Applying microtonality to pop songwriting: A study of microtones in pop music

While temperament and expanded tunings have not been widely adopted by pop and rock musicians historically speaking, there has recently been an increased interest in microtones from modern artists and in online discussion. For this project I compose and create a portfolio of music exploring the use of microtones as a songwriter. By pairing microtonality with pop/rock/electronica music I aim to improve and explore the balance between innovation and accessibility within my own music. The accompanying text outlines current issues and limitations of solely using equal temperament in songwriting while also highlighting notable examples of microtonal techniques in relevant music across numerous styles. Additionally, the text analyses each song created for this project and discusses the various microtonal techniques used therein.