I want to explore Sound Design as a storytelling tool within a musical composition. The focus of this project is on musical details that are added to a song to make it more interesting. “Ear candy“ is a vague term used to describe sound effects, extra layers, rhythmic variations and other techniques which are supposed to make a song more interesting for the listeners. They can help to shape the soundscape and character of a song.
This project is not only about adding details to a song, but also about building a vocabulary for describing sound characteristics. The practical part of this project aims to combine songwriting and sound editing. The goal is the concept of a song that is enhanced with sound design elements.
Examples of ear candy
- The vocals in the song “Who let the dogs out” by Baha Men imitate the sound of a dog barking.
- Billie Eilish and her music producer Finneas O’Connell include sounds they recorded in real life as samples in their songs. One song by them features the drill of a dentist’s equipment, another one includes the sound of an Accessible Pedestrian Signal (APS). (APS are devices which are designed to help pedestrians who are blind or have low vision by providing non-visual cues like sounds and vibrations to indicate when it is safe to cross the road.)
Purpose of the project
The core purpose of my project is to analyze sounds, develop a vocabulary for my future sound design work and explore different ways to use sound design elements in musical compositions. Instead of treating sound design as a decorative or purely technical layer, I intend to explore it as a meaning-bearing, dramaturgical element.
Ultimately, the goal is not simply to produce a song but to research and articulate a method for using sound design as narrative strategy in music.
I want to
… compose a musical piece in which sound design shapes the narrative structure.
… create ear candy elements that contribute not only sonically but symbolically.
… develop a vocabulary to describe sound qualities and emotional functions in production.
… connect theory and practice when it comes to musical storytelling, sound design and sound editing.
Although the outcome is a standalone piece, the underlying methodology has broader applications:
· Artistic practice: designing sonic narratives, creating atmosphere and emotional depth in music.
· Music production: helping artists articulate a “sound world”.
· Education & analysis: building tools for describing sound qualities and production strategies.
Possible techniques & methods
To narrow down the project, I might draw from several categories of methods. I hereby note that these categories were suggested to me by the LLM ChatGPT after several prompts telling the model which areas of Sound Design I would like to explore more.
A. Analytical Techniques
· Harmonic analysis of emotion-driven chord progressions
· Textural and spectral analysis of reference tracks
· Identification of “Ear Candy” categories (e.g. foley events, sound effects etc.)
· Development of descriptive vocabulary for sound qualities
B. Sound Design Techniques
· Foley-based sampling (recording small sound events)
· Textural layering
· Creative vocal processing (pitch, formant, spatial modulation)
· Unusual chord voicings or progression loops
· Spatial mixing techniques for headphones (binaural cues, intimate panning)
C. Production & Composition Methods
· Writing a narrative arc for the song
· Mapping sound events to emotional or symbolic moments
· Iterative prototyping: composing → sound-designing → analyzing → refining
· Mixing for headphone emphasis
· Evaluating how well each sound supports the story
Questions that will most likely occur during this project
· How much Foley work is necessary to support the story of a song?
· Which sound design elements risk becoming too literal or distracting?
· How can I balance songwriting and sound design so that neither overwhelms the other?