How All The Songs Start

It starts with excitement and willingness. Maybe not much. But a little more than you had the moment before.

When you begin you have nothing.

But then you’re rolling through ideas. Bad ones, decent ones, doesn’t matter. And then one of them causes you to follow it. To see how the next chord or word or note might go with it.

And it’s hard and confusing and never in a straight line but then you have a song.

Maybe it’s Bohemian Rhapsody…or maybe it’s a demo that no one hears.

Both of them start the exact same way.

»» So of course the next question…how do you know?

You don’t. That’s what being a songwriter is all about. The writing. The writing is the good, fun, hard part. The writing is the joy for the true songwriter.

Also…your discernment gets better with time.

 

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

Explaining The Music

When you play your music for someone, what do you feel as though you have to explain in order for them to understand it better, like it better, connect with it better?

Now…what has to change about the music in order to negate the need for the explanation and to truly let the music do the talking?

 

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

You Can Play A Cool Music Thing...

But until you put some words over it…

Adding words (in our modern culture) dramatically increases the likelihood someone will like it, look it up, play it again, share it, love it forever.

The voice changes everything. The voice reaches out for emotional connection…from singer to listeners, and from listeners to their own lives.

 

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

Big Strokes

When asking for feedback on a project it’s easy and safe for the other person to offer up some minor tweaks and changes. It keeps things conversational and light. And maybe that’s all you want.

But what about when you’re open to big strokes and big changes…you need someone who cares enough to dig in and take some swings. It’s not about tweaking, but changing. That’s a scary and valuable conversation for both sides.

 

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

The Actual Opportunity

When you get called for the audition, you don’t need to decide whether or not you want the gig.

When someone emails about flying you somewhere for a private gig, you don’t need to add it to the calendar just yet.

And of course, when the label promises you the big advance or big tour…don’t go out and buy that dream car.

The actual opportunities are simply the audition, an email reply, and the meeting with the label. That’s it.

No need to make big long term decisions when the simple opportunities of the day don’t demand it.

 

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple