Emelodious Collective is a new series, Part One was released back in January in a teaser newsletter style, with some great engagement our official launch is now part of Musik Magazine.
Part One told musical stories from independent artists as well as first hand interviews about what it means to be in the music industry.
Every release brings a new part of the story showcasing different topics around music each holding its own space on this part of the platform.
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EMELODIOUS COLLECTIVE : PART TWO
The art of songwriting.
Music is within everyone, if you listen hard enough you may just find a tune, step outside and you could hear a bird tweeting, twigs snapping, the roar of a waterfall after the rain. Try and find the words to describe those moments and put pen to paper to start writing your next song.
The perfect formula for song writing, does it truly exist?
There are many ways to write for music, not all of them are the same, always practice what it is best for you and makes your connection with sound as meaningful as you would like it to be.
Lyric first approach – do you already have a clear idea in your head about what you want to convey? Have you an experience, feeling or memory you wish to share or simply a catchy hook?
Some artists find it easier to come up with lyrics first and make them fit to the rest of the structure of the track, building melodies around these lyrics and altering them to make a flow.
Others set it first to find the rhythm within, the way the syllables work together, the emphasis on certain phrases or sounds created with lyrics, this may reduce any need for background instrumental at all and so spoken word is born.
Lyric last approach – sometimes a catchy hook is created first then the gaps filled in with words or phrases. This may lead to a majority instrumental approach, which can evoke a completely different feeling and form – an example of this genre could be classical, jazz & electronic music.
Others may opt for an overlay of lyrics and the melodious undertones act as a background filler, this is similar to a lot of mainstream music we hear today like pop music.
Stephanie Meincke is a singer from Denmark, her latest album Never Not Thinking is available now.
How do you write songs?
I actually always write my songs chronologically.
I start with the beginning and then I write until it’s done. I write chords and lyrics at the same time, and improvise my way to the right melodies. In other words: I do everything at the same time.
I often start my songwriting with a symbolic sentence or a word. It could be a line someone says in a movie, or just a pretty word I see somewhere on a sign or hear in another song. I keep a note on my phone with phrases, words and ideas for songs.
I of course also find much inspiration in my own life – in what I feel or think. However it almost always happens so, that I’m unable to write about a feeling when I’m right in the middle of it.
Often the feeling has to “leave” before I am able to put into music, words and what it was about.I love symbols and imagery and I often turn situations from my own life into imagery in my songs.
For example the idea to my song “Full-Time Driver” started when my whole family – except me – was in Barcelona to watch a Formula 1-race, and I was at home working on my music. Suddenly it hit me: Me – in my life at that moment – I felt just like one of those racing cars my family was in Barcelona to watch. I was also just driving around in circles -again and again and again – and not getting anywhere.
What advice would you give to someone wanting to write songs?
My best advise is to play with it. Have fun and don’t be too hard on yourself. Of course it’s a craft to write a song, however there’re no rights or wrongs in terms of songwriting. You are the master of your own songs, and if you feel like you are writing one hell of a banger – then you are!
Especially in when writing the song. Nothing kills a creative and great songwriting-vibe more than when you start looking critically upon your own work too early in the process. Also: USE CLICHÈS. I love clichés – and after all, they are clichés for a reason.
What is your most memorable song writing moment?
I have a lot of memorable song writing moments. However when I was 22 I was in a songwriting class, where we had an assignment to write three songs within an hour. Before we started writing we decided on the title and the first three chords to every song.
When that was done, the clock started. The first 3x 15 minutes was spent writing three songs. The last 15 minutes was spent finishing one of the three songs. Two of the songs I wrote that day were a mess, however the third song I wrote, I actually ended up loving.
It’s called “Walking Backwards” and even though it’s not on my EP “Never Not Thinking” I still think it’s one of the best songs I’ve ever written.
It was so pure and honest – and because I had so limited time to write it, I didn’t overthink a single thing. There simply wasn’t enough time to second-think any lyric, chord or decision.
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