To achieve a big project, it must be separated into little, actionable steps. This blog entry refines my intention with the project further and talks more about the specific goals.
The core purpose of my project remains unchanged: I want to explore how sound design can function as a storytelling tool within a musical composition. At the center of this exploration is an element that is ever-present in pop music, yet rarely analyzed in depth: ear candy. I want to understand how these sonic details can create meaning and support a narrative—and how I can use this knowledge purposefully in my own productions.
In short: I want to treat sound design not as a technical afterthought, but as a dramaturgical element that actively shapes a song’s story.
Goals and subtasks
Using the SMART criteria for goal setting (meaning a goal needs to be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound) I am setting the following goals for the running and upcoming semesters:
Winter Semester 2025: Literature Review and analysis of two pop songs
| Specific | Literature review · Collect academic articles on sound design, music production, and related terminology· Collect non-academic sources (YouTube tutorials, blogs, producer breakdowns) · Explore psychoacoustics, synesthesia, and musical chills Analyze the terminology · Gather definitions, synonyms, and varying understandings of “ear candy.” · Identify recurring themes: purpose, emotional impact, sonic characteristics Analyze two pop songs · Look for elements that stand out and describe why they stand out · Analyze which effects were used and what purpose they served in the songs Start the adjective collection (ongoing across all semesters) · Note adjectives encountered in literature, interviews, and analyses · Categorize them (e.g., emotional, spatial, timbral, narrative) · Record preliminary meanings, examples, and contexts Optional: Hold an interview with a pop music producer · Find an interview partner (Research local or online producers experienced with ear candy and evaluate their relevance to the project (genre experience, professional background)) · Organize the interview · Prepare the interview questions (e.g. How do they incorporate ear candy in their work? What techniques do they use? Topics to cover: personal definition of ear candy, creative process, sound sourcing and recording, editing methods, dramaturgical intentions, best-practice examples) · Conduct the interview · Transcribe (parts of the) interview |
| Measurable | Literature Review: Finish the expose at the end of the semester and present my results Analyze terminology: Present a definition that matches the way ear candy is described in the research Analyze two pop songs: Present a summary of the findings Interview (optional): Hold the interview and summarize the findings |
| Achievable | Tasks rely on available resources (literature, online material, accessible industry contacts). |
| Relevant | Defining the term is relevant for further semesters, to have a shared understanding what the project is all about. |
| Time-Bound | Finish the literature review before New Years. Finish the presentation of the results when it is due in January of 2026. |
Summer Semester 2026: Apply ear candy concepts to an original song
| Specific | 1. Develop the base composition Create a song structure (intro, verse, pre-chorus, chorus, bridge). Produce the foundational arrangement: – chords / harmonic progression – melody or topline – percussion – bass – vocals Create a clean production without any ear candy, to serve as Version A. 2. Design & integrate ear candy elements Based on Semester 1 findings, design ear candy that: – supports the song’s story – enhances emotional impact – reinforces transitions or dynamic shifts – adds subtle textural detail Create Version B (extensive ear candy) using the full palette of techniques. 3. Listener perception study (Optional but valuable) Conduct a small informal test with listeners (friends, classmates, musicians) Ask participants to compare Versions A and B. Collect data on: – perceived narrative clarity – emotional response – sense of depth and – detail memorability Document results for inclusion in your final report. 5. Continue expanding the adjective list Add descriptors derived from the production process. Start grouping words into categories. |
| Measurable | One full song production in two versions (with and without ear candy). |
| Achievable | Uses skills developed from research and accessible production tools. |
| Relevant | Demonstrates the practical value of the theoretical framework. |
| Time-Bound | To be completed by the end of Summer Semester 2026. |
It is not completely clear to me what I will do in the third semester. I assume that producing the songs might be a process that also extends into the third semester. Nevertheless, at the end of the project I want to have achieved the following:
Specific: Compile results, finalize the adjective list, evaluate the production outcomes, and prepare final documentation
Measurable: Final project portfolio including written thesis chapter, song versions, diagrams, and terminology list
Achievable: Builds on completed work from previous semesters
Relevant: Completes the research cycle and demonstrates academic + artistic learning outcomes
Time-bound: End of Winter Semester 2026/27