AOTW: The Blondies – How To Write a Song

—

People often ask me how I go about writing a song, and the truth is, there’s no one way that works 100% of the time for me. Although, there are definitely a few fundamental things that most always aid the process.

First, let me start by introducing you to the environment that I usually write in. I’ve been lucky enough as a kid to grow up with my great grandmother’s Steinway model B sitting in my living room, so that’s usually where you can find me. If I’m not writing there, I’m up in my room with a guitar. Ultimately, each space is quiet, and comfortable for me, both mentally, and physically. This is important because usually I can’t allow myself to let loose in a space that I’m not comfortable in.

The common question is, which part of the song do you write first? The lyrics, or the chords? My answer is always, whatever feels natural at the time. Sometimes I build a song around a pre-existing poem, and other times lyrics are an afterthought. Both ways can yield the same result. Not one helps me excel, while the other fails. In fact, when I’m having trouble I often find that it has nothing to do with my process at all. The trouble always comes when I am not digging deep enough within myself. If I am not able to access a real feeling when I’m trying to write then I come up empty handed. The importance of pure emotion can’t be underestimated. When I recognize true feeling, and emotion, lyrics and melody follow naturally. Sometimes it takes a little time, and tweaking, but I always seem to know when I’ve found the melody that matches a particular feeling. So, I’ll play, and play, and play until I’ve got it. Eventually, the song sounds to me like the feeling I am trying to emulate. And that’s really it. Im done.

After this point, I usually try to get into the studio as quick as possible to record the track. I like the emotion to be ripe when the song is cut. I know that in a week, or a month I may not feel the same as I do in the moment the song is written. Therefore, the longer I wait to record, the less genuine the track becomes. If I succeed in recording the song while the feeling behind it is still present, I can always return to that track, and be reminded of how I felt at the time I wrote it.

When I re-listen to an album I’ve recorded, it is almost like a scrapbook full of emotions for me. A collection of feelings from certain moments in my life.

So that’s really my process. No formula, or repeated procedure. Only, do whatever it takes to get the feeling out.

Catch up with the Blondies on Twitter here.