Songwriting – I cried when I wrote this song

When will it stop?

The title isn’t intended as a cry for help, but a gently humourous finger pointing to a lot of recent output – three songs in the last month. I enjoy being this productive, though given when I had a band, I’d come up with 3-4 songs per week. Having to be the band slows meContinue reading “When will it stop?”

Boom!

I really need to get some more pictures! This is kind of appropriate, because I put lots of guitars (for me) on this track. Boom Tomb came about literally the same day I posted Union! I was contemplating moving my studio downstairs into a bigger room, so starting a new track was probably not theContinue reading “Boom!”

Next Song…

So quick! The title gives this song away slightly – it started as an attempt at a middle eight for Subtitles 888, but proved completely unsuitable. I liked it however, so I saved it as “Next Song“, and the next song it was. The original idea was based on some chords out of the ReasonContinue reading “Next Song…”

Catching up – looking at cows

I’ve posted over on Soundcloud, but haven’t caught up over here as there’s been a lot going on… First, we’ve moved house, and that’s quite a lot of work. Very much worth it though! I sit writing this, glancing out at acres of green fields, often populated with cows. Quite the transition from urban (andContinue reading “Catching up – looking at cows”

Welcome back, old friend!

It’s been a while since I posted, and that’s one of the topics of this update: things that stop us from writing songs… I’ve always been a very prolific writer. I’d often bring three or four songs to rehearsal in a week, but I noticed something: if my lyrical partner was getting bogged down withContinue reading “Welcome back, old friend!”

Two for the price of one

I’ve been pretty productive songwriting and recording wise, but not so much as regards this blog, so I’ll catch up now and cover the last two tracks I’ve posted. Sierra TangoAs you’ll have noticed, I’m still on a piano jag, and this is another piece that came about with me at the keyboard, and writingContinue reading “Two for the price of one”

Spring is in the air

After taking what seemed like an age to get the last track done and dusted, my latest sprung into life very quickly: way less than twenty four hours from inspiration to posting. Spring is in the air, and I’m starting to look at breaking out the mics, preamps and guitars in earnest. (Some context hereContinue reading “Spring is in the air”

New Years, and new ways

After a very productive end of year, I had originally planned to do an ambient piece to clear the pipes and embark on a new phase, but that didn’t happen… Always finish what you start, unless you don’t An approach I’ve taken to date has been to always finish off songs: if something got recordedContinue reading “New Years, and new ways”

…A new song is “finished”

“Kilo Alpha” proved a very easy starter for this blog: they don’t always turn out this straightforward! As I tend to like a linear approach to writing – I start at the verse, and work forwards to a chorus, middle eight (or whatever) – I sometimes struggle after a strong beginning. I’ll often write lotsContinue reading “…A new song is “finished””

A new song begins…

After finishing one song, I typically start a new one pretty much straight away. Sometimes I literally start as soon as I’ve “mastered” and posted the last one. It’s not unusual for me to be in a particular place for a couple of songs – I might be feeling orchestral or dance-y for a fewContinue reading “A new song begins…”