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Sure, “art for art’s sake” is cool… but what if you’re pursuing a career as a
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songwriter? This article is full of suggestions for how you can tailor your songs to
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suit the requirements of music business professionals.<\/b><\/p>\n
Many of us bemoan the state of commercial music today, but what are you doing to
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improve things in your own microcosmic corner of the universe? Are you working to
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create the next wave of great material — songs that have a lifespan of more than a
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few weeks or months? How can you use your talents to actually make a powerful
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contribution… and make a living while you’re at it?<\/p>\n
The first step is to take a good look inside and explore what you as a unique
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individual have to say, lyrically and musically. What do you think about, believe in,
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stand for? What makes you tick? These precious truths that bubble up from the soul
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provide the driving force behind great songwriting. These sparks of inspiration,
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these “aha! moments,” are what listeners crave when they play a song. They’re also
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what People Behind Desks are desparate to find. Do you have the courage to lay
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bare your personal truth in public? I firmly believe that’s what it takes to achieve
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success with your songs.<\/p>\n
The cynical among us will say, “no, you just need the right equipment, a catchy
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hook and a whole lot of money behind you.” Sure, those things help, but if you’re
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trying to break into the business, your song has to simultaneously grab people by
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the guts, tickle their ears, and slam them over the head like a 2-by-4. Strive to write
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songs that take risks, tap into the universal via the personal, and motivate people to
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laugh, cry, feel, dance or take action. Make an effort to innovate, not imitate what’s
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already out there. In other words, write your passion. Songs miraculously translate
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to listeners the exact emotion you felt while you were writing them. Do your best to
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work that magic!<\/p>\n
Another quality that professionals look for in a song is strong dynamic flow. Skillful
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use of the many conventions of songwriting can manipulate listeners in the most
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enjoyable way. Don’t be afraid to push those emotional buttons! Here are some
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ways to go about it:<\/p>\n
o Suck listeners in with lyrical, melodic and chordal tension.<\/p>\n
o Create a question in their minds: how will this turn out in the end?<\/p>\n
o Throw their bodies off balance with chords or melodies that are unexpected or
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quirky.<\/p>\n
o Take a strong point of view that’s boldly provocative, unique or intensely
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felt.<\/p>\n
o Paint a vivid picture in the mind’s eye.<\/p>\n
o Set a palpable mood.<\/p>\n
o Construct an entire sonic and\/or lyrical environment.<\/p>\n
Once you have piqued people’s interest, crank up their involvement using all the
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techniques in your lyrical toolbox, i.e. rhyme, meter, imagery, metaphor,
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alliteration… you name it. Avoid clichés like the plague, or turn them on their heads
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somehow. Experiment until you find the melody lines that best show off your lyrics,
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and vice versa. Salt your song with enough repetition to make it memorable, but not
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so much that it becomes predictable. Use chord progressions that are fresh,
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stimulating the ear rather than lulling it into complacency.<\/p>\n
When it comes time for the ultimate payoff, your Hook, don’t settle! This is your
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Money Shot, and most music biz pros will hit the “eject” button if they don’t hear a
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strong hook in one listen. One listen! Here are a few ways to enhance your hook:<\/p>\n
o Construct your song so that all roads, lyrically and melodically, lead to your
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hook.<\/p>\n
o Remember that famous music business adage: “Don’t bore us, get to the
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chorus.”<\/p>\n
o More hooks is merrier! Instrumental riffs, backups, rhythmical chord movement,
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and verse melodies can provide secondary hooks.<\/p>\n
o Fear not repetition (up to a point, of course).<\/p>\n
o Throw in memorable “monkey wrench” words that stand out.<\/p>\n
o Make sure the world can sing along.<\/p>\n
o Play with the language: use slang, twists of phrase, even invent a new word!<\/p>\n
Finally, People Behind Desks really appreciate it if you know your marketplace. Don’t
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submit a country ballad when their artist is a heavy metal guitar-shredder. And if
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you’re the performer, have at least 3 crowd-pleasing, radio-ready songs in hand
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before you shop a deal. Make a detailed study of the hits in your chosen genres, and
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incorporate those lessons into your work. The Internet has made it incredibly easy
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to educate yourself about what’s selling these days, so there’s no excuse for
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ignorance.<\/p>\n
Look at the world for a moment from the perspective of a music industry pro: They’ll
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respond positively if they think your song will save their job. By bringing them
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dynamic, single-worthy, heartfelt material you’ll be well on your way to doing just
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that, and creating a career for yourself as well.<\/p>\n
Happy songwriting!<\/p>\n
© 2006 by Alex Forbes<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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Source<\/a> by Alex Forbes<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"