The Temptations of Producing/Recording vs. Songwriting
It’s more useful and important than ever for songwriters to be fluent with recording and…
‘If The World Was Ending’ – Inside A Great (and Timely) Modern Song
This post is about one of the most powerful songs I’ve heard in a long…
Music Business 2019 – The Reality On The Ground
Every songwriter and producer I work with has to deal with the same reality I…
The $12 Gadget That Changed Pop Music History
It’s always been important to play your instrument ‘in tune’. But what does ‘in tune’…
Aretha Franklin, Songwriter: An Appreciation
Aretha Franklin’s stature as a songwriter will never equal her monumental accomplishments as a singer.…
An Easy Way To Do Your Song A Favor
As much as we might prefer it not to be so, the quality of a…
Why Does It Take 7 People To Write A Song?
This is a question I get asked pretty frequently these days. Especially by songwriters who…
4 Ways To Listen To Modern Songs… If You’re Used To Listening To 20th Century Songs
Many areas of modern pop songwriting are extremely innovative, historically speaking. A lot of songwriting…
At What Point Does It Become A Co-Write?
When I work with songwriters as a producer or musician, in a workshop or class, or…
4 Tips For Making Your Recordings ‘Broadcast Quality’
I’ve had many songwriters come to me saying they need to make the recordings of…
Don’t Let The SOUND Put You Off Current Pop Songs
Some people born in 1990 listen to certain current pop recordings and can’t relate to…
5 Ways To Evaluate Your Songwriting
Why evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of your songwriting, an exercise that can be somewhat…
How To Find Your Intro
They’re important. They’re the first thing people hear. But Intros – aka the part before…
Under The Hood Of An Exceptional Song, part 3 (production)
This Max Martin/Ali Payami production sounds very full but, relatively speaking, there aren’t as many…
When To Start Your Song With The Chorus
Most commonly, Verse/Chorus songs start with the Verse and build into the Chorus. This allows…
Improve Your Recordings By Using Contrast
One of my occasional posts about recording and producing songs: Recordings that are great but…
How To Make A Song Written In A Classic Style Sound Contemporary
Unless you’re a very strong performer, it’s difficult to make a dent as a songwriter…
Watch the ‘Ask Tony’ Videos
