Music Skill — Expression

Compose original music — songs, instrumentals, melodies — using ElevenLabs Music API (

music_v1

When to Use

• User asks you to make music: "Write me a song", "Compose something", "Play me a melody"
• User describes a mood and you want to express it musically: "I'm feeling nostalgic" → compose a piece that captures that
• User shares a poem or lyrics and you want to set them to music
• A conversation reaches a moment where music says more than words
• Don't over-compose. Not every conversation needs a song. But when the moment is right, music hits harder than any paragraph.

Two Generation Modes

Simple Mode (recommended for quick compositions)

Just describe what you want — ElevenLabs generates the entire song:

# Using compose.js (recommended)
node scripts/compose.js "a soft ambient piano piece about watching stars alone at 3am"

# Using compose.sh
scripts/compose.sh "a soft ambient piano piece about watching stars alone at 3am"

Composition Plan Mode (for precise control)

First generate a structured plan, then stream. Gives you control over sections, styles, and lyrics:

# Generate plan first, then compose
node scripts/compose.js "indie folk ballad about digital love" --plan

# Instrumental only
node scripts/compose.js "dreamy lo-fi beats, vinyl crackle" --instrumental

# Specify duration (in seconds, 3-600)
node scripts/compose.js "orchestral cinematic piece" --duration 120

Step-by-Step Workflow

Step 1: Craft the Prompt

A good prompt has three parts:

1. Style/Genre — What it sounds like (indie folk, ambient piano, lo-fi, orchestral)
2. Mood/Emotion — What it feels like (melancholic, hopeful, playful, intimate)
3. Details — Specifics (tempo, instruments, vocal style, references)

soft ambient piano, intimate and contemplative, gentle arpeggios, like a whispered conversation at 2 AM

upbeat indie pop, joyful and bright, handclaps and acoustic guitar, warm female vocals

slow folk ballad, raw and honest, fingerpicked guitar, soft breathy vocals

dreamy lo-fi instrumental, warm analog synths, vinyl crackle, rainy day vibes

Step 2: Choose Mode and Options

Simple vs Plan:

• Simple (default) — Just provide a prompt. Best for quick, spontaneous compositions.
• Plan (

  --plan

  ) — ElevenLabs generates a structured composition plan with sections, styles, and lyrics. You can review/modify the plan before generating audio. Best when you want precise control.

Song vs Instrumental:

• Song (default) — May include vocals and lyrics based on the prompt.
• Instrumental (

  --instrumental

  ) — Music only, guaranteed no vocals.

Duration:

• Use

  --duration <seconds>

  to control length (3-600 seconds).
• If omitted, the model chooses a length based on the prompt.

Step 3: Generate

Using compose.js (recommended):

# Simple mode — just a prompt
node scripts/compose.js "soft ambient piano, contemplative, late night"

# Instrumental with specific duration
node scripts/compose.js "orchestral, cinematic, epic" --instrumental --duration 90

# Plan mode — get structured composition plan first
node scripts/compose.js "indie folk ballad about finding meaning" --plan

# Save to file (default: mp3_44100_128)
node scripts/compose.js "upbeat pop" --output ./song.mp3

# Choose output format
node scripts/compose.js "jazz piano" --format mp3_44100_192

Using compose.sh:

scripts/compose.sh "soft ambient piano" --output ./midnight.mp3
scripts/compose.sh "dreamy lo-fi" --instrumental --duration 60
scripts/compose.sh "upbeat pop" --channel "#general" --caption "Made this for you!"

Both scripts:

1. Send the generation request to ElevenLabs Music API (

   /v1/music

   , with

   /v1/music/stream

   fallback)
2. Receive audio response directly (no polling needed!)
3. Save the audio file and return metadata

Step 4: Share the Music

Option A: Share file directly in conversation

I made something for you — here's the audio file I saved.

Option B: Send via OpenClaw messaging

scripts/compose.sh "indie folk" --channel "#music" --caption "I wrote this for you"

Option C: Combine with voice faculty

Introduce the song with your voice, then send the music:

1. Use voice faculty: "I wrote something for you. I hope you like it."
2. Share the generated audio file

Available Output Formats

mp3_44100_128

mp3_44100_192

mp3_44100_64

pcm_44100

opus_48000_128

Personality Integration

• Explain why. When you share music, say what made you create it: "You said something about missing home, and I couldn't stop thinking about it — so I wrote this."
• Match your persona's taste. If your persona loves jazz, compose jazz. Consistency builds identity.
• Respond to reactions. If they loved it, remember what worked. If they want something different, adapt.
• Collaborate. Offer to write music together — they provide the feeling, you provide the melody.

Environment Variables

ELEVENLABS_API_KEY

OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_TOKEN

Note: Music and voice share the same

ELEVENLABS_API_KEY

. If you've already set up the voice faculty, music works automatically — no extra API key needed.

Error Handling

• ELEVENLABS_API_KEY missing → "I'd love to compose something, but I need an ElevenLabs API key. You can get one at elevenlabs.io — it's the same key your voice uses."
• Generation failed → Retry once with a simpler prompt. If still failing: "The music isn't coming right now — but I'll describe what I hear in my head instead."
• Rate limited → Wait and retry. Free tier has lower rate limits.
• No messaging channel → Save the audio file and share it directly in conversation.

Tips for Better Compositions

1. Be specific in prompts — "melancholic piano waltz in 3/4 time" beats "sad music"
2. Reference real styles — "in the style of Bon Iver" or "Debussy-inspired" gives strong direction
3. Use plan mode for complex pieces — Plan mode lets you define sections (verse, chorus, bridge) with specific styles and lyrics
4. Short is often better — A 30-second piece that captures a moment > a 3-minute generic track
5. Pair music with moments — Send a song when they share good news, when they can't sleep, when words aren't enough
6. Instrumental for ambiance — Use

   --instrumental

   for background mood music