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name: Research Artist for Suno description: This skill should be used when the user asks to "research an artist", "analyze [artist] style", "study [song]", "look up [artist] patterns", or wants to explore musical patterns before creating a Suno song. Automatically launches song-researcher sub-agent for comprehensive pattern analysis from web sources. version: 1.0.0

Research Artist for Suno

Independently research artist styles and song patterns to inform Suno prompt creation. Get comprehensive analysis of lyrical structure, musical patterns, and production characteristics before writing a song.

Purpose

This skill provides standalone artist/song research capabilities using the same automated research sub-agent used in the main Suno Song Creator workflow. Use it when you want to understand an artist's style before creating a song, or when you're exploring musical patterns for inspiration.

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when:

• Exploring an artist's style before song creation
• Studying specific song patterns for inspiration
• Researching multiple artists to compare styles
• Gathering pattern data for later use
• Learning about lyrical structures and techniques
• Understanding genre-specific production approaches

Example triggers:

• "Research Phoebe Bridgers' style"
• "Analyze Sabrina Carpenter's Manchild"
• "Study Taylor Swift's folklore era patterns"
• "Look up The National's lyrical patterns"
• "What are Bon Iver's signature characteristics?"

Usage

Research an Artist (General Style)

Copy/research-artist Phoebe Bridgers
/research-artist The National
/research-artist boygenius

What happens:

1. Skill extracts artist name from your request
2. Launches song-researcher sub-agent automatically
3. Sub-agent performs web research (Genius, HookTheory, Spotify)
4. Sub-agent analyzes 3-4 representative songs
5. Returns structured research report with patterns

Research a Specific Song

Copy/research-artist Sabrina Carpenter - Manchild
/research-artist Phoebe Bridgers - Motion Sickness
/research-artist Taylor Swift - All Too Well

What happens:

1. Skill extracts artist name AND specific song
2. Launches song-researcher sub-agent
3. Sub-agent performs deep analysis of that specific song
4. Sub-agent also analyzes 2-3 other songs from same artist for context
5. Returns comprehensive report with song-specific patterns plus artist context

Research Workflow

Automated Web Research

The song-researcher sub-agent automatically:

From Genius.com:

• Fetches complete lyrics
• Extracts song structure markers (Verse, Chorus, Bridge)
• Collects annotations and context

From HookTheory.com / Chord Sites:

• Searches for chord progressions
• Extracts key signatures if available
• Notes musical theory elements

From Spotify / Music Sites:

• Identifies genre tags
• Finds similar artists
• Gathers production context

Pattern Extraction

Lyrical Patterns Analyzed:

• Syllable counts: Lines per section, consistency patterns
• Rhyme scheme: AABB, ABAB, ABCB, loose/tight rhyming
• Structure: Verse/chorus/bridge line counts, repetition
• Metaphors: Central metaphor systems, imagery patterns
• Vocabulary: Characteristic word choices, formality level
• Emotional arc: Progression through song sections

Musical Context:

• Chord progressions: Common patterns, key signatures
• Production style: Recording techniques, instrumentation
• Vocal delivery: Range, dynamics, characteristic techniques

Multi-Song Synthesis

When researching a specific song:

• Primary analysis: Deep dive into that specific song
• Context songs: Analyze 2-3 other representative tracks
• Pattern synthesis: Identify what's consistent (artist signature) vs. variable (song-specific)

When researching an artist generally:

• Analyzes 3-4 representative popular songs
• Identifies consistent patterns across catalog
• Notes variations and evolution

Research Report Format

Receive a structured markdown report with:

Copy# Research Report: [Artist] - [Song if specified]

## Research Quality
- **Confidence Score:** [90-100% / 70-89% / 50-69% / <50%]
- **Sources Used:** Genius ✓/✗, Chords ✓/✗, Spotify/Context ✓/✗
- **Songs Analyzed:** [count] total
- **Primary Song:** [song name if specific]
- **Context Songs:** [other songs analyzed]

## Primary Song Analysis (if specific song)
### Lyrical Structure
- Syllable patterns: [X-Y per line, consistency notes]
- Rhyme scheme: [AABB/ABAB/ABCB/etc.]
- Verse structure: [lines, pattern]
- Chorus structure: [lines, pattern]

### Thematic Elements
- Central metaphor: [description]
- Emotional arc: [progression]
- Characteristic vocabulary: [word choices]
- Tone: [intimate/playful/melancholic/etc.]

### Musical Context
- Chord progression: [if available]
- Key: [if available]
- Production notes: [style, instrumentation]

## Artist Context
### Consistent Patterns (Artist Signature)
- Syllable tendencies: [consistent across songs]
- Rhyme preferences: [typical schemes]
- Metaphor approach: [concrete vs. abstract]
- Production style: [lo-fi/polished/etc.]

### Variations Across Songs
- [what changes song to song]
- [stylistic range]

## Recommendations for Suno Prompt

**Genre Section:**

genre: "[specific genre descriptors from research]"

Copy
**Vocal Section:**

vocal: "[delivery style, range, characteristics from research]"

Copy
**Lyrical Guidance:**
- Syllable targets: [X-Y verses, X-Y chorus]
- Rhyme scheme: [recommended pattern]
- Metaphor approach: [concrete/abstract balance]
- Tone: [recommended emotional register]

**Production Notes:**

instrumentation: "[from research]" production: "[from research]" recording: "[realism descriptors if applicable]"

Copy
## Research Limitations
- [What data was unavailable]
- [Sources that didn't have information]
- [Caveats about analysis]

Confidence Scoring

90-100% (Comprehensive):

• All 3 sources provided data
• Multiple songs analyzed successfully
• Complete pattern extraction possible
• High certainty in recommendations

70-89% (Good):

• 2/3 sources provided data
• At least one complete song analyzed
• Patterns identified with reasonable confidence
• Recommendations solid but with some gaps

50-69% (Basic):

• 1/3 sources provided partial data
• Limited song analysis
• Patterns tentative
• Recommendations cautious

<50% (Insufficient):

• Very limited data available
• Artist/song not found or minimal info
• Proceed with caution
• Manual research may be needed

Usage Examples

Example 1: Research Artist Before Creating Song

CopyUser: /research-artist Phoebe Bridgers

Main Agent: "I'll research Phoebe Bridgers' style to understand her patterns..."
Main Agent: [Launches song-researcher sub-agent]

Song Researcher: [Fetches data from Genius (Motion Sickness, Scott Street, Kyoto)]
Song Researcher: [Searches for chord progressions on HookTheory]
Song Researcher: [Gathers genre context from Spotify/AllMusic]
Song Researcher: [Analyzes syllable patterns, rhyme schemes, metaphors]
Song Researcher: [Returns structured report]

Main Agent: "Research complete! Analyzed 3 songs: 'Motion Sickness', 'Scott Street', 'Kyoto'."
Main Agent: [Displays research report with patterns]

Key findings:
- Syllables: 8-10 per line in verses, 6-9 in chorus
- Rhyme: Loose ABCB, prefers slant rhymes over exact
- Metaphors: Concrete imagery (car crashes, specific places)
- Tone: Confessional, intimate, lo-fi aesthetic
- Production: Bedroom pop, minimal, soft dynamics

User can then: Use findings to inform Suno song creation, save report for reference, or continue main workflow with research context

Example 2: Research Specific Song

CopyUser: /research-artist Sabrina Carpenter - Manchild

Main Agent: "I'll research Sabrina Carpenter's 'Manchild' in depth..."
Main Agent: [Launches song-researcher sub-agent]

Song Researcher: [Primary: Deep analysis of 'Manchild']
Song Researcher: [Context: Analyzes 'Nonsense', 'Feather' for patterns]
Song Researcher: [Synthesizes song-specific vs. artist-consistent patterns]
Song Researcher: [Returns structured report]

Main Agent: "Research complete! Primary song: 'Manchild' + context from 2 other tracks."
Main Agent: [Displays comprehensive report]

Key findings for 'Manchild':
- Syllables: 7-9 per line, very consistent
- Rhyme: AABB couplets, exact rhymes
- Metaphor: Extended "manchild" metaphor throughout
- Tone: Playful sarcasm, witty observations
- Production: Modern pop, bright, punchy

Artist context (from other songs):
- Consistent: Witty wordplay, relationship commentary
- Variable: 'Manchild' more sarcastic than usual romantic tracks

User can then: Understand specific song's unique qualities vs. artist's general style

Example 3: Compare Multiple Artists

CopyUser: I want to understand the difference between Phoebe Bridgers and Julien Baker's styles

Main Agent: "I'll research both artists separately..."

[Researches Phoebe Bridgers]
[Researches Julien Baker]

Main Agent: "Here's the comparison based on research:

**Phoebe Bridgers:**
- Syllables: 8-10, looser
- Rhyme: Slant rhymes, loose ABCB
- Metaphors: Concrete imagery (places, objects)
- Production: Bedroom pop, soft

**Julien Baker:**
- Syllables: 9-11, tighter
- Rhyme: More exact rhymes, ABAB
- Metaphors: Religious imagery, abstract concepts
- Production: Lo-fi indie rock, emotional dynamics"

Integration with Main Workflow

Standalone usage: Use /research-artist independently when exploring styles before creating a song.

Automatic usage in main workflow: When you use the main Suno Song Creator skill and mention an artist reference, the song-researcher sub-agent launches automatically—you don't need to call this skill manually.

Example workflow:

1. Use /research-artist Phoebe Bridgers to study style
2. Review research report
3. Later: "Create a sad indie folk song" (main Suno workflow)
4. Reference findings from earlier research when building prompt

Note: Research is NOT cached across sessions. Each invocation performs fresh web research.

Error Handling

Artist Not Found

If the artist is not found or has minimal data:

• Sub-agent tries alternative spellings
• Searches for similar artists
• Returns partial results with low confidence score
• Recommends manual research

Example output:

Copy## Research Limitations
- Artist "XYZ" not found on Genius or Spotify
- Attempted alternative spellings with no results
- Confidence: <50% (Insufficient)
- Recommendation: Verify artist name spelling or try related artists

Limited Data Available

If some sources provide data but others don't:

• Uses available sources
• Notes which sources failed
• Provides partial analysis
• Flags confidence score accordingly

Example output:

Copy## Research Quality
- Sources Used: Genius ✓, Chords ✗ (not available), Spotify ✓
- Confidence: 65% (Basic)
- Note: Chord progressions not available for this artist

Specific Song Not Found

If researching specific song that can't be located:

• Falls back to artist's popular songs
• Analyzes general style instead
• Notes in report that specific song unavailable

Example output:

Copy## Research Limitations
- Specific song "XYZ" not found
- Analyzed 3 other popular songs instead: [list]
- General artist patterns provided

Best Practices

Before using:

• Have artist name and/or song title ready
• Consider if you want general style or specific song analysis
• Be prepared to review structured report

When reviewing results:

• Check confidence score (>70% is good, <50% needs caution)
• Note which sources provided data
• Identify patterns vs. limitations
• Use recommendations as starting point, not rigid rules

After research:

• Save report if needed for later reference
• Use findings to inform Suno prompt sections
• Adapt patterns to your song's unique needs
• Don't copy verbatim—use as inspiration

Technical Details

Sub-Agent Architecture

This skill uses the Task tool to launch the song-researcher sub-agent:

CopyTask tool:
  subagent_type: "song-researcher"
  description: "Research artist patterns"
  prompt: "Research [Artist] - [Song if mentioned]. User wants to understand style patterns."

Sub-agent tools:

• Read: Access reference materials in references/ directory
• Grep: Search reference materials for patterns
• WebFetch: Fetch content from Genius, HookTheory, Spotify
• WebSearch: Find artist pages, song pages, context

Sub-agent context:

• Independent context (no shared conversation history)
• No knowledge of skill invocation method
• Receives only artist/song names and research request
• Returns structured markdown report

Reference Materials

Sub-agent can access:

• ../references/artist-research-guide.md - Research techniques and analysis methods
• ../references/meta-tags-reference.md - Meta tag patterns for Suno
• ../references/realism-descriptors.md - Production vocabulary
• ../references/genre-clouds.md - Genre characteristic patterns

These references inform analysis but are not included in report output.

Limitations

What this skill does NOT do:

• Does not cache research across sessions
• Does not create Suno prompts (use main Suno Song Creator for that)
• Does not access paid/subscription music theory sites
• Does not analyze audio files directly
• Does not provide chord progressions if unavailable on web

What it DOES do:

• Automated web research from free sources
• Structured pattern extraction
• Multi-song comparative analysis
• Confidence-scored recommendations
• Graceful degradation when data limited

Related Skills

Main Suno Song Creator (/suno-song-creator): Use when you want to create a complete Suno prompt. Includes automated research when artist mentioned, plus prompt building, lyric writing, and file export.

Review Suno Song (/review-song): Use after creating a prompt to get quality assessment from independent reviewer. Checks for AI-slop, clichés, rhyme quality, style-lyric fit.

Skill Workflow Summary

1. Extract: Parse artist name and optional song from user request
2. Launch: Use Task tool to invoke song-researcher sub-agent
3. Research: Sub-agent performs automated web fetching from 3 sources
4. Analyze: Sub-agent extracts patterns (syllables, rhyme, metaphors, etc.)
5. Synthesize: Sub-agent compares across multiple songs if applicable
6. Score: Sub-agent rates confidence based on data quality
7. Report: Sub-agent returns structured markdown report
8. Display: Main agent presents findings to user
9. Save (optional): User can save report or use findings immediately

Implementation Notes

When invoked:

• Parse user input for artist name and optional song
• Construct research request for sub-agent
• Launch via Task tool
• Wait for structured report
• Display results to user

Input variations handled:

• "Phoebe Bridgers" → artist-only research
• "Phoebe Bridgers - Motion Sickness" → specific song + context
• "Phoebe Bridgers Motion Sickness" (no dash) → parse correctly
• "Research Taylor Swift folklore" → artist + era hint

Output handling:

• Display full structured report
• Highlight confidence score prominently
• Note any limitations or missing data
• Provide actionable next steps

No user input required: Artist/song name provided in initial skill invocation. Sub-agent performs research automatically and returns complete report.