Ibby VK advices how he puts words and melodies in perfect harmony
People say authenticity is key to succeeding in the tough and competitive entertainment industry. Artists have to show genuineness and relevance in order to pull through. So the question now remains, how do you really stay true in the aggressive world of music?
“Authenticity is not just measured on how approachable one looks or how legitimate one’s words are.” Says Ibby VK, homegrown Dubai-based singer-songwriter. “For me, as an artist, it’s important that my truth, emotions and feelings are reflected in the way I produce and showcase my music - not just today or tomorrow, but constantly and relentlessly.” He added.
Here, Ibby VK listed top advices on creating an impactful and meaningful song:
1. Start with the title. Starting with a title will help you stay focused on a single idea in your song. Create a phrase of one to six words that sums up the heart of what you want to say. Or look for an interesting phrase that suggests a situation or emotion to you. Try using an image in your title to give it more interest or an action word to give it energy.
2. Make a list of questions suggested by the title.Start by asking yourself what you want to say about your title and what you think your listeners might want to know. Make a list of questions. Your list might include: What does the title mean? How do you feel about it? What happened to cause this? What do you think or hope will happen next? You’ll need three to four questions.
3. Choose a song structure. Many of today’s biggest hits rely on a song structure like this: Verse / Chorus / Verse / Chorus / Bridge / Chorus. Some add a short section called a “pre-chorus” or “lift” between the verse and chorus to build anticipation. The verse, pre-chorus, and chorus each have an identifiable melody, one that the listener can recognize when it comes around.
4. Choose one question to answer in the chorus and one for each verse. We’ll focus on the chorus first since it’s the most important part of your song. Select the question you want to answer in your chorus. Write down a short phrase that expresses your answer. Look for images and action words to bring your answers to life. What is the singer feeling, thinking, or saying? What emotion is the singer feeling and how would you describe it? Is it warm or cold? Dark or light?
5. Find the melody in your lyrics. Choose one or two of the phrases you came up with in Step 4. Say them out loud. Now say them again with LOTS of emotion. Exaggerate the emotion in the lines. Notice the natural rhythm and melody of your speech when you say the lines with lots of feeling. This is the beginning of your chorus melody. Play with it until it feels comfortable.
6. Begin to add chords to your chorus melody. Try a simple, repeated chord pattern. Play with the melody and chords until you find something you like. Record yourself singing and playing (or just singing) – even if it’s only on your smartphone. Be sure you get it down so you don’t forget it.
7. Finishing a song. So now you have your song idea in place, you know all the parts you need and you’ve picked a structure. Superb. At this point there are infinite ways to reach the finish line. It’s the magic that makes songwriting so special: there’s no ‘best’ way to do it. The best songwriting process is YOUR OWN process. The only way to figure it out is to take time, sit down and build it.
Despite starting his path as a Chemical Engineering student, Ibby VK managed to shift gears and pursue a career in music which started off from just borrowing guitars and playing several free gigs. Today, he is one of the UAE's fastest rising local artists, playing his original compositions in different events, parties and festivals around the country. He was also a finalist in the recently concluded Yasalam Emerging Talent Competition 2019 held at the Du Arena, Yas Island.
Ibby VK’s acoustic, alternative and pop music speaks of love, heartbreak, self-acceptance, death and reality. It also mirrors the artist’s personalities, hopes and dreams - even more so narrating the story of a young man’s ultimate Dubai dream slowly coming to life. Dressed in a plain shirt and equipped with a guitar, a loop pedal and an incredible stage presence, Ibby VK is definitely one up-and-coming artist that you should watch out for.
His latest album “One Man Nation” is now available on https://www.ibbyvk.com/one-man-nation and can be streamed on Spotify, Itunes, Anghami and more.