Songwriting
Who Really Makes a Song a Hit: The Songwriter or the Audience?
It’s a question that gets thrown around a lot, often in frustration or reflection: “What makes a song a hit?” Is it the songwriter’s genius? The audience’s taste? A well-oiled marketing machine? Or just dumb luck? The short answer? It’s both the songwriter and the audience, but they don’t hold equal weight, and they’re rarely […]
Why Writing In Long-Form Can Help You Write Better Song Lyrics
When people talk about songwriting, they usually focus on trimming things down, cutting the fat, tightening the line, getting straight to the point. And that would make sense. Songs are short. They’re compact emotional containers, designed to get in, hit hard, and stay with you. But here’s the twist: sometimes, the best way to write […]
How to Keep the Momentum Going in Your Songwriting Practice
Staying consistent with songwriting is easier said than done. Some days you feel inspired, other days… not so much. The real challenge isn’t starting a song, it’s continuing to show up day after day, even when the spark feels like it’s gone missing. So, how do you keep the momentum going when writing songs regularly? […]
Your Song is a Message in a Bottle: Why You’ll Never Truly Know Your Listeners
Author Margaret Atwood (The Handmaids Tale) once quoted that “… you never know who your readers might be” when it came to writing output and the writers attitude towards it. Of course the quote is skewered towards authors but the full quote is below rearranged to suit the songwriter… “Releasing a song is like casting […]
The Changing Face of Songwriting: What Today’s Songwriter Really Looks Like
Not too long ago, the term “songwriter” conjured a pretty specific image, someone sitting with a guitar or piano, scribbling lyrics into a notebook, chasing inspiration like a kite in the wind. It was romantic, a little mysterious, and very human. But today, that image has expanded. In fact, it’s morphing into something much broader, […]
Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Be Afraid to Write “Bad” Songs
When it comes to writing songs, there’s a mindset I’ve learned to trust more and more over the years: “Don’t ever be afraid to write ‘bad’ songs, they’re the stepping stones to your best songs.” It sounds simple and maybe even a bit cliché, but this idea is something every songwriter, beginner or seasoned, needs […]
The Perfect Songwriting Space – What You Really Need (And What You Don’t)
You know, when it comes to songwriting, the space you write in matters more than you might think. It’s not just about having good gear or the “right” tools, it’s about creating an environment that makes it easier for you to slip into the creative zone and actually stay there. So, what makes the perfect […]
How Self-Doubt Can Actually Make You a Better Songwriter
“I have more self-doubt than any writer I’ve ever known… The positive aspect of self-doubt, if you can channel it into useful activity instead of being paralyzed by it, is that by the time you reach the end of a novel, you know precisely why you made every decision in the narrative, the multiple purposes […]
The KISS Principle: Why Simplicity Is So Important In Songwriting
When it comes to songwriting, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that more is better. More words. More chords. More layers. More cleverness. But often, the songs that hit the hardest, the ones people remember and sing for years, are built on simple ideas delivered well. This is where the KISS Principle […]
The Dreaded Deadline: A Songwriter’s Friend Or Foe?
Ask any songwriter how they feel about deadlines and you’ll probably see a wince. There’s something about putting a clock on creativity that feels backward. How can you force inspiration to show up on a Tuesday at 2 PM? And yet, many of the songs we love wouldn’t exist without the push of a looming […]