Join the family & learn how to write better songs, in any style

A podcast where we share songwriting tips, techniques, songwriting ideas, and share free downloadable templates. Build up your lyric writing abilities with our lyric writing tips that we've collected from pros to amateurs. We're here to help you write better songs and help you along in your songwriting journey.

Every Tuesday evening at 7pm, we explore tips and techniques from songwriting pros to amazing beginners so you can write better, more memorable songs easier. Since November 2013, we've talked to 100's songwriters, from beginners to professionals and everything in between and had a blast each and every show. Join us and get those songs moving! We even hold contests with great prizes!

Fresh Content

Show date:  Jan. 22, 2019

7pm tonight: Jordana Talsky shares tips on creating “Indie Post Jazz” songs.

Jordana Talsky creates “indie pop jazz”, music that fuses alternative, pop and jazz influences, and combines acapella live looping with traditional jazz ensemble performance. Her song RUN from her 2017 album “Neither of Either” was a finalist judge’s pick in the 2018 CBC Searchlight Contest. Other accolades include a Toronto Independent Music Award nomination (2015, best vocal jazz), finalist placements in the John Lennon Songwriting Competition (2018 and 2014), Sarah Vaughan International Vocal Competition and Julian Award for Emerging Canadian Artists. She has commanded marquee stages across North America, among them the Iris Jazz Stage series (Amherst, NY), TD Toronto Jazz Festival, Winnipeg Jazz Festival and Spaghettini Lounge (Seal Beach, CA). In June 2018 she toured across Canada with notable festival performances and in September 2018 debuted in Europe with performances in Sweden and Germany including official showcases at Live at Heart Sweden, one of Scandinavia’s largest music festivals. She has enjoyed widespread airplay for Neither of Either and for Standard Deviation, her 2013 debut, a smooth-jazz collection of originals and eclectic covers.

“…one of those voices who can sell albums by just singing the phone book…” – LA Music Critic

“…an eclectic mix of quirky, wholly original, and undeniably catchy tracks that will stun both in terms of enjoyability and talent.” – Canadian Beats

Download the lyrics

Bitter-sweet-heart

RUN

Show date:  Jan. 20, 2019

Vanessa, Bruce, Michael, Linda, Ashley, Neel, and Phil

Writing Songs for Children with Ashley Braga

Singer-songwriter and Music Educator Ashley Braga came to visit us again on the tails of her first album for children, Ladder to the Moon. The album features traditional children’s songs with Ashley’s own twists, and totally original songs as well. Ladder to the Moon was produced by Song Talk Radio’s own Neel Modi.

We talked about:

  • how songwriting for children is different than adult audiences
  • how you should never underestimate children; they can appreciate sophistication and complexity too
  • using nature and animals in your lyrics
  • the silliness factor in children’s songs
  • the power of pretending and imagination for children
  • referring to the Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency to find out if a song is in the public domain

Listen to the show:

Download the lyrics and follow along:

Ladder to the Moon

I am a Tree

Watch the live performance:

Show date:  Jan. 12, 2019

Michael, Bruce, Neel, Vanessa, and Phil

Bohemian Rhapsody, the movie review

Did you love the new movie Bohemian Rhapsody? Hate it? Something in between? Listen as Bruce, Neel, Phil, Michael, and Vanessa let loose! Hear their takes on the Bryan Singer helmed Queen/Freddie Mercury biopic released in late 2018. While they found much to criticize, they had a few raves too.

Listen to the whole show!

Show date:  Dec. 24, 2018

The Amazing Christmas Song Draft

For our special holiday show we dipped into the vast treaure trove of holiday songs. You’ll hear everything from Run DMC‘s Christmas in Hollis to Frank Loesser‘s Baby it’s Cold Outside. Plus Joni Mitchell, Bing Crosby, David Bowie, Vince Guaraldi, John Prine, and Christmas carols too. Have a listen and see if we picked any of your favourites! From all of us here at Song talk Radio, Happy Holidays and a wonderful 2019!

Listen to the entire show

Show date:  Dec. 02, 2018

Vanessa, Bruce, Frank, Phil, and Michael

Frank Horvat and music for Human Rights Defenders

Award-winning and critically-acclaimed composer, songwriter, pianist, music educator and frequent Song Talk Radio guest, Frank Horvat returned to the show to talk about his latest project, The Thailand HRDs. Frank wrote 35 two-minute compositions for string quartet, where each movement was written for a Human Rights Defender in Thailand as part of photographer Luke Duggleby’s compelling photo essay., For Those Who Died Trying.

We talked about:

  • getting your music licensed for film and TV
  • how imposing creative parameters can free your writing experience
  • classical vs. modern composition and orchestration
  • using your time signature to sound like there’s no time signature

Listen to the whole show

Download the scores to follow along: