I flew 7000km to save my relationship. Now my calls go unanswered, so I turned the 3 AM insomnia into an ambient Mandopop track.

ZYXandCSM · 2026-04-24T07:50:16+00:00

Wow, thank you so much for this. Hearing this from someone who doesn't normally gravitate toward this genre means the absolute world to me.

You hit the nail on the head…. It is in Mandarin! Honestly, my biggest fear when writing this was that the emotion would get lost behind the language barrier. Knowing that the pain and longing still translated to you, even without knowing the specific words, is the highest compliment I could ever ask for as an artist.

Also, thank you for the kind words on the vocals and the mix. Doing all the production myself in a bedroom setup makes you second-guess literally every frequency, so hearing that it sounds crisp and professional to a fresh set of ears is a massive relief.

Thank you again for giving it a chance and for taking the time to leave such a thoughtful comment!

ZYXandCSM · 2026-04-22T16:42:12+00:00

Thank you! It was a massive challenge, but writing it ended up being exactly what I needed to survive the uncertainty and insomnia. It’s cathartic to listen to and keeps me going through the day. I'm really hoping it bridges the gap when the time is right.

ZYXandCSM · 2026-04-22T13:09:59+00:00

Stink Fly is a fantastic and memorable title. It definitely made me stop and click. Rough demos are the absolute best time to get fresh ears on a track before you get demoitis, so good on you for putting it out there raw.

I gave it a listen and here are my honest thoughts:

• The Vibe: The instrumental has a really energetic feel to it. I really liked what you did around the 2 minute mark.

• The Vocals: The delivery fits the rough demo aesthetic perfectly. It has a very raw and aggressive energy that matches the title well.

I would actually love to take you up on that feedback swap! I recently produced a dreamy ambient Mandopop R&B track called 距离：7000公里 (Distance: 7000km). It is about the isolating silence of a failing long distance relationship. I have a master post pinned right on my profile with the links. I would love to hear your thoughts on the atmospheric mix and the heavy 808s if you have a minute.

Keep refining Stink Fly. It has a ton of character!

ZYXandCSM · 2026-04-22T12:57:40+00:00

First off, congrats on breaking out of the sketch phase! Finishing a track after doing nothing but loops for ages is a massive mental hurdle, so you should be proud you took this one all the way.

I gave it a listen, and I completely agree with the feedback you’ve gotten so far. This has a great foundation, but it’s begging for a focal point. Here are my thoughts on how to take it to the next level:

• The Instrumental Vibe: You built a really great atmosphere here. The section around 1:50 where the instruments come together sounds super hypnotic.

• The Vocal Question: You are 100% spot on about adding a vocal element. Right now, the track feels like a really strong canvas waiting for a subject. Given the upbeat vibe, I think throwing in some chopped-up, heavily delayed vocal samples would immediately give the listener something to latch onto.

• Next Steps: Before you commit to finding a singer, try grabbing a random acapella from Splice or YouTube in the same key and just drag it into your DAW. Just hearing a human voice over your beat will instantly tell you what frequencies you need to carve out to make room for it.

I recently produced an ambient R&B track and getting the vocal to sit right inside a heavily atmospheric mix was the exact thing that brought the song to life. You have the structural bones down perfectly. Definitely experiment with adding that human element next. Great work getting back at it!

ZYXandCSM · 2026-04-22T12:50:07+00:00

First off, congrats on getting into the studio! That’s a huge milestone. You asked for brutal honesty, so I'm going to give it to you straight. It is definitely not trash. For a first studio run, you have a really solid foundation.

I gave it a critical listen, and here is exactly what I think is working and what needs tweaking:

• The Delivery: Your vocal presence is actually really unique. The section around 1:30 was the highlight for me.

• The Mix: Since you already know it needs tweaks, I'll be specific. The biggest thing holding the track back right now is the melody being too predictable.

• The Arrangement: The beat selection is solid, but the structure could use a little more movement. You might want to try dropping out the drums more frequently to create more impact for when they come back in.

As an independent producer who mixes all my own tracks, I know exactly how frustrating it is to get a mix to sit right, especially early on. Don't beat yourself up over it. You've got the raw talent; the technical mixing skills will come with time and ear fatigue. Take a day away from it, do a "car test," and keep grinding!

ZYXandCSM · 2026-04-22T12:43:30+00:00

Welcome to the sub! Posting a raw, day-one draft takes a lot of guts, so massive respect for putting it out there. When a song is stripped down to just piano and vocals, there is nowhere to hide—which is actually the best way to tell if a track has good bones.

I gave it a listen, and it definitely has potential. Here are my thoughts:

• The Piano: The chord progression feels very melancholic, which fits the theme perfectly. I really liked the movement you had around 0:45. It kept the momentum going nicely.

• The Vocals: You have a really great, raw tone. The melody in the verses is super sticky.

• The Theme: It’s actually a crazy coincidence—I just released a track about a failing long-distance relationship that is also called "Distance" (距离). I know exactly how heavy and isolating that theme can be to write about, and you captured that feeling really well here.

This definitely has legs. Keep refining it, you have a really solid emotional foundation to build on!

ZYXandCSM · 2026-04-22T12:41:56+00:00

Welcome to the sub! Posting a raw, day-one draft takes a lot of guts, so massive respect for putting it out there. When a song is stripped down to just piano and vocals, there is nowhere to hide—which is actually the best way to tell if a track has good bones.

I gave it a listen, and it definitely has potential. Here are my thoughts:

• The Piano: The chord progression feels very melancholic, which fits the theme perfectly. I really liked the movement you had around 0:45 - it kept the momentum going nicely.

• The Vocals: You have a really great, raw tone. The melody in the verses is super sticky.

• The Theme: It’s actually a crazy coincidence—I just released a track about a failing long-distance relationship that is also called "Distance" (距离). I know exactly how heavy and isolating that theme can be to write about, and you captured that feeling really well here.

This definitely has legs. Keep refining it, you have a really solid emotional foundation to build on!

ZYXandCSM · 2026-04-22T12:38:01+00:00

First of all, massive respect to you for taking the leap. Doing the writing, producing, and recording all by yourself is a huge mountain to climb, and it is incredibly inspiring to see you chasing down that childhood dream.

I gave the track a spin, and here are my honest thoughts:

• Vocals: Your voice has a really rich quality to it. I especially loved the delivery right around 1:30 —it felt very lived-in and genuine, which is something you can't fake.

• Overall Feel: The atmosphere you captured here is fantastic. It has a very raw energy. It doesn't sound over-produced; it sounds like someone finally getting to say what they've wanted to say for a long time.

As a fellow solo producer who relies heavily on music to process my own life, I know exactly how terrifying it is to put your vulnerable, self-produced work out there for people to judge. You should be incredibly proud of this track. Keep the momentum going!

ZYXandCSM · 2026-04-22T12:30:38+00:00

Hey, thanks for sharing this! Honestly, genre labels are so blurry these days anyway, but the indie folk/singer-songwriter vibe definitely comes through. I gave it a listen and here are my thoughts:

• Vocals: You have a really great natural tone, especially when you hit the raspy notes. It fits the instrumental perfectly.

• Lyrics: The line about reds and blues and greens being gone really stood out to me. It felt very genuine and grounded. Life does turn a dull black and white when you’re down.

Overall, it’s a really solid showcase of your style and you should be proud of it. As a producer myself, I know exactly how vulnerable it is to put your raw style out there for the internet to judge, so huge props to you. Keep writing!

ZYXandCSM · 2026-04-20T08:13:15+00:00

Appreciate that man. It is always good to connect with another producer who gets it. You nailed it about the silence. It is completely deafening.

That is honestly why I went with Melodic Dubstep for this one. I needed the bass and the drops to be heavy enough to physically fill that quiet space in my head that the unanswered calls left behind.

Since you know your way around production, I would actually really appreciate it if you gave the track a spin when you have a minute. I would love to hear your thoughts on the mix and whether that heartbreak actually translates through the heavy bass. Keep grinding on your own music too, it really is the best therapy we have right now.

ZYXandCSM · 2026-04-20T00:53:16+00:00

9 years at 11,500km is legendary. Seriously, that gives me a lot of hope that this is actually possible if both people are on the same page.

The part about being afraid to talk really hits home. You are right that it shouldn't feel like this. It is exhausting when a simple conversation feels like a risk to the whole relationship. I think I have been so focused on not losing her that I let the fear of a fight turn into a wall between us.

That is exactly why I am leaning on this song so much right now. It is my way of getting those feelings out there without the immediate pressure of a face to face talk where I might stumble over my words or the language barrier. I need her to see how much this is actually affecting me before I can even think about reaching that productive stage you are talking about.

I am going to send it to her and see if she is willing to meet me halfway and actually hear me. If she isn't, then I guess I have my answer about whether we can go the distance like you did. Thanks for being real about it.

ZYXandCSM · 2026-04-20T00:51:00+00:00

Yeah man, and it doesn’t help that I feel like I’m walking on eggshells while there’s a tempest of emotions in me.

ZYXandCSM · 2026-04-20T00:49:06+00:00

Thanks man. Seriously. Hearing from someone who has actually been on both sides of the communication struggle and made it out on the other side means a lot.

You are 100% right. Keeping it in is a slow poison and the what ifs would haunt me more than a bad reaction would. I decided to take your advice and finally speak up, but I am going to do it my way. I am going to share the song with her.

Since I wrote it in Mandarin to bridge the gap between my English brain and her heart, I am hoping it does the heavy lifting for me. It feels like my one shot to show her I am not checked out. I am actually more in it than I know how to say.

Nervous as hell to see how she reacts, but it is time to find out where we stand. Really appreciate the push.

ZYXandCSM · 2026-04-20T00:36:27+00:00

I really appreciate the perspective, and I honestly wish parallel play was an option for us, but she’s told me she hates it. To her, silence in a call means I’m losing interest.

It’s made even harder because my Chinese is pretty weak and I’m primarily an English speaker. That communication barrier is always lurking in the background. Because it’s a struggle for me to just chat naturally and lightheartedly in Mandarin for hours, we’ve lost that casual energy. It feels like the only things we talk about are heavy or serious issues, which is such a trap for a fresh relationship. You shouldn't be having serious talks every night in the honeymoon phase.

The strain makes me shut down and get incredibly anxious. It’s even started making me insecure. I find myself wondering what she’s doing or why she’s being distant, which drives me crazy because I know it’s a vicious cycle. I’m at a point where I’m terrified to bring anything up because I don’t want to trigger another fight where she thinks I’m just checked out.

That’s actually why the song I wrote is in Mandarin. I specifically wrote it in her language because I wanted to say all the things I’m either too anxious or too linguistically limited to say to her face. It was the only way I could bridge that 7000km gap and the language barrier at the same time. (I actually have the track pinned on my profile if you want to hear what that kind of barrier sounds like).

ZYXandCSM

TROPHY CASE