This time, I tried to create it without a background, since several friends mentioned that the background music might be a little distracting when I was talking in the video. This time, I tried to create it without a background, since several friends mentioned that the background music might be a little distracting when I was talking in the video.

"Without a background" is a little confusing to me. Since I have not seen your videos, this could be a background image, background music, background ambience (like if you are in a busy plaza talking). You then go on to say background music so I assume you meant music.

This time, I tried to create it without a background music, since several friends mentioned that ithe background music might be a little distracting when I wasam talking in the video. This time, I tried to create it without background music, since several friends mentioned that it might be a little distracting when I am talking in the video.

Simply saying "a background" potentially makes the reader think of a visual background, like an image or a thumbnail for the video, rather than music, so I would suggest instead to use the words "background music" here first, then write "it" later in the sentence, so that you do not have to write "background music" twice. The reason I switched out the past tense "was" for the present continuous tense "am talking" is because the whole sentence seems to emphasize *this evening's video* rather than past videos, because of words like "this time" and "might" (usually refers to a future possibility, unless it is written like "might have been"). Even though you have already done the action of talking in the video, you are referring to a moment that would be happening in front of the viewer *as they are watching it at that point in time*, so it is still valid to use present continuous tense here. Alternatively, if you are emphasizing your friends' experiences watching your previous content, you can say "since several friends mentioned that it *was* a little distracting when I was talking in the *last* video*".

Specific tips to sharpen my spokeneech / speaking skills would be especially helpful. Specific tips to sharpen my speech / speaking skills would be especially helpful.

"Speech" or "speaking skills" sound more natural and commonly used in this context. "Spoken" is not commonly followed by "skills", and is normally used when referring to *languages* and their components (for example, a spoken language means a language that is communicated using sounds made with our voice/throat, to differentiate between written language and sign language.), while "speech" or "speaking skills" refers to the *activity* of speaking and the *skills of a person* who is practicing the language. :)