
I'm insanely curious about how other musicians write new songs. I assume the process varies greatly among different musicians, so I figured someone out there might be interested in how I go about it. There is absolutely no method to my madness, so to be honest I'm not sure I can succinctly describe my process... but I shall try!
Step 1: Feel all the feels
For me, a genuine song starts with a strong, often negative emotion. If i'm in a happy go lucky mood, I want to drink beer and laugh with friends. If I am feeling particularly crummy, I want nothing more than to mope alone in my room and write songs. While not necessarily a "step"-- I don't have any control over when my emotions run high or low -- this is a crucial aspect of my songwriting process. There are occasions when I write stuff that’s more upbeat, but it often feels forced. Harvey Danger says it best: "If you ask why I never wrote you a song, it's because happiness writes white." (Which, ironically, is a rather peppy song if you ask me.)
Step 1: Feel all the feels
For me, a genuine song starts with a strong, often negative emotion. If i'm in a happy go lucky mood, I want to drink beer and laugh with friends. If I am feeling particularly crummy, I want nothing more than to mope alone in my room and write songs. While not necessarily a "step"-- I don't have any control over when my emotions run high or low -- this is a crucial aspect of my songwriting process. There are occasions when I write stuff that’s more upbeat, but it often feels forced. Harvey Danger says it best: "If you ask why I never wrote you a song, it's because happiness writes white." (Which, ironically, is a rather peppy song if you ask me.)