Posts by Clay Mills
Bad Songwriting Advice That HURTS New Writers
Hey SongTown! Over the years, I’ve heard a lot of advice given to aspiring songwriters, and while some of it is gold, most of it can lead you down the wrong path. Today, let’s dive into some of the bad songwriting advice that can actually hurt new writers, and I’ll share what I’ve learned from…
Read More#SongwritingHack 1.05 – “Special Holiday Hack: Musical Lyrics & The Art Of Alliteration”
Hey, it’s Clay with another episode of Songwriting Hacks, where we break the code on popular songs and give you tools that you can use for your own songwriting. Today, we’re studying four popular Christmas songs: Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Winter Wonderland, and It’s Beginning To Look A…
Read MoreWriting Poetic Vs. Conversational Song Lyrics (Pro Tips)
When it comes to songwriting, there’s often a debate about the balance between poetic and conversational lyrics. These two approaches can shape the tone, mood, and impact of your song. In my experience, most lyrics fall somewhere on the spectrum between abstract (what some might call poetic) and conversational (clear and direct). Let’s dive into…
Read MoreBust That Songwriting Rut! [10 Things To Try Now!]
In this week’s episode of the SongTown Podcast, multi-hit songwriters Clay Mills and Marty Dodson share their top strategies to free you from songwriting ruts. Say goodbye to writer’s block forever and get back to writing your best! Clay & Marty’s 10-day video series: This video series will help you level-up your songs and finish…
Read MoreTop 8 Essential Songwriting Skills (Pro Tips)
Hey, SongTown! Recently, I received an email from a songwriter expressing frustration. For the past year, they had been writing two songs a day but felt like they weren’t improving. It made me reflect on how important it is to focus on building essential songwriting skills instead of just grinding out songs. Whether you’re starting…
Read MoreWrite The Song In The Room: The Story Behind The Hit Song “History In The Making” With Darius Rucker
“As a songwriter nothing is more important than writing the song in the room and keeping the songwriting flow alive.” ~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…
Read More5 Things You’ll Never Hear A Pro Songwriter Say
In this week’s episode of the SongTown Podcast, multi-hit songwriters Clay Mills and Marty Dodson playfully reveal 5 things you’ll never hear a pro songwriter say. With so much noise from songwriting ‘gurus’ on YouTube, cut through it all with real-world songwriting advice and insights from the pros at SongTown. Clay & Marty’s 10-day video…
Read MoreHow To Write Songs For The Opposite Gender (4 Pro Tips)
In this week’s episode of the SongTown Podcast, multi-hit songwriters Clay Mills and Marty Dodson offer pro tips on writing songs from the opposite gender’s perspective. Discover how to become a more versatile writer and increase your chances of success. Clay & Marty’s 10-day video series: This video series will help you level-up your songs…
Read MoreTransform Your Song Lyrics From Good To Great (5 Pro Tips)
When it comes to songwriting, good lyrics might get your songs noticed, but great lyrics are what make them unforgettable. As a songwriter, I’ve been blessed to write songs that have reached the hearts of millions of people. To achieve that, I’ve had to master some key techniques that elevate lyrics to the next level.…
Read More50 Years of Pro Songwriting Advice in 10 Minutes
In this week’s episode of the SongTown Songwriting Podcast, pro songwriters Clay Mills and Marty Dodson share their combined 50 years of experience to deliver 10 minutes of powerhouse songwriting tips. Let’s level-up your song skills! Clay & Marty’s 10-day video series: This video series will help you level-up your songs and finish them faster. CLICK…
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