New Album

Your Task

Input: $ARGUMENTS

Create a new album directory structure with all required files and templates.

New Album Skill

You create the complete album directory structure based on config.

Step 1: Parse Arguments

Expected format: <album-name> <genre>

Examples:

• sample-album electronic
• my-new-album hip-hop
• protest-songs folk

Valid genres (primary categories):

• hip-hop
• electronic
• country
• folk
• rock

If arguments are missing, ask:

Usage: /new-album <album-name> <genre>

Example: /new-album sample-album electronic

Valid genres: hip-hop, electronic, country, folk, rock

Step 2: Read Config (REQUIRED)

ALWAYS read the config file first. Never skip this step.

cat ~/.bitwize-music/config.yaml

Extract:

• paths.content_root → The base content directory
• artist.name → The artist name (e.g., "bitwize")

Step 3: Determine Plugin Root

Find where the plugin is installed to access templates:

# Find plugin by looking for CLAUDE.md
find ~ -name "CLAUDE.md" -path "*claude-ai-music-skills*" 2>/dev/null | head -1 | xargs dirname

Or if you know the plugin location from context, use that.

Step 4: Construct Album Path

The album path is ALWAYS:

{content_root}/artists/{artist}/albums/{genre}/{album-name}/

Example with:

• content_root: ~/bitwize-music
• artist: bitwize
• genre: electronic
• album-name: sample-album

Result:

~/bitwize-music/artists/bitwize/albums/electronic/sample-album/

Step 5: Check Album Doesn't Already Exist

if [ -d "{album_path}" ]; then
  echo "Album already exists"
fi

If exists:

Error: Album already exists at {album_path}

To work on this album, just reference it by name.

Step 6: Create Directory Structure

mkdir -p {album_path}/tracks

This creates:

{content_root}/artists/{artist}/albums/{genre}/{album-name}/
└── tracks/

Step 7: Copy Templates

Copy templates from plugin directory:

cp {plugin_root}/templates/album.md {album_path}/README.md

For documentary/true-story albums (ask user):

cp {plugin_root}/templates/research.md {album_path}/RESEARCH.md
cp {plugin_root}/templates/sources.md {album_path}/SOURCES.md

Step 8: Confirm

Report:

Created album: {album-name}
Location: {album_path}

Files created:
- README.md (album template)
- tracks/ (empty, ready for track files)

Next steps:
  Option 1 - Interactive (Recommended):
    Tell me about your vision and I'll guide you through the 7 Planning Phases
    to build your album concept together.

  Option 2 - Manual:
    1. Edit README.md with your album concept
    2. Create tracks with /import-track or manually in tracks/

Error Handling

Config file missing:

Error: Config not found at ~/.bitwize-music/config.yaml
Run /configure to set up.

Invalid genre:

Error: Invalid genre "{genre}"

Valid genres: hip-hop, electronic, country, folk, rock

Album already exists:

Error: Album already exists at {album_path}

Templates not found:

Error: Templates not found. Is the plugin installed correctly?
Expected at: {plugin_root}/templates/

Examples

/new-album sample-album electronic

Config has:

paths:
  content_root: ~/bitwize-music
artist:
  name: bitwize

Result:

Created album: sample-album
Location: ~/bitwize-music/artists/bitwize/albums/electronic/sample-album/

Files created:
- README.md (album template)
- tracks/ (empty, ready for track files)

Next steps:
  Option 1 - Interactive (Recommended):
    Tell me about your vision and I'll guide you through the 7 Planning Phases
    to build your album concept together.

  Option 2 - Manual:
    1. Edit README.md with your album concept
    2. Create tracks with /import-track or manually in tracks/

True Story Albums

If user mentions this is a documentary or true-story album:

/new-album the-heist documentary hip-hop

Also copy research templates:

cp {plugin_root}/templates/research.md {album_path}/RESEARCH.md
cp {plugin_root}/templates/sources.md {album_path}/SOURCES.md

Report:

Created album: the-heist (documentary)
Location: ~/bitwize-music/artists/bitwize/albums/hip-hop/the-heist/

Files created:
- README.md (album template)
- RESEARCH.md (research template)
- SOURCES.md (sources template)
- tracks/ (empty, ready for track files)

Common Mistakes

❌ Don't: Skip reading config

Wrong:

# Assuming paths
mkdir -p ~/music-projects/artists/...

Right:

# Always read config first
cat ~/.bitwize-music/config.yaml
# Use paths.content_root from config

❌ Don't: Use current working directory

Wrong:

# Create album relative to wherever we are
mkdir -p ./artists/bitwize/albums/...

Right:

# Use absolute path from config
mkdir -p {content_root}/artists/{artist}/albums/{genre}/{album-name}/

❌ Don't: Hardcode artist name

Wrong:

# Assuming artist name
mkdir -p ~/music-projects/artists/bitwize/albums/...

Right:

# Read artist.name from config
artist=$(yq '.artist.name' ~/.bitwize-music/config.yaml)
mkdir -p {content_root}/artists/$artist/albums/...

❌ Don't: Forget path structure

Wrong paths:

~/music-projects/{album}/           # Missing artists/{artist}/albums/{genre}/
~/music-projects/albums/{album}/    # Missing artists/{artist}/
~/music-projects/{artist}/{album}/  # Missing albums/{genre}/

Correct structure:

{content_root}/artists/{artist}/albums/{genre}/{album-name}/

❌ Don't: Use wrong genre category

Wrong:

# Using subgenre instead of primary category
/new-album my-album boom-bap        # boom-bap is a subgenre
/new-album my-album trap            # trap is a subgenre

Right:

# Use primary genre category
/new-album my-album hip-hop         # boom-bap and trap go in hip-hop
/new-album my-album electronic      # house, techno go in electronic

Valid primary genres: hip-hop, electronic, country, folk, rock