Posts by Clay Mills
#SongwritingHack 1.06 – How To Write Killer One Chord Songs
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been at workshops or songwriting classes and had students come up to me and say something like, you know, I wish I had taken more music theory when I was younger. Or, I wish I’d taken piano lessons or guitar lessons; I can only play a few…
Read MoreCreating Perfect Opening Song Lines: Lyrics That Are Musical
Often when we talk about key elements of a song, you’ll hear people talk opening song lines. They’ll say things like, that’s where you grab the listener’s attention, and that’s where you set the scene of the song. Or maybe if you don’t do it right, you’re going to lose the listener at the very…
Read MoreEliminating Distractions For Songwriters & Artists
With a combined 50+ years of songwriting experience, hit songwriters Clay Mills and Marty Dodson have seen and experienced their fair share of songwriting distractions. In this episode Clay and Marty talk about the most common distractions that keep songwriters from writing their best songs and what you can do to overcome them. Write better…
Read MoreSongwriting Hack – “From Song Idea To Major Label Cut”
We’re going to do something special today. Since the beginning of SongTown, I’ve had members ask me if I would break down a song – from the beginning of the idea and inspiration, how he wrote it, to how it became a major label cut. And I’ve always been hesitant because songs don’t always start…
Read More#1 Songwriter Lee Starr / The Power Of A Great Song
SongTown alumn/songwriter Lee Starr just celebrated his first #1 Billboard hit (“My Boy” sung by Elvie Shane) and the birth of his first child. SongTown’s Clay Mills chats with Lee about his journey and his approach to writing. Lee offers inspiration to aspiring songwriters everywhere with his story of how one great song can change…
Read More7 Books Every Songwriter Should Read (Revised 2021)
Writing and reading lessens our isolation and prods our imagination. Music makes our souls dance, and great art leaves an impression that lasts for centuries. Over my 25 years as a professional songwriter, I’ve read just about every book on creativity I could get my hands on. Still, I’m convinced I will never fully understand…
Read MoreHow To Find Great Song Ideas
Ever wonder where your favorite artists or songwriters consistently find those great song ideas? I like to think of ideas as a creative river—constantly flowing by. It may sound simplistic, but maybe it’s purely a matter of learning how to catch them. Once you learn how to find great song ideas, it really is that easy.…
Read MoreSync Briefs: Your Key To Music Placements In Ads, TV & Film
Randall Foster is Vice President of Business Development and GM of the Nashville office of a digital distribution company called Symphonic Distribution. Prior to his current role, Randall was the leader of the Creative Sync & Licensing for ole music publishing where he oversaw a vast catalog of music copyrights and intellectual property and managed…
Read MoreHow To Get Motivated To Write More & Better Songs
Over the last 8 years at SongTown I have personally responded to thousands of aspiring songwriter emails. Many want to write better songs but can’t seem to find the answer to how to get motivated to write on a regular basis. If this is you, you are not alone. We all feel the pull of emails,…
Read MoreSongwriting Hack – “Lyrical Opposites”
In this episode, Hit Songwriter Clay Mills talks about lyrical opposites and how you can use them in your songwriting to create hookier and more powerful songs. Chapters: Chapter 1: Titles Chapter 2: Implied Opposites Chapter 3: Setup Lines 1. Titles Check out these titles: “I Hate Myself for Loving You”, “Beautiful Mess”, “Nobody In…
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