A few years ago, I came across this guy named Logan Grimé (@vib3.machine) who was all about underlicks.
Underlick this, underlick that.
He even made a 97-hour playlist of songs with underlicks. So, I had to download it to listen to what he calls the secret sauce of many great songs--the signature of a song that, when played, can often be more recognizable than the lyrics.
My favorite examples so far are "The Less I Know The Better" by Tame Impala, "Chasing Pavements" by Adele, and "Teeth" by 5 Seconds of Summer.
The underlick is the melody beneath the vocal, and can easily be sung on its own.
The example by Tame Impala is the most obvious, where the underlick starts strong at the beginning of the song, and weaves in and out as the song progresses. When you hear it, you immediately know what song it belongs to--that song's fingerprint.
The thing is, not every song has an underlick, and not every good song has an underlick.
However, like Logan, I plan to incorporate an underlick in every single one of my songs moving forward, because it has changed the way I approach songwriting and creativity.
The Essence To A Great Song
An underlick represents the essence of a great song because every other element is built upon it.
You can have the same baseline going while playing with the chord progression to livin' up your music--the baseline being the underlick in this example.
Then he has this checklist where he goes through elements that make a great song.
Including having an underlick, following a repeatable pattern, varying note lengths a section at a time, etc.
As a songwriter, I now have a system in place to create music consistently. Focused on creating underlicks, I can throw the good ones into a folder. In a year or two when I'm ready to write a song, I can pull out one of these vetted underlicks and create magic.
I can use my production skills to build a track around the underlick and the topline melody I develop while writing lyrics.
Most of the work is done at that point.
The only thing I have to do is put in the reps. Get good at coming up with underlicks.
Meanwhile, I'm reading a series of books on sound design.
Because using basic sounds isn't enough for me.
But it all starts with the power of the underlick.
Even songs like "All Over Me" by HAIM have an underlick, and it's a big part of why the music is catchy and gets stuck in the fibers of people's brains.
Creativity As A Simple Repeatable Act
Creativity is a sublime act.
Often, as creators, we struggle with the act of creating. Paradoxically, we do everything except create. Choosing to clean the bathroom, organize our books, index our notes, and think about making.
But when we do finally get around to painting that painting, writing that song, authoring that novel, and creating that business, we do so with the sublime.
We fulfill a fundamental human desire, to create.
Take a look around at all the things man has created.
It's remarkable that even ten years ago, I was creating music on my iPhone, using the EarPods mic to record vocals. Today, you don't need an expensive and extensive setup to get started.
When it comes to creating, such as the underlick, you have to find that one thing--the heart of the creation--that you can repeatedly do for improvement and ease of creation.
If you're coding, it might be the way you approach your functions and statements.
If you're writing, it could be the way you construct your sentences and build your paragraphs.
If you're making music, you could aim to produce as many underlicks as possible until the quality of your songwriting improves.
Make it a habit, whatever that repeatable act is, and you're well on your way to acquiring the skill to produce the things you create at the level you expect.
It just might take some time, effort, and consistency.
Have you ever heard of an underlick before today? If so, where, and what are your thoughts on it?
Music is a big part of our household. Me and my daughter are always singing or dancing to something! I’ve been trying to carve out time to create again and this reminded me how a little spark (like an underlick!) can reignite the whole process. I never heard of the word underlick before but now I can’t unhear it. It’s like the hook before the hook. I’ll definitely be listening to some of my favorite songs this weekend to explore this more. Thank you again Idris Elijah!
I’ve been thinking about what the “underlick” would be in writing. I think it’s the emotional rhythm in your voice that holds everything together. It’s not always the plot or structure. It’s something that’s felt by the reader. I like how you show that an underlick can really be the heartbeat of many types of creativity, even beyond music. It’s a great way to find the repeating theme or image that keeps showing up in your work. Well done Idris!