Songwriters / Lyricists / Composers (who don’t perform)
July 9th, 2008
I did an interview today with Diana from savethesongwriter.com, and she said it was OK to republish some of it here:
Q. Not every good performer is a good writer, nor is every good writer a good performer. Do you have any suggestions as to how a writer (i.e. lyricist and/or composer) should proceed in order to get their songs covered?
Work backwards. See sivers.org/call-the-destination and sivers.org/get-specific.
First, figure out exactly who should be recording your song. Do your research and find out what songs that artist has recorded by other writers. Then Google those songwriters and song titles to see if interviews have revealed how that writer got that cut.
If nothing is found online, ask Diana if you can contact the writer in the name of savethesongwriter.com to interview them about how that artist chose to record their song.
Once you’ve done this research (which really only took you an hour, tops) write down at least five different ways you can reach this artist the way they like to be reached. Don’t stop at one idea. Come up with five and do at least three of them. Persistence really pays off.
Q. While becoming known is a desireable goal for a performer, many excellent songwriters will never be famous, nor is that necessarily a goal. How do you suggest a songwriter proceed in order to have their songs covered and develop a source of income?
Be where music is being made.
I used to work at Warner/Chappell Music Publishing in New York City. One of our most successful writers was only a lyrics-and-melody guy. So he would hang out at studios where many of the producer types, especially in R&B, had leftover grooves and tracks that they had never turned into songs. He’d just say, “Toss me your leftovers. Let me see if I can turn it into something even more valuable for you. If you don’t like my ideas, no problem, it’s still your track.” He’d just take home a copy of their groove/track for the night and sing to it, seeing if he could turn into into a cool song. About one out of every five songs he co-wrote like this was impressive enough that the producer liked it, and would often get it cut by whatever artist he was working with.
On the flip side, if you’re more of a music-only person, not so into writing lyrics or melodies, co-write with recording artists, letting them come up with the words and melody to your tracks. They’ll be happier with that because they can sing words they wrote, and the song is almost sure to be cut that way.
Q: What words of advice do you have for the new, up-and-coming songwriter?
Commit to constantly improving.
Don’t think your songs are etched in stone. Every song can be improved. Changing a single note or word can make or break a song.
Read all songwriting books. Read Paul Zollo’s interviews with the legendary songwriters. Read Jack Perricone’s book about melody. Read slowly, thinking how these ideas can not only inspire new songs, but improve your existing songs.
Never underestimate the power of an arrangement. Prince’s song “Kiss” is loved by millions because it had such a unique arrangement. If it had been a typical bar-band blues arrangement (the chords are just a I-IV-V blues) - it would have been unimpressive.
Maybe you’ve got great songs that aren’t getting the attention they deserve because you didn’t continue your creativity into the arrangement and instrumentation. People think they can hear though things like that, but they usually can’t, so it’s up to the writer. Maybe try never calling a song done until you’ve recorded it in five radically different arrangements.
Which comes to the last point : have a home studio. If you need to spend a ton of money at someone else’s studio every time you want to record your songs, it’ll hold you back. Spending just $1000 on equipment (decent mic, compressor, input adaptor, and software), then taking even 10 hours to learn how to run your home multi-track studio setup well, will pay off immensely.
To me a song is always organic and ever evolving, I’m pretty crap at writing lyrics to multiple verses. I tend to write a catchy chorus and then build backwords, this usually means I come up with at least one verse that works but I struggle with the rest of the verses.
Infact the last song I wrote the lyrics too I still haven’t really finished off all the verses. But as I *have* to perform the song live so that it is released…I just recycle the first verse words with subtle changes in melody, words and dynamics. When it comes to a studio version I will have to finalise my verses but even then I am happy to change or make new verses as I get feedback from ppl.
Great point about doing multiple arrangements of songs… I don’t usually record multiple versions of my songs (there’s always too little time), but I do often try to push them from one extreme to another during writing. If it’s a ballad, I’ll try playing it uptempo or vice versa.
@Atul: when you have trouble coming up with a second verse, you should try moving a few lines from the first verse to the second and then filling in the blanks left with new words. Try not to extend the story of your song any further, but rather try to deepen it.
Atul : I noticed when studying my favorite songwriters that their verses had “gems to spare”, meaning : some simple 1-liners in the 2nd verse were so good that they could have been a song on their own, but the writer had the confidence to bury it in the 2nd verse.
All the examples I can think of now are the ones where you notice that people who sing along to the song never forget those lines. (Like Steve Miller’s The Joker, with “really like your peaches, want to shake your tree” or Alanis Morissette You Oughta Know “does she go down on you in the theater?”)
Verses are always a struggle if they’re just trying to support the chorus or fill space. But if treated as equally responsible for being catchy and eyebrow-raising it’s more fun to write, I think.
Seconding the “have a home studio” idea. Being able to record your ideas is extremely empowering and liberating. Recording is actually pretty simple once you learn some basic rules. You can spend one-tenth of what you’d pay a pro studio and have a set-up that lets you record anytime you want, forever
It can save you time and money in the “real” studio too, since you’ll have a solid idea of what you want going in.
When composing songs, music and/or lyrics, or even my own instrumental compositions, my initial goal is to keep each aspect of the work as simple as possible. Hearing someone say “That’s easy. I like that. I can do that.” might very well mean you have a work that can become a major success.
You might record your work in one day, but it also might take several months of polishing before it’s ready to be Mastered. Once that’s done, it will be ready to face the public marketplace. Be open to embracing the changes that will follow. Every step brings new knowledge. You have been gifted with creativity. Explore it!
Thanks for the ideas Jim and Derek. The expanding the first verse into the second is a good idea as it connects the song together smoothly but surely.
I might even get one of the books that have been recommended in the blog article.
Having a studio of your own and being able to record multiple versions of a song is a true test to knowing if the song is going to hold up. I find that the stronger the song is, the better it will work in a variety of styles.
I think the most important parts of songwriting are a memorable story and an unforgettable vocal and keyboard/guitar line. Everything else falls into place after you have those two parts. Steve Earl is a perfect example of a great songwriter.
The musicianship can be great, but if you can’t hear the song clearly in your head, it probably needs more work.
Songwriting is as simple as thinking of a past experience, telling it in your own words with being too worried about following structures. Refinement comes later if it sticks in your head.
A great exercise is to make up songs on the spot. In front of friends. About anything and everything.
JMO
Dan
I agree with everything except the home studio. Well, perhaps that’s because I’m a singer as well as a songwriter. There’s no comparison between the crap sound I achieve recording at home versus that my professional engineer achieves with his skill and multi-thousand-dollar equipment. It doesn’t cost that much to use him at *his* home studio, and the luscious sound of my voice on those fabulous mics saves me the cost of therapy I’d otherwise spend lamenting my lack of talent. Actually, he’s like an engineer and a therapist rolled into one. Perfect, really!
WE ARE CONSTANTLY CHANGING. IF WE CAN KEEP EVOLVING BY INNOVATING OUR IDEAS AND BEING MORE AND MORE DIFFERENT, ANYONE CAN SUCCESSFULLY MAKE GREAT SONGS. CHECK OUT HOW I TOOK GOSPEL RAP ANDMADE A NEW SOUND TO IT. FOR YEARS I LOVED HIP HOP MUSIC AND THOUGH I WANTED TO BE THE NEXT EMINEM OR PAC, OR BIGGIE, JAY-Z. YOU GET IT. WELL, I GAVE MY LIFE TO THE LORD AND TO THE SOLE PURPOSE OF SPREADING THE GOSPEL. PEOPLE SAID RAP MUSIC, GOSPEL MUSIC, THE SAME OLD WATERED DOWN CHRISTIAN RAPPER TRYING TO PREAC TO EVERYONE. NOT SO. I USED THE CONCEPTS I HAD BEFORE I GOT SAVED AND CONVERTED THEM INTO TO RAP MUSIC THAT WOULD CROSSOVER INTO THE GOSPEL RAP WORLD. AL JUST BEING DIFFERENT AND CREATIVE.
YOU CAN GET THE SAME SOUND OUT OF YOUR BATHROOM. JUST DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU WANT TO PAY TO RECORD YOUR MUSIC. SAME ALL TO ME.
Derek;I am only a songwriter not a singer or musician I have been writing country music for over 40 years off and on, I live in a small town in eastern PA 11 hrs from Nashville and 6 hrs from NY city There are no recording stars walking around here to talk to or popular songwriters or anyone to give you a little push in the music field so I must do or try to promote my own songs. I wrote a song The “old corn field” It was recorded by the late Terry Staford in Nashville, in 1986 I put it on a CD in 07 and here is where people like me need the HELP. WE all know top 40 won’t play it so we must email or phone radio stations we get from the internet web site and then struggle to try to talk to the program dir. I have it on 25,000 touchtunes Jukesboxes but they don’t give out there distributors list so I or anyone can contact them to put our song on the touch screen so people can play it. Have you any suggestions THanks Lyle
My background in the Dance,Choreographic,Theater,and Music world have made writing music and lyrics easy for me. It just happens from the heart. I also sing but I do not perform anymore. I love to write and I think my music would appeal to some of the top arrangers and singers today. Sally Charles
What a great help you must be to many of today’s aspiring songwriters!
At 78 all I can say is “Wish I had known of a guru like you 50 years ago.”
Best to you!
Art
Well, I’ve enjoyed reading all the comments. I was in Nashville last year for a song camp and it was very informative. The instruction was done by six of Nashville’s top songwriters. They were excellent writers and instructors. As you might expect they didn’t agree on how to write a song or even how to promote it. Every song they’d had success with seemed to have it’s own unique story of how it got cut. This is my humble opinion, but if you want to play in that league then you have put in the time. The serious writers there are putting in 12-15 hours a day writing, co-writing, promoting, and recording demos. It is possible to compete with that but it isn’t easy. The main thing I came away with was how passionate they were about everything that had to do with songwriting. Be passionate in a positive way! I have had a home studio for a long time and it has been great. I have excellent equipment now but I didn’t in the beginning. I learned so much about songwriting by having to record my own and then having to listen back. Just be enthusiastic and passionate and you will have no regrets about what your writing brings you.
All in all, these suggestions are valid. Clearly there is no one path that works for all of us. However, there is no substitution for continually improving your writing skills. For this all that’s needed is a pen and paper. Sure a great arrangement enhances the material, and a high-tech recording sweetens the pot, but the bottom line is the story. Very few of us sing to instrumental parts, it’s the meaning of the story we remember. I have just completed my autobiography and new CD and the book “The Fire Within” has drawn far more attention than my music. So I guess continually growing and never giving up is the key to success, if you don’t confuse success with money! Chazz deMeyer
Best piece of songwriting advice I’ve been given (wish I could remember who said it): Sometimes you write the first verse and in it you say all the things you wanted to say, which leaves you a bit stuck for a second verse. That ‘first verse’ should now become your second verse and you can write another first verse setting up the story of the second verse. Works so well & so often it’s just plain scary.
I find these articles very
interesting. One thing I’ve found
about songwriting and music
composing is,everything has to fit
together like a puzzle as well as
be written as simple as possible.
Doing that gives you a chance to
be successful. Again-very good job,
Derek!
Hank
I have what may, or may not be a unique problem.
1. I intend to write, and sing my own songs on my recordings, but don’t intend on performing live. I know, I know, the system doesn’t work that way, but then the system hasn’t been working the way we have been doing it either, and as long as the system is in a state of foundational transition I intend to continue to look for ways to do it the way I really want to do it.
So far, I have been working toward replacing the touring band manner of building up an audience with writing fiction books, and non-fiction pieces and then telling those who like what I write that I also sell song that I write and record myself.
The literary publishing thing may take as long as the band touring thing, but it is more what I really want to do with my life, and time.
The problems I have are all about; how can I do this most effectively?
i agree with lyle it is all about getting the singers to hear the songs for themselves instead of some facless guy looking for the quick buck keep up the good work derek
Thank you Derek for all your help.
I can really use a lot of this info.
P.S. Steve Miller`s Joker`s line:”really like your peaches
want to shake your tree” is from
The Clovers-Atlantic Label-Song:
“Lovey Dovey”. 1953-54.
All my best
Don.
What many of you have written rings a bell with me… I wrote my first song in 1969 (which caused my piano teacher to realize she had to teach me music theory :-), and have been writing ever since. I’ve performed occasionally, but am not a singer and am terrible at writing lyrics.
One thing which seemed to help was to work with other musicians in my “circle.” Their contributions seemed to make the songs just come to life in a way which I can’t do sitting alone in front of my keyboard and MIDI sequencer. By the same token, as much as possible, I like to give back to other musicians by laying down tracks on their own songs, and offering suggestions on harmonization, structuring, etc.
I certainly don’t seek fame … but even a little bit of fortune would be welcome :-))
I agree with the home recording studio idea. I usually record one version, perform it for a while, then end up changing it a few times before the final version is complete. After singing it several times live or with friends, I can begin to feel what works and what doesn’t in a song. Also, I can offer tracks for artists to sing along with by simply removing my vocals.
Derek,
Seems to me we all could use a way to showcase our songs in a way that artists could listen with out the “middle man” trying to make a buck on everyone. We could use a way to pitch our songs to artists. Maybe that would help us more than anything. All of the advise that everyone has given is good and sound but in the end we just need a way in. Thanks for all your help so far.
Moni Lutz
Derek, you are an inspiration to me…you never stop helping. I know this is your mantra…. As you may know I’ve written ten volumes of original music and still have more, including yesterdays sudden creation. I have won the ASCAP jazz composer’s award every year for the last 3 years. I desperately need a broader outlet, a lyricist, artists, and exposure to that market..it is money and success waiting. Thanks for your ongoing advice…and good luck with your new endeavors… Don
Actually Steve Miller’s lyric (or at least idea) goes back to King Solomon in the Bible. Check out Song of Solomon chapter 7, verses 7,8. Just Solomon liked dates, Steve Miller peaches :).
I am a songwriter with a CD on CDBaby, check it out! I am also not a performer, as my singing leaves much to be desired (I only sing back-up on my CD), so it is hard for me to know how to promote myself–the days of sheet music are long gone! Suggestions?
I had joined west coast songwritters organization in the SF bay area, 5 years ago. My producer/engineer told me not to join a organizations were multiple ideas and a cookie cutter approach will change a original structure. He was right, I should have never listened to anyone about what I created! The more conferences I went to (durrango songfest) and getting facetime with industry leaders to hear my songs. The would always say, “Where looking for this type of music or that”. All they are doing is pressing out “Cold Play” copycats and thats all they wanted. Now …who knows,….That’s not my scene….That’s why I am a INDEPENDENT songwriter. It’s all about who you are, not what you’re not. I say write, record and be true to yourself…period.
Great advice!
Once I bought an Input Adaptor of my very own, all of my tracks really started to come together! No more wasting money on useless studios for me! I know plenty about recording and the equipment involved in it. Who needs engineers!?!? Buncha know-nothings, if you ask me.
Everyone reading this, should stop right now and buy one! You WON’T be sorry!!!
I am a performer,songwriter,Producer,Drumer,still,looking,forward to have a new publisher.My CD Rhythmology,is being downloaded,on Amazon,Calabash,Mp3,and many more,still,dont see no good results.What do you think,i should do Please?Should i join publisher like.ASCAP?
Great info guys and gals! If you draw from the heart and pour it on paper and make the world feel it and want to hear it again and again you.ve done your job as a songwriter.Til then enjoy the ride!! S.Dee
So much of this sounds familiar. I have a studio at home and could not be happier. I am getting more of my stuff out there than most of the more “famous” performers I know. I get a lot of feedback on my singing and it’s pretty polarized. I see the reality of having a “Bob Dylan” voice and an anthemic writing style better suited to a bigger voice. I am a very good instrumental performer but I don’t imagine you will hear me singing on your radio any time soon. I would love it if I could find a vocals/lyrics type (preferably living within biking distance…So Mpls) to record and perform with. In the mean time I will continue publishing stuff to the best of my overdubbin’, favor askin’, “Yes I’m singing in english” ability.
This seems like a very cool thing that you are working on Derek, we all appreciate it.
Peace, Dan
Writing a song to me is on inspiration that come from jah lyrics and music melody that can bring love joy peace to the heart mind baby and soul and you Derek is on inspiration bredren fi real
EXCELLENT! I’ve really enjoyed reading these comments! It is true that our songwriting evolves over time and life experiences. And, sometimes we must go back to our source. We “all” obviously started writing because of the passion we felt for music. I recently went through my whole catalog of songs that I’ve written over the past 30 plus years. I realized 2 things. 1) Although abstract & simple, in the beginning my ideas were solid and emotional. 2) I also realized I could NOW improve all aspects of my songs! I’ve been able to bring something back: technique and discipline. And bring something forward: emotion and simplicity.
Ever evolving as writers and people, we have to bring our songs with us!! Like our children, We have to love our songs like they are THE ONLY REASON. Not because of what they will be, or what they have done. But for what they are: a part of us! Then, and only then will we feel successful as songwriters. Thank you all! Keep the Faith. Ron
I’m a songwriter, producer, and own a small publishing company. I agree you must go where the music is made. You have to breach the loop of hit songwriters that are getting most of todays cuts. I hate to say this but, it is a political scene, and you must treat songwriting like a business to compete with these established writers. I have a few cuts, but no major hits yet, so when I’m in Nashville, I make appoints, and co-write as much as possible. I have found that hit writers have the same goals as I do, they are looking for ideas to write the next hit song, which will be cut by a major artist, to produce their next source of income. Good luck to all!
Lyrics/Melody[Music] Of the two Ihave to say lyric writing comes easier to me . Music/melody I struggel with. Itried to find collaborators to write the music,maybe a band to play it live since I’m not a performing act.So any musicians out there that would like to checkout my music go to my web site http://www.myspace.com/extremedreamtwo or cdbaby.com/cd/anthonym.cestaro Any ideas on writing melodies to my music.
I will intentionally put my best lyrics in the second or third verse. A song should get stronger as it goes.
That forces me to come up with a great opening verse to be as good as the second (or third) verse.
A true signature of a word class song is that it gets better toward the end of the song. Everthing should build to the “nut” of the song — as it were.
There is nothing more amateurish than a song that starts with a bang, then fizzles out like a bad firecracker, with nowhere to go.
A song should be like a Hitchcock movie. They always started with a big scene, and ended with a bigger scene.
these are very good ways to look at music, all these comments, shows their dedication to music, success. wow disk makers. been with them for 8 years!
what can replace networking?….after a couple of years in nashville, most of the songwriters open mikes were simply filters, and if you were liked,you got a showcase…..and then there were typically folks there who could get your songs to their people…..it took time and persistance…..dale
The home studio thing is great. I think having a home studio for “sketching” out musical ideas is good. By the way, to respond to Alexa Morales, she wrote “There’s no comparison between the crap sound I achieve recording at home versus that my professional engineer achieves with his skill and multi-thousand-dollar equipment. It doesn’t cost that much to use him at *his* home studio, and the luscious sound of my voice on those fabulous mics saves me the cost of therapy I’d otherwise spend lamenting my lack of talent. Actually, he’s like an engineer and a therapist rolled into one.” With microphone being the exception, most of the time, the equipment doesn’t make that much of a difference. It’s the engineer that makes you sound that good. Not the computer. You already sound good, the engineer just knows the bells and whistles to make your “good” sound “great”.
And anyway, if you use your home studio to record demo’s, you voice only has to get the job done. But a good engineer could make a home studio sound great.
THE BIGGEST PROBLEM I HAVE FOUND AS A WRITER IS BEING ABLE TO GET YOU FOOT IN THE DOOR. I HAVE A FRIEND WHO IS ONE OF THE TOP NOTED SONG WRITERS IN NASHVILLE, AND A RECORD PRODUCER. AND ALTHO WE ARE FRIENDS,HE DOESN’T CUT ME ANY SLACK.HE POSSIABLY COULD OPEN SOME DOORS FOR ME. BUT HAS NOT OFFERED.I HAVE SENT MATERIAL TO NOTED ARTISTS AND THEY WON’T EVEN ACCEPT THE MAIL. THEY STAMP IT WE DO NOT ACCEPT UNSOLICED MATERIAL. EVEN SOME OF THE MAJOR RECORD COMPANIES DOES THE SAME THING.IF A SERVICE WAS SET UP WHERE A WRITER COULD SUBMIT SAY 4 OR 5 SONGS THAT WOULD BE SUBMITED TO SAID ARTIST. I FEEL THAT MORE OF THE UNKNOWN WRITERS WOULD GET NOTICED.
One can get by on a lot less than $1000 for a home studio. Consider buying a used computer and discontinued and discounted hardware (soundcard, mixer) and software.
The signal path I use is: microphones to mixer to computer w/ a Turtle Beach soundcard. The lower priced condeser mics one can find at Sam Ash or Guitar Center are just OK, but chances are, if one knows any other musicians, one can borrow a good microphone for special recording project. Processing is done with old versions of Soundforge and Cooledit on a Windows 98SE system. Nero burns the cds, and Surething designs the packaging. An Epson printer prints the packaging and the label on inkjet printable cds.
Recently I bought a Zoom H4 Handy Recorder, and consider it a valuable piece of equipment for “field recordings” and as a practice/rehearsal tool.
I like your stuff a lot! Ever since I discovered CDBaby, I read your stuff… I will keep watching your new developments!
peace, Dennis
Great to see the mutual support here, just wanna encourage everyone to stay positive and creative. Follow your inner voice and express what makes you different,the alternative is to suppress your natural instincts and spend your valuable time trying to meet others expectations. It is up to all of us to renew our efforts, maintain good energy and feed the flame. Thanks as always to Derek for making it possible.
http://www.cdbaby.com/gr8trax
I do not know of anyone who would like to sing or perform or record my music. That is a fact.
Wonderful exchange. Thank you Derek. I was a writer before I became a song-writer. In writing workshops, we say these things: Write about what you know.
Go where the juice/pain/edge is.
Stay out of your own way. Allow yourself to be guided by your deepest voice.
First thoughts - the things that emerge before you let your brain critique yourself - are powerful.
Write only truth. (your truth, and not something you think people want to hear/read)
Listen with an ear in your heart.
When you want to express a concept like “love”, think instead: “What is my story of love?” and go deeper with concrete words that create a picture.
I’ve not been to a song-writer workshop, so I don’t know what they say. These are things I rely on in expressing myself through music. Thank you.
http://www.cdbaby.com/jennifercomeau
http://www.jennifercomeau.com
Aloha Derek,
I have a question instead of a comment.
I’m thinking of sending my songs to various recording studios in Hawaii since I don’t live there anymore. I’m hoping this would attract some of the artists that they are working with and possibly draw some interest. Is this the right approach? Looking forward for your directions.
Mahalo for your time.
Franklin B. Corpuz
Desert Isle-Nanea CD
fbcsounds@cox.net
In terms of home studio, I’ve gone through a number of iterations, including Cakewalk and Windows. Now I’m using mostly open source software.
For hardware I use an Alesis Fusion HD6 (bought a factory refurbished unit @ a 75% discount), and a Behringer UCA202 ($30) which has RCA jacks on one side and a USB cable on the other. On my laptop (yes, laptop! used: $300), I’m running Ubuntu Linux, and use a free open source program called “Audacity” to record the tracks. The latter lets me “export” my final mixes to mp3, wav, aiff, etc. format.
The Alesis has a built-in 16 track MIDI recorder and so all I need do is to copy the files via USB to my computer. I then use a free open source program called “NoteEdit” to produce scores.
A good home studio setup does not have to be expensive!!! The total cost of everything I’ve described is less than $1000!