cricket's site !!

hello everybuggy!! i thought it would be a good idea to make a little site for FAQ's and other stuff, so it eliminates (heh, eliminates) the need for me to repeat stuff in my comment sections! i will also give some tips about my music production process, because i know some of you guys are aspiring songwriters just like me, and i'd love to help!

if you have any other questions (or just wanna say hi), feel free to contact me on discord at @cricketsalads ^_^

what programs do i use to make my music?

i primarily use garageband as my DAW, because i like its simplicity. i also use FL studio with the cheapest membership, because it has some nice free instruments. you don't need anything flashy to make music!

what's my music setup like?

right now, i use the rode NT-USB+ microphone with some cheap headphones, and i record my vocals in my bedroom or closet. i like to use my piano, guitar, violin and sometimes ukulele in my songs, so when recording them i just bring the mic closer to wherever the instrument's sound hole is.

how do i write my lyrics?

i write songs about characters with fleshed out personalities and arcs that i am familiar with. knowledge on the character is the key to writing good lyrics. other than that, i have been writing poetry and literature for a while, so the words just come to me pretty easily (when i don't get writer's block, that is!). 

for writing lyrics that feel rhythmic and like they belong in a song, all i can say is practice makes perfect! write whenever you can, and tinker around with rhythms and melodies. i have been writing songs for around 2 years now, and i'm still nowhere near perfection, so just keep on going!

how do i write my melodies and chord progressions?

i have a large background in music theory, so it comes very naturally for me, but for those who don't, i suggest watching some youtube tutorials about key signatures, melody writing and music theory in general! music theory is extremely helpful to know in songwriting, but then again, you don't have to learn it if you don't want to! all music you make is good music, especially in this age of AI slop. as long as you yourself have fun making the music, it's a net positive!

how the flip do i balance songwriting with school/other commitments??

i'm sure other young songwriters suffer with juggling their music and schoolwork, so i just wanna explain my personal process if anyone wants to know!

i am autistic and currently go to school with partial attendance, which means i am absent from school at least 1 day per week. this helps me regulate and prevents burnout. on the days where i'm home, you can assume that i'm working on something related to music, and it means that i can finish a song in about a week or even less, if i'm feeling super motivated! music is a huge special interest of mine, and i'd love if i could spend every moment of my time doing it, but alas, Evil School does exist. 

for songwriters with super busy schedules, i suggest engaging with music in whenever you can, (as long as you feel up to it, that is. don't force yourself, good music comes voluntarily from my experience!) even daydreaming about song ideas or lyrics in class-i must admit, i do that way more than i really should-can give you good song drafts to come home and work on!

other things to know:

if you've made it this far, you should totally join my discord!!! you can get exclusive sneak peeks, bts content, and most importantly, you can hang out with the awesome cricketsalad community!! everyone is so sweet and genuinely the kindest and funniest people i've talked to online🥹 https://discord.gg/n3NPbH73NZ

also, i have a soundcloud @cricketsalad! i post songs that i don't like enough to put on spotify there. if they get enough attention, maybe someday i will put em on streaming services!