My Top 5 Tips for Songwriting

Hello everyone and welcome back! Today I thought it might be nice to give you a little insider’s view into my songwriting process and what works for me.

I know there’s probably many of you who have stories to tell but can get one part of the process down and then get stuck on another, and everyone is different; everyone has their own processes that work for them and that’s great – it’s certainly about finding your own groove and what works for you. But if you’re still finding your way through that, I’m happy to share with you what works for me and hopefully some handy hints that might be able to help you out.

So, here’s my top 5 tips:

1. HEADSPACE

Make sure you’re in the right headspace and not forcing it – if you’re too preoccupied with something else or getting distracted by things, you’re probably not going to be in the best state to feel, write and convey what you want to say. If I’m too tired, if I’ve got other things happening, sometimes I need to prioritise and get that done, so that I can clear my head for the ideas to flow.

2. NOTE YOUR IDEAS

If ideas come to you, if you’re feeling reflective about something that happened or emotions you’re feeling, jot them down; whatever they may be - you can piece it all together later if it doesn’t all come to you at the time, that’s ok. Sometimes you might find lyrics and ideas come in pieces and you have to leave it and come back to it when you’re in a clearer headspace, or look for further inspiration.

3. FINDING INSPIRATION

Which brings me to tip number 3 and finding your inspiration – I often intentionally listen to certain music and watch certain movies to put myself in a headspace and mood of a song I’m writing and vibe I’m kind of going for. I guess it’s the same as listening to some RnB before hitting the town, something with more energy when you’re working out, or something that’s more slow and soothing if you’re doing yoga or meditation for instance - I’m sure there are many of you who will want to listen to music around the house to feel transported or to not feel alone in an emotion or experience you might be going through, so that’s what I try to do when I write, I try to transport myself into that specific emotional state.

Another thing I’ve found really works for me is going for a long walk....

4. TRIAL & ERROR

It’s not always going to be spot on the first time. You might find that there are bits that don’t flow or you don’t like and could be better, but don’t get hung up on those bits if they’re frustrating you – keep going; you can come back to that later. And maybe that won’t come until you’ve completely got your song and the tune and you sing it all together and find the two don’t marry, but that’s cool, it’s all part of the process. Plus you might be able to use that for something else.

Chances are that your songs will never come together the same way – for instance, if I’ve got a few ideas or lyrics down, I find sometimes I can work backwards having the essence of what I’m saying and maybe a chorus down. Or sometimes it’s more journeying through the song from verse to end – which could be my thought process reminiscing on what I’m writing about and the progression of point A to point B; where I was to where I am, or what happened to make me feel this way and the chorus being a summary and the spirit and principal emotion and tone of the song.

If we look at my song #Catch22, after a decade break from songwriting, it certainly propelled me back into this space with my writing. It was something I had been really struggling through - coming out of a space where I was kind of questioning everything; what was real and what was more about that person and their needs, but the fact I’d put my heart and soul on the line and just not knowing how to think or feel about them, or myself.

But weirdly, it wasn’t hard for me to write that song because it was all very heartfelt emotion and a real struggle that I had gone through. So I wrote down how I felt about the whole situation and found some words that stuck with me – this idea of being in limbo, not being able to hate or love someone and navigating that, that’s where the idea of #Catch22 came to me. And then I just went through that song beginning to end, thinking about the journey and breakdown of that relationship, conveying those emotions I felt, and effectively turning those thoughts I wrote down to lyrics.

Once I have some lyrics down, I typically start thinking sounds in my head and singing them out loud and then just playing with what sounds right. I always record anything that comes to me on my phone so I don’t forget or so I can take it to my piano and play with more when I have time or when I’m in again the right headspace to do it. I often find when I sit at my piano and find those chords, I might find some other notes and chords that gel really nicely together and inspire a new sound and a new way to sing or say something too. So it’s certainly a too and fro process – but that’s the fun of it; starting with a few ideas and then playing with them on paper, and on keys, and watching the magic happen.

5. BE HONEST

Be honest with yourself and what you are trying to say - especially if you’re in a moment when you might be getting stuck on a song or writing about something a bit more difficult. Don’t just write what sounds good or what other artists might do or have written about love or relationships or the world. Find your own voice, be true to your own opinions, and reflective of your own experiences. There’s power in words, but more power in words that come from the heart.

I think that’s why I love songwriting so much too; it can be very therapeutic to reflect on your journey, struggles and lessons you’ve learned and raw emotions you’ve felt, and realise the very human experiences we all have and grow through, and sometimes, even to find that final closure through just putting pen to paper and laying down a track. More so, for other people who can relate to what I’m singing about to hopefully be able to connect, relate and find comfort in that – when you listen to a song, you can appreciate you’re not alone in a thought or feeling; a lot of people have gone through the same things and come out on top or learn what they need to and become stronger. And of course, it’s not just those kinds of sentiments; sometimes we just want to experience joy and dance, and music can do that too - music can transport you to another time, feeling, energy or mental state. Music can do all the things! So sky really is the limit with songwriting - there’s no right or wrongs necessarily, you really just have to pick up a pen and start writing.

With that, happy writing! I hope this entry has helped you formulate some tactics for yourself if you were a little stuck with your songwriting. Of course, please feel free to get in touch with any questions, thoughts, or your own tips!

Also, keep your eyes peeled, subscribe to my mailing list and YouTube channel, and follow me on Facebook and Instagram if you haven’t already – I’ll be sharing a lot more music, tips for singing and songwriting, behind the scenes sneak peeks to my music videos, and some other very cool adventures I can’t wait to share with you!

But for now, take care and speak soon!