Once you’ve made the decision to really listen to music as a songwriter, the next question usually pops up pretty quickly:
“What should I be listening to?”
Should you go deep into the genre you write in? Or should you open the floodgates and take in everything from Mongolian throat singing to glitchy lo-fi hip hop?
Let’s break it down shall we…
The Case for Broad Listening
There’s a strong argument for being musically curious.
When you cast a wide net, you:
- Expose yourself to new rhythms, structures, and lyrical approaches
- Find unexpected inspiration from genres you never thought you’d enjoy
- Avoid getting stuck in a creative rut or accidentally repeating yourself
For example, listening to jazz might change the way you hear harmony. Reggae might teach you something about groove and space. Even listening to genres you don’t like can be useful, they show you what not to do in your own writing.
Broad listening turns you into a kind of musical collector, not for the sake of being eclectic, but to give your creativity more to work with.
The Case for Focussed Listening
On the other hand, there’s a real benefit in going deep rather than wide.
When you hone in on a particular style or scene, you:
- Build a stronger understanding of the genre’s traditions, boundaries, and expectations
- Develop a more distinct artistic voice
- Learn to write with more depth and authenticity within that framework
If you’re a folk songwriter, for instance, spending a lot of time with Gillian Welch or Townes Van Zandt can really shape your lyrical instincts. If you write indie-pop, immersing yourself in the best of that world helps you zero in on what makes the sound feel right.
Focused listening is especially helpful when you’re building a personal brand or writing for a particular audience.
The Risk of Going Too Far Either Way
Too broad? You run the risk of becoming a jack-of-all-genres, influenced by everything but rooted in nothing.
Too narrow? You can get stuck in a creative echo chamber, recycling the same sounds and ideas over and over without realising it.
The goal isn’t to pick a side with your musical appreciation, it’s to find a balance that works for you and serves the kind of songs you want to write.
The Balanced Approach: Curiosity with a Compass
Here’s what I’ve found helpful:
- Keep a core group of artists or genres you return to often, your “home base” as it were.
- Then, carve out space to regularly wander outside that comfort zone.
- Try a “musical challenge” once a month, dive into one new artist, genre, or era and see what sticks.
It’s not about liking everything. It’s about staying open to ideas that might come from anywhere.
So, What’s Better? Broad or Focussed?
The real answer is: neither is better. But both can be useful, if you’re listening on purpose and with intention.
Whether you’re going deep into a niche or bouncing between genres, the key is intentionality. Listen like a writer, not just a fan. Ask yourself why things work, what excites you, and how you can use that in your own songs.
Because at the end of the day, it’s not about sounding like everyone else, or like no one else. It’s about sounding like you.
