One of the best parts about being a songwriter is that you never really know where the next song is going to come from. It might sneak up on you during a walk, land in your head in the middle of the night, or—in my case this past week—come from a painting, a scientific article, or a story about whales.
It’s been a busy, creative stretch for me, and I thought I’d share a little behind the scenes about what I’ve been working on lately. Three new songs, three very different inspirations—but all with the same process at heart: a spark of curiosity, a melody taking shape, and the help of some incredibly talented friends who help bring these ideas to life.
1. Summer Storm
🎧 Listen here
📝 Read the story behind the song
This one started with a painting. I was scrolling through social media and came across Summer Storm, a piece by artist Jim Musil. It stopped me cold—the wide, open prairie, the dark clouds rolling in, the electric tension of that moment right before a storm breaks loose. I couldn’t get it out of my head.
I grabbed my mandolin, started strumming a few chords, and the first lyric just fell out:
"The clouds roll in with a heavy sigh,
A prairie stretch where the wild winds fly..."
From there, the rest of the song took shape fast. I wanted to capture the mood of that storm—the rumble of thunder, the smell of rain on dry earth, the wild beauty of the plains. I wrote the melody and the chords myself, then hired a guitarist to lay down a steady, rootsy track that really grounded the song.
For the vocals, I called on a friend with that perfect, twangy voice—the kind that sounds like it belongs on a dusty country road. He nailed it, adding warmth and grit in all the right places. I mixed it down in Audacity, keeping things raw and honest.
It's a simple track, but it paints a picture. And to me, that’s what songwriting’s all about.
2. Ocean Gift
🎧 Listen here
📝 Behind the Song
This song took me underwater—literally. I read an article about orcas bringing gifts to humans: fish, shells, even bits of seaweed. It wasn’t fiction—it was happening off the coast of Europe and beyond. That image stuck with me—the ocean's most intelligent, mysterious creatures rising from the deep, offering a token of connection.
The lyrics came quickly:
"A salmon offered, a gesture grand,
A fleeting touch from a fin to hand..."
For this one, I wanted the music to feel gentle, spacious, and a little mystical. I wrote the melody and chords, keeping them simple and flowing, like waves. I hired a guitarist to lay down the track with a clean, open feel—almost like the song is breathing.
But I knew my own voice wouldn’t fit the vibe. So I called up a friend and colleague who has just the right tone—a little worn, a little salty, like sea air. His vocal performance brought the whole thing together.
Again, I mixed the track in Audacity—nothing overproduced, just enough to let the song drift along like the tide.
3. Cosmic Halo
🎧 Listen here
📝 Behind the Song
Sometimes the cosmos hands you a song. That’s how it felt with Cosmic Halo.
I came across an article on Space.com about a massive halo of high-energy particles surrounding a distant galaxy cluster—a structure from the early universe, still glowing, still pulsing with energy billions of years later. That image was too good to pass up.
This track is pure high-energy psytrance. 140-145 BPM, pulsing bass, glitchy synths, cosmic textures—everything designed to feel like you're raving through the stars.
I laid down the structure, programmed the beats, built the cosmic synth layers, and sampled my own voice for that hypnotic vocal hook:
"Spin the light, feel the trance..."
It’s a heavier track than I usually write, but it felt right for the subject. I worked with a couple of great engineers to polish the mix and really dial in the energy. The result is a track that feels like drifting through space—until the bass drops and you’re suddenly caught up in the cosmic dance.
The Best Part? The People.
If there’s one thing I love as much as writing songs, it’s getting to collaborate with so many amazing musicians, singers, and engineers who help bring these songs to life.
Sometimes I handle the writing, recording, and mixing myself. Other times, I bring in people who can elevate the track in ways I couldn’t on my own—whether it’s the guitarist who captures the perfect rootsy vibe, the singer who delivers that ocean-worn vocal, or the engineers who help turn my cosmic experiments into something you actually want to crank up loud.
I’ve always believed music is meant to be shared—not just with listeners, but with fellow creatives. And I feel lucky to work with so many talented folks to make these songs real.
Want to Hear for Yourself?
All three of these songs are available to stream and download now. A couple are free, because sometimes a song is just a gift to share.
🎶 Summer Storm – https://tinyurl.com/MusilsSummerStorm
🌊 Ocean Gift – https://tinyurl.com/OceanGift
🌌 Cosmic Halo – https://tinyurl.com/CosmicHalo
Hope you enjoy what I’ve been working on—and thanks for supporting independent music.
See you down the road,
— Adam Sweet