Life, family, and music.
AMA: āIf you could only listen to digital music or vinyl records for the rest of your life which would you choose?āĀ Ali Hi Ali – Iāll answer this solely as a listener. If I answer as an artist and songwriter, I might put myself out of a job! I was going to say digital […]
āDid you enjoy jazz band in high school? What did you gain from that time, as far as a musician and songwriter?ā Rachel Hi Rachel –Ā I smiled when I read your question because I never was in jazz band in high school. You and I grew up in the same small town, so maybe
Songwriting isnāt about theory. Many professional songwriters donāt even read music. Iām one of them. We often donāt know the names of the chords weāre playing on guitar or piano.Ā What many of us do know, however, are numbers. Numbers are based on the shape or position youāre in rather than the key. They give
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Iāve never been good at math. I quit my calculus class with Mr. Wensloff to join the show choir. Had I paid more attention, I wouldāve learned this lesson sooner. In fact, you probably already know it. Have you ever heard of the Pareto principle, also known as the 80/20 rule? Here is the basic
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A memoir, a how-to book, and a classic novel. Three books I read last month, and I recommend them all. (Although, I suppose recommending a classic novel is sort of like recommending trees or silverware. Not that helpful, but a good reminder they exist.) Save the CatĀ This is a book about screenwriting for screenwriters.
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You say public recognition is fleeting. But would you have continued your path if no one was listening to your songs? – John Hi John – No, I suppose I would have found something else to do career-wise. I imagine I would still write songs, but without hope of earning a living through them. Recognition,
Iām a songwriter. The plan wasnāt to start painting. But in March of 2020 I started watching Bob Ross in the afternoons with my kids during lockdown. The more I watched the more I couldnāt stop watching. In a way, painting and songwriting are very similar. Theyāre both saying one thing using a confined space.
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If you donāt mind me asking, how did you go about getting your first record produced? Davis Hi Davis – I don’t mind at all. I was 22, in college studying English, playing gigs whenever I could. I really just wanted to pursue my music. But how do you do that? I didnāt know anyone
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Finding your unique songwriting voice is really just a continuation of the stuff youāre already doing, but simply editing it down and changing its form.Ā If youāre having trouble finding your unique songwriting voice, imagine your brain as being a giant rain barrel. The top is open. Everything you take ināexperiences, reading, watching TV, whateverāis
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This question comes from Phaedra (age 6) whose dad relayed her question. āDid you really do the things you sing about doing as a kid in āAmazing Incredible Thingsā? And who is Samson?ā Phaedra Hi Phaedra – Those are great questions. I sing about doing a lot of unbelievable stuff in āAmazing Incredible Things,ā donāt