A Songwriting Journey

Mentioned in this episode: Hitting pause on a project.  “52 Weeks in 2021: A Songwriting Journey” "The Art of Hit-Making: Ryan Tedder's Proven Songwriting & Production System" This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit asongwritingjourney.substack.com

Today there’s so much emphasis placed on “going viral,” and it may feel discouraging if you feel like your work isn’t making the impact that you had hoped it would make. But sometimes things take time and if you are creating heartfelt, quality work, don’t hesitate to put it out. You never know what kind of impact it may have on someone - or when it will make that impact. - but the world needs more...

Mentioned in this episode: “The Fourth Grade Project” , an exhibit by artist Judy Gelles at the Chandler Museum. Mingle + Graze cheese shop and restaurant in Chandler, AZ "Living on the Exhale: Finding inspiration, laughter and growth from the messy middle” podcast with Staci Berkovitz Year I Turned 50 project by Staci B. Understanding how Digital & Physical Mechanical Royalties Work with Serona E...

As we get close to the end-of-the-school-year, I thought it would be a good time to reflect on how fast time flies.  This week, my youngest son is graduating eighth grade, which is our third and final graduation at the school our family has been connected to for the past 12 years.  I’m grateful for this moment because I realize how precious life is and know that not everybody gets to celebrate the...

Hello! Today’s the day! My book “52 Weeks in 2021: A Songwriting Journey” is now available on Amazon! This episode features an excerpt from the book and the song "Take a Step" from 2020. "52 Weeks in 2021: A Songwriting Journey" explores one mom's songwriting journey in a blog format, sharing 52 songs over 52 weeks during the year she turned 52. The project was partly a distraction - as she was ap...

A post for Mother's Day Also in this episode: A new book announcement! Atticus (book publishing) asongwritingjourney.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit asongwritingjourney.substack.com

After a rough week of more disturbing headlines, I just wanted to provide a reminder that it’s OK to take a break from the news and spend time working on things that make you happy.  A Songwriting Journey playlist Contact: Instagram at A Songwriting Journey This week's song: "Bang Your Gavel Down" Lyrics at asongwritingjourney.substack.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss thi...

In this week's episode: Taylor Swift's “The Tortured Poets Department” and her amazing career. A song for Earth Day A lesson for working with a producer - get your vocals right before sending instagram.com/asongwritingjourney/ https://asongwritingjourney.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit asongwritingjourne...

Mentioned in this episode: Spotify's New Music Friday Playlist A Songwiting Journey Playlist on Spotify New Music Business podcast: How Spotify's Algorithm Works (From Its Creator) Release Music Like a Pro This week's song: " Our Home " This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit asongwritingjourney.substack.com

This week's episode is about the "The Greatest Night in Pop," a new documentary about the making of the 1985 "We are the World" song that raised funds for humanitarian aid in Africa - and the power of music to raise awareness about world events in order to help others. This week's original song is "What's Gonna Be:" about the massacre at the Supernova Music Festival. Links about the some of conten...

Reflections on Beyonce's "Cowboy Carter," organizing your music files and the need for reliable news sources. This week's song: "Tell Me What is Real." This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit asongwritingjourney.substack.com

Does it feel like life is speeding by? Sometimes it's a good idea to take a breath and slow down. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit asongwritingjourney.substack.com

Reflections - and a song - about my oldest son learning how to drive. Does anyone else have an invisible brake in their car? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit asongwritingjourney.substack.com

I know you all remember experiencing the pandemic, but do you remember those first few days when there was a sense of solidarity in collective humanity? I remember feeling a sense of “We’re all in this together” as humans on this planet and we are going to get through this. It was short-lived, for a number of reasons - or perhaps it was even imaginary. This week’s song was written at the very begi...

In this episode: A house concert, performance anxiety, a heavenly birthday wish, a mom's legacy and how do you spend your time? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit asongwritingjourney.substack.com

This week's episode talks about a new songwriting show on YouTube that offers a close-up look at the songwriting process by pro-songwriters as they create a song in one day and the 20th anniversary re-release of an album by my favorite rock star. This week's song shares both the voice memo and the finished production, in honor of this re-release, which also includes the demos. Although you may not...

Inspiration can come from many places - stories on the news, interactions between people, things you observe as you’re out and about. I once wrote a whole song based on a box of single-serving cake mix I saw in a supermarket aisle. This week's episode of A Songwriting Journey covers inspiration, a Marshall Crenshaw performance, the Grammys and a time traveler. What inspires you to write a song? Th...

Happy Valentine’s Day week! Do you have a valentine? If not, maybe you can write a song about that! This week, in honor of Valentine’s Day, I thought I’d go back into the archive and share one of my songs from my dating days. I guess it kind of makes this an Anti-Valentine’s Day episode since it’s not really a love song, but perhaps you can relate.  This is a public episode. If you would like to d...

Sometimes you have to step out of your comfort zone to share your songs, but don't let that stop you. And don't depend on your future self to take care of it for you. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit asongwritingjourney.substack.com

This episode is for all those dreamers out there... Reflections from the 27th Annual Arizona Songwriters Gathering hosted by the Arizona Songwriters Association at the Glendale Public Library, including some wisdom shared during presentations by Shelly Peiken, Pat Pattison and Robin Frederick. Topics covered: Tips to communicate what you're feeling in a song, acoustic songs in TV and film, prosody...

If you are a songwriter in the Phoenix area - or driving distance from the Phoenix area - you will want to know about an event this weekend at the Glendale Public Library. This Saturday, Jan. 27, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., the Arizona Songwriters Association (ASA) will host its 27th annual Arizona Songwriters Gathering. This week’s episode covers some of the featured guests and topics of the event, whic...

There are so many devastating things going on in the world right now and so many people are going through difficult times. It feels kind of insensitive to talk about songwriting and worrying about recording quality when there are so many more important things that people are dealing with. However, songwriting is something that gets me through difficult times and I know others want to share their c...

What do you do when you want to learn something new? Do you sign up for online courses, attend in-person classes? Watch YouTube videos? Hire a personal coach? These days, when you want to learn how to do something, there are many options. There’s always going to be more you need to learn, people who know more than you and opportunities to improve your craft. I thought I’d devote this episode to sh...

As we welcome 2024, what do we want to do with it? It feels like we are starting this new year during a dark time. There are so many troubling things happening around the world and we need those feelings of hope and possibility more than ever because we need to bring some light into this world. We need positivity and creativity right now. Imagine this ripple of creativity and positivity creating l...

Welcome to the first episode of A Songwriting Journey, a weekly dose of songwriting inspiration for those who are pursuing a creative journey. Each week's episode also includes an original song and a little background about the song. This episode addresses that pull some people feel to follow their dreams - despite being discouraged by others or self-doubt. What's inside of you trying to break thr...