If the first 10 seconds is the most important part of the song, why not fill it with something solid? In addition to a repeating riff, a good intro can be an extract from a bridge or chorus, or even something culled from a different track altogether. The irresistible riff.… Read more...
One of the most challenging aspects of writing and recording is the ability to remain flexible. In years past, I’d typically consider a song to be set in stone from demo one, and therefore kept basic arrangement, instruments, rhythm and such pretty much intact from start to finish. Not that… Read more...
The chords we choose to accompany our melodies not only contribute to the flavor of our songs, they can provide some of those magical musical moments that make our songs hooky, exceptional, and unforgettable. To keep our listeners’ attention we need to include hooks, elements that are catchy and memorable,… Read more...
BMI and Rebeleon Entertainment recently presented the 9th annual Los Producers charity event at the Hard Rock Café on the Las Vegas Strip. The star-studded lineup included more than two dozen recording artists and producers who shared the stage to raise more than $135,000 for The Michael J.… Read more...
Aaron Watson learned about the power of music at a young age. His father, a Vietnam War veteran, sought comfort in music, and Aaron grew up listening to his dad’s records, gaining an early appreciation for songcraft and strong melodies. He started penning his own songs at a young age,… Read more...
At my BMI Nashville Songwriters’ Workshops, I screen and critique songs from each attendee. When I find songs that I believe are competitive with those being written by today’s top hitmakers, I forward them to ten music publishers who have agreed to listen. After the last BMI Workshop, I forwarded… Read more...
There isn’t any aspect of writing music that John Murphy hasn’t experienced. From scoring films like 28 Days Later and Kick-Ass, to capturing prospective movie-goers with trailers to Captain America and Avatar, to writing music in ad campaigns for Nike, Google and Apple, he’s been a one-stop shop for directors.… Read more...
Hailing from New York City, up-and-coming singer/songwriter Celia Babini is a name to watch. A student at the renowned Fiorella H. LaGuardia High School, Babini had been recording original songs and posting them on Soundcloud, eventually releasing her first EP, Lola, in 2017. Currently a contestant on NBC’s The Voice,… Read more...
Nowadays even the most basic software package offers home users virtually infinite tracking space, making the temptation to over-record stronger than ever. Bear in mind, however, that some of the most compelling productions through the years have been those that favored space and dynamics, rather than uber-overdubbing. To that end,… Read more...
“Show—Don’t Tell” is one of the basic tenets taught in almost every songwriting class. Writing cinematic lyrics—lyrics that incorporate visual imagery that listeners can envision like a movie in their minds—is often thought of as one of the most effective ways to connect with audiences. Cinematic lyrics do not spell… Read more...
