All About Songwriting
Rainer Maria Rilke once issued a challenge. He wrote: “There is only one way: Go within. Search for the cause, find the impetus that bids you write. Put it to this test: Does it stretch out its roots in the…
I didn’t start writing songs to become a better person. I started because I loved music. Because I was drawn to melody. Because there were things inside me that felt too big, too confusing, or too private to say out…
There’s this idea I keep coming back to: the better you get at writing songs, the better you become as a human being. Not in a moralising way. Not in a “songwriters are enlightened beings” way. More in the sense…
As songwriters, we often find ourselves wrestling with our emotions, chasing down ideas, and trying to capture moments before they slip away. But what if we embraced the very thing we’re trying to hold onto, the fact that nothing stays…
There’s a quote from playwright Tom Stoppard that’s always stuck with me: “I don’t think writers are sacred, but words are. They deserve respect.” Now, Stoppard was talking about writers in general, but from where I sit (behind a guitar,…
As someone who has spent many years writing songs, performing live, (and more recently) producing in the studio, and talking to countless other creatives along the way, I’ve often wondered: Why do so many musicians shy away from writing their…
One of the things that has kept me sane throughout the last 3 months of the studio build has been my participation in this years 50/90 Songwriting Challenge. For those of you that don’t know… The 50/90 Songwriting Challenge runs…
The above piece of advice, often shared among songwriters, displays a truth about the creative process. Striving for perfection can be paralysing, especially in the world of music where creativity and expression are paramount. Here’s why embracing imperfection and spontaneity…
Call me old fashioned but I still prefer writing songs with a pen to paper rather than to use a computer. There have been many times where I’ve attempted to use a computer keyboard and word processor instead of pen and…
Below is the complete version of “An Incomplete Manifesto For Growth” as mentioned in my last blog post “Some Creative Suggestions For Your Songwriting Process.” This manifesto was conceived in 1998 by Bruce Mau, the creative director of Bruce Mau Design. The purpose of the…