Saying More With Less: The Power of Economy in Songwriting
One of the great paradoxes of songwriting is this: the fewer words you use, the more they often seem to say. This isn’t just a stylistic choice though, it’s a core principle of the art form. Songs, unlike essays or novels, don’t have the luxury of long explanations. They thrive on immediacy, emotion, and connection. […]
Does Taking Longer to Write a Song Make It Better?
There’s a long-standing belief in the creative world that great art takes great time. The idea that the longer we labour over a song, the more valuable or meaningful it becomes. But as any songwriter who’s been at it long enough knows, the relationship between time spent and song quality is far from straightforward. So, […]
Burnout and the Songwriter: How to Cope, Heal, and Rekindle Your Creative Flame
At some point in every songwriter’s journey, the well runs dry. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. You might be experiencing something that many creatives face but few openly talk about: burnout. Burnout isn’t just about being tired. It’s a deeper form of depletion (emotional, mental, even spiritual) that can leave you feeling disconnected […]
When to Listen to Your Inner Critic: Why the Best Time Is During Rewriting, Not Writing
In the songwriting process, there are two voices that accompany us at every step, the Creator and the Critic. The Creator is the dreamer, the explorer, the playful child who dives headfirst into the unknown, following instinct, emotion, and inspiration wherever they may lead. The Critic, on the other hand, is the observer, the analyst, […]
The Art of Addition and Subtraction: Which Songwriting Approach Works Best?
When it comes to writing songs, one of the biggest creative questions we face is this: Should I throw in every idea I can think of and trim the fat later?Or should I start with the bare bones and carefully build from there? It’s a battle between addition and subtraction — between creative overflow and […]
The Blank Page Is Not Your Enemy: Conquering Songwriter’s Block
It starts the same way for all of us: the blank page. A vast, empty space staring back, daring you to make the first move. Maybe it’s a fresh notebook you bought with high hopes, or a pristine screen in your DAW waiting for the first note. The longer you sit there, the heavier it […]
Songwriting Deadlines Aren’t the Enemy—They’re the Secret Weapon
Discover how deadlines can boost your songwriting productivity, crush procrastination, and help you finish more songs—fast. This article explores the often-overlooked benefits of incorporating deadlines into the songwriting process. Rather than stifling creativity, deadlines can act as powerful catalysts that sharpen focus, encourage experimentation, and enhance productivity. How Deadlines Drive Creative Momentum 1. Defeating ProcrastinationDeadlines […]
How to Make Every Lyric Line Count: Writing for Maximum Impact
When you sit down to write a song, you’re not just stringing together rhyming words—you’re building an emotional experience, line by line. Great songs don’t just sound good. They feel good. They move people. And every single lyric line plays a part in that. But how do you make sure that every line you write […]
All Roads Lead To A Completed Song (Eventually)
Here is the truth that every songwriter needs to hear… If you’ve ever felt stuck in the middle of a song, second-guessed your creative choices, or wondered if you’ll ever finish the track you started months ago, you’re not alone. The good news? Every path you take in songwriting, no matter how winding, frustrating, or […]
The Difference Between Passive Hearing And Active Listening For Songwriters
As songwriters, our greatest tool isn’t our voice, our instrument, or even our pen. It’s our ears — or more specifically, how we use them. There’s a subtle but profound difference between passive hearing and active listening, and once you grasp that difference, your songwriting can evolve in unexpected and powerful ways. This distinction may […]