Urban Poetry is an original contemporary pop/rock EP that explores the emotional stages of modern relationships through songwriting, music production, visual storytelling, and artist branding. The project consists of a collection of original songs inspired by themes of attraction, infatuation, situationships, rejection, heartbreak, and self-reflection within contemporary digital culture.
Combining elements of pop, rock, R&B and indie-inspired production, the EP seeks to translate everyday conversations, text messages and relationship experiences into emotionally engaging songs. Alongside the music itself, the project incorporates visual branding, artist photography, cover artwork and a narrative-based music video, reflecting the increasingly interconnected relationship between audio and visual identity within the contemporary music industry.
Developed as the culmination of my Bachelor of Music studies, Urban Poetry serves as both a creative artefact and a practical exploration of contemporary independent artist development, documenting the process of creating, branding and preparing an original music release from concept through to completion.
Project Overview
A MESSAGE FROM WILLIAM
Urban Poetry represents far more than a collection of songs. It is the culmination of everything I have learned throughout my Bachelor of Music journey — the performances, recordings, collaborations, lessons, successes and setbacks that have shaped me as both a musician and a person.
Many of these songs were inspired by my own experiences navigating young adulthood: relationships, independence, uncertainty, heartbreak, and self-discovery. Moving away from home, building new friendships, learning from mistakes, and finding my own direction all contributed to the stories explored throughout this project.
As a Vietnamese-Australian artist, Urban Poetry also represents an important personal milestone. It reflects my decision to take music seriously and pursue the creative path I genuinely believe in. Throughout this project I have gained a clearer understanding of my artistic identity, my strengths as a songwriter, and the type of artist I aspire to become.
More than anything, this EP is evidence of taking a leap of faith. It represents the moment where years of learning, influences, experiences and ambitions were transformed into something tangible. I hope listeners can find pieces of their own stories within these songs, just as I found mine while creating them.
William Ho (WILLTHEEREAL)
Somewhere between writing a heartbreak song, recording take 37 and telling myself this is definitely the final mix.
William Ho is a Melbourne-based singer, songwriter, guitarist and music producer whose work blends contemporary pop, rock and R&B influences with emotionally driven storytelling. Drawing inspiration from artists such as Joji, Sombr, Frank Ocean, Bruno Mars and Billie Eilish, his music explores themes of relationships, identity, vulnerability and self-discovery.
Growing up within a Vietnamese-Australian family, William developed an appreciation for both personal storytelling and musical expression from an early age. Throughout his Bachelor of Music studies at Victoria University, he has expanded his practice across songwriting, vocal performance, music production, recording, visual media and artist development.
Beyond creating music, William is interested in how artists construct meaningful identities through the combination of sound, imagery and narrative. This interest forms the foundation of Urban Poetry, a project that represents both his artistic growth and his continuing pursuit of a career within the contemporary music industry.
Biography
Urban Poetry is an independently created and self-directed project in which I was responsible for the artistic, technical and professional development of the EP. Throughout the project, I undertook multiple industry roles spanning songwriting, performance, music production, recording, mixing and mastering, creative direction, project management and marketing.
Creative Direction
I was responsible for:
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Developing the overall concept and artistic vision for Urban Poetry.
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Establishing the musical, emotional and visual direction of the project.
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Developing the artist branding, artwork, photography and music video concepts.
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Maintaining a consistent identity across the music, visuals and promotional material.
Songwriting & Performance
I was responsible for:
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Writing lyrics and vocal melodies.
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Developing song structures and arrangements.
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Recording lead and backing vocals.
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Recording guitar and other instrumental parts.
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Developing vocal harmonies and instrumental arrangements.
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Refining performances in response to critical self-evaluation and mentor feedback.
Production, Recording, Mixing & Mastering
I was responsible for:
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Producing each song from demo through to final production.
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Programming and arranging instrumental elements.
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Recording vocals and instruments.
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Comping, editing and pitch-correcting vocal performances.
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Processing vocals and instruments using EQ, compression, saturation, reverb, delay and automation.
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Mixing and mastering the music independently.
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Developing a consistent sonic identity across the project.
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Working across Logic Pro and Pro Tools to develop a versatile production workflow.
Project Management
I was responsible for:
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Developing project timelines, milestones and daily work plans.
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Organising my recording and production sessions.
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Monitoring progress and adapting the timeline when circumstances changed.
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Reprioritising deliverables according to the project's evolving needs.
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Managing project files and process documentation.
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Developing and maintaining the Urban Poetry online portfolio.
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Preparing project material for assessment, release and live presentation.
Marketing & Promotion
I was responsible for:
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Developing my online artist presence.
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Creating the Urban Poetry Diaries behind-the-scenes series.
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Filming and editing songwriting, recording, production and performance content.
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Creating content for TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.
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Using social media to document the project, build anticipation and gather audience feedback.
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Planning the promotional rollout for Breadcrumbs and Urban Poetry.
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Developing concepts for artist photography, lyric videos, visualisers and future music videos.
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Designing and developing my artist website and online portfolio.
Through Urban Poetry, my professional practice expanded beyond my original roles as a performer and songwriter to include working as a producer, recording engineer, mixing/mastering engineer, creative director, content creator and project manager.
My Professional Role
Me recording & editing the 37th vocal take of "Breadcrumbs". Photo by William Ho.
My first ever University Basketball League performance. Photo by Brad Tellis.
Without the support of these people, the journey behind Urban Poetry — and my development as an artist — would have been much more difficult.
I would first like to thank my family for their continued encouragement, patience and belief in my creative ambitions throughout my studies and development as an independent artist.
Special thanks to Dr Robert Bell and Dr Jenna Corcoran for their mentorship, guidance and constructive feedback throughout the development of Urban Poetry. In particular, Robert's feedback across music production, audio engineering, songwriting and arrangement helped me refine both the creative and technical aspects of the EP, while their broader guidance encouraged me to think more critically about my creative practice and professional development.
I would also like to thank Darren Reston for his guidance in music production and audio engineering. His teaching helped me develop a stronger critical ear and improve my approach to recording, production and technical decision-making.
A special thank you also goes to Christopher Bellman, whose technical support throughout my studies has been invaluable. From providing access to recording and rehearsal spaces and equipment, to helping troubleshoot technical issues, his generosity and patience have allowed me to develop my recording and production skills through hands-on practice.
Finally, thank you to my friends, peers and everyone who has listened to, supported or provided feedback on my work.
Urban Poetry was created independently, but the journey behind it was never undertaken alone.
Acknowledgement
One of my performances at the Nicholson campus of Victoria University. Photo by Christopher Bellman.
Project Overview