Posts by Clay Mills
Say It Then Flesh It Out
In this episode, we will teach you some tips for really fleshing out what you want to say in your songs. As we walk through the writing of Billy Currington’s #1 song “Must Be Doin’ Somethin’ Right”, you’ll learn a technique for communicating clearly in your own songs. And you’ll get a rare chance to…
Read MorePro Tips On Writing Holiday Songs
We’ll explore different types of Christmas/Holiday music and give you tips on writing those kinds of songs. Plus, you’ll hear some original Christmas music from SongTown writers. Put on your Santa hat and join us! Write better songs faster! Clay & Marty’s 10-day video series will help you level-up your songs and finish them faster. CLICK…
Read MoreLegendary SongWriter Jack Tempchin
This week Clay Mills interviews legendary songwriter Jack Tempchin, writer of the monster Eagles hit “Peaceful Easy Feeling” and many more classic rock songs. Jack was a long-time collaborator of Eagles frontman Glenn Fry and shares some behind the scenes stories! We’ve also got some new Brad McKenney music on tap from the SongTown Community.…
Read MoreIt’s Not the World’s Responsibility To “Get You” or “Get Your Music”
I was in Starbucks last week enjoying my morning dose of inspiration—COFFEE!—and an aspiring songwriter approached me. “Are you Clay from SongTown?” “Yes,” I said. He asked if he could chat about writing for a couple of minutes. Then he began by saying, “I’m writing some great music, but no one “gets it.” He continued, “I’ve…
Read MoreCreating A Killer Home Recording Studio – On An Affordable Budget
My home recording studio has gone through many transformations/evolutions over the past few decades, ranging from lavish overkill to stripping it down to the bare essentials. Experience has taught me that Creating A Killer Home Recording Studio – On An Affordable Budget gives me the creative tools I need without the demands of keeping up…
Read MoreCreating Moments With Your Songwriting (Updated 2021)
Years ago a friend of mine invited me to attend a workshop led by Tom Jackson, a top live music producer. Tom has spent his career working with artists as diverse and popular as Taylor Swift to Casting Crowns to Shawn Mendez. As I watched Tom work with a new band on stage, I…
Read MoreA Melody Writer’s Secret Weapon: The Wind-up
What’s one songwriting component that separates the promising newbie songwriter from the seasoned pro? How much punch the chorus packs. Specifically, when the chorus hits, does it impact the listener? This is one of the main things I work on with writers in my SongTown Melody MasterClasses. Often their choruses show up un-announced and begin…
Read MoreToday’s Music Sucks! A Songwriter’s Cautionary Tale
When I first moved to Nashville nearly 20 years ago, my publisher convinced two different Hall of Fame writers to write with me. Little did I know it would lead to this songwriter’s cautionary tale. I was literally the new kid in town. And even though I had been writing for years and written hundreds of songs,…
Read MoreSongwriting To Drum Loops: Creating The #1 Song Beautiful Mess
One great tool every songwriter has at their disposal today songwriting with drum loops. Whether you have a computer handy, a drum controller, or a smart phone, there are amazing apps for beats that were not available even a few short years ago. Loops are a quick way to add energy and style to your…
Read MoreWriting In The Moment: How I went From Stuck On A Song Lyric To My First Major Artist Cut
Back when I was beating the streets of Nashville looking for my first cut as a songwriter, I was asked to write a theme song for a TV show about Sisters. They wanted something in the vibe of Sarah McLachlan. As luck would have it my parents had just given me my childhood piano and…
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