Again

Another demo studio return - this one is called "Again," a collaboration with a local songwriter.  Not sure how I feel about what I got back from the studio on this one though.  I think the musicianship was fine, but the vocal performance is what's weighing on me.  I may sit on this one for a while, then redo the vocals, not sure yet.

I think that this is one of the draw-backs of working the demos online.  If I was sitting in the room, I would have commented during the process, but alas, I was not.

This song came from an experience that Beth and I had at Costco, with an older man that was shopping for one of the first times without his life-long partner.  It was touching and certainly tough to avoid tearing up at when it happened.  I struggled for a long time to write this song, and ended up waiting to have someone to co-write with to spark some progress.  It was written and re-written many times.  May need another one or two, don't know yet.

New Co-writer

I am constantly amazed (but no longer surprised) at what is delivered into my lap from time to time.  Just a few weeks ago I was talking to my wife Beth about how I needed a boost or change or something (maybe a new co-writer) to feel like I'm moving forward.  I swear, within 24 hours, I was contacted by another SongU member (lyricist) who asked if I would like to co-write.  I checked out her SongU website and liked what I saw and heard.

So Kimberly Hale Kimes and I decided to work with some lyrics that she had and I really think it's going to be something special.  We are working it through some feedback processes now, Muse's Muse, Just Plain Folks and SongU.  We had our first phone conversation last night and got to know each other a little bit and it was good stuff.

Time will tell with this particular song, but I can see us collaborating on more in the future.  I really feel that if you put the thoughts out there, the direction comes.  Sometimes with that amazement because you didn't expect what and where things go, but "progress" for sure.

So Kim, thanks for asking and I look forward to great things and fun in the process.

Oh, another side note, thanks to Kim, I have discovered some sites noted above.  And, when going into the Muse's Muse, I found SoundClick which is a great place to store songs and then be able to access them from my website.  Very cool, like I said, one gets taken places they didn't expect sometimes.  Very cool stuff.  More adventures to come.

Can't Say No

Been waiting quite a while to get the umpteenth rewrite done on this one, then again a while to get a demo done.  For me, it was well worth the wait.  Can't Say No is one of the first ones I started writing when I went back to the chalkboard to start writing again.  It's a swampy-bluesy kinda thing and I love what The Gator Hole did with it.  Different type of song for me, so what else is new?

As of now, its sitting at the top of the song list here on the blog, if you want to have a listen.  I'm finding it fun to go back to earlier songs and rewrite with new-found skills.  Going to try to get another song into the studio right away.  My goal was 6 demos by the end of 2011, which I think I'll fall short of, but that's all good too.  I think the quality is crawling up the scale.

Still no "takers" on pitching any of the songs, but you know, that's another part of the process to learn about.  I'm planning on keeping my focus mainly on songwriting and get more active in the business end in 2012.  I think it's hard to spread the time out properly when the rest of life pulls and tugs on the clock.  As always, it's about balance and doing what you love to do.  I love writing and getting better, not too keen yet on marketing, so we'll see where that goes.

Character Ammo

I've heard real evidence of progress in my current musical adventure.  The process continues and I now find it increasingly challenging to figure out how best to proceed for the "best" progress.  I can tell you, it's not boring.

I'm mid-way through a class at SongU about story songwriting and character development.  Now I can see where I need some ammunition to reload the guns.  And here, I thought this was going to be simple.  Ha!  I think I have some real opportunity to better set up most of my lyrics by better character development.  You know, not only do you have to be adept at this process, you've got about 3 to 4 minutes in a song to get it done and tell the story too.  Oh yeah, simple.

I realize that not all songs are really story songs, but I'll just bet a lot more are than I tend to think about in that way.  Some are obvious, like "Mr. Bojangles" or "Cat's in the Cradle" (to go back a ways), but even if the story is less deep, the characters make it real.  Hmmm.  Lots of work to do.  I'm thinking about taking a creative writing class and then applying it to the songwriting.  I'm sure it couldn't hurt (not me anyway).

Interesting side-note, I understand that Harry Chapin's wife actually wrote the lyrics about Harry and his son.  No credit for the talented lady, hope she got to spend some of the cash for that one anyway.

A Perfect Time

Just got back my second demo in this current songwriting lifetime.  "A Perfect Time" is my first drinking song and my first real country feel song.  I opted to try a different studio from my first demo, mainly to get some different exposure into this part of the process.  I really like the lyrics on this one; I think there's a lot of song craft in it with a lot of Gary too from the standpoint of how I would talk to someone and be semi-funny in the process.

I went with The Gator Hole.  Love the name.  Had some communications back and forth with Galen prior to taking the parking brake off.  I really loved some of the vocalists he uses and I think it paid off.  He also is a supporter of SongU, so I'm in.

Ronnie here did the vocals and I was very happy with the results.  Nice chops man.

I also decided to turn right around move on my 3rd demo, again using The Gator Hole.  This next one is "Can't Say No" which has been rewritten (severely) and I'm pretty excited about it.  Gale thinks he can get a real swampy kind of sound (ala "Bad Things" from HBO's True Blood).  I've had this on the shelf for about a year, thinking about how to rewrite, so it's time has come.

Today is a good day and I'm loving the ride right now.  Fun in the sun.

Second Demo In-Process

After one critique on a song that I felt very comfortable with, I decided to go ahead and demo it. This is a little bit different tack than I've been taking. In the past I've gotten numerous feedbacks, but due to the recent spread of suggestions and my comfort level with "A Perfect Time," I decided to pull the trigger.



I also decided to go to a different studio this time to get some feel for comparison. This time I'm going to The Gator Hole in Nashville to see what Galen can do for the song. This will have a little more country feel, contemporary, but not as much edge to it as "Convince Myself." I have high expectations.


I did quite a bit of searching online and listening and three main reasons for going where I did. First was the quality of vocalists that I heard, second the overall recording quality and sound on the available demos and third, Galen's communication was quick and very helpful. It all made me feel like the experience would be great and productive. We'll have to wait and see how my 6th sense is working.

Conflicting Feedback

Although it can be frustrating, I'm coming to realize that conflicting feedback I think is a sign of positive direction. At least that's the way I'm going to take it.

I've literally received opposite direction (referring to song content and design) given from "experts" and this certainly didn't happen earlier in the process. I really think this boils down to the human factor after some of the low hanging fruit has been picked. I'm not saying that I'm done making rookie mistakes, but I think they are coming with less density than they used to. Absolutely a good thing. It does however, make it more interesting trying to move forward. Have to learn how to trust my own inner voices, yep those folks whispering and talking and yelling that I wouldn't talk about in front of my shrink (if I had one - yes, need for sure, but have not none-the-less).

So, I've decided to turn another page in my personal soga and limit, at least for awhile, my feedback. I usually feel pretty good about a song before I take it in for feedback anyway, but now I'm going to take a couple of tunes and get one review, then go into the studio - then off to the market.

Private Consultation

I had a private consultation with Alan Roy Scott this past weekend. It was a scheduled 1/2 hour Skype-type session. I brought a couple of songs with me to discuss, but my number 1 topic for discussion was what I felt was a simple question, with very-not-so-simple answers. I wanted to get some direction and the question was, what directions, tools, etc. should I use to go from being a good songwriter to being a marketable, great songwriter.

I know that there are lots of things that have to happen to become successful financially, but I was inquiring more about the craft as opposed to the business end of it. Well, Alan was gracious enough to turn our 1/2 session into 1 1/2 hours, and it simply flew by. Although the answers were not simple and really difficult to communicate, I understood the just of it and had already started down the suggested path a few weeks earlier.

I think at each "level" of songwriter craft, the songwriter has to take some inventory of where they are, where they've come from and refocus direction. In my case, the next step is again to listen and break down current material that moves me and pick it apart. What exactly is it in that one spot of that one song that draws me in, that gives me goose bumps or really pulls at my emotions.

One of the tricky things is that writers all do it differently, so there is no formula. Duh, that's why art is art and not science, even though there's a lot of science to get to a point where you can be an artist. Oh, how damn simple.

So, now I go back again the drawing board and classroom and dive in head first. What a fun ride to be able to take, even when your an old crotchety guy like me. Onward.


I have no idea what this image has to do with this post, but somebody's groovin'.

Local Connections

As noted in a couple blogs ago, I am co-writing with a local writer. We have some bumps in timing, getting together, but I'm very excited about what's coming out of it. I took a draft to a SongU class and got some very positive feedback and an idea for some changes. Interesting that the change ideas were something that we had considered earlier in the writing process, but had not continued with.

I did a rewrite after the class which really changed this song into a female vocal song. I'm going to test this out with a female vocalist locally in my studio and see what happens. I'd love to find some local talent and be able to do more "in house" demos if I can get the needed quality. It would save on some bucks, but more importantly keep me better in the mix of an end product. However, I have no problem now with having a demo done elsewhere. I think this idea of finding local talent is a good one and a natural progression to an end product.

As with everything, there isn't any rush. No deadlines, just keep getting better in all aspects.

Another aspect is the pitching of songs once completed. This is a whole different animal from what I've been doing. I've certainly got some avenues, but I don't know yet if for me, it makes sense to do this more hands-on too. It has never been my thing to self promote, but we'll see where all this goes and I'll leave that door open.

By the way, never wrote in this blog about getting my first song documented with ASCAP. Well, I did and it is now duly noted.

First Demo Under My Belt

Psyched and starting to pitch the first demo already. Well, that's got to tell you that I think it went well in the studio "from afar" over the past couple weeks. Gary Earl laid down some killer guitar tracks, a great groove and Adam (what the heck's your last name Adam?) did a great job on the vocals.

We went back and forth a bit getting the mix of backups, lead, etc. and ending up in a great place. I can't say enough about how Gary (not me, the other one) communicated and put his heart and soul into my little project. The words of encouragement at the end of it all was for me to get out there and pitch it, it's a great contemporary country track. So, I started immediately with a pitch to a music supervisor through Taxi and a couple pitches that were available on SongU.

I'm not planning on trying to knock down any doors unless I get no response in the next month or so, then who knows. That's the next challenge of course, to get an artist to show interest, likely put it on hold and then hopefully cut it. Oooooo, ahhhhh. Whatever happens, for now, I'm good with it. I'm just going to ride high on actually getting one in the can.

It should be available to hear at the top of this page in the ReverbNation widget. I hope you enjoy it. It's called Convince Myself.

Studio From a Distance

I thought I'd document my first "real" studio experience as a songwriter as it progresses. I spent a number of hours in the studio years and years and years ago (damn, I'm old), but this was with bands and as a performer - different stuff this time around.

I did some research and talked to some people and have opted, on this first adventure, to spend a little more than I had anticipated and go with someone who has a strong track record as not only a songwriter, but as a studio technician or producer. Great credentials for sure. Gary Earl has been Grammy nominated and has won a Kennedy Center Award.

The first email contacts were amazing to me. Very quick feedback and very in-depth. We discussed where I could see placing the song, what instrumentation and why based on those decisions. I'm going for a contemporary country crossover-type song that could be picked up by a film/TV producer as well as an artist. To do this, I figured let's do a full master and this way, the sound should stand above most of the material a prospective interested party would hear. There is certainly additional cost involved, but I thought I should dive in head first and then see if the pool's full of water or not. Hell, not even sure I can swim, but no time like the present to find out.

I have just decided on a vocalist from a list of possibles - Gary's wife and business partner is the vocal expert. Robin sent me samples from three different male vocalists that they use and feel good about. After listening to some samples, I asked for a few more and made my choice. Never did that before, so off we go into Wonderland, Alice. Next is going to be a little bit of a waiting game, but probably not long. Gary should start the track process in a few days, then it'll be off to the races. We should be in close contact through all the steps with some approvals, etc. as we go, but I absolutely trust his judgement - better than my own. Rock on.

Songwriting Critique Balance

This post really feeds off of a number of earlier ones, but I thought it would be appropriate to jot down my thoughts on receiving critiques and criticisms. I'd been working on about 5 songs at the same time (new and a bit overwhelming for me), but one emerged for me as having some strong potential. So what I did after an initial write was to submit it to a song critique for some feedback through SongU.

Allan Roy Scott did the review and gave me some direction to pull it out of what he thought was an 80's feel in the chorus (and I agreed with that eval). The rewrite took a lot of repetitiveness out of the chorus, changed some lyrics and melody line in spots. I then took it to a songwriting workshop in Eugene. The feedback there was that it wasn't repetitive enough in the chorus (and, of course, I agreed with that too). I found some middle ground that I really liked - best version so far, I felt.



My next step was to take the new "improved" version to a feedback class at SongU with Helen Darling. Her feedback was mostly very positive, but she said the lyrics confused her a bit. I struggled with that one. I spent some time trying to figure out why she felt that way as she had a hard time pinpointing the issue. I discovered what I felt the reason was and opted to not make any changes, especially since that was the only time I got that feedback (and this time I didn't agree).



One last run through, with no changes, I took it to another feedback class, this time with Allan again, but in class this time instead of a written critique. He loved the changes and basically told me he thought it was ready to demo and then pitch. I had no choice but to agree - good news is sometimes hard to come by. Now, some others in the class had change ideas, but I'm confident in the current version.



Here's the rub on this process. I think you have to listen to all the feedback. It doesn't mean that you make changes unless it makes sense to you as the writer to do so. I've heard back from industry experts as well as want-to-be professionals (I'm in that category) and have gotten way different opinions and observations. Some worked for me and some didn't. I think that no matter who the person listening is, they view a work from their current perspective. They can hear something one day and have a different opinion on a different day depending on what's going on in their lives. As a songwriter/artist, you have to be able to filter, but understand what the opinions are in the process. Other than craft being askew, there really is not wrong or right, but there is works and doesn't.



By the way, I really felt good about all the reviews and that in itself is a tremendous move forward for me. I'm going to shop a few studios and get this puppy done by some professional studio musicians and see what develops from there. It has been an eye opening positive journey on this one. The title is "Convince Myself" and I'll have it available to listen to once I get a demo completed - soon I hope. On to round 56B . . .

Co-Writing - Part Deux

Just felt the need to show off my ability to count to two - by two's - in French. Wow, great stuff.

What I really wanted to do is do a quick update on my current co-writing adventures. I am in the midst of deux of them. One, as I wrote about in the previous blog, and another with a local writer that I connected up with a month ago.

I sometimes attend a Eugene based songwriters' workshop. I went this past month with the specific idea to see if someone might be interested in working together on something. Interestingly enough, this writer named Luke asked me if I wanted to try a co-write together. We had a bit of direction that seemed to be following similar paths. I hesitated for a second, then thought to myself, "why would you possibly even consider saying 'no' when the stars have aligned for some reason?" So, I said "no." Okay, not true. I accepted, and this past weekend we sat down, laid out a plan and agreement and started out.

We decided to start with choosing either a title or topic and work from there. We found a topic from a story that happened to me about 6 months ago. We laid out a potential format, discussed what each verse, chorus and bridge would discuss and, I think, came up with some great ideas. It was a very rewarding start to a project.

So, my apprehensions are starting to fade away. I have 2 projects that I will eventually report back on in this blog. The online project will take another month, but is progressing well and I'm enjoying the interactions and thought exchanges with both. Very fun and creatively stirring.

Co-writing

I've heard a lot of talk about co-writing and I've done some in the distant past. It's an intriguing idea on a number of different levels. If you're able to find someone who is of a similar wavelength and has some good skillsets, then what the heck. Of course, what you really want is to buddy up with someone who is further along in the songwriting process than you are and for some strange reason wants to work with a lowly writer as yourself. If that fails (or at least hasn't materialized yet), I think simply finding someone with good ideas and some drive could be a cool way to go. If you come up with something that's worth people listening to, now you have twice the push power to show it off, twice the muscle, twice the drive, twice the dollars. Just have to make sure you have an agreement from the start as how to proceed, etc.


Through SongU, I've done some "blind dating" and it has been at least positive from the standpoint of learning how to communicate and bleed out some creativity all while not being in the same room. I have not yet tried Skype, but think that will be the next step. Until then, simply emailing back and forth ideas and some phone tag is a second best approach. I've just started a "blind date" writing session with a lady in Alabama who has some journalistic background and can't wait to see what develops from the efforts.

We started by getting to know each other a bit, then threw some titles against the wall to see if anything would stick. We agreed on one that brought some images to mind and she's going to be working the lyrics for a first run. Then I'll see what comes of it musically and the plan is to banter back and forth for a while.

Once of the most exciting parts of it all is that this could be monstrously huge or it could simply be another experiment in creativity. Either way, you just can't lose. It's all good. I'll share when there's an end product. Till then . . .

Brain Breakthrough

It's been months since I've posted, but I've been working hard. One of the toughest things for me personally is to go through a review or critique of a song and not take it in the right way. I seem to take it as a personal affront when I'm given suggestions. It usually seems to take me a couple days to recoup from the ceiling falling in. Hell no, this shouldn't be easy, it apparently shouldn't be hard either (my psyche talking).

For the first time since beginning my writing process over again, I have had back to back critiques that I really felt a bit outside of myself and my music while listening to suggestions. It didn't feel personal, as a matter of fact, during a SongU critique class with Helen Darling ("Bring on the Rain" recorded by Jo Dee Messina & Tim McGraw), just before she began the process with my song, I actually said to myself, "Wow, this section is boring, I need to rewrite it." It was like I was hearing it for the first time detached. I was harsher than the review, but when she started making suggestions, I already knew it was correct. A rewrite was in order and I found something that took on a different life. In this case, not sure it's where I want it to end up yet, but the new direction had much better focus.

Logic says that the songs you write aren't you, simply an expression - done well, done poorly, whatever. It really is a process and all the music I've written up to this point and going forward is practice, experimentation with feeling driving it, but not taking me with it, just riding along, hovering over the top of it.

Now, extending that to the here and now sure hasn't been that simple for me. I'm very excited about this "breakthrough" (by the way, only a breakthrough if it continues), and I plan on pushing myself and remembering how that detachment felt and how kickin' it really is to revamp an initial idea - explore new directions and try, experiment and explore.

There really isn't right and wrong with this stuff, but there sure is works and doesn't. Just have to make sure to realize what is opinion and let it inspire you to move in directions you may not have thought about without that outside opinion. What was starting to feel a little like work is now absolute enjoyment again. Fun again for sure.

A side affect of all this is that I feel ideas just rushing in again. I struggle to get them all captured one way or another to be able to go back on them later and develop them. Wow, its a great "problem" to have. We'll see if I'm this cheery next post, but damn it feels good now.

Reading, Studying & Recording

This is the latest in the process for me. I'm starting to take online classes again and learning more about recording at home as well as lyric writing, which continues to be the toughest part of the equation for me. I have a ton of ideas, but making them universal (aiming for the largest audience) is where I find the challenge or one of the challenges.

Just started a book by Sheila Davis and hope to continue to get a better feel for the craft as I muddle through and use it in class. The jury's out, so we'll see, but the basics so far are really what I've studied before - song forms, theory, principles - always beneficial to restudy and pick up something that triggers the cranium.

These classes are again through SongU.com which I really continue to find valuable to me in the process. Certainly, at least, some contact with people who have some degree of success and are willing to share with those of us struggling to open a door and hold it open with our faces squished in the door-jam.

The doors will come I'm sure. I just need to spend some time getting ready and getting my face prepped for the abuse. Now, back to the studio.

Balance hell, I've had it

Okay, last time I talked about balancing work and songwriting. I'm probably not the best one to get insight on that one. I just gave notice at work for a number of reasons. One was that it sucked the life out of me so much that I just wouldn't feel creative. I worked so hard the last year to keep the creative side (that makes me feel so good) in the forefront. Other factors too for sure that I won't go into, but here in a week or so I'll be unemployed, poor and happier. We'll see where this goes, but I plan to really get down to it again.

Now, I sure didn't stop writing and working on songs, but I certainly scaled back. At any rate, another page in life and we'll see where it goes. I did a review of a newer song last week with Sara (co-founder of SongU) and it was simply great insight from a professional perspective. I made some changes and will review now with another successful songwriter later this week and see where we stand.

As I look back at my growth over the past year, I'm pretty amazed and feel like I'm getting closer to the ballpark I want and need to be in to get some songs covered. I'm hoping to get about 3 or 4 ready to take to a demo studio and/or kill it in mine. Right now I'm thinking get someone else to do it and see how that lands.

Getting Balance

I've been trying to adjust to a balance of work and music creativity time. I think it would be tough enough, but working graveyard with little sleep has added a twist I'd like to not have to deal with. Oh, well, there's always something to overcome. So, I've recently been working on that adjustment.

I'm currently working on a song called "Living Out This Lie" which sounds a lot to me like it could be something from Santana, at least in the main chord progression. I love it so far, but have some lyric rework to do. It seems like about every other song I work on has a feel or groove that I haven't tapped into before. That part is so cool and keeps me guessing. Not sure where that stuff comes from, but I appreciate the input from the universe. Fun stuff.

I'm really enjoying using Macs in the studio and now in our home office. Still doing some adjusting, but I can see what the fuss is all about. Both of mine are iMacs, so the computer is built behind, into or wherever, the screen. Great visual to work from and lightening fast. Can't wait to get more adept at it all. As far as being for the studio. Perfecto. Above is a picture of the screen working on the new tune. Sounds good, right?

Change of Pace

I have elected to go back to work like real people. It wasn't a real free election, but ya know, I do like to eat. It has been a great half a year plus that I've been able to devote to working on music as a full time gig, but now the challenge becomes doing this part time while still moving forward.

The last few SongU classes I've taken have been crazy informative. One on writing and placing music for TV and movies and another on writing from the heart. The business stuff is great to put on the shelf for a little bit. I'm engrossed in anything I can grab onto about writing better songs right now. Sara Light did the class on writing and offered some great tools and aids to help generate good material and to dig deep to find it.

My plans now are to continue what I've been doing, but on a reduced scale. First I have to acclimate myself to the new time schedule and decide how best to ensure that I don't lose ground. To that end, I've scheduled some classes and planned to link up with another writer to keep continuous writing on my plate in addition to what I do on my own.

I've added my latest to the Reverb Nation songs attachment at the top of this page. Still not sure what I want for the title, but for now - Believe in Forever - sounds a bit too Disney for me, but it is what the song is about. This was a quick and semi-dirty recording that I'll change out when I get the time and upgrade. This is my first attempt to write a story line that progresses in true country-like fashion - meaning that the chorus takes on new meaning as you progress through time and the lyrics. I didn't start out wanting to write a country song, but the format lends itself to that. It is fun stuff to write and a real challenge for me this time around. We'll see where it goes.

Reviews, critiques and moving forward

The skin continues to thicken, a little at a time. I hear almost weekly that as a songwriter, you need to grow a thick skin, which is not an easy task as you bare your soul trying to find honesty in the depths of your psyche. Oh, well, get over it. I had a number of critiques on a song that is now named "Play it Over" with 180 degree response on some things from seasoned professionals. Now comes the learning when to turn which direction or be better able to hear and trust that inner voice screaming at me. What a bazar thing it all is.

I've set up a review with another songwriter; Craig Bickhardt. Craig has a long list of accalades and I've listened to him critique others - I'm very impressed. He is active currently writing and recording new material as well as a long history of top songs recorded by various artists. I've got to trust his input, so my plan is to take a newly penned tune and see what the word is. Again, I think its good stuff or I wouldn't throw it to the wolves - I've thought that in the past too. But, I know I'm learning and putting more craft behind what I do now than I did 6 months or even 1 month ago. The process continues.

I thought I'd throw in a Gary's home studio shot here as an aside. I found some wall mounts for my stringed instruments and it really clears out the floor space. Check out guitar wall mounts on ebay if you're interested. Great price and they sure work great whether its for the acoustic or even down to the neck size of the ukelele - adjustable.