Songwriting vs. Production: Chicken or Egg?
I don’t know if you’ve heard this, but there’s an ongoing debate: What matters more—the songwriting or the production? Is it a chicken and egg situation?
Let’s dive into it. Because, the answer isn’t as simple as one being better than the other. Instead, it’s about finding balance, understanding when each takes the lead, and appreciating how they work together.
Why Songwriting Is the Foundation
Songwriting will always be the beating heart of music. (I will die on this hill).
Without it, music production wouldn’t exist. Think about it… Production and audio engineering only came to life because of the need to capture songs and other audio materials (and then later to enhance them). Production is there to serve the song, not the other way around - at least, that’s how it started anyway.
Especially now, with the literal endless possibilities that modern production tools provide, it’s easy to get caught up in the latest sounds, trends, or technical hacks. We might feel pressure to copy a particular production style or chase a popular sound.
But, if we strip a song right down, I have one question: Does it hold up with just a voice and one instrument when performed well?
A truly great song does. It has a life of its own, pulling us into a world where time slows, emotions deepen, and we feel something real. That’s the magic of songwriting—a magic that doesn’t rely on production.
Although, I have to acknowledge the importance of musical arrangement. Arrangement really helps take a song idea, and make it presentable in multiple different ways. Chord changes, genre or stylistic choices, the song’s rhythm, and so on. A song can be “dressed up” in lots of ways, just like a person.
When Production Takes the Lead
With that said, production does absolutely matter. In modern music, production can make or break a song. In some genres, it’s not just important; it’s kind of the main thing. Take EDM, for example. The drops and nuanced sound design are what make the music work. Without all of the production, the song might not exist in the same impactful way.
Typically, these songs come together once a producer has made a beat, and then a vocalist will write a topline to it. Or, a producer might extract a vocal from something else, and remix their EDM/House beat over it - completely making a new arrangement of that song.
Even in genres like pop, hip-hop, or cinematic scores, production plays a huge role in shaping the mood, energy, and identity of a track. Sometimes, it’s the production that brings a song to life or elevates a simple idea into something extraordinary. A minimal piano ballad might sound heartfelt on its own, but a lush orchestral arrangement could transform it into something that truly moves you.
Genres Where Production Is the Star
While songwriting usually takes the lead, there are exceptions where production is integral to the identity of the music:
EDM: In electronic dance music, hooks, drops, and buildups are central to the song’s impact. The production is the experience, and often, the songwriting—while still important—is relatively minimal.
Hip Hop: A hip-hop song lives or dies by its beat. The rhythms, textures, and basslines are as much a part of the storytelling as the lyrics themselves.
Ambient and Experimental Music: Here, production creates the whole soundscape - blurring the lines between song and atmosphere.
That being said, just making a “beat” isn’t songwriting. No diss to beat makers, but a song has to have lyrics and a melody - otherwise it’s an instrumental piece, track, etc. If you are a beatmaker, then the songwriting part comes when the vocals are written, crafted, and woven into the music bed.
The Yin and Yang of Songwriting and Production
Songwriting and production aren’t enemies; they’re partners. Each plays a vital role in bringing music to life, and their relationship can be either in harmony or at odds, depending on how they’re approached.
Think of a song as a person. The melody, lyrics, and core idea are the person’s essence. Production, genre, and arrangement? Those are clothes and accessories - how the song is presented. Together, they create the full picture. But if the essence isn’t strong, even the slickest outfit won’t make it look good. We’ve all seen people wear the wrong clothes for who they are... Awkward.
The ‘clothes’ should enhance the essence of the person—not overshadow them.
The same goes for a song. A song can be dressed the right and wrong way with all of these things. Not every song idea suits being turned into any genre or style. We can also run the risk of underdressing or overdressing our songs if we’re not experienced or careful. “Not enough” and “too much” is as uncomfortable as the wrong outfit.
On the flip side, a great song can be enhanced—sometimes even completely glowed up—by thoughtful production. It’s about knowing when to let the song speak for itself and when to use production as a tool to amplify it. The best songs are those where the writing and production are inseparable, where you can’t imagine one without the other.
All of this said, I won’t forget that writing to a track with some production value does influence our writing - more on that in another blog.
A Few Thoughts for Finding Balance
Start with the song: When writing, try stepping away from the computer if you can. Focus on the melody, lyrics, and structure before diving into production.
Experiment with stripped-back versions: Test your songs with just a voice and one instrument. Does it still resonate and sound good on its own?
Think about the clothing: If you’re working in a production-heavy genre, lean into it. But don’t let the production overshadow the heart of the song.
Let them serve each other: Instead of pitting songwriting and production against each other, think about how they can elevate one another. Sometimes a song needs more production to shine; other times, less is more.
The Danger of Losing Focus
For those of us (like me) who write music in front of a computer screen, it’s easy to prioritize production over songwriting. You might tweak a synth sound for too long or obsess over a minor compression setting while forgetting to rework that clunky melody or lyrics. Great music begins with a strong song idea—one that can hold its own without studio tricks.
So, when you sit down to create, try to focus on the song itself. Ask yourself:
Do I feel this song when I hear it back?
Are the lyrics good? - Meaningful, engaging, well written metaphors etc.
Can this idea stand on its own?
Does the current production suit the song? Or is it awkward and unsure?
The Magic of a Good Song
A good song creates its own world. It slows time, holds your attention, and immerses you in an emotion. These qualities don’t necessarily depend on the latest production trends or tools - although the production did absolutely help to get it there. These qualities come from marrying up good songwriting with great, complimentary production.
Wrapping Up
At the end of the day, songwriting and production are two sides of the same coin. They’re not in competition but in conversation. A great song can exist without production, but production can also take a song to places it couldn’t otherwise reach. When we find the right balance, that’s when we’ve nailed it.