Pen, Piano and a Blank Page...

Hey Everyone!

Writing music can be difficult sometimes. And when I say difficult, I mean like flip a table and walk away difficult. But at the same time, there's nothing more rewarding than listening to a finished song and feeling good about it. I've written many songs over the years, some good and others not so much, but I make a point to never throw one away. I've learned that all the songs I've written are important, if anything they give me a good laugh when I read them ten years down the road!

I thought today I'd share some tips and tricks I've learned over the years about song writing. Feel free to share or even better, reply with your own methods of how you channel your creativity into something you're proud of! I'd certainly love to read them, and who knows, I might even steal a couple for myself.

Okay, now to business. Here are my top five tips and tricks to song writing:

#1: Always carry a pen a paper... or at least something you can write on

You never know when or where an idea might strike. It could be anywhere at any time, and I mean any time! I remember being on the bus on the way home from university when my song "Bridges" suddenly came to me. I got off a few stops early and literally ran home to my piano to write it. You never know when or where inspiration will hit you, so be prepared! I always try to keep a scrap piece of paper on me or near me, just in case. I know some people use their phones, I have myself occasionally, but I always prefer the old school method of scribbling down lyrics or ideas on some form of paper. It's just so cool to pull them out and look at them every once and a while, with their creases and frantic messy writing. I also keep a notepad by my bed for those special 2am song ideas, because trust me, you think you'll remember it tomorrow, but you never do...

#2: Make sure you have lots of time to kill

When you do decide to sit down and work on a song, it's important that you give yourself lots of time. It usually takes a while to get those creative juices really flowing (at least it does for me) and you want to give yourself time to get in the groove of things. That being said, you should never try and force creativity. If you've given it an hour or two and nothing's happened then maybe you should call it a day and try again later. A song that comes naturally always sounds better than a forced one.

#3: Sing like no one can hear you

I always write my songs when there's no one around. I find it easier to just keep singing and not having to worry about others listening and judging an unfinished product. So, go ahead! Play around, make awful rhymes, play weird chords, it's all about the experimentation! Just go with your gut and if you run out of words, well just add a couple of na na na's and keep on going. You need to dig in and get messy with a song before you can refine it into a finished product.

#4: Record EVERYTHING!

I have an old iPod that does voice memos, but any old audio recording device will work. Go grab your old tape recorder if necessary, just make sure you record! I can't tell you how many times I've been messing around and played something or sang something I actually liked, only to not be able to figure out what I did. When you record your jam sessions you can just play it back and BAM! The frustration of lost ideas never plagues you again.

#5: Never give up

Like I said before, not all songs end up being good ones. You'll write a lot of bad ones in between and sometimes you'll wonder if you'll ever write another good one again. But don't give up! All songs are important, they carry a little piece of you. They bring you back to the time that you wrote it, gives you a little insight into your past and present. You never know, that dud song might end up turning into something great! In fact, when I started working with a producer I sent him all the songs I felt were good enough to be professionally recorded and "Fly" (my first song on radio) almost didn't make the cut. I thought it was ok, but not the best. I felt it needed more work and was just one of those songs that you write in between the good ones. Little did I know how wrong I was! It just goes to show you that you should never throw away an idea. You never know, it might end up changing your life!