Hello....
A&R companies, Record labels, Manager or not, Publisher or self publishing, Looking for artists i could write for, Finding out who they are signed to, Library Music, Diversifying as a writer/artist, Writing commercial music for radio, The differences between writing in Nashville and say the UK, How you can have International Success in different markets - Japanese, American, European, UK, X-factor/American idol - The kind of shows that are producing artists who need us songwriters, Pop, Country, Singer/Songwriter, Folk, What makes Commercial music so, um, commercial?!
Songwriter vs Artist.
Just a few things rolling around my head this week then.
The industrial context seminar this week consisted of us discussing the module so far - what we may include in our essay and evaluating what options could work for us based on academic evidence, and evidence from other songwriters. I kind of waver between excitement, determination and having an idea of the things I would like to achieve - and then wavering to the darker side where I feel miles out of my depth and straggling along somewhere behind. But I am here and doing this. And it feels right. So somewhere I need to kick myself up the a** and make the most of this opportunity!!!
Today - I'm writing this blog in a room of delightful musical chaos with guitars and excited chatter floating about... musical patterns emerge and develop and fade into something else. We move rooms and a grand piano dictates the way I type and the mood of the group seems to grow soft and chords will pull on my heart strings to make me feel a bit sad and then an opera voice will fall in rather dramatically and we all laugh. The groove kicks in and I bounce my shoulders as I write, dah da dah da dah!!! What it is about music that adds a dimension to your mood that just wouldn't exist otherwise? How much thinner would life seem? Ha and as I edge towards being philosophical, a conversation about pasties begins. Mmmmm pasties....
So yeah. Another week passes and more questions arise. I feel so full of questions sometimes, I question whether I actual know any answers at all??! So heres a few more floating about in this pea head...
Could I ever be a credible artist? Or maybe even just an artist?! Do I have the ability to write songs for a living? What route should I take? Why do I need music prominently in my life? How does a single chord resonate with a certain feeling? How does rhythm feel like its really inside me? Is music and day to day life so intergrated that they both consist of sounds, beats, noises, patterns, structures, familiarility, exciting moments, pauses, phrases, waiting, emotions, journeys, frustrations? And sometimes made up of not much? Can it be possible to think too much? Do I not think enough? Why do people hold themselves back? Why are things sometimes so hard and daunting? And do the greatest rewards come from the most difficult accomplishments?
I could actually go on for ages but ha I won't, sorry for the moment of self indulgence...
I think I'll finish off with a couple of quotes, well 3 actually cos I like the last one in particular :-) Wish I could imprint these things in my brain so they stuck.
"Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value." - Albert Einstein
"Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors." - African proverb
"I've seen many troubles in my time, only half of which ever came true." - Mark Twain
Thank you for your appreciated attention
With mighty love from the
gabbling, gallivanting, googling, gazing, ghastly, gift-wrapped geek
Thursday, 19 November 2009
Songwriting - Week 6
Hi all :-)
Weeeek 6. Owwwww already. This is course is gonna go way too quick, I just know it!!! Amazing week this week thou, we had Kim Richey with us, whom was the guest speaker and also in the solo songwriting module.
It was fascinating to hear everyones thought's on her, it seemed everyone was really blown away by her, everyone felt they had an invaluable critique of their song this week, and one the great things everyone seemed to say was, well, just how nice she is!! We listened her to speak about her collaborations as a songwriter, and her experiences as an artist. About the pro's and con's of having a manager, the importance of having a booking agent and playing live. we also asked about her experiences when co-writing, along with Paul and Andy , and they discussed splits and general ettiquette!!
I wrote a new song called 20:49 train home this week - got some potential i guess - and i got drums and an elec piano in there too!!! woo!!! can't wait till the rewriting and the collaborative modules next term - i feel these are so important for me.
This is a very short blog - Sorry. just not so much to say this week. Perhaps next week shall be fuller.
Love Love Love
from the
Fanatic, freezing, following, far-fetched, fearful, fictional, flavoured forearm.
Weeeek 6. Owwwww already. This is course is gonna go way too quick, I just know it!!! Amazing week this week thou, we had Kim Richey with us, whom was the guest speaker and also in the solo songwriting module.
It was fascinating to hear everyones thought's on her, it seemed everyone was really blown away by her, everyone felt they had an invaluable critique of their song this week, and one the great things everyone seemed to say was, well, just how nice she is!! We listened her to speak about her collaborations as a songwriter, and her experiences as an artist. About the pro's and con's of having a manager, the importance of having a booking agent and playing live. we also asked about her experiences when co-writing, along with Paul and Andy , and they discussed splits and general ettiquette!!
I wrote a new song called 20:49 train home this week - got some potential i guess - and i got drums and an elec piano in there too!!! woo!!! can't wait till the rewriting and the collaborative modules next term - i feel these are so important for me.
This is a very short blog - Sorry. just not so much to say this week. Perhaps next week shall be fuller.
Love Love Love
from the
Fanatic, freezing, following, far-fetched, fearful, fictional, flavoured forearm.
Tuesday, 10 November 2009
Songwriting - Week 5
Week 5. This came round quick!!
(And meaty apologies for the late arrival of this blog)
So starting from the top...
Monday Monday, no longer is it a dreary, weary effort to haul myself from my bed and face a week at work in the same chair, saying the same things on the phone, wearing the slight vacant expression on my face. Monday is Funday! Woo har!
Although to be fair, this Monday wasn't actually the typical bouncing girl going into uni - was a bit of a weird day - woke up a bit sad with no apparent reason really. And this in itself was confusing.. but what would normally seep into a grim week was over by 10 mins into the seminar (About 10:10.) So this was nice !!
Because how could Motown not cheer any one up??! Marvin Gaye to Diana Ross, beautiful soulful melodies, and being able to lose yourself in music that I only then realised had been such an inspiration to me. I found I was improving my listening. Cos we figured there's listening, then there's listening... I love both. Ooh I hope this course doesn't ever stop me from the 1st kind of listening - the kind without too much analysis, concentration or agenda. But then I'm really enjoying being able to listen - because there is just so much to listen for - and I guess its the kind of thing where the more you put in, the more you get out. (I may just apply this to every aspect of my life from NOW!)
So anyway, apart from the listening and the listening.. (could I say this word any more?!) we looked at a lot of songs written by Dozier and Holland - and the style of writing and the structure's seem to have some general themes running through - e.g. pre - chorus? what pre-chorus?! Or maybe just a line or two at the most? Fantastic momentum, rhythm and sometimes such simple honest lyrics. Varying structures from A-B-A-B-A-B to A-A-A-A-A ( Where did our love go - Holland, Dozier, Holland) and before I knew it, lunchtime arrived and I was in a much better frame of mind.
Tuesday (My busiest and by far my favourite day) Solo songwriting - where for the 1st time - I felt comfortable with my song - I didn't have the irritating desire to make endless apologies and excuses about the song. On The Edge was played to eager talented ears and helpful nice constructive things were said.
Tuesday tottered along with 3 an a half hours spent learning recording techniques, drum programming and general 'logic' madness. And another guest lecturer gracing us with his presence was publisher Andy Grahame whom, with a wealth of A&R, Publishing and Management experience answered question after question. These Industrial Context lessons have multiple effects on me... On one side, its reassuring, inspiring and makes things that little bit clearer about the music industry. On the other side, some harsh realisations rain down, and it seems that its a cut throat place to be. Rejections, struggles and instability seem to be inevitable. Perhaps necessary? Songwriting at a high, commercial, successful level, it appears may well be something so so few songwriters wil be able to achieve. But I kind of feel that's okay. After all, isn't it sometimes the hardest things in life, the things that are most worth having? (Something like that anyway...!)
Wednesday was jam day. And no not the raspberry variety. Grand Piano, a fantastic big space with many a guitar and oodles of talent floating in and out of the lovely chapel arts centre. And even a bit of opera and a spot of ballroom dancing, (and no not the serious variety!)
Thursday was the 1st open mic I have done in maybe a year or so... and it was good!! and surprising not as scary as previous ones I had done. The eccentric host even participated with a spot of harmonica - lovely stuff!!!
So to wrap up then...
With every week that passes - I try to remember and take in everything I can, because I have a feeling taking this MA could be the best decision I've ever made
And P.s Is it just me that has to mutter 'Never Eat Cake Eat Sausage Sandwiches And Remain Young' when spelling 'necessary'??! ( I even had to mutter it again then!)
Thank you for your time - these blogs, (as random, odd and occasionally zzzzz as they are) are quite important for me to do. I think. So thank you for reading!
Love from the
edible, eligible, evenly empathising, eggcup with a touch of eiderdown xxx
(And meaty apologies for the late arrival of this blog)
So starting from the top...
Monday Monday, no longer is it a dreary, weary effort to haul myself from my bed and face a week at work in the same chair, saying the same things on the phone, wearing the slight vacant expression on my face. Monday is Funday! Woo har!
Although to be fair, this Monday wasn't actually the typical bouncing girl going into uni - was a bit of a weird day - woke up a bit sad with no apparent reason really. And this in itself was confusing.. but what would normally seep into a grim week was over by 10 mins into the seminar (About 10:10.) So this was nice !!
Because how could Motown not cheer any one up??! Marvin Gaye to Diana Ross, beautiful soulful melodies, and being able to lose yourself in music that I only then realised had been such an inspiration to me. I found I was improving my listening. Cos we figured there's listening, then there's listening... I love both. Ooh I hope this course doesn't ever stop me from the 1st kind of listening - the kind without too much analysis, concentration or agenda. But then I'm really enjoying being able to listen - because there is just so much to listen for - and I guess its the kind of thing where the more you put in, the more you get out. (I may just apply this to every aspect of my life from NOW!)
So anyway, apart from the listening and the listening.. (could I say this word any more?!) we looked at a lot of songs written by Dozier and Holland - and the style of writing and the structure's seem to have some general themes running through - e.g. pre - chorus? what pre-chorus?! Or maybe just a line or two at the most? Fantastic momentum, rhythm and sometimes such simple honest lyrics. Varying structures from A-B-A-B-A-B to A-A-A-A-A ( Where did our love go - Holland, Dozier, Holland) and before I knew it, lunchtime arrived and I was in a much better frame of mind.
Tuesday (My busiest and by far my favourite day) Solo songwriting - where for the 1st time - I felt comfortable with my song - I didn't have the irritating desire to make endless apologies and excuses about the song. On The Edge was played to eager talented ears and helpful nice constructive things were said.
Tuesday tottered along with 3 an a half hours spent learning recording techniques, drum programming and general 'logic' madness. And another guest lecturer gracing us with his presence was publisher Andy Grahame whom, with a wealth of A&R, Publishing and Management experience answered question after question. These Industrial Context lessons have multiple effects on me... On one side, its reassuring, inspiring and makes things that little bit clearer about the music industry. On the other side, some harsh realisations rain down, and it seems that its a cut throat place to be. Rejections, struggles and instability seem to be inevitable. Perhaps necessary? Songwriting at a high, commercial, successful level, it appears may well be something so so few songwriters wil be able to achieve. But I kind of feel that's okay. After all, isn't it sometimes the hardest things in life, the things that are most worth having? (Something like that anyway...!)
Wednesday was jam day. And no not the raspberry variety. Grand Piano, a fantastic big space with many a guitar and oodles of talent floating in and out of the lovely chapel arts centre. And even a bit of opera and a spot of ballroom dancing, (and no not the serious variety!)
Thursday was the 1st open mic I have done in maybe a year or so... and it was good!! and surprising not as scary as previous ones I had done. The eccentric host even participated with a spot of harmonica - lovely stuff!!!
So to wrap up then...
With every week that passes - I try to remember and take in everything I can, because I have a feeling taking this MA could be the best decision I've ever made
And P.s Is it just me that has to mutter 'Never Eat Cake Eat Sausage Sandwiches And Remain Young' when spelling 'necessary'??! ( I even had to mutter it again then!)
Thank you for your time - these blogs, (as random, odd and occasionally zzzzz as they are) are quite important for me to do. I think. So thank you for reading!
Love from the
edible, eligible, evenly empathising, eggcup with a touch of eiderdown xxx
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