Life, family, and music.
It’s easy to get excited about your half-written song. Rather than finish it, you email your verse and chorus to 25 friends. You just can’t help yourself. That dopamine hit of validation would feel so good right now. Well, get a grip, ok? I urge you not to share your excitement too soon. Why? It’s […]
On Songwriting: It’s Like Naming a Child Read More »
Every time Heidi leaves me with our four young boys I pray to God she comes back. I’m only half joking. This is a little Mother’s Day song. Here’s to all you mothers out there. Thank you. Love, Aaron – –Want to hear the full song? Subscribe to my Secret Songs Club via Bandcamp for $5/mo or more and get
Secret Songs Club: Thank You (Preview) Read More »
This is a preview of Track 1 off my upcoming concept album about northern Minnesota. Why does it have those ugly underscores and all caps? Because it’s not final. “How Were the Roads?_MIX_A” means this is my mixer’s (David Welsh) first attempt to get all the levels right. The process goes from production (me) to
Secret Songs Club: How Were the Roads?_MIX_A (Preview) Read More »
Do you withdraw for writing for a longer period of time, or do you write spontaneously? Su Hi Su – I almost never withdraw for long periods of time for my own material. One, I’m not able to at this stage in life with small kids and a wife I love (and want to stay
If you want your song’s theme to have more impact, you need to juxtapose it with its antithesis. Why? Because life is relative. We don’t know what something is until we know what it isn’t. We know what night is because we’ve experience day. We know what cold is because we’ve felt warmth. So let’s
On Songwriting: What’s Your Antithesis? Read More »
Hours before my son Magnus was born, I was listening to his heart rate broadcasted in the maternity room from the ultrasound speaker. I took my phone out and recorded the audio. Months later I used it as the rhythm piece for this instrumental version I created of “Making All Things New.” I thought it’d
Secret Songs Club: “Making All Things New” Ultrasound Instrumental Version (Preview) Read More »
The Navy Seals have a saying, “Two is one and one is none.” It’s all about planning and having a backup plan. If you don’t have a backup plan, you don’t have a plan because inevitably things will go wrong. Let’s say you want to wake up tomorrow at 6 AM. For the Seals, setting
On Songwriting: Capture Your Ideas Like a Navy Seal Read More »
What music artist is the one that pushes and inspires you? Lori Hi Lori – Harry Nilsson. He was the first to show me that “doing music” didn’t have to look a certain way. For example, I thought I had to put out albums and tour 300 days a year to be an artist. But
AMA: “What music artist is the one that pushes and inspires you?” Read More »
How often do you switch up your medium? Do you always write with pen and paper? iPhone Notes app? Old school typewriter? This might sound obvious, but writing is all about transferring information—thoughts, ideas, concepts—from your brain to someplace outside of your brain. For doing this, each medium has its benefits and detriments. For example,
On Songwriting: Why Switch Up Your Medium Read More »
How do you play ‘Heidi’ on guitar? It’s one of my favorite songs. K Hi K – Here’s a video that I hope helps. One of the chords is a little tricky (at least for me) but lots of fun once you get the hang of it. Also, here’s a chord sheet you can feel
AMA: “How do you play ‘Heidi’ on guitar?” Read More »