Upping the ante
I have had a bit of writers' block since we finished tracking what will become the You're Not Alone EP and Under Summer Stars (our next full-length). I just wasn't sure where to go next! I had written one keeper tune and a few duds as of November, which is not a lot for four months.
But last week, I had a bit of an epiphany. While reading Sputnik Sweetheart by Haruki Murakami, it occurred to me that I had a wealth of untapped material sitting at the ready: my 12-year relationship with my wife!
We've had a ton of great experiences: some downright magical, and some comical, but all particular. I really don't know why I haven't used many of them yet. Maybe I was waiting for my skills to grow. In any case, out at dinner that night, I took a napkin and sketched out 11 song titles comprising the events from our relationship that seemed most song-worthy, in chronological order.
So for the first time, I'm approaching the next record with an overall plan - a concept! And also for the first time, I'm writing lyrics first, which is a big change for me. I've historically been a mood, then chords and melody kind of guy. Lyrics always came last. So this new approach is very disruptive and is affecting the results. What's also great about having a concept is I can arrange the entire album as an album, since I know what's coming and in what order!
This is all very top-down and strategic, and I'm still not sure it'll work. Watch this space. ;)
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But last week, I had a bit of an epiphany. While reading Sputnik Sweetheart by Haruki Murakami, it occurred to me that I had a wealth of untapped material sitting at the ready: my 12-year relationship with my wife!
We've had a ton of great experiences: some downright magical, and some comical, but all particular. I really don't know why I haven't used many of them yet. Maybe I was waiting for my skills to grow. In any case, out at dinner that night, I took a napkin and sketched out 11 song titles comprising the events from our relationship that seemed most song-worthy, in chronological order.
So for the first time, I'm approaching the next record with an overall plan - a concept! And also for the first time, I'm writing lyrics first, which is a big change for me. I've historically been a mood, then chords and melody kind of guy. Lyrics always came last. So this new approach is very disruptive and is affecting the results. What's also great about having a concept is I can arrange the entire album as an album, since I know what's coming and in what order!
This is all very top-down and strategic, and I'm still not sure it'll work. Watch this space. ;)
Share
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