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Hi all, just wondering what everyone is listening to at the moment - music wise, before someone says their other half or kids moaning at them!!! - I just thought it would be interesting to see the diverse mix of music and whether you feel inspired to do your own music when you are listening....
 
 
I started listening to the Ultravox back catalogue again yesterday. I have done this as I feel this is the best way for me to think about my own music, as this is my favourite group and they influenced my style from a young age. You remember how good the music is, but really, until you listen again with the ears of someone hoping to create and do something with their own music, you really don't realise how good the music actually was. The arrangements, the mix, the production, all of it. If I could emulate only a fraction of that, I would be happy.

So, your publisher has decided to treat you to an interesting brief...
 
This is really a full song writing challenge, not just lyrics!
 
An ancient blues man, "Blind Willy Dawes", is planning a comeback,. Sadly,  he relies upon a TEAM of writers to write his hits.
 
1. You need to collaborate with one or more song writing partner.
 
2. Your team can include non-members (though if you happen to persuade them to join us, I will not cry!)
 
3. An agreed split of ownership percentage must be agreed. An equal split is nice and easy, though if their entire contribution is “Hmm, I’m not sure. Should that be plural? I feel ‘donut’ should be ‘donuts’” you might want a split that reflects this important contribution!
 
4. Use 12 bar blues or one of it's variants. (check our 12 bar blues song form article to get an idea). You can use a hybrid scheme, such as 12 bar blues with AB or ABC song forms.
 
5. Blind Willy wants a song that includes: alcohol, a seductress, the devil, and travelling
 
All lyrics should be completed and the completed version posted by next Friday.

Historically, writing abstract has been amongst the hardest of tasks for many members... but it is rewarding. This should be an interesting and hopefully illuminating challenge. 

The challenge is to write some abstract lyrics that still manage to convey emotion and a thread of storyline inspired by recent news. Please include a link to the news item. 

Your challenge does not stop there...

To write the lyrics you should use one or both of either cut-up technique or fold-in technique.

David Bowie has used cut-ups since the early 70s and the technique influenced the songwriting of Kurt Cobain. Thom Yorke used a similar method in Radiohead's "Kid A" album. They wrote single lines, put them into a hat, and drew them out randomly while the band rehearsed. 

Ago to the topic on our forums to get a description if each technique.

Tell us what technique you used, and what original text you used for the cut-up or fold-in. You are not limited to one piece of source text though for complimentary flavours you may find the same source writer works best.

Cut-up gives better results, in my opinion.  I think it is far more satisfying for the writers. Feel free to try both for experience.

In many ways this is simply fuel for your imaginations, but it can also encourage you to use vocabulary and phrasing out with your norm and to express something using creative use of imagery originally purposes for something else.

To recap:

Abstract lyrics
Written with cut-up and/or fold-in techniques
Has to be emotive
Has to be inspired by a newsworthy story

This does not need to be a long exercise. Far from it, however you will likely find it takes a little longer if it is your first ever cut-up or fold in.

In every case I have seen writers try this they have been pleasantly surprised with the results. This  is all about challenges, so please try this.

I hope you enjoy both the journey and the destination!


 

 

I just happened to notice in the various forums I've been in that it is a rare female that either plays electric guitar or mixes sounds.  I can think of one in one forum outside here that plays electric guitar and does some mixing, but it's early level (she's clever enough, but does it in the time she's not tending her young ones, so time to devote is limited).  I also noticed @Jenn does some mixing, but aside from those two, I don't really know of too many ladies who do.  Are there more on here than what I've been exposed to?  Just curious why so lop-sided.  Cultural? Tastes? Early exposure? Interest? Opportunity?  I know plenty female singer/songwriters who play acoustic or piano or keyboard.  Even seen a few who play cello or fiddle or even drums, but really rare to come across a female electric guitarist or invested mixer.

What's up everyone?

 

Awhile back I saw a topic talking about talent vs. hardwork and they were discussing if musical ability is more of a result of the work you put in or just natural born talent. It made me think about the music industry and I'm wondering if most people making it in the music industry are truly talented, or if they were just lucky. Quite often when you hear their success stories they either got a big break or just happened to be in the right place at the right time.  Or they were uploading their music online and someone important happened to stumble across it and decided to give them a chance. I don't think that any of these people are any more skilled than most people releasing their songs online they just happened to be lucky and caught a break that way. What are your opinions on this?

I am planning on some new development, but there are many things we could put our effort into.... and I want to know what you would like to see. What would make a real difference to you?

If you were to name 3 things, in order of importance, that would make a real difference to you and your music right now, what would they be?

Can I ask one other thing? If you were to buy such a thing... how much do you realistically think it would cost you?

We do a lot here on Songstuff for free. In fact everything! You may well value Songstuff overall, or not. People do not always value what they get for free. Members often say they had no idea how extensive what we offer is.

I thought it would be interesting for you to also have in mind how valuable that would be to you.

We don't want to waste time developing or creating something you dont want or need, or that you wouldn't value when you got it! 

Learning about :

Song writing

Recording

Production

Music marketing and promotion

Self-Publishing

Setting up a label for your music

Strategies to make money from your music

How to build a website for your music

Fan engagement

Building and leveraging contacts

Record launches

Playing an instrument


Services:

Recording, Production and Mastering Services

Music marketing and promotion services

Music Publishing and Music publishing support services

Tour support (marketing and promotion)

Getting reviews

Launch promo

PRO guidance (getting you and your songs registered with PROs)

Workshops


Items:

Promo automation tools and training

Social engagement tools

Promo collaboration tools

Music gear (hardware or software)
 

Resources:

Music Industry contact database

Discount coupons for products and services

More money

20 staff


Please answer honestly. We could do Some directly, others we might be able to arrange... others things may not be possible (make me a multi-millionaire tomorrow!).., What would help you? Feel free to expand.

I don't know how others process information or thoughts, but I often find myself thinking in pictures.  Not always, but lots.  Just curious--do any of you hear someone's voice in song, someone you have no idea what they look like, and with whatever little bit of information you have, get an image of what that person looks like?  It's kinda fun.  But it doesn't work if you already seen a picture of them-- for me, sometimes the image changes with new information, but generally the voice doesn't age as much as the body--so you probably look younger in the image than you actually are.  I get a kick out of it because an entire visual character gets built around limited information.  Some images are sort of undefined for awhile, while others pop up instantly.  It's even better when sometime down the road, you get to see how close or very far off you are.  I really get a kick out of that!  Wouldn't you like to know how someone envisions you based on your singing voice? Hah!  I think it would be funny!

I'm starting to see that I don't take music seriously.  It's like... I really do write from my heart I think as far as ideas go, but something in me is just putting it down when I record.  And I can't stop thinking mechanically.  I've been trying to get this vocal for my new song Live or Die (Serve or be a Slave) that I posted in the critique section, and all I can say is it's like... I'm getting it done, with the vocal performance and the takes, but there's no REAL conviction in my voice, and it's because I don't expect my song to do much.  I feel like I'm just throwing out ideas.  But yet I believe the message, and still can't connect it to my heart.  

 

I'm beginning to want to sort of... meditate before I sing or write, I think I'm not centering myself, I think I'm not tapping into the true me, I'm staying up in my head, and analyzing everything like a computer.  I guess what I wanna know is do any of you relate obviously, but for those of you who don't relate or make music from the heart with ease or sing from the heart with ease, do you always connect easily?  Do you have ways to help yourself connect?  It's MOSTLY with my singing, but also guitar playing, I get the takes done, I don't reeeeeally try to SAY something with every note.  Something in me just... isn't believing what I'm doing is important I think.  

 

Just thought this might be a worthy discussion wanted to see what you guys made of this sort of... problem I'm seeing.  

Hi Gang

 

This challenge is to write some lyrics where you make use of either a CELEBRITY NAME, or a BRAND NAME OR BOTH.

 

Many songwriters have done this. In fact, once they are established as writers thet can get PAID to include brands , not celeb names as far as I know.

 

For example REM's line from "Sidewinder sleeps tonight",

 

"A can of beans or black-eyed peas, some Nescafe and ice

A candy bar, a falling star, or a reading from Doctor Seuss"

 

I belief the inclusion of Nescafé was an earner. I don't know about Doctor Seuss lol

 

Brands and names in general help make your song more memorable, more familiar. It helps people to identify with the lyrics or the character in the lyrics.

 

Have at it!

 

Cheers

 

John


 

 

Hey all,

 

These are song collaborations that Andy and I were involved in recently: I was more of a translator to be honest. Andy helped her out with the english lyrics.

 

Emi Maria is an independent alternative/R&B, artist(Japanese).

 

Hope you guys enjoy the songs,

 

Ken/Andy