What's in a Song - TopPodcast.com

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Hugh Prestwood - Three time Grammy nominated hit writer on not cowriting, the power of the truth, perfect rhymes and so much more Jul 20, 2022

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In this episode, I talk with legendary master songwriter Hugh Prestwood about his craft and break down two of his masterpiece songs "The Song Remembers When" and "Ghost in this House".
Show highlights:

Writing alone and how for some writers, co-writing causes anxiety and doesn't allow you to do your best work. He likens cowriting to a painter handing another painter their paint brush in the middle of a painting.
How important truth is in a song and how it gives you confidence
Sus chords and starting on the V chord
How much people love images in lyrics
How perfect rhyme can offer challenge when it's a boundary
Writing simple but sophisticated melodies

https://www.scarletkeys.com
https://hughprestwood.com
Engineer: Peter Sykes https://www.petersykesmusic.com
The show's theme song "What's in a Song" was co-written with Otto Gross
Recorded and performed by Otto Gross:
@OttoGrossProduction (instagram)
@OttoGrossMusic (Youtube, facebook, TikTok)
https://biglink.to/ottogrossmusic

Scarlet's website:
https://www.scarletkeys.com
Scarlet's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scarletkeysofficial/
To purchase Scarlet Keys' book "The Craft of Songwriting:
https://www.amazon.com/Craft-Songwriting-Music-Meaning-Emotion/dp/0876391927/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2PP55NU6E9ST6&keywords=the+craft+of+songwriting&qid=1659573139&sprefix=the+craft+of+songwritin%2Caps%2C153&sr=8-1

Lori McKenna: Grammy winning songwriter and Americana folk artist on the power of mumbling as lyric process and making your last chorus the firework finale of your song! Apr 08, 2022

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Multi grammy award winning songwriter Lori McKenna.
Lori is an American folk, Americana, and country music singer-songwriter. In 2016, she won a grammy for Best Country Song "Girl Crush" performed by Little Big Town. In 2017, she won a grammy for her song “Humble and Kind” recorded by Tim McGraw and most recently was nominated for a grammy for best song “Beautiful Noise” co written with Brandi Carlilie, Alicia keys, Brandy Clark, Linda Perry, Ruby Amanfu, Hailey Whitters, and Hillary Lindsey.

Lori She has 11 solo albums as an artist, and cowritten with other artists such as Tylor Swift, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Sarah Barielles, Lady Gaga and many many more.

Lori is one of the nicest and most talented people you could want to meet and is a songwriter that other songwriters study to write better songs. This conversation inspired me and I can’t wait to share it with you.
Some show highlights:

The power of mumbling to find a lyric
Letting the song be a cowriter
How some times a chord will tell you what to say
When you start overthinking-take a walk
Using imagery in your song to tell people what the room looks like so they can put themselves in there
Anaphora as a lyric writing device
First part of the song is the most important
Writing on paper and the computer
Keeping notes
Changing the last chorus even a little bit, so the last chorus doesn’t just pass you by
The grand finale of the last chorus, all the fireworks
Sing the first verse and chorus to your best friend and sing the second verse and chorus to yourself
Last verse and chorus to your someone else
A song is a conversation and you don’t have to express it all to just one person, think of it as three different conversations “how to kiss a boy”

http://www.lorimckenna.com

https://www.scarletkeys.com
Engineer: Peter Sykes https://www.petersykesmusic.com
The show's theme song "What's in a Song" was co-written with Otto Gross
Recorded and performed by Otto Gross:
@OttoGrossProduction (instagram)
@OttoGrossMusic (Youtube, facebook, TikTok)
https://biglink.to/ottogrossmusic

Wendy Moten and David Santos: Vocal technique and being a master musician Mar 24, 2022

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Wendy Moten

Is known affectionately in various industry circles as “The Voice,” the multi-talented Memphis born performer launched her career with a self-titled album that included the ballad “Come In Out Of The Rain,” which reached the Top 5 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and later hit the Top Ten on the UK singles chart. Wendy opened for Michael Bolton and then recorded well received albums (including one produced by Foster).
Wendy diversified and launched a new phase of her career recording guest duets with Michael McDonald (“No Love To Be Found”), Kirk Whalum (“All I Do”), Peabo Bryson (“My Gift Is You”), Larry Carlton (“I Still Believe”) and Julio Iglesias (“Just Walk Away”), the latter whom she toured with for over 15 years.

She was most recently a finalist on The Voice on Blake Shelton’s team and on today’s show, she’s going to talk about:

On today's show, Wendy talks about what she’s learned from the masters including Michael Jordan about singing

The Dynamic arch as a singer

How she plans the architecture as a vocalist

Be a vocal techniqnition

Emotional composition as a singer

Some tips on being a professional on tour

And her favorite warm up exercises

David Santos is a world class musician, primarily known as a touring and recording bassist, but also known as a guitarist and pianist. He has toured and recorded with Billy Joel/Elton John, John Fogerty, Crosby Stills and Nash, The Neville Brothers, Tommy James Toby Keith, Faith Hill, Tim Mcgraw and many others. David is also a respected educator and songwriter/producer.

Today, he talks about:

Being a master musician

Continuing to study and learn and play

The importance of learning to read music as a musician

Being true stylistically to the genre you are playing

Accessing the moment as you play

Don’t be the guy that’s happening elsewhere

Be in the moment 100%

Handling criticism like a pro

Staying open

Being a touring working musician on the road with Billy Joel, Elton John, Melissa Etheridge and Crosby Stills and Nash
https://www.scarletkeys.com
https://wendymoten.com
https://davidsantos.com
This episode was mixed by Peter Sykes:
https://www.petersykesmusic.com
"The Craft of Songwriting: Music, Meaning and Emotion: https://www.amazon.com/Craft-Songwriting-Music-Meaning-Emotion/dp/0876391927/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=the+craft+of+songwriting&qid=1638411380&sr=8-2
"What's in a Song" co-written with Otto Gross
Recorded and performed by Otto Gross:
@OttoGrossProduction (instagram)
@OttoGrossMusic (Youtube, facebook, TikTok)
https://biglink.to/ottogrossmusic

VP and A&R of Warner Nashville B.J. Hill on getting a publishing deal, what he looks for in a writer and a hit song Mar 09, 2022

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In this episode,
VP and A&R of Warner Bros. Nashville B.J. Hill, shared music biz gold! He talked about what he looks for in a writer he signs to a publishing deal, what he looks for in a song and nuances in lyric writing that he feels takes a song over the edge and onto the radio.
He plays two of his favorite songs and talks about why he loves them. He shares a number 1 song and plays the original work tape before it was recorded by Kenny Chesney. He talked about how there's still big money to be made if your song is a top 10 hit and insight into what he thinks it takes to make it as a songwriter.
https://www.scarletkeys.com
https://www.instagram.com/skeys2021/
https://www.petersykesmusic.com
The show's theme song "What's in a Song" was co-written with Otto Gross
Recorded and performed by Otto Gross:
@OttoGrossProduction (instagram)
@OttoGrossMusic (Youtube, facebook, TikTok)
https://biglink.to/ottogrossmusic

Artist Rob Giles: Playing with Andy Summers,The freedom of the boundaries of craft, dreaming the right dream.... Feb 16, 2022

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Rob Giles is a singer-songwriter known for his solo work, along with working with Andy Summers of the Police and the band The Rescues. He pivoted to film and television writing in 2015 when he sold two spec scripts to Warner Bros. Warner Bros also developed two shows with the CW in 2016 and 2017.

This was such an inspiring and honest conversation touching on sobriety, therapy and working on yourself as well as your craft. We talked about lyric structure and the freedom in the boundaries of craft and how the number of lines in a song section can support the emotion of your song and How changing a chord changes the feeling

We talked about rethinking and reframing success as Rob takes us through his journey of writing songs in New York, Nashville and L.A., making a record with Andy Summers from the Police, his own artistic journey and his work as a member of the Rescues to writing screen plays for television.

Focussing on the process, doing what you love and knowing when to quit a dream to dream a better dream.
Rob Giles "You're Not Listening"
https://music.apple.com/us/album/youre-not-listening/500690568?i=500690696
https://www.scarletkeys.com
The show's theme song "What's in a Song" was co-written with Otto Gross
Recorded and performed by Otto Gross:
@OttoGrossProduction (instagram)
@OttoGrossMusic (Youtube, facebook, TikTok)
https://biglink.to/ottogrossmusic

Jeff Franzel: Sinatra's piano player turned hit writer on Making your melody empathize with your lyrics, new chords for bridges Feb 11, 2022

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In this episode, Jeff walks us through one of his songs and how he makes melodic decisions.
Show take aways:

How to evolve your melody
Focus to the relationship between chords and melody
Secondary Dominant can be great chords for the bridge
Create hooks both in the melody and piano part
Focus on the song, not the business

http://jefffranzel.com
https://www.scarletkeys.com
The show's theme song "What's in a Song" was co-written with Otto Gross
Recorded and performed by Otto Gross:
@OttoGrossProduction (instagram)
@OttoGrossMusic (Youtube, facebook, TikTok)
https://biglink.to/ottogrossmusic

Singer Songwriter Liz Longley on how to build super fans, your mailing list, book yourself in venues and the prosody of vocal dynamics and how she writes a song. Feb 03, 2022

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Liz Longley is a singer/songwriter who became the #4 most funded solo female musician in Kickstarter history - a story covered by Billboard Magazine. We talk about the power of a devoted fan base, building super fans, how important an email list is, booking venues and she performs her song "Fine" off of her new album "Funeral for my Past" and walks us through her thoughts on chords, melody and story development and a surprising place to use modulation!
https://www.scarletkeys.com
https://www.lizlongley.com
This episode was mixed by Peter Sykes:
https://www.petersykesmusic.com
"The Craft of Songwriting: Music, Meaning and Emotion: https://www.amazon.com/Craft-Songwriting-Music-Meaning-Emotion/dp/0876391927/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=the+craft+of+songwriting&qid=1638411380&sr=8-2
"What's in a Song" co-written with Otto Gross
Recorded and performed by Otto Gross:
@OttoGrossProduction (instagram)
@OttoGrossMusic (Youtube, facebook, TikTok)
https://biglink.to/ottogrossmusic
https://www.scarletkeys.com

This is your brain on songwriting with Neuroscientist and author Dr. Daniel Levitin Jan 26, 2022

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This week, I talk with Neuroscientist and best selling author of the book "This is your Brain on Music". Why we feel better when we hear sad songs, how certain compositional decisions affect the brain of the listener and so much more.
https://www.scarletkeys.com
http://daniellevitin.com
This episode was mixed by Peter Sykes:
https://www.petersykesmusic.com
"The Craft of Songwriting: Music, Meaning and Emotion: https://www.amazon.com/Craft-Songwriting-Music-Meaning-Emotion/dp/0876391927/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=the+craft+of+songwriting&qid=1638411380&sr=8-2
"What's in a Song" co-written with Otto Gross
Recorded and performed by Otto Gross:
@OttoGrossProduction (instagram)
@OttoGrossMusic (Youtube, facebook, TikTok)
https://biglink.to/ottogrossmusic

Songwriter/producer Bendik Møller: Finding your sound, working with Salem Ilese, and Creative Bravery Jan 18, 2022

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This week, I talk with Norwegian born L.A. based hit songwriter and producer about how he found his unique voice as a writer and a producer. Creative Bravery and being yourself in a wold that wants you to follow the trend and writing with and producing artist Salem Ilese.
https://www.scarletkeys.com
http://www.bendikmoller.com
This episode was mixed by Peter Sykes:
https://www.petersykesmusic.com
"The Craft of Songwriting: Music, Meaning and Emotion: https://www.amazon.com/Craft-Songwriting-Music-Meaning-Emotion/dp/0876391927/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=the+craft+of+songwriting&qid=1638411380&sr=8-2
"What's in a Song" co-written with Otto Gross
Recorded and performed by Otto Gross:
@OttoGrossProduction (instagram)
@OttoGrossMusic (Youtube, facebook, TikTok)
https://biglink.to/ottogrossmusic
https://www.scarletkeys.com

Professor Pat Pattison: The power of phrasing Jan 12, 2022

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In this episode, Pat walks us through several songs demonstrating the powerful effect of melodic phrasing and how it can transform your songwriting. He also breaks down one of his original songs to demonstrate the before and after he changes the phrasing.
https://www.patpattison.com
https://www.scarletkeys.com
The final version of "Pieces" was arranged by: David Bawiec
https://www.davidbawiec.com/?fbclid=IwAR0I9P7K-1IROgJBNQptzoVZKMWapVTv5-QNJzMiY_aQriaCXAuhPvZyUbM
This episode was mixed by Peter Sykes:
https://www.petersykesmusic.com
"The Craft of Songwriting: Music, Meaning and Emotion: https://www.amazon.com/Craft-Songwriting-Music-Meaning-Emotion/dp/0876391927/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=the+craft+of+songwriting&qid=1638411380&sr=8-2
"What's in a Song" co-written with Otto Gross
Recorded and performed by Otto Gross:
@OttoGrossProduction (instagram)
@OttoGrossMusic (Youtube, facebook, TikTok)
https://biglink.to/ottogrossmusic
https://www.scarletkeys.com

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