Guide · Songwriting
How to write an album
Decide what the album is about, write more songs than you need, choose the best ones that belong together, put them in an order, and finish them as a set. Keep every demo and version in one place so you can see what you have.
Updated 20 Oct 2026
1. Decide what it is about
A sound, a theme or a period of your life can tie songs together. It does not need to be a concept, but it helps to know.
2. Write more than you need
Writing extra songs lets you pick the strongest. See how many songs on an album.
3. Choose what belongs
Listen to the demos back to back. Cut anything that sounds like a different record. See how to write a song.
4. Order them
Think about how the record starts, where it lifts, and how it ends. Try a few orders and listen through.
5. Finish them as a set
Match the quality and the sound across songs. Use the Finished Demo Checklist.
6. Keep it all in one place
In songdrafts the board lets you set stages like Writing, Demos, Mixing and Masters (the Album template has those), with every take of a song on one card. See the song board.
Common questions
How long does it take to write an album?
It varies a lot, from weeks to years.
Should an album have a theme?
Not always, but a shared sound or subject helps it hang together.
How many songs should I write?
More than you will use, so you can choose the best.
Should I record in the order of the album?
Not necessarily. Order the songs after you hear them.
When is an album finished?
When the songs are finished and ordered. See the finished demo checklist.
Want this done for you? songdrafts is a board for your voice memos: every take stacked on one card, songs that move across stages, merging half songs, and one share link with comments pinned to the second. Works offline, and nothing you upload trains AI. What is songdrafts?