1. What does your songwriting process look like? What are a few of the more common ways in which you compose a song?

The songwriting process for me varies. I can start with just a title or sometimes I’ll be writing in my journal and a line or thought will manifest itself and I will be inspired from there. Once I have rolled the idea around in my head (asking myself: is it a different perspective than is expected, is the idea unique), I go into my studio (if I’m not already there) and light some candles, get my blank paper (absolutely cannot be lined), my coloured pens, set them in front of me, and centre myself by taking a few deep breaths. I ask my higher self for guidance and inspiration. Then I put my pen to paper and write. Sometimes it’s brilliant, sometimes it blows, sometimes it leads somewhere I could have never imagined. I almost always start with the lyrics first. I write about the thought or title or whatever it is until I can’t write anymore about it. Then I reread it and usually I can already pick out a chorus, or a bridge, or a cool hook line. The trick for me, is to just write. Spend the time and let whatever happens, happen. Sometimes it comes right away, sometimes not. I get frustrated, yes, but mostly in the editing process. My songs go through a brutal editing process, three or more times before they even see the light of day with any of my co-writers, or even if I’m writing the music myself. To me it saves a lot of headache if it’s the best it can be first of all, then more editing once the music comes into the equation, cause syllables need to be tightened, or a word might not sing well, or it’s cheesy. Whatever. Bottom line, I let the creative process flow until it’s exhausted, and after it’s crafted into whatever type (aaba, vs ch bridge) it warrants, then I edit like crazy.

  1. Think of your favorite songs. What do they do to or for you? What is it about the song (technically, emotionally, thematically) that moves you?

Emotions are king. Whether it’s the lyrics, or the music, it depends on the song. First of all, it has to be a well crafted song. Melody lines that are perfectly matched with their lyrics really affect me. Riffs, sometimes really affect me (Enter Sandman). But nothing moves me more than a passionate singer who is really getting their point across. Not necessarily a great technical singer, but someone who is really nailing the emotion of the words.

  1. What are your common frustrations with songwriting? What are the ways in which you get stuck?

Most of my frustrations are when I’m in the editing process and I’m trying to find just the right word or line, or lines. Another frustration is when I’m working with a co-writer and the music is leading the lyric in a different direction. I might keep the chorus, or have to write new verses…that’s a frustration because when the song is at that point, I want the words to be perfect and at the same time say something new and interesting…not trite and cheesy. I often get stuck when I’m working on the 2nd verse. We call it “2nd verse hell” for a reason. To craft a great song, you have to say something different than the first verse, and sometimes it even requires a rewrite of the chorus. Most of the time my stuckness and frustration comes from wanting to make it perfect and perfection is really a myth.

  1. How do you overcome the frustration? How do you get un-stuck?

I beat what I am working on to death, and when I’m about to pull out my hair, I walk away from it if I’m under a deadline, sometimes I’ll sit and meditate and clear my head for 15 minutes, or I’ll go out and walk or ride my bike something to get my mind off it. I might even ask a co-writer, someone who I trust what they think whether I’m on the right track or being too hard on myself. Sometimes I leave things for a week or longer…depends on the situation and the song.

  1. Do you envision an audience or outside listener when you write? If so, how would you describe that audience? What effect does this have on the writing process?

When I am crafting ideas, I am writing for myself. It’s my purging process. But when it’s developed into a song, I ask myself, is this relatable? When I’m working on the music and melodies, whether it’s with a co-writer or not, I make sure it’s a well crafted song. When the chorus comes, is it obvious, can you sing along to the melody line, things like that I think over the years of have just become second nature to me. If I can’t remember the melody line after singing it a bit, I scrap it. You want your audience to sing along or hum along. I also think about how it will sound live. Will it be anthemic, or quiet; what’s it’s personality? You don’t want your audience to be bored…well, I don’t, anyway.

  1. Do you collaborate or enlist outside opinions during the writing process? What effect does that have on the writing process?

I love co-writing! It brings a different perspective to the song, and sometimes a co-writer is able to see things you can’t in a lyric, or music. Sometimes they interpret things totally different than you would…and that’s a good thing. Lately I’ve been writing alone; both words and music. It’s a very schizophrenic process for me. I’m still finding my process so there is a lot of frustration. I often forget I’ve been writing lyrics for many years and that comes easily to me, so when I’m writing music, I want the music to be awesome NOW! I’m really hard on myself.

  1. Songwriters are known for loving most of their “babies” equally. This is why artistic coaches have the mantra “Kill Your Babies!” How can you tell when one of your own songs is really good? How can you tell when one is bad or misbehaving?

I’ve been writing long enough, that if the song moves me when I sing it, I have a feeling it’s good. But that means nothing until you get the response of an audience, whether it’s a co-writer to say yeah, or no. But if a song is bad, it usually starts misbehaving from the beginning and leaves me cold. A lot of times those ones don’t get finished, or they just end up being lyrics on a page. But that being said, I’ve written a lot of songs I consider “late bloomers” and don’t start misbehaving until the recording process.

  1. What do you get out of being a songwriter? Do you imagine you’ll write songs forever?

If I didn’t write songs, I’d be insane or have really bad addictions. I’ve been writing songs since I was 9 years old…sure it’s cathartic, but best of all, it’s fun…why would I stop doing something that’s fun?

  1. What roles do “inspiration” and “perspiration” play in your writing process?

For me, inspiration is about 10%. Many things inspire me, but many times I need to grab the Muse by the throat and give her a shake and make her come play. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing better than being woken up at three in the morning because I’ve got songs in my head and the Muse won’t let me sleep til I’ve got them down on paper, but in reality, if you write lots, those “inspiration” moments are few and far between. If you wait for inspiration to hit, you could wait forever. Perspiration is 90% because I believe to write a great song, you have to rewrite and edit and rewrite and edit. But that’s okay…that is a beautiful thing, too. For me, there’s a lot of satisfaction in that.

  1. Imagine the greatest song you’ve haven’t written yet. Describe it.

The touching song: Amazing melodies, flowing, inspiring lyrics, a chorus that breaks your heart. Everyone wants to hear it and sing it and record it my favourite singers are fighting to sing it with me. The Kick ass Rock Anthem: Guitar riffs that leave other guitarists jealous that they didn’t come up with such brilliance. Catchy, infectious.

A song I can sit back and smile and say, wow, I hope I have a bunch more in me like that that’s a cool song.