how to write an indie song

If you’re a subscriber to our YouTube channel, you’ve seen that we recently chatted with famous Nashville musician Steve Leslie! If you haven’t seen them yet, what are you doing here? Take a break and watch those videos now, then come back. Join us as we walk through the even better steps in Steve Leslie’s guide to writing a hit song, from songwriting exercises to must-have songwriting tools in your arsenal. your.

1. Treat composing like a full-time job.

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A lot of advice on how to write lyrics can be drawn from one essential truth: treat this art form like a full-time job. Steve Leslie recommends that singers or musicians take time each day to just write. It doesn’t matter if what you write is complete crap, the most important thing is that you are exercising that creative muscle. You don’t necessarily have to spend more than 8 hours as an office job, but by being consistent with your daily amount of creative time, you’ll find your creativity flowing more easily over time. Think of it like writing a song every day, even if the song is only 30 seconds long.

Challenge without words: Open the manual or read the instructions on the label and try to make a tune for it. For example: “Foam and rinse”, “Get a Philips screwdriver”, “4 cups flour and 3 teaspoons of honey”.
Email: This exercise is a full, unrestricted composing experience, free of any expectations. Just take your paper and let the words flow out of you, even if you just write the word “And” over and over. Don’t use punctuation or sentences, but write continuously for 10 minutes (or more) and see what comes out.
Song 4 chords: The comedy band Axis of Awesome became famous with their “4 Chord Song” which shows that nearly every pop song is developed with the same 4 chords! You can do the same thing – find four chords that sound great together and replay them until something comes out.

2. Cooperation is key.

Leslie explains that while many artists come to Nashville with a foundation they’ve built on their own, a lot of them won’t get far if they can’t collaborate with their peers in the music industry. music. This means collaborating with lyricists and lyricists, vocalists, ensemble musicians, and producers. Collaborating with these fellow musicians can be your best songwriting tool. They are the people you can get ideas from and can be a real help in dividing the demo and studio costs.

3. Make a “Hook Book”.

Read more: how to prevent gauze from sticking to the woundThis notebook is the ultimate creative tool, a necessity you should always keep in your back pocket or purse, because you never know when a phrase or public conversation will spark. inspiration! A hook book stores potential song names, lyrics, thoughts, phrases, abbreviations, and anything else that catches your fancy. Keep it handy when you’re out and about and record what you’re listening to.

4. When in doubt, Google it.

During the conversation, Leslie emphasized that common phrases on Google and “American language” are a surefire way to get inspired. There’s no need for a songwriting app, as English is a malleable, fickle language, with new phrases and slang popping up every day. And never more than in America! Singers and musicians, you might be surprised at how much meaning you can draw from the common sayings you hear every day in your city. Phrases like “wrong neighborhood”, “wait for me”, “touch base”, “normal”, “I could care less”, “hit the gas”, are all different and carryable multiple meanings depending on the context. Don’t believe us? Just look back at some of the most memorable song titles of 2019 so far. You’ll find that artists can interpret their titles in a variety of ways to connect with their audience:

Old Street – Lil Nas X
All for myself – Dan + Shay
My Type – Saweetie
You need to calm down – Taylor Swift
Thank U, Next – Ariana Grande
The Heartbreaking Truth – Lizzo

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5. Constraints will keep you focused.

The common misconception is that setting limits will stifle your creativity. Nothing could be better than the truth! In effect, setting those limits becomes small challenges that your mind must overcome. Having a drum medium is overwhelming, but forcing yourself to write lyrics to certain parameters can be a creative motivator. love song, set in New York City during Christmas celebrations. “See the difference? Does your mind immediately picture images of skating at Rockefeller Center, or sleigh rides through the park? That is the power of setting limits. They lead your mind to specific actions, feelings, or events that your listeners will relate to, rather than the general thoughts that any Joe Schmo could come up with. Limits won’t paralyze you – they will focus you.

“I found the perfect birthday present and…”
“Love is a fine wine, and tastes like…”
“It was a dark and stormy night…”
“It was 2am and it was hard to sleep because…”
“The blind date turned into a disaster when…”

6. Switch order.

Sometimes all it takes is a little rearrangement. Leslie mentioned that a song is completely malleable, and another great songwriting exercise is moving words around. If your song sounds like a jumble of random words and thoughts, shift the lines or move the entire stanza until a story emerges. Or challenge the limit above! And when in doubt, return to the most important basis of composition, rhyme. Leslie said: “Rhyme gives you the text, and you might be surprised how a rhyming word can lead to a hidden meaning you’ve come across before. Any tips you can share with us? How about those great titles or phrases just begging to be turned into songs? Let us know! Read more: How to attach a guitar strap