Posts by Clay Mills
CJ Solar Unplugged: Revealing His Path to Becoming a Hit Writer
Hit songwriter/artist CJ Solar stops by the SongTown Studios to share his songwriting expertise and sing a couple tunes. CJ is not only a multi-hit songwriter but he’s also a performed on the road for years. Did the artist HARDY once play bass in CJ’s band? Find out all the details! Clay & Marty’s 10-day…
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 MoreFeeling Uninspired? How To Get Your Songwriting Groove Back
Do you feel like your melodies are dated? Are you in a creative rut? It happens to us all. One day we wake up and everything starts sounding the same. Every new idea we create seems familiar. And worse, those ideas may sound like melodies we heard years before! So, how do we stop banging…
Read More5 Ways To Break Out Of Your Writing Rut And Spark New Songs
One of the hardest things a songwriter has to learn to level-up their writing is learning how to avoid or pull themselves out of a songwriting rut. Here are 5 things I’ve learned over my 25+ year career that have me avoid songwriting ruts and stay inspired… Switch instruments to spark new song ideas… If…
Read MoreThe Erin Enderlin Interview: “Last Call”
Find out what Sir Elton John thinks about singer-songwriter Erin Enderlin’s music and soak in some writing wisdom as she stops by the SongTown Podcast set. Host Clay Mills chats with her about her amazing career as a hit songwriter and alt-country singer. It’s truly a don’t-miss episode as she sings a gorgeous raw version…
Read MoreDoes Your Song Need A Bridge?
So you’ve reached that point in the song; you’ve written two verses and a chorus, and that little voice in your head is asking “Does your song need a bridge?” When do you know if a song truly needs a bridge? I’ve heard publishers say things to their writers like, “You must write bridges because…
Read MoreYour Next Song Demo: 7 Tips Before You Spend Money
I have received several emails this week asking about the best approach to recording song demos. There are many things that have changed over the last year since I first blogged about this. Here are a few questions to consider when demoing your songs. 1. Who will be listening? If you are playing your demo…
Read More5 Simple Ways To Boost Your Creativity And Songwriting Power
As a professional writer, learning to boost your creativity and songwriting power is crucial to success. I am asked often how I walk into a co-write with superstars like Darius Rucker, Little Big Town, or Lady Antebellum and create songs “on-demand?” Well, I didn’t start out doing this, but I’ve learned a few tricks over…
Read MoreBrian Davis: Messing With Memories and Songs
Multi #1 songwriter stops by the SongTown Studios to talk about his music and offer songwriters key tips on how to write a song that hits your audience… heart to heart. Clay & Marty’s 10-day video series: This video series will help you level-up your songs and finish them faster. CLICK HERE to begin! SongTown Press Books:…
Read MoreSongwriters: 5 Keys To Building A Better Song Catalog
Several SongTownian’s have recently asked the question, “what’s the best way to build a better song catalog?” Here are some key things I’ve learned over the years after writing for several major publishing companies and building a new catalog at each. Write, write, write! There is no substitute for this. A catalog is a collection of songs. You…
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