LAND OF THE LIVING MAGAZINE - Magazine - Page 33
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Composition
Another important consideration when composing a song is
the arrangement itself. Does each section carry weight and
feel engaging on its own? Can you play just one section of it
for a friend and they will be hooked in? Obviously songs tell
stories so the order of sections is important in pushing that
forward. I like to have each section flow so that at any point I
can jump from one to another without melodic overlap
(when the last line of a section overlaps the first line of
another). This isn’t a hard rule but it can be helpful. Can you
sing the different sections (Verse, Chorus, Bridge) in any
order and the song still works? This is especially helpful with
worship songs.
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Process
I’ve been in the recording industry for almost 20 years and
have heard, recorded and written a variety of genres of
music. But, as a young songwriter I would write a verse and
chorus melody and be super married to that structure – I’d
get stuck writing in that order and format. Whenever I felt
like I had a hook I loved, I was scared to deviate from it and
at times this became a challenge lyrically. I would back
myself into a corner on rhyme scheme and meter and
quickly lose the substance of what I wanted to say
altogether. I’ve since learned that free writing around a
theme is extremely helpful. Now, as a starting point, I write
by letting my stream of consciousness pour out onto paper
SONGWRITING
without overthinking it or trying to be poetic. I try to think of
word associations around my theme and list those. Then,
once I get out all my thoughts, it can be much easier to write
from my word associations and phrases rather than trying to
pull each line from thin air. At times I’ll even mumble/sing
my melody and see what pours from my subconscious. I’ve
stumbled upon many lyrics that made the final cut through
this process.
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Simple, yet Profound
If you have the most poetic and profound thought ever but
fail to package it in a way that’s melodically engaging and
musical it can fall flat. Songwriting is not a science, it’s a
muscle you continually work to find the balance – simple but
profound, and singable but complex. We want our art to feel
effortless but craftily tended.