Songwriting tips, tricks and motivation
There are many songwriters out there who argue that the lyrics don’t matter. I hear this especially when I hear critique of pop music, and how the lyrics are “too simple” and the songwriters just write anything down, as long as it sounds catchy. This might be true in some cases, but truly great songs… Continue reading Why your Rhymes are Getting in your Way
Songwriting isn’t easy, and one of the most difficult parts of the process is starting. One could argue that activities like writing, art, music, exercise, etc. can sometimes feel like more work than fun. Songwriting requires a lot more effort than simply tuning into Netflix, but I definitely think the former is much more satisfying.… Continue reading How to Start: The Hardest Part of Songwriting
Ed Sheeran’s song “Afterglow” was a lovely surprise during the winter holidays. It was reminiscent of his earlier acoustic albums, which served the song well in showcasing its intimate lyrics. In this song, Sheeran describes a moment which he calls the “afterglow” where he takes time to appreciate his partner and deepen the connection between… Continue reading Song Breakdown: How Ed Sheeran Uses Imbalance in his song “Afterglow” to Keep Us Hooked
There is a lot of noise out there—a lot of different kinds of noises. I know I can get a little frustrated by the busy sounds outside my window. There are grating construction sounds, cars and planes passing by and sirens going strong throughout the day. There is this kind of buzz from the news… Continue reading How Quiet Helps Me as a Songwriter
Let’s say you’ve got a songwriting idea. You sit down at your piano or guitar, your notebook in hand. You might write the title in bold letters at the top of the page. Maybe you come up with a riff or a few chords. But then: the empty page starts to get to you. Your… Continue reading Write the First Song
