How I Finished 5 Songs in a Week That Had Been Sitting in a Drawer for 15 Years

For over a decade, I had five almost-complete songs buried deep in my hard drive. They were more than just sketches—most had full structures, riffs, melodies, and even lyrics. But they all lacked the one thing that always held me back: vocals.

It wasn’t that I didn’t know what I wanted to say. The lyrics were there, often written in the heat of the moment, deeply personal and reflective. The issue was execution. I’m not a singer, and collaborating with vocalists—no matter how talented—always introduced delays, miscommunication, and ultimately friction that stole momentum from the creative process. So these songs remained unfinished. For 15 years.

That changed in 2025 when I decided to finally breathe life into these tracks. The solution? A little help from modern technology—specifically, SUNO AI.

Finding a Voice With SUNO AI

SUNO AI is a powerful tool that allows you to input lyrics and receive a complete vocal performance in return. The voices are diverse, expressive, and—most importantly—independent of human scheduling conflicts.

For someone like me, who’s comfortable handling the full instrumental side but always stumbled on vocals, this was a revolution. I uploaded my lyrics, selected a vibe or genre that matched the song’s emotional core, and let SUNO AI do its thing.

The result? Rough but usable vocal demos for each song—enough to guide the structure and emotion of the final tracks.

Here’s the playlist of those finished tracks:

Each track tells a different story and comes from a different part of my musical past. But they all share one thing in common: they were reborn through a blend of nostalgia and modern AI magic.

From AI Demo to Real Production

I didn’t stop with the AI-generated version. SUNO’s vocals served as inspiration and guidance, but I still wanted these songs to feel human. That meant recording everything again from scratch, with professional-grade tools and instruments—both virtual and real.

Here’s what went into the production process:

Drums

• Superior Drummer 3
• Bogren Digital Krimh Drums
• GGD Modern & Massive 2

Guitars

• Solemn Tones ODIN III
• Study Sound Audio AXURE Guitar MIDI Processor
• Ample Metal Hellrazer

Bass

• Ample Sound Ample Bass Metal Ray5
• SubMission Audio UmanskyBass

Synths and Atmospheres

• Spectrasonics Omnisphere 2
• Xfer Serum 2
• reFX Nexus 5

Real Instruments & Studio Gear

Though VSTis carried much of the weight, I didn’t rely on them alone. I also layered real instruments from my own studio setup to add authenticity and grit. You can check the full studio gear list here: Develop Device Studio Equipment.

From re-amping guitars and bass through my custom Axe-Fx III presets to careful sound sculpting with my studio tools, these tracks are a true hybrid between digital efficiency and analog soul.

Why This Workflow Works

What used to take months—especially when dependent on outside collaborators—was now possible in a week. Here’s why:

• Creative Momentum: Once the vocals were in place (even AI demos), it reignited my excitement for each track.

• No Bottlenecks: No waiting on other musicians. I could work at my own pace, day or night.

• Modern Tools: VSTis and AI tech have reached a level where they don’t just replicate reality—they shape new creative realities.

This doesn’t mean I’m replacing real singers or musicians. It means I’m opening a new chapter of independence and efficiency as a producer.

From Creative Guilt to Creative Freedom

For years, I carried a weight familiar to many musicians and producers: creative guilt. That voice whispering, “You really should finish that track.” Every time I opened my DAW and skipped over an old project file, the feeling grew stronger. But I’ve come to realize something profound—guilt is not a productive motivator.

What changed everything for me wasn’t just technology—it was permission. Permission to let go of the idea that songs must be perfect, that everything has to be "real," and that relying on new tools is somehow cheating. That mindset was holding me back more than any lack of time or resources.

Once I embraced the tools available to me—AI vocals, VSTi instruments, hybrid workflows—I didn’t feel like I was cutting corners. I felt like I was finally speaking in a language that matched my ideas. The songs I finished this week aren’t just finished—they're alive. And more importantly, so is my creative process.

You don’t have to wait for the perfect moment, the perfect collaborator, or the perfect vocal take. You just need to start—and let the tools help you finish.

Final Thoughts: Music Without Excuses

These tracks sat idle not because they weren’t good—but because I let logistics and perfectionism hold me back. AI didn’t finish the songs for me. It simply removed the friction that stopped me from finishing them myself.

The creative process will always be human at its core. But sometimes, a spark—whether it comes from a plugin, a preset, or a synthetic voice—is all you need to finish what you started.

Fifteen years of waiting. One week of action. Five finished songs. No excuses.