Writing Exercise: Exercise on Rhetorical Techniques
Electronic Dance Music, EDM for short. The process of making these songs fascinated me — they are usually made by layering and removing a multitude of sonic elements. These layers remind me of my first love.
When you make an EDM song, you start with a simple four-beat bass drum. This reminds me of how it was before falling into the depths of love; everything was pretty plain, safe, monotonous.
And then you add your high hat, which serves as the driving motion of your song. That would be the part where I meet him. I think you can imagine the sound of the high hat and the four-beat bass drum as your heartbeat skipping. That’s what it felt like for me.
Next, you add your claps. This gives the song variety and shows the beginning of your song’s theme; sets the mood. In a way, it warns you about what is to come. In my case, it happened through stolen glances, a lingering gaze, and small encounters that made my heart flutter. The monotonous and ordinary routine of mine saw splashes of him, which added excitement to my every day.
Once you get the three things layered, you add a basic melody by using a synthesizer. It’s already good on its own, smooth, flowing, easy. I see this as the guy I like finally liking me back. It felt like everything was falling into place. Everything was easy, fun, full of moments that made me feel giddy. But what is young love without its ups and downs, huh?
To make your song better, you add various elements, like the bass, different drums, and melodies. It builds the energy and tension before the “drop”. These elements are pretty subtle, and changes in the song happen over time. These elements look like the problems we faced at the time. I remember the petty fights and tension between us — which all emanated from our immaturity and lack of understanding.
Finally, you get to your drop. This is the climax of your song. After holding and building intensity for so long, it all comes crashing down. This is the most-awaited beat drop. People would often jump around and revel in this beat, but for us, it was our ending. The loud and crashing beats remind me of the chaotic and somehow dramatic ending of a short-lived love story I am too ashamed to tell. Maybe for another time.
As I’m writing this, I’m listening to an EDM playlist filled with songs which accompanied me as I fell in and out of love. As I listen, I am overwhelmed with memories associated with a certain person from a certain part of my life. But I’m also hit with how much I have changed. I’ve now moved on to a more mellow genre, a genre not associated with anyone but myself — it is one that reflects who I have become and who I am today.
