But there have also been some unexpected turns. Just as we were starting to settle into a rhythm with our project, after a few weeks, the required length was updated to a full 4 minutes. While I understand that course requirements can shift or make mistakes, the sudden change admittedly caught me off guard. It’s not that I’m unwilling to adjust, but the version of our cover we’ve been working on already feels complete and emotionally grounded. Extending it further, just to meet the time requirement, might disrupt the flow and overall feel that we’ve been carefully trying to build, and I'd fear it might start feeling like a drag, both in sound and execution. 

On top of that, re-extending the track would mean we’d need to rehearse again, when I’d rather spend that time learning more about production, since this is my first time trying to produce a full song. 

Every part of the arrangement so far was planned with intention, and I've carefully shaped the pacing so that the track builds and ends naturally. 

And now, so far, we’ve recorded guitar and drums, and this week we’re aiming to get the bass and vocals done. There’s still a lot of work ahead, but I’m excited about how it’s coming together.

Browsing through some of my classmates’ pre-production plans has also been encouraging. A lot of them are working on song covers too! And it’s exciting to think about how everyone will interpret their chosen pieces. Most of us are beginners in production, and in a way, that makes the process feel more exciting. There’s a kind of shared energy, a quiet understanding that we’re all learning as we go. I’m really looking forward to seeing (and hearing) what everyone ends up creating.

As for the face-to-face session, I sadly wasn’t able to attend since I’m based in the UAE. I would’ve loved to join in person, though! Nothing beats that in-the-moment energy of learning together. Still, I hope there are more chances to connect, maybe through Google Meet or even by organizing something locally here with fellow UPOU students who live abroad. I know a person or two who are also here in the UAE, and I’d definitely be open to collaborating more closely with others in the future. 

Looking ahead, I feel a mix of things. A little anxious, honestly,  because time is ticking and there’s still so much I want to refine in the production. But I’m also motivated. I want my final output to reflect both where I am now and how much I’ve grown. I know I might not produce something “perfect,” but if it resonates with others the way it resonates with me, that’s more than enough.

In the end, this course has given me more than just technical lessons. It’s made me more intentional with my creative decisions. It’s forced me to listen more closely, not just to the music, but to myself. 

What story am I trying to tell? 

Why does this matter to me? 

Those questions have stayed with me since Day 1, and I think they’ll keep guiding me until the final project is done.