Make a Synthpop track in REJ style
Udio link
Introduction
In this tutorial, I'll walk you through my personal approach to crafting a Synthpop track with vocal influences inspired by Bruno Mars. I'll explain the musical reasoning behind each decision and share specific tactics I use in Udio to bring the song to life.
Generating lyrics and a Udio prompt
To get started, I use ChatGPT to brainstorm song titles and lyrical ideas.
Give me 30 captivating and inspirational song titles
From this list, I combined a couple of titles and landed on Visions in the Night as the song title.
Next, I generate lyrics using a Udio-friendly format. I include the title and specify the Bruno Mars influence to help shape the lyrical style. I'll refine the output with ChatGPT until I'm happy.
Write an imaginative song in the style of Bruno Mars about Visions in the night. 4 lines for every block of lyrics. Don't use , or . at the end of a sentence. Put brackets around the song structure name, like [Verse]. Number all structures, like [Verse 1]. Write 3 verses, 3 pre-choruses, 3 choruses and 1 bridge. Give me the entire song lyric.
Once the lyrics are ready, I write a Udio prompt to help guide the generation style. Here's an example prompt I use:
beautiful electronic emotional song about visions in the night in the style of Bruno Mars, male vocalist, electronic, beautiful, warm, atmospheric, synthwave, dance, dance pop, dream pop, electro, club/dance, house, energetic, progressive trance, synthesizer, anthemic, funky, soul, r&b
Udio settings
Before generating anything, I adjust the following Udio settings:
Lyrics Strength: I increase it 65% to ensure Udio sticks to my custom song structure.
Clarity: Set to 30% for crispness without sounding over-processed.
Generation Quality: Always on Ultra, since the Allegro model makes high-quality generation fast.
Verse 1
I paste the Udio prompt into the description box, then add [Verse 1] and half of [Pre-Chorus 1] into the lyrics box.
I generate a few clips until I find one that feels inspirational and gives me a strong starting point for the Synthpop vibe I'm aiming for.
Chorus 1
The chorus is the emotional high point and most important part of the song, so I don't mind using extra credits here to get it just right.
There is some unwanted audio at the beginning of the clip, so I crop that away.
Here's how I structure the lyrics box for Chorus 1:
Include the second half of Pre-Chorus 1 and Chorus 1.
Add emphasis to the final word of the pre-chorus (e.g., explain!) for extra expression.
Add a title or lyrical hook (e.g., Visions in the night!) after line 4 of the chorus to spark an expressive transition. I consider this part of my sonic signature.
Add prompts like [synth solo] and [build] to lead into the next instrumental section.
Instrumental Section 1
Time to add some sonic depth with an instrumental break! There's some unwanted audio at the end of the previous chorus, so I crop it to just before the new section starts.
For the lyrics box, I use the following prompts:
[synth solo] for the solo.
[build] to boost intensity and add creative elements.
A repeat of the title: My visions in the night.
(oooohhhhh baby) to create some backing vocal effects.
Add [interlude] and [atmospheric] to trigger some variation.
While listening to the generated clips, I use the thumbs up/down icons to visually curate them. This helps me quickly choose the best one.
Verse 2
Verse 2 brings back the familiarity of Verse 1, but I add subtle new elements to keep things fresh.
Again, I crop the end of the previous section for a clean transition.
I also adjust the Lyric start time to 0s so the vocals begin right away.
In the lyrics box:
Add [Verse 2] and the first half of [Pre-Chorus 2].
Insert backing vocals/adlibs using brackets: e.g., (to stay), (I could know).
Add [expressive high vocals] to push Udio into some vocal variation.
End with [atmospheric] and [build] to further grow and enrich the section.
Chorus 2
For the second chorus, I aim to keep the feel-good familiarity of Chorus 1 while introducing new elements, to keep the track entertaining. This is a great spot to experiment! For example, instead of a full pre-chorus, I trigger a [spoken word] segment for variety.
Let's trim the last part of the previous clip again so the new clip starts a the perfect spot. I didn't like the last line the pre-chorus, so I remove it.
Steps:
Add the trimmed line from the last pre-chorus.
Insert a [drop] for dramatic pause.
Add [spoken word] for a creative break just before Chorus 2 hits.
Add [synth chords] to provide some extra instrumental layers.
Add vocal adlibs for three lines to enrich the vocals.
End with [climax] and [interlude] to prepare the next instrumental part.
Instrumental Section 2
For me, the part after Chorus 2 is the perfect opportunity to get really creative and see if I can elevate the track. I want this section to stand out and give the listener a vocal break before the bridge.
To create something that sounds different and to introduce new elements, I increase Lyrics strength to make Udio stick closer to my instructions.
This is also where Udio's Context length slider shines. A shorter setting (e.g., 60 seconds) produces more dramatic changes.
In the lyrics box, I add:
[interlude], [synth chords], and [funky bass solo] for the musical elements.
Several vocal prompts, including Let's go! for a fun shoutout.
Add [climax] to build into the next part.
Dial it Down
After the solo, I want to transition into the bridge. However, one of the generated clips reintroduces the synth solo from the first instrumental part. Surprisingly, it creates a pleasant twin-solo effect. I hadn't planned for it, but it works so well I decide to keep it.
I'm aware this pushes the total track length beyond my 5-minute target, and it asks a bit more from the listener. Still, it feels justified, so I allow for a slightly longer instrumental section.
First, I set the Context Length slider back to Max; I want the upcoming clip to stay closely aligned with the musical language developed so far. The earlier shorter context served its purpose, but now I need cohesion again.
There's been enough excitement; time to give the listener some room to breathe. I add a vocal prompt, and introduce [drop] and [atmospheric] to calm things down.
Bridge
The bridge is the chance to introduce emotional or harmonic contrast; something that shifts the listener's focus before the final chorus. When done right, it also makes the final chorus feel even more satisfying.
I go with a progression that sounds quite a bit like a pre-chorus. I debated trying something completely different, but the pre-chorus tone works and creates a sense of familiarity before we hit the final chorus. Plus, the last two seconds of this clip feature a piano chord I really like. That's a spark I want to explore further.
I use Crop to make sure the clip starts in the right place; usually just before a new bar starts.
Here's how I set it up:
Add another [drop] to keep things mellow.
Insert the bridge lyrics, and sprinkle in some (adlibs).
Use [atmospheric] and [build] to trigger a natural transition.
Final Chorus
Now it's time to bring the track home with a final chorus. My gamble on the piano chord at the end of the bridge clip provides just enough difference to keep it interesting and helps transition into the last chorus naturally. I copy the lyrics from Chorus 2, and remove any prompts that come after.
Right before the chorus hits, I introduce another [spoken word]; this is a great place for a creative effect to add emotional weight or a sense of climax.
Outro
Let's bring this sonic adventure to a close! The lyrics box always comes through at this stage; I add a few final prompts, including a subtle nod to the song title. For the outro, I bring back the piano introduced earlier, to tie everything together with a familiar touch.
Again, a good crop does wonders, I aim for just before Chorus 3 ends.
Intro
Time for the intro! Yes, I always create the intro last. That way, it has the full track to reference and can match the tone, energy, and style perfectly.
An effective intro should:
Hook the listener within the first few seconds
Build anticipation
Serve as a kind of trailer for what's to come
This is also where you can tweak your prompt description; especially if you want to hide or change your original input in the final published result.
To create a fun opener, I add a [whispered vocals] tag to introduce the track's theme, and layer in some synth textures to set the mood.
Polish the track
With the full structure in place, it's time for final tweaks. Udio has excellent tools for refining details and fixing mistakes. If something's off early in the process (especially with vocals), it's best to correct it before it propagates through later sections.
I notice the second half of the first instrumental part feels a little flat. I highlight it and use the Edit feature to regenerate that part.
The last two lines of Chorus 2 don't quite land, so I use Replace Lyrics to regenerate just that bit.
I also improve the first half of the second instrumental by replacing it until I get something more impactful.
Cleanup
Before calling it done, I go through some final organization steps:
Clean up the lyrics by removing all prompts and leaving only the final text.
Delete all unused generated clips.
Rename the original clip to the song title and add [seed] at the end.
Move both the seed and the final song into a folder called Completed.
Add the track to my Finished Tracks playlist.
Bonus
Here's another song I made using this same technique and approach. If you listen closely, you can identify the song structure and techniques being used.
Closing thoughts
Thanks for sticking with me through every synth solo, shimmering chorus, and AI-powered prompt! I hope this behind-the-scenes look at my process gave you some inspiration (and maybe a few nerdy thrills). Whether you're here to learn, create your own tracks, or just curious about how a Synthpop song comes to life REJ-style, I'm glad you came along for the ride. Now go make something wild, weird, and wonderful. The synths are calling!
🧠 Contributor: RobertEJames
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