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 creative restraint. Both approaches have their champions. Both have their pitfalls. And the truth is, there’s no single right way to go about it. Like so much of the creative process, the best approach is often the one that serves this song, right now.
Let’s dive into the two schools of thought.
1. The “Put It All In, Then Strip It Back” Method
This is the brain dump approach. The creative free-for-all. You throw every idea onto the page (or into your voice memo app), letting the words, melodies, rhythms, and fragments tumble out unfiltered. Good, bad, genius, terrible — it doesn’t matter. You’re not editing yet. You’re just showing up and getting it all out.
Think of this like sculpting from a giant block of marble. The raw material is there — your job is to carve away what doesn’t belong until the true shape of the song emerges.
Why This Works:
- Freedom breeds creativity.
When you stop judging every line as it arrives, you open the door to happy accidents and unexpected brilliance. - Quantity leads to quality.
The more ideas you have to choose from, the greater the chance of finding the gold. - You bypass the inner critic.
Editing too early can strangle the creative flow. This approach keeps your hands moving and your ideas flowing.
The Downside?
Without discipline in the editing phase, the song can become bloated or unfocused. The real magic happens after the brainstorm — when you roll up your sleeves and ask the hard questions:
Does this line serve the song? Does this melody carry the emotion? Or is it just filling space?
2. The “Start Minimal and Add as Needed” Method
This is the less-is-more approach. Instead of dumping every idea into the song, you start with the essentials — maybe just a strong title, a key phrase, a melody line, or a chord progression. You only add what the song needs as you go.
This method is like building a house: you lay the foundation first, then carefully choose what bricks to lay on top. No clutter. No chaos.
Why This Works:
- Focus is front and center.
When you start small, you’re forced to stay true to the core message of the song. - Nothing gets in the way.
Every element has a purpose. There’s no excess baggage. - Editing becomes easier.
Because you’re only adding what’s necessary, there’s less to cut later on.
The Risk?
Starting too minimal can sometimes stifle the flow. If you’re overthinking every decision from the get-go, you might miss out on those wild ideas that could elevate the song from good to great.
3. The Sweet Spot: A Hybrid Approach
Here’s the thing — creativity doesn’t have to be either/or. Some of the best songs come from combining these two approaches.
- First, let the ideas flow freely without judgment. Write down everything — the obvious lines, the weird ones, the half-finished phrases. Capture it all.
- Then, switch hats from creator to editor. Zoom out. Find the heartbeat of the song. What’s the one idea that holds it all together? What lines, melodies, or sections are serving that idea — and what can you let go?
This back-and-forth between wild creativity and thoughtful editing is where the real magic happens.
4. Listen to the Song
At the end of the day, the song itself often tells you what it needs.
- Some songs arrive like a flood — they need room to pour out before you start building the levees.
- Other songs are shy and delicate — they need patience and a gentle hand, adding piece by piece until they feel whole.
The art is in knowing when to let go and when to hold back. When to throw the kitchen sink at it… and when to leave space for the listener to lean in.
5. A Final Thought
Songwriting is a dance between freedom and focus. Between chaos and clarity. There are times to overflow and times to pare back. The real skill is learning to recognize which phase you’re in — and trusting yourself enough to honor that.
Whether you start with too much and cut away, or begin with a whisper and build it up, the question is always the same:
Does this serve the song?
If the answer is yes, it stays. If the answer is no, you let it go.
Either way, you’re doing the work. And that’s what matters.
