Why Good Titles Are More Valuable Than Ever
The component parts of contemporary songwriting are going in many directions at once. While some…
9 Ways To Start A Song
The beginnings of songs are varied and often mysterious. In this blogpost I’ll go through…
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…
3 Ways To Finish Songs
There are all kinds of ways to work on and finish songs. No one process…
Modern Songwriting’s Freedom From Traditional ‘Continuity’
Recently a friend of mine directed me to a song by The Neighbourhood – ‘Daddy…
The ‘Simple Chorus, Complicated Verse’ Song
There is evidence throughout pop songwriting history – at least its Verse/Chorus song part –…
Inside A Classic Christmas Song
Around this time of year I like to take a look at one of the…
7 Steps To Your Brand New Song
Stuck? Lacking inspiration? Here’s a great way into a new song. The recipe: 1) Pick…
You Can’t Trust Your Memory When You’re Writing a Song
There are times when I treat every beginning-of-a-song idea for what it is – the…
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…
How To Surprise Your Listener
Working on a new song recently I was faced with a typical songwriting problem. One…
The Evolution Of Rhyme
When I heard Taylor Swift’s single ‘Gorgeous’ (video below) the first thing I noticed was…
4 Tips For Making Your Recordings ‘Broadcast Quality’
I’ve had many songwriters come to me saying they need to make the recordings of…
Melody: Keep The Shape, Change The Inversion
Sometimes I get the shape of the melody right, but not the register. Let’s say…
Why Your Musicians Don’t Know Your Lyrics… And Why It May Not Matter
A big part of my preparation and education, if you want to call it that,…
3 Ways To Take A Break From Songwriting
Looking over the last six or seven years, I can see I’ve been a relatively…
The Greatness Of Becker & Fagen (Steely Dan)
I join the world of popular music and beyond in mourning the death this week…
The Chords of ‘Wichita Lineman’ Blew Me Away
The recent loss of Glen Campbell – a music business legend if there ever was…
Who Says You Can’t Rhyme ‘Orange’?
Rhymes are perfect, or ‘true’, when they have the exact same sound at the end…
When I Stopped Using My Song’s 1st Verse To Clear My Throat
When beginning a conversation, especially with someone you don’t know well, it’s normal to spend…
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