn’t a 4563? Or a 4565 or 4561? wtf man.

[@kamganjer]

thanks for upload! ASTN, could you make a content of deconstructing 'LAFUCKEDUP'? It's crazy

[@MakePopMusic]

Did it last week! 😁

[@NoodlesUnreleased]

Hey I wanted to ask for you mix some of my songs, I have 5 dollars yet I didn't quite know how to ask, do you take offers or is there anyway I can contact you?

[@romeoloeri]

mosnter 🫂🫂🫂🫂