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STRATEGY FOR THE DAY: Turn back the clock.

Here's an email that I thought might be interesting to aspiring songwriters.

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"I am a singer/songwriter who is currently working on improving my songwriting skills.  I found your website very informational, thank you. But, I was wondering what advice would you give me on writing songs leaning more towards a country alternative style. I love country music but I want to be different, not just my voice, and I like the idea of alternative country and have found this kind of music to be very ear catching. Anyway if you have any suggestions please call me or email me day or night. I plan to move to Nashville soon and become successful someday doing what I love to do and you could be a helping hand in doing so." - Zack.

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When I got this email the other day I became a little concerned. I was glad to see that Zack had a genre he was interested in. I'm a fan of alt country myself. The lyrics are well-crafted and emotionally honest, the melodies are strong and have very interesting hooks. Some of the best singer-songwriters around are working in that genre from Lucinda Williams to Tift Merritt to Lyle Lovett, Shawn Mullins, and Alison Krauss. It's a pretty broad genre, encompassing a wide range of sounds. It is also a demanding genre; to compete with these songwriters - some of Nashville's finest - you really need command of your craft and a lot of solid inspiration.

I don't know how much experience Zack has had with songwriting or how good he is but if he's thinking about heading to Nashville, he must be serious about it. However,there are things he can (and should) be doing before he picks up his family and makes a pretty stiff life change. Here are a couple of Reality Checks for songwriters:

Choose one or two songs in the genre you want to write in, ones that have done well on the charts. Take a close look at them. Ask yourself why you like them, what techniques are these songwriters using that pull you in. Are the lyrics full of images? Are there interesting twists of phrase? How do they express emotions in the lyrics? the story? the people involved? What is the hook lyric? How does it express the heart of the song? Now, take this same kind of close look at the melody. What is it about the melody that works for you? Are there pauses at regular intervals (for instance, the ends of lines) or do the melodic phrases sometimes flow into each other? Is there a mix of different phrase lengths and what is the pattern? How much repetition is being used and what kind? How is it being varied? What beats are emphasized? What beat do the melodic phrases start on? Does this change in different sections? Does a lyric idea always begin at the start of a melodic phrase or do lyric thoughts sometimes begin in the middle of a phrase. How is the melody working to give the lyric more emotion - when does it rise and fall? What is the structure of the song (verse / chorus / bridge)? How are the emotional dynamics achieved?

These are just some of the tools you can be using in your own songs to give them emotional power, memorability, and impact. Although emotions are the heart and soul of a song, song craft can help you express them with power and effectiveness. Be sure your song craft is solid. Your best teachers are the hit songs that are available on CD's by your favorite artists.

Keep in mind that you can start your career anywhere. Nashville is full of creative energy but it is also very competitive. Los Angeles and New York don't provide a supportive environment for artists and the cost of living is high. Get your songs and your performing skills up to the highest level you can before you make a change like this. If you feel your material is ready, you can submit it to major record labels, publishers, and producers through an independent A&R service like TAXI (http://www.taxi.com.) Check out the industry listings (click on "Industry") to see what kinds of artists and songs they are looking for. Current listings are always available online. Join TAXI and you can get feedback from screeners who are all industry pro's and you don't even have to leave your bedroom!

It's a good idea to test your songs at web sites like Garageband.com (http://www.garageband.com) where you can upload them and get reviewed by listeners. And BTW, I learned a lot from reviewing other people's songs at Garageband.com. I heard myself making suggestions to other people that I should have been listening to myself! There are contests you can enter like the John Lennon Song Contest that are legit and can give you a track record and some credibility before you make the big move.

If you are a singer-songwriter, make sure your demos show off your performance skills as well as your songs. Hire the best musicians and studio you can afford and take your time. This is your calling card and it's going to tell people just how good you are or aren't. If you've got 5 songs recorded, release an EP and start selling it in the back of the room at live gigs. Create as much of a buzz and get as much experience as you can on your home turf.

Above all... keep on writing and creating and being true to your vision! And never wait for anyone or anything to do it for you. Start now, wherever you are, whatever the limitations of time or money. DIY! Do It Yourself!! No matter how successful you become or what obstacles you encounter, it always comes down to you!

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Read A Brief History Of Love Songs by Robin Frederick at the Sound Experience Music web site.

Copyright 2005 Robin Frederick. All rights reserved.