As we begin a new year, it’s a good time to revisit some of the advice shared in the year that has passed. I hope these tips will help you achieve your songwriting goals! Excerpt from “How to Stretch Yourself Melodically” A common pitfall for non-performing songwriters is… Read more...
As I waited backstage for my name to be called, I was surprised at how calm I felt. I was about to step in front of a live audience of thousands while TV cameras broadcast my performance to millions of viewers who would watch me compete for more than $10,000.… Read more...
A few weeks ago, a talented writer/artist asked me to write a song with her to fill a specific niche missing from her repertoire. She wanted a lyric that would convey strength and resolve; words that would empower listeners. She hoped we would write a melody that would showcase the… Read more...
It’s been a wild ride for Sam Bruno. While currently renowned for her sultry, hip-hop-inflected electronic dance pop, the Arizona native started off singing in church, honing her burgeoning musical skills on piano and ukulele. Taking her musical abilities and songwriting chops to the next stage, Bruno built herself a… Read more...
Audio mixing can be defined as the process of combining individual tracks from a multitrack recording into a finished product. It includes determining the volume and adding effects such as reverb, delay, compression, and equalization to each track. In stereo and surround sound recordings, mixing also includes placing each track… Read more...
Sometimes, playing it safe is the most dangerous thing we can do. This is especially applicable when our goal is to write songs that rise above the competition; songs that become artists’ signature songs; and songs that impact audiences and propel artists to a next level. We need to find… Read more...
At the beginning of my career, I had a song go on hold for a female country music star whose singles regularly went to #1. The head of her record label said my song was a “must-cut” situation, and I was faced with a daunting decision: should I buy a… Read more...
When he moved to the U.S. from Istanbul, Turkey, in 2001, writer-producer Warren “Oak” Felder had a degree in network technologies and artificial intelligence from Istanbul Technical University, and zero music expertise save for his abiding love for rock bands including Rage Against the Machine and Modest Mouse. Felder hadn’t… Read more...
BMI is proud to be presenting the Know Them Now Experience on Thursday, May 31, at Buckhead Theater (3110 Roswell Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30305). Hosted by Atlanta’s own 11Alive newscaster Neima Abdulahi and multi-faceted entertainer DC Young Fly, the concert is a platform for some of today’s hottest emerging… 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...
