A Few Lessons Co-Writing a Song Can Teach Us
It’s no exaggeration to say that I owe the lion’s share of my songwriting success to co-writing. I can - and do - write songs on my own from time to time but these serve as the exception that proves the rule. For me, collaboration has been the key to building a career that has lasted over thirty years and continues to reward me with new creative insights and deep friendships. I thought I’d take a moment to elaborate on a few of the many lessons that co-writing can teach us, which we can then apply far beyond the writing room.
Improvisation Sparks Insight
Coming up with creative ideas on the spot is certainly possible on our own but the joy and power of improvisation lies in the back-and-forth among collaborators. This kind of ideation allows co-writers to not only come up with ideas but also modify and refine those ideas when mingled with each other’s contributions. The spontaneity of interactions in a co-write can lead to insights that most likely would not have been achieved by any one individual member working on their own. It should also be mentioned that this kind of improvisation is decidedly more enjoyable than sitting alone and looking for new ideas.
Hierarchies Can Be Flattened
Whether it’s a hit songwriter sitting down to write with a relative newcomer or a group songwriting program (like the kind I lead for organizations) where the CEO is collaborating with those further down the organizational ladder, the power of great collaborations is that the best contribution wins. This is true whether the idea comes from the more tenured contributor or not. This approach is the perfect model for inclusive cultures of all kinds. A hierarchy has its uses to be sure but there are situations when it’s good to remember our shared humanity and the power of ideas over position.
Collective Ownership Fosters Trust
There’s another less obvious but no less meaningful benefit that comes from co-writing a song and that is the magic of collective ownership. Once you’ve collaborated on the creation of a song - or any idea for that matter - there is a profound sense of shared accomplishment and trust. This leads to a continued accountability not only to the finished project but also to each other. Co-writing is a shared creative act and one that bonds you to your collaborators far beyond your creation. I have lifelong friendships that are the direct result of the kind of trust that can only come from meaningful collaboration.
Conclusion
Co-writing a song is as old as songwriting itself. The beauty of this kind of collaboration is that each individual brings their own set of strengths and perspectives to the process in a way that - while it might appear obvious to them - is unique. I have a catalog of over a thousand songs, which are almost all co-writes and I can say with absolute certainty that I couldn’t have written any one of them better on my own. I could have written them differently, perhaps, but I don’t think I’d have enjoyed the process as much. There is a shared fearlessness that leads to powerful results when we take the time to open up our creative process to others. I’ve seen this in my own work and in the countless times I’ve led organizations through the process of co-writing a song. Haven’t co-written yet? Take a deep breath and jump in. You’ll be glad you did.
Bio
Cliff Goldmacher is a GRAMMY-recognized, #1 hit songwriter, music producer and author with recording studios in Nashville, TN and Middle River, MD. Through his studios, Cliff provides songwriters outside of Nashville with virtual, live access to Nashville’s best session musicians and studio vocalists for their songwriting demos. Find out more. You can also download Cliff’s FREE tip sheet “A Dozen Quick Fixes To Instantly Improve Your Songs.”
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