Video Songwriting Lesson: Finding the Heart of Your Song
Finding The Heart & Soul Of your Music Takes Courage... And A Few Tricks! Multi #1 songwriter Clay Mills will show you how to find the "true heart of your song" and create music that matters. This video is part of a weekly lesson series for members at SongTown. Clay Mills is a 16-time ASCAP hit songwriter, producer, and performer. His songs have...
Lyric Sheets: Which Songwriter’s Name Goes First?
My first publisher, Kim Williams, was an inspirational person in many regards. He taught me many powerful lessons about writing AND about life. Kim had been an electrical engineer and had been burned over most of his body. He spent over a year in the hospital and wasn't given much chance at survival. When I met him, he was writing three times a...
How Do I Write Commercial Music – Without Selling My Soul?
Often songwriters in our SongTown classes ask, "How do I write commercial music?" 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 to themselves. They don't want to sell-out. The definition of commercial music generally...
Songs Are My Footprints
I look at the songs I write as footprints. They are what remain of me after I pass through a place. Yesterday, I passed through another day of writing and I left behind a song that represents ME. Two songs, actually. I poured my heart and soul into them and I'm proud of what I created. Someday, when I'm gone,...
5 Ways Songwriters Shoot Themselves In The Foot
In a 20 year music career as a songwriter, I've shot myself in the foot so many times that it's amazing I can walk. I thought I'd share some of them to help YOU avoid doing the same thing. Here are some of the worst "shots" I've taken in the foot. Getting too excited over one good thing. Positive feedback is...
The Creative River Series: What’s Stopping You?
I remember sitting in a Mexican restaurant in, a couple years ago with the late songwriter Tim Johnson. We were preparing to play a benefit that evening for a local high school. “What’s stopping you?” Tim asked. You see, I’d just told him that I’d always dreamed of playing the stage at the legendary Ryman Auditorium. So many of my musical...