What's in a Song - TopPodcast.com

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Sally Taylor: Growing up in a house with James Taylor and Carly Simon and the power of Metaphor and collaborating with the muse Jan 05, 2022

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In this episode I talk with singer/songwriter Sally Taylor about writing the music first, what she learned about writing from growing up with two of the most popular artists of our time and the power of metaphor. She shares her unbelievably inspiring brain child Consenses and how it can be so helpful to songwriters.
Find Sally Taylor:
https://consenses.org
Scarlet's book on songwriting:
"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

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

Author Natalie Goldberg on the zen of writing and being wiling to write terrible things Dec 29, 2021

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In this episode, I talk with best selling author of "Writing Down the Bones" on having a writing practice and trusting the mind. How writing topics can help songwriters, the zen of writing, haiku and being willing to write terrible things.
https://nataliegoldberg.com
https://www.scarletkeys.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

Hit songwriter Greg Becker "Process over Outcome" Dec 23, 2021

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In this episode, I talk with hit songwriter Greg Becker about his writing process, what inspires him, what keeps him grounded as a writer. He shares his journey as a songwriter, how he cowrites and collaborates and the importance of rhythm in your melody.

Persistance
Process over outcome
Collaborate
Relationship first, cowriter 2nd
Say things you believe
Leave your ego at the door

Hit songwriter Gary Burr on Melody, and finding the money notes Dec 07, 2021

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This episode is literally a master class on songwriting. Gary talks about his process, how he writes a song like it's a screen play and shows you how he writes a great melody and the notes that matter.
Show take aways:
· Start with a title

· Decide what style the song should be in

· Decide where to place the title to determine the song form

· Is it the first line of the song? Does it occur at the end of every verse or at the end of the chorus?

· Try writing the chorus first

· Show don’t tell

· Write the song like it’s a screen play

· Focus on the North Star or the elevator pitch for the main idea

· The verse is the setting, the characters, the where, the who and when

· The Chorus is the why

· Audition your melodies and find the money notes

· The money notes in a major key are the unstable notes in the scale: 2, 4 6 and 7th
http://middlemanburr.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

Steve Seskin on Writing a great story song Dec 01, 2021

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Steve Seskin is a hit songwriter and artist. He plays one of his hit songs and walks us through how the song came to be step by step, sharing his thought process and craft. He shares his insights on what it takes to write a great story song.
Show take aways:

Try writing your chorus first asking "What is the big pictures idea". Try to write so that your choruses grow in meaning each time you hear them.

Try writing to the following chord progression:

I VImin IV V = C Amin F G

Rewrite, Songwriting isn't a race, take as long as each song needs whether it's 3 hours or 75 hours, serve the song.

Write what you care about, it doesn't have to have happened to you.

There are songs that entertain and there are songs that make you think and sometimes we get lucky and we get both at the same time: "Believe" by John Mayer.

https://www.steveseskin.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

Julia Cameron on The life changing power of "The Artist's Way" Nov 24, 2021

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In this episode, I talk with the author of "The Artist's Way", Julia Cameron and she shares some of her life changing tools for unblocking, creating flow, and handling the inner and outer critique.
Show take aways:

Take long walks, walking primes the pump
Have a weekly artist's date
Use humor to diffuse the mean critique voice
Due your morning writing
Write by hand
When we are vulnerable we are rewarded with the flow of creativity
Miniaturize you're sensor and give it a cartoon wee small voice

https://juliacameronlive.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

Eric Roberson: "Read 'til you're full, write 'til you're empty" Nov 17, 2021

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Eric Roberson is a two time Grammy nominated singer/songwriter and producer and a professor at the Berklee College of Music.
Some take aways from today's show:

Be willing to crash and burn for the chance that we might find art
Prioritize what's important and be willing to say no
Be fully present and embody each and every moment
Try different instruments to find new ideas in your writing
What is your relationship with creativity?
Write without responsibility
Chew slow
Be purpose driven

https://ericrobersonmusic.com
https://www.scarletkeys.com
"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

Mark Erelli "Critical thinking for the Songwriter" Nov 10, 2021

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My guest today is award winning singer songwriter and producer Mark Erelli.

Mark has produced albums for Lori McKenna, toured with Josh Ritter, Paula Cole, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. He has released over 11 albums as a solo artist.

On this episode, Mark dives into the writing process from one of the songs off his new record Blindsided and the crucial art of critical thinking for the songwriter. He shares his favorite ways to rhyme, how to write to the biggest idea and a few of his favorite chords and much more.

https://www.scarletkeys.com

https://www.markerelli.com.

Steve Leslie "The difference one chord can make" Nov 03, 2021

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In this podcast, Grammy winning songwriter Steve Leslie shares his journey as a songwriter, how he discovered and mentored writer Chris Stapleton, his favorite chord and his short hand way of playing it and advice to young writers on being a professional songwriter.
Listening: Darryl Worley
"Second Wind" https://open.spotify.com/track/3YMC28tMUsVS2czttUXdqC?si=118b4135d3134e50
Listening: Rhonda Vincent
"Last Best Place" https://open.spotify.com/track/3DNgHPz55P6y1ti9ZhEUhT?si=7198673c01784695
"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

What's in a song Introduction Oct 31, 2021

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This is a new weekly podcast for songwriters on songwriting.
In each episode, Berklee College of Music Professor and songwriter Scarlet Keys takes a deep dive into the craft, art and process of songwriting in conversations with eminent songwriters, producers and creatives asking them questions that only a songwriting professor would ask. This is an educational podcast aimed at giving listeners actionable tools, techniques and inspiration they can use in their songwriting.

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