If you listen to the radio for any length of time it seems like songwriters are either chasing the success of already popular songs or they define themselves by the success of a single and drive that “recipe” into the ground, Then there are the rare diamonds in the rough, a truly honest songwriter. When you hear them for the first time, it’s like they came from Mars! And it’s a big IF they even compose their own stuff.
Today, we don’t need radio or record label executives to be heard. We have our own platforms that will stream our music with very little cost. We don’t need contracts and lawyers to produce and distribute our music. So the doors are wide open for original artists. Those that would not traditionally get a record contract but are that diamond in the rough. But has anything really changed? Sadly, I think the availability of quality independent artists is no greater.
One of the most frustrating things I experience as a listener is the lack of substantive songs. Lyrics don’t need to be easily digestible, they need to be poetic. You don’t need to be seen as in-touch with your audience. In fact the songwriters who I consider most out of touch with me are some of my favorites.
As a songwriter, if you can’t express passion, it’s hard to understand how exactly you expect to generate a passionate response to your songs. Just look at how many songs have been written about oppressive governments, cops, drugs, poverty, gangs, divorce, death, etc. These are subjects that generate both an intellectual and emotional response. How many songs contain the words “Love” or “Hate”? That would be an interesting analysis!
What I am getting to here is don’t write music for the sake of writing music. I have spent a lot of decades in the music industry and have met a lot of passionless musicians. I have also met a lot of passionate musicians who couldn’t write a song to save their life. So if you are a truly passionate songwriter, you are already way ahead of the herd.
YOUR BRAND
Some say most songs have already been written. And if you believe that, just quit. The way I see it, the field of creativity could not be more open. In fact, as the music industry becomes more and more myopic, mathematic, and recycled, the more the field opens for original songwriters. Just look at Frank Ocean. In a market already saturated with soul and hip-hop artists for decades, this kid just killed it! Then he ghosted the entire industry, like a true artist!
Now I am not saying you are the next Eminem, but even he had to come to terms with his range to create a brand. And without a brand, you won’t even come close.
And by brand, I am not talking about a record label or backing / money. Neither of those things made an artist better. I am talking about learning what you are good at, creating something original, and making a statement.
Think about Eminem’s brand. He is aggressive (passionate); It’s really hard to think of Eminem singing a love song. Cringe. He is a masterful lyric-writer. In fact he constantly labors over lyrics, not just writing songs but writing word schemes. Again, passion and lyrically thought-provoking. He may have had some help along the way, but Eminem has never really changed his brand.
Do you have a brand? If so define it! Write it down. Ask others to define it for you. Simple words, not paragraphs. Mine would be:
Alternative
Edgy
Loud
Lyrically Deep
Primary Emotions: Love/Hate, Trust/Deception, Empathy/Greed
Notice here I didn’t say what I am not. I am not a lot of things, and that list is never-ending. Stay away from defining yourself by what you are not. Instead find ways of better describing what you actually are:
Alternative - Heavy Industrial beats with pop sensibilities
Edgy - Pushing limits of instruments and recording techniques
Loud - Foo Fighters playing in your bathroom
Lyrically Deep - Thought-provoking, contemporary themes
Primary Emotions - Animals either express strong emotions or nothing at all; a lesson in there somewhere…
THE JOURNEY
Many artists, writers, painters, etc. don’t become popular until they die. This is because they spent much of their life trying to define their brand. What they were not good at got tossed-out in favor of the things they were good at, what fed their passion. This is a journey, not a sprint. And you may never reach your destination, so be prepared for lifelong struggle.
I have read interviews with songwriters who tell you to constantly write songs. This apparently is a way to develop your songwriting skills. And while this may work for some, it is a recipe for disaster to my personal style.
When I start to invest any time into a song I know I am starting with something worth expending my energy and time upon. I don’t shit-out songs like a robot on a daily basis to become a better songwriter. I wait to discover a melody or chorus that generates passion, ask myself if I would care to hear something like this completed, and if the answer is yes, I will continue. Otherwise, flush…
On your journey to become a peak songwriter, even if you have very discerning taste, you will create few masterpieces that belong in a museum, a few pieces that could go into people’s homes, and a lot of work that belongs in a dumpster. Even when I look at some pieces Picasso made, I used to own one, I think many of them belong in a daycare, not a museum.
So your brand is all about knowing who you are, what drives you, and staying true to your integrity. Along this journey, explore your passions, what’s makes you excited to create, and what makes you proud of being a songwriter. If your answer is being heard by millions, play counts, money, performing live in front of a huge audience, etc., none of this will help you become a better composer.
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