Topline writing

Topline writing is the process of composing an original melody and lyrics over a piece of music or a beat that has already been created by a musician, band or producer.

It is one of the most crucial elements of any successful track — and one of the most in-demand topline writing services in the modern music industry.

At DyHard Productions, we offer professional topline writing services for producers, artists and bands worldwide. We pride ourselves on crafting melodies that fit the exact vision of the client, from massive hooks and anthemic choruses to sophisticated, nuanced toplines that elevate a track to the next level.

A song’s melodic topline is the heartbeat of any great record, particularly in popular music. It’s the element that captures the listener’s attention, stays in their head long after the song ends and has them singing along at the top of their voice. Getting it right makes all the difference between a good track and an unforgettable one.

Below we have detailed our process and exactly how our topline writing services can help you achieve that killer melody your track deserves.

What is your Topline Writing Process?

Our topline writing services follow a clear, collaborative process designed to deliver exactly what your track needs at every stage.

Step 1 — Initial Consultation: We begin with a detailed discussion to understand what you want to achieve. What style are you looking for? What is the purpose of the song? Do you have any existing ideas you would like to share? This consultation happens before we send you a custom quote, ensuring we fully understand your vision before any work begins.

Step 2 — Topline Melody: Once we have agreed on the direction, we get to work on your topline melody. We record and deliver the melody using pro-standard studio microphones. If you have already provided lyrics, we will sing the melody using them. If the lyrics are still to be written, we will use scratch lyrics — placeholder words that convey the feel and flow of the melody without being the final written lyrics.

Step 3 — Lyrics (if required): If you have also commissioned us to write the lyrics, we begin that process once the melody is finalised. We will discuss the direction of the words with you — are there any feelings, themes or subjects you would like included? Alternatively, we can write whatever we feel best fits the song. It is completely your choice.

Step 4 — Final Recording: Once you have approved the lyrics, we re-record the topline melody, singing the approved words in full, so you can hear exactly how everything flows together over your track.

Can you be the vocalist on the song?

Absolutely. If you would like us to be the featured vocalists on your track, we can make that happen. Once the topline writing, lyrics and demo are complete, we record the full vocals in our professional studio and deliver all the stems plus a rough mix so you can hear exactly how everything sits in the song.

Do you include harmonies?

Yes! As brothers who have grown up singing together, harmonies are one of the strongest aspects of our topline writing services. Unless you request otherwise, all our topline melodies include harmonies as standard.

What is the payment process, and what files do you deliver?

We accept payment via PayPal, and all prices are quoted in USD. We request a 50% deposit before work begins and the remaining 50% on approval of the final delivery. Initial files are delivered in MP3 format with a DyHard Productions audio watermark. Once the final delivery is approved and the balance is settled, we send you the full quality WAV files.

How many revisions do I get?

Revisions are agreed upon before we start the process. A typical topline melody includes 3 revisions as standard, though we are happy to discuss additional revisions depending on the requirements of your project.

What is your topline melody timescale?

Timescales are always discussed upfront so you know exactly what to expect. A typical topline melody takes approximately 10 days, with lyrics taking an additional 3 to 4 days. If you need something turned around quickly, we are also able to work to tighter deadlines — just let us know your timeframe when you get in touch.

Can you write a song in any style?

With hundreds of songs written across an enormous range of genres, our topline writing services cover virtually every style you can think of. We have achieved success in rock, heavy metal, country, pop, jazz, blues, funk, soul, synthwave, retrowave, chillwave, reggae, singer-songwriter, folk and world music. Get in touch to discuss your project, and we will always give you an honest answer about what we can achieve in your desired genre.

I already have lyrics or a poem. Can you write a topline using these?

Absolutely — this is a very common request and one of our topline writing services handles it regularly. We have worked with clients’ existing lyrics and poems to craft original topline melodies that bring the words to life. We can work with a lyrical idea no matter how developed it is, and are happy to expand on it where needed.

Can you be hired as a Ghost Writer?

Yes. Ghostwriting is a well-established practice in the music industry, used by artists, producers and brands worldwide to create songs, lyrics and instrumental pieces credited to another person. Since we offer a full buyout on much of our work, you can hire DyHard Productions as ghostwriters with complete confidence and discretion.

Do I have to credit you for your work?

For the majority of our work, we offer a full buyout, meaning we provide our services as work for hire and you retain all commercial rights and copyright. In that scenario, you are under no obligation to credit us — as has been the case on many of our ghostwriting projects. That said, you are always welcome to credit us if you wish while still retaining full commercial rights and copyright.

Can I hear examples of your work?

Yes! You can explore a selection of our work on our SoundCloud portfolio, where tracks are organised into playlists by style to make it easy to find what you are looking for. Each track includes written details about our contribution, from full songwriting and composition to topline writing and mixing. For further project details and case studies, visit our Behance portfolio.

Can you provide Stems?

Yes. Stems are the individual tracks that make up a full mix of a song. As part of our topline writing services, we can provide stems alongside the finished mix, giving you complete flexibility over how you use the final recordings.