Songwriting Tips
Write Better Songs by Thinking Like a Content Creator
If you spend any amount of time in the online world, you’ll notice something interesting… The people who consistently create engaging content aren’t just “winging it.” And here’s the thing, that’s also what great songwriters do. The only difference is the medium used. One writes blog posts while the other writes songs but underneath it […]
Object Writing: The Daily Exercise That Can Improve Your Lyrics
If you listen closely to the songs that stay with you the longest, you’ll notice something interesting. Great songs rarely deal in vague language. Instead of telling you someone is lonely, they show you the empty room. Instead of telling you someone is heartbroken, they show you the silence after the door closes. This ability […]
How Wide Should Your Musical Listening Be as a Songwriter?
If you want to become a better songwriter, one piece of advice comes up again and again: “Listen to more music.” But what does that actually mean? Should you stay inside your chosen genre and master it? Or should you explore everything from jazz to metal to electronic to classical? If you go too narrow, […]
Happy Accidents: When Mistakes Become Magic in Songwriting and Recording
Not every wrong turn is a mistake. Sometimes, it’s the road you were supposed to take all along. When we write songs or produce music, we put a lot of pressure on ourselves to get everything just right. The right lyric. The perfect chord. The cleanest take. But if you’ve been doing this for a […]
Every Line Must Earn Its Place: Editing Your Song Like a Pro
So, you’ve written a new song. The structure is solid. The melody feels good. The chorus is catchy. But something still doesn’t quite click. Chances are, it’s not the whole song but it’s a few weak lines dragging everything else down. In songwriting, every line matters. Every lyric you keep needs to earn its place. […]
The Power of One Emotion: How to Focus Your Song’s Message
One of the easiest traps a songwriter can fall into is trying to say too much in a single song, too many feelings, too many angles, too many directions. The end result? A confused listener and a forgettable tune. If you want to create songs that connect and feel truly listenable, one of the best […]
How to Make Your Song More Listenable (and Worth a Listener’s Time)
As songwriters, we often ask ourselves: “How do I make my song worth listening to?” But for me, the better question might be, “How do I make it more listenable?” That is, how do you create a song that someone not only wants to hear once, but again and again? Here’s a no-fluff breakdown of […]
The Difference Between Forgettable and Unforgettable Songs In 7 Steps
Every now and then, I stumble across an article that feels like it’s handing you a map just when you thought you’d lost the trail. Cari Cole’s piece, 7 Steps to Writing Hit Songs That Stand Out, Win Awards & Gain Placements, is one of those maps, equal parts practical signposts and creative pep talk. […]
The Art of Listening: Why Songwriters Must Be Music Fans First
When people ask me how to get better at songwriting, one of the first things I say is: “Are you listening to enough music?” Not just having it on in the background, but actually listening. It sounds simple, almost too simple in fact, but listening to music with intention is one of the most underrated […]
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. […]