How Writing Songs Uncovers Hidden Ideas
I’ve noticed something peculiar when it comes to my songwriting. On the days I’m a little extra hesitant to sit down and get started, there’s almost always a fully formed song idea waiting to come out. Not only that, but it’s often a subject that I had no idea I was on my mind. There is something about the songwriting process that uncovers hidden - and important - ideas which is yet another reason why it’s essential we explore our own creativity. Below are a few of the ways writing songs helps get to the root of what’s going on inside of us.
It Unlocks the Subconscious
When I began trying to meditate, I noticed - as anyone who stops for a moment and listens to their thoughts will notice - how many different thoughts arose when I tried to quiet my mind. Given how much is going on inside of our heads at all times, it makes sense to stop and capture some of those thoughts in written form whether that’s a journal entry or a lyric. The simple act of sitting down to write can surface insights and ideas we didn’t know we had. This holds especially true for emotional thoughts and ideas as we’re often reluctant to express those in our daily exchanges with our peers. Taking a moment to write what comes to mind works like a skeleton key to our unconscious.
It Bypasses Intellectual Filters
Working with experienced studio musicians in Nashville, I’m still amazed at how they are able to listen to the rough version of a song and then play it perfectly within one or two takes. For these musical thoroughbreds, there’s rarely a need to record take after take to get things right. In fact, a session musician will say that if they’re asked to play a song too many times, they’re afraid they’ll start “thinking” and the music will suffer. It’s exactly the same with writing songs. By getting wrapped up in the creative process, our logic and judgement are put to the side and the raw ideas can emerge without our unwitting censorship. Bypassing our intellectual filters - which, of course, can be valuable in non-creative settings - provides us with new thoughts and ideas that we’d ordinarily suppress or ignore when we’re in “thinking” mode.
It Accesses Unexpressed Feelings
There is a time and a place for hard facts. But when it comes to creativity and making “something from nothing,” it’s often our feelings that lead us in the right direction. Some of the word’s most groundbreaking ideas (Einstein anyone?) began as feelings, not facts. Writing songs accesses our feelings in a way that allows us to articulate ideas that we might not have perceived otherwise. It’s worth putting aside the facts from time to time in order to check in on what we’re actually feeling.
Conclusion
As a professional songwriter, I’ve been gifted with a career that allows me to access my ideas on a regular basis. I’m aware that not everyone has that luxury. This doesn’t mean it’s not important to explore our creativity however. And while there’s real value in being methodical, concrete and productive, if we don’t also make room for the less obvious - and often quieter - unexpressed feelings, we run the risk of missing out on some of our best ideas.
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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