Throughout my pro songwriting career I have made it my mission to put together a home recording studio that accomplishes 3 things. 1. Sonically, it has to be master record quality. 2. Creative workflow that won't bust my groove! 3. Must be affordable! Co-writing in rooms with so many great producers and track guys...
Co-writing: The art of sharing your heart felt ideas with another person and trusting the two of you will create songwriting magic. This can be tremendously rewarding and often frustrating. But there are some guidelines to make this experience more often than not a great one. If Moses came down from the mountain...
One of the top questions I get asked as a pro songwriter is "how do I beat writer's block. For many songwriters the worst part of the whole writing experience is just getting started. Those times when we sit down to write and nothing comes out. We feel like...
Songwriters, does this sound familiar? You start out with good intentions to write a new song today and then the phone rings, or you remember an errand you forgot to do, and there's that email you need to reply to. Before you know it you have spent the whole...
The proper way to format your lyric sheet is one of the most overlooked details in the songwriting business! Since starting SongTown, Marty Dodson and I have had the chance to see many songs lyrics presented in our publisher groups, song contests, and song feedback forums on songtown.com. We've...
Songwriters... When you have those days of doubt and wonder why you are chasing your dream.... I wasn't exactly young that day I realized I wanted to be a full-time songwriter. I was in mid thirties and had no connections in...
"As a songwriter nothing is more important than writing the song in the room." ~Clay Mills "Let's write a romantic song. Your record is 80% done and there's no song on it about romance and falling in love." I said those words to Darius Rucker and producer Frank Rogers while sitting...
The 9-Minute Songwriter Workout consist of three songwriting exercises designed to get you into the flow of writing without thinking. Your best ideas come from the subconscious, and you can tap into this with regular practice. Remember to do these exercises quickly, spending three minutes on each in rapid fire succession....
Often songwriters in our SongTown classes ask, "How do I write commercial music without selling out?" They are writers who would like to have commercial success and hear one of their songs on the radio or an album. But they want to know how to accomplish this and still be true...
This Christmas season, I find myself looking back and remembering people that have been an important part of my life. I think the winter holidays are a wonderful time for cultivating gratitude. There have been people who have been there for me since day one, and there have been those...