What's in a Song

Send us Fan Mail Liz Longley is a singer/songwriter who became the #4 most funded solo female musician in Kickstarter history - a story covered by Billboard Magazine. We talk about the power of a devoted fan base, building super fans, how important an email list is, booking venues and she performs her song "Fine" off of her new album "Funeral for my Past" and walks us through h...

Send us Fan Mail This week, I talk with Neuroscientist and best selling author of the book "This is your Brain on Music".  Why we feel better when we hear sad songs, how certain compositional decisions affect the brain of the listener and so much more. https://www.scarletkeys.com http://daniellevitin.com This episode was mixed by Peter Sykes: https://www.petersykesmusic.com "The Cra...

Send us Fan Mail This week, I talk with Norwegian born L.A. based  hit songwriter and producer about how he found his unique voice as a writer and a producer.  Creative Bravery and being yourself in a wold that wants you to follow the trend and writing with and producing artist Salem Ilese. https://www.scarletkeys.com http://www.bendikmoller.com This episode was mixed by Peter Sykes: https://www.p...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Pat walks us through several songs demonstrating the powerful effect of melodic phrasing and how it can transform your songwriting.  He also breaks down one of his original songs to demonstrate the before and after  he changes the phrasing. https://www.patpattison.com https://www.scarletkeys.com The final version of "Pieces" was arranged by: David Bawiec...

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail 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.am...

Send us Fan Mail 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 doo...

Send us Fan Mail 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 fi...

Send us Fan Mail 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 i...

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail 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 idea...

Send us Fan Mail 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 fo...

Send us Fan Mail 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=118b4135...

Send us Fan Mail 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 g...