Protected: What “Different Way” Almost Sounded Like
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How I Write Melodies
I have this recurring dream. I’m on stage performing in front of a crowd, but I forget the words and melody. I start making up gibberish. Gibberish words over gibberish melodies while I strum my guitar. It’s like I’m scatting, but it’s not supposed to sound improvised. It’s supposed to sound like completed lyrics and
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Junior High, Jars of Clay, and an Empty House
There’s a good chance you’re shy like I was. Well, not so much shy as lacking self-confidence. The bad part about this whole singer-songwriter thing is that singing is literally in the job title. And it’s difficult sing while lacking confidence, especially starting out. So what you’re going to need is an empty house. This
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New Single: Different Way
A while back, I gifted this demo to my patron community on our secrets songs page. Many encouraged me to release it. Special thanks to Su H. in Germany for the extra push and help deciding on artwork. The song comes out April 4, but as a way of saying thanks for being a 3
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Should You Move to Nashville?
(From Aaron’s book On Songwriting: Practical Tips and Insights from a Decade in Music City) I’m often asked by songwriters whether or not they should move to Nashville. I remember asking my Nashville songwriter friends the same question when I lived in Denver. What they (and I) were really asking was, “Do you think I
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Stephen asks, “How do you choose an album or single artwork?”
Great question. You know, it’s different with albums than it is with singles. To be honest, it’s one part feel, one part marketing. One time, I asked my old label if we could just use an image without my name or any title on it. This seemed reasonable to me since, with the way people
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Caleb asks, “Do you ever get discouraged when you hear music by a songwriter/musician you think is great? If so, what do you do with that feeling?”
Absolutely. Back in 2003, I first heard Damien Rice’s debut album, O, in a friend’s car. I was devastated, thinking he was doing exactly what I wanted to do, but better. I felt depressed for a while, but then I grew to appreciate his work and use it as inspiration. I even incorporated elements inspired by
This Book Taught Me to Write Better
Around 2007, my wife remembered a book she’d read in a college creative writing class called The Triggering Town by Richard Hugo. She gave me her copy, and honestly, I’m not sure I would have written many of the songs I’ve written without it. Although it’s about poetry, its lessons apply equally to songwriting and storytelling.
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Protected: Video: I thought I was writing a joke song, but then it turned into this.
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Protected: Song of Comfort in Times of Loss
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