This is where I share my process along with things I’ve found helpful.
I used to start abandoning all the work I’d done up until around 2 p.m. every afternoon — words, melodies, guitar takes. Over time, I learned the pattern and realized that if I just took a break, went for a walk, or returned the next day, the work wasn’t nearly as horrible as I’d thought. […]
Zebra, Zebra, Zebra Read More »
The problem with being a songwriter is you’re likely insecure and sensitive. That’s why you’ve chosen to spend hours alone expressing your feelings while your peers are at the football game. You might think this is a personality flaw, but it will be a superpower later in life. Do we really need songs written by
Get Some Rejection Under Your Belt Read More »
People often get to Nashville and think, “If I could just write with this person or that person, then I’d make it.” But the truth is, if you just hang with your high school class you’ll likely be fine. What do I mean by “high school class”? I like to think of each year in
Hang with Your High School Class Read More »
I couldn’t concentrate in class. I kept thinking about my guitar, lyrics to songs I was working on. I’d daydream about performing in front of thousands. Old high school classmates in the crowd. My junior high crush apologizing for not noticing me: “If I could only go back, Aaron,” she’d say, “I’d do things differently.”
From College Dropout to Career Musician: A Letter to Worried Parents Read More »
I was in a cowriting session the other day with a friend. She and I both presented some song ideas. We dissected each and looked at what was interesting, their strengths and weaknesses. The first one could go in this direction. It could be about this topic or that topic. The subtext would be about
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
How I Write Melodies Read More »
(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
Should You Move to Nashville? Read More »
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
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.
This Book Taught Me to Write Better Read More »
Deep Work This was my introduction to Cal Newport. In March 2024, I changed much of my work behavior based on this book. Learn more. Profit First Don’t let the title fool you. It’s not “profit over people” or anything like that. I took over our finances in September without even knowing our bank account
For Songwriters: Top 3 Books I Read in 2024 Read More »