soundcloud gems
soundcloud gems
<the lost art of demos & unserious music>
by desi | 데지 (intrbloo)
I don’t know about the rest of you, but every couple of months, I find myself logging back in to SoundCloud to get in my healthy dose of demos and unreleased music to feed my inner demon. I’m talking Kehlani circa 2013, “ANTISUMMERLUV,” triggering that bittersweet nostalgia of 10-year-old me who thought she could relate to the concept of a summer fling. And even present-day, deep diving the subterranean discographies of my newest musical obsessions to understand the nuances of their artistic universes that don’t hit the mainstream market. However, while the platform has undoubtedly shifted music culture as we know it and had a massive impact on modern streaming and distribution, it has gotten neglected over the years in favor of newer outlets – notably TikTok – disturbing the culture of underground debuts, mixtapes, demos, and even unserious music.
Perhaps it’s a side effect of my geekiness towards music (occupational hazard, if you will), but I find myself yearning for imperfect media, powered by grit and passion, that exists in the rawest forms of art. From watching a producer lay down the foundational chords of a track to hearing the mumbled substructure of a song’s melody, there’s a beauty in demos and unfinished music that rarely makes it to the ears of consumers. A new lifestyle, in which artists would rather go MIA for months or years on end, to produce the perfect final master of a project before they release it out into the universe; hundreds of outtakes only getting love from their companions in the forsaken folders of an overflowing digital trash bin. It’s a shame, really, because with art and music being so subjective, the chances of a life-changing, “favorite” song for someone getting stuck in the never-ending vault of could-be releases are depressingly high – and though there are millions and millions of distributed songs in existence, most of which we will likely never get around to hearing, the selfish part of me wishes I had unfiltered access to these throw away tracks so I can decide for myself what impact it has on me.
Unfortunately, though, this is an extremely unrealistic sentiment. In fact, it’s quite hypocritical coming from me as a creative myself, who, too, gatekeeps and archives dozens of projects for a plethora of reasons. Because while art is a tool that brings people together, at its core it is a way for someone to express themselves – a vulnerable creation – which, thus, must encapsulate an element of satisfaction and worth that one is okay with having their name linked to. Simultaneously, there must be enough distance from the piece to allow consumers to create interpretations, connections, and opinions that might diverge from the artist’s original intentions without developing hostility between creator and fan. Thus, artists tend to be picky about which pieces of their work make it out into the big, vast world, because you never know whose eyes and ears will land on your delicate craft. The difficulties that many face in expressing their thoughts and emotions every day are gathered and amplified in the creation of music; from the meticulous analysis of feelings and rewording of lyrics, to the hours that go into delivering every line, encompassing not only the correct sentiment, but also having sonic appeal. This is an inherently complex process that becomes even more challenging as various external factors come into play: namely, the expectations that come with being signed to a label, as well as the epidemic of viral TikTok music.
Considering the sheer magnitude of the music industry, it’s no secret that monetization can hold an upper hand in creative decisions. An outlet that was once a safe space is now a career - a livelihood. And with that comes a reevaluation of priorities; a balance of creating the music most genuine to oneself, versus the demands of consumers and critics alike. Studying and understanding what music is popular at a given moment, and shape-shifting your artistic identity in hopes of securing a spot on the charts, drawing in revenue and potentially new listeners, while still satisfying yourself and your fanbase. It’s an equation that even the finest mathematicians would grapple with. And thus, these decisions are often taken over by a label or company, who make it their mission to represent an artist and their craft, and share it with the world. Keyword: world. Because in order for music to be a successful business, there needs to be enough eyes and ears on an artist to make revenue to invest back into them. Thus, through the commercialization of TikTok and the deceptively obtainable notion of virality, social media has become one of the biggest marketing tools to support this financial objective. Artists are expected to participate in this digital wave, to promote themselves and their music, in order to make it big and secure a bag. So similar to how “SoundCloud rapper” was once a term thrown around to describe the sought-after sound of the time, we are now seeing allegations of “TikTok music” surfacing as the contemporary surrogate. Only the latter comes with a far more polished, intentional formula, which may sound more technically remarkable, but often misses the elements that make music what it is.
Vulnerable. Relatable. Imperfect. Whimsical. TikTok music’s entire scheme is built around curating the perfect 15-20 second sound bite for the internet to loop endlessly, so it’s no surprise when the rest of the track fails to leave an impression. But realistically, not every project has to belong to an artist’s professional identity – gaining monetization and holding a seat within their discography. Some ideas can just stay ideas, without forcing them to become big projects. In fact, I think we should be encouraging artists to be less rigid with their music, and experiment in ways that make music fun again – a reminder of why they started this journey in the first place. Rather than expecting multiple fully fleshed out projects per year, only hearing from the artist when the album finally hits our ears, what if there was more emphasis on sharing the process and inspiration of creation instead? Demos. Covers. Remixes. Genre exploration. Thus, this is my formal request to bring back unofficial SoundCloud releases, and I begin the campaign by sharing some tracks that I specifically open the SoundCloud app to listen to.
Demos / Unreleased: Sometimes incomplete, sometimes damn near publishable tracks. Whether the song ever makes it to streaming platforms, whether it stays true to the demo or changes in production, lyrics, or composition, I have a dear love for demos and unreleased tracks. Sometimes these are truly the deepcuts that give listeners insight into new sounds an artist is experimenting with; the rawest, earliest introduction to a new era. Or sometimes, artists just don’t think it’s good/cohesive enough to go on an album, and decide to put it on the internet as an outtake demo. Either way, my biggest thanks to artists who sprinkle demos into the world (notably Trilla & gyun, who are kinda sponsoring this category)!!
Mixtapes: The lines between mixtape, EP, and album have certainly become blurry over the years, but there’s a certain level of freedom that comes with mixtapes, which I love. Whether the songs themselves aren’t entirely perfect, or the composition of the project as a whole isn’t cohesive enough to be an album, or even if it simply isn’t meant for mainstream consumption, mixtapes are an art I would like to celebrate.
Covers: Tell me you don’t love to hear music reimagined from another creative’s POV, because I CERTAINLY do. From differing vocal tones, changes in line delivery, or octave shifts, covers are always a fun way to hear something new from an artist, and in many cases, I end up loving the cover more than the original!
Remixes: In the same vein, getting insight into the type of music my favs are listening to, and on top of that, having it interpreted in their style… *chef’s kiss*. Unexpected genre flips, opposite lyrical perspectives, or chopped&screwed samples. I love it all!
Diss Tracks: Once a massive characteristic of hip-hop culture, I fear diss tracks just don’t exist anymore. Not that I necessarily wish for beef and tension within the industry, but from a fun and unserious (and lowkey nosy) perspective, I feel like some harmless, mild drama could really benefit ~community~ again within the KHH space. [maybe I’m just toxic]
In the upcoming year, I hope music makes a journey back to its roots; back to experimenting, messing around, and having fun. Whether SoundCloud itself makes a comeback or another platform steps in, I trust that 2026 will be the year of cherishing basics and celebrating art in all its forms – from start to finish.
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