The Originality of the Song Comes From the Songwriter, Not the Song
As songwriters, we often find ourselves chasing originality like it’s some rare, mystical treasure buried beneath layers of chords and lyrics. We tinker with song structures, search for that one chord nobody’s ever used (good luck), or try to find the “newest” way to say something. But here’s something I’ve come to believe after years […]
How Do We Write More Songs? Write More Songs.
It sounds a bit cheeky, doesn’t it? “How do I write more songs?” Well, the simple answer is to write more songs. But honestly, I think there’s something really powerful in that short, direct response. Way too many songwriters (myself included at times) just over-complicate the process. We wait for the muse to show up, […]
The Songwriting Process As Science and Soul
I recently stumbled across an article over at Speed Songwriting that really struck a chord with me, one that vibrates somewhere between the analytical and the emotional, the structured and the spontaneous. It’s titled “Creative Science: The Songwriting Process”, and it dives into something many of us feel instinctively but don’t always articulate clearly: that […]
When Doubt Creeps In: The Songwriter’s Secret Side Battle
Let’s be honest, there are days when writing a song feels like breathing, and then there are days when it feels like drowning. If you’ve been in the game long enough, you’ll know exactly what I mean. One moment you’re feeling creatively invincible, and the next you’re wondering if you’ve ever written anything worth hearing. […]
True Creation Is Messy and Chaotic And That’s a Good Thing
When people think about songwriting, they often imagine it as a smooth, inspired flow, like the songwriter just sits down, strums a few chords, and out pours a perfect song. I wish it worked that way every time. The truth? Real songwriting is messy. It’s chaotic. It’s full of false starts, awkward phrases, doubt, discovery, […]
Songwriting: How to Start (Even When You Don’t Know Where To Begin)
Let’s face it, starting a song can feel like trying to open a locked door without knowing where the key is, or even what kind of key you need. You sit with your instrument, notebook, or DAW open, hoping that inspiration will show up and say something profound. Sometimes it does. Most times, it doesn’t. […]
Why Your Song Titles Might Need a Rewrite (and How to Fix Them)
There’s something quietly powerful about a good song title. Like a book cover that makes you pause or a movie trailer that gives you the chills, a great title hints at a world waiting to be explored. It doesn’t give the whole story away, it just opens the door. But here’s the thing: Most of […]
Let’s Make No Mistake About It… Songwriting Is Work
There’s a romantic myth floating around that songwriting is just a matter of sitting around, waiting for a lightning bolt of inspiration to strike. That a great song will just fall into your lap when the mood is right and the stars align. But let’s make no mistake about it: songwriting is work. Yes, it […]
How to Beat Songwriting Procrastination (And Why You’re Not Alone)
Let’s be honest, every songwriter I know (myself included) has danced with procrastination more than once. You sit down to write, strum a few chords, scribble a line or two… and then suddenly you’re thinking about doing the dishes or diving deep into a YouTube rabbit hole. Sound familiar? So when I came across this […]
12 Activities To Keep The Songwriting Momentum Flowing
As songwriters, we all know inspiration can strike at any moment, but waiting around for it isn’t much of a plan. That’s where a daily songwriting ritual comes in. It’s not about forcing creativity or pumping out perfect songs every day. It’s about showing up, tuning in, and making space for ideas to emerge naturally […]