There are plenty of ways to write a song, and none of them are better than another. I tend to write a song in a single sitting. There is so much happening subconsciously as I write that if I write half of a song, it can feel impossible to return to that place to complete it. One day, I have a deep, inarticulate understanding of what a song is about, and then the next, I have no idea what I was talking about. This feels like a cogent reminder that, at least for me, songwriting is not a logical or rational process.
It has been confusing and reaffirming to learn about other people's artistic and creative processes – podcasts like 'Song Exploder' and 'Soda Jerker’ (link to these) have been really helpful and allow insight into some of my favourite songwriters' processes. On one side, the Ron Sexsmiths of the world detail expansive, introspective processes where the environment has to be just so for him to access the necessary flow state. On the other, Noel Gallagher says if he doesn't have a song written in 15 minutes, it can't be good enough to keep. In contrast again, Tom Waits shares that he has to pull his car over when he has an idea because his process is so elusive and out of control. To repeat myself, the variety of processes is reaffirming, but when I start comparing myself to Ron Sexsmith, I wonder how much better I could be if I were more disciplined or detail-oriented.
Tom Waits goes on to share how the word genius's Latin roots refer to a divine spirit that offers guidance, giving imagery of genius as a little cherub that visits you with a good idea – where a songwriter is not the genius, but a vessel for the genius's good ideas. Take it or leave it, but I definitely find myself creating more stuff when I am feeling open and available to these little creative fairies, whatever that means. Even better if I am holding a good question and there is a guitar within arm’s reach.
Goldrush, our next single to be released on June 24th, (PRE-SAVE HERE) was not written in one sitting. I wrote the first version of this song years ago. Following a Ben Caplan concert where he embodied a Polish immigrant and sang songs about themes relevant to his and my life, but from a different perspective. At the time, I was trying to find ways of writing songs about deeply personal content without it feeling so confessional – who better to sing about loneliness than a hapless prospector. Since then, it has become a Frankenstein of different ideas and once disposable melodies.
Here I am now, sharing a song about sadness and isolation (to be fair, most of my songs are), the same week we expect our firstborn. It's amazing how things change.