Cowriting...my top tips!
I’ve recently hosted a songwriting day at our house which was absolutely amazing! I've been to lots of songwiting days and camps in the last few years and had the opportunity to cowrite with many different people. I used to write all of my songs on my own and initially was almost a bit resistant to co-write with others because I thought it would dilute the purity/identity of my ideas. I do still think there is a place for solo writing but I am a full scale convert to the co-write! I personally think a good co-write can increase the richness of a song because it brings different histories, stories, understanding and experience into the room and it also means your ideas are held up to a mirror, finessed and moulded in a way that doesn't necessarily happen on your own.
So, here are some of my top tips for a good co-write:
Work from a song start...a song start can be a melody line or hook, a section of a song (verse/chorus/bridge), a strong theme, a song title, a chord progression and it REALLY helps. If you are writing with someone you've written with a lot then a blank page is probably ok, but for a brand new co-writing session I would always recommend coming with a few ideas to put on the table and to see which idea feels "warmest" to the people in the room.
Stay "in the song" for the duration. Set yourself a time limit (I'd recommend 2 - 3 hours) and then stay focussed for that time. Don't be tempted to "leave the room" as it were if you get stuck on the song - keep working at the clay and try and push through the sticky patches. Keep your phone on do not disturb, try and keep the conversation around the song and not your experience of writing/what you are doing at the weekend etc. The time you have together is precious and your job during the time is to serve and stay connected to the song.
Try different angles. Following on from the point above - if you get stuck what do you do? Try different angles! Here's a few ideas...1) Try the song on a different instrument. 2) Try a different tempo. 3) Try a different time signature. 4) Make the chorus the verse and see if a stronger chorus emerges. 5) Take a step back and remind yourself of the initial spark of the idea and have a brainstorm on ideas related to that core idea. 6) Try and sing it with no instruments at all. All of these ideas are meant to jog you out of a rut and to open your brain to fresh ideas. If all else fails, take a break. I often find I'll go off to the loo or make a cup of tea and a new idea will come!
Make sure you capture the ideas as you go! You'll be amazed how an idea can feel unforgettable in the moment but as soon as new ideas come, they push the old ones out (like Homer Simpson's memory :) So keep a work tape going as you write - voice notes on your phone is ideal!
Be generous - songwriting in and of itself is an act of generosity. You are aiming to write something that serves and helps people. That same spirit of generosity is required in the songwriting room - don't withhold your best ideas. Trust that as you are generous with your ideas, even more will flow!
Give helpful critique. Never say "no"! Even if you hate an idea, find a way to lead it towards a wider open space rather than shutting it down. And always make sure you have a better or another idea to try and guide it! So if a melody isn't working for you, suggest an alternative...if a lyric feels to cliched, try and get to the meaning behind the lyrics to work it towards something more fresh. Phrases such as "I love the intention behind that, what about using language with more imagery in it?" or "I'm wondering if that melody might be too high, could we try and bring it into a more singable range?" or "I feel like this section needs a really beautiful melody, could we experiment with some alternatives?" All of these give a way forward rather than shutting down the idea.
Have fun!!
x