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:  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:

Show date:  Nov. 26, 2018

Michael, Bruce, Sintja, Neel Linda, and Phil

Sintja Baba on her 1st EP

Singer songwriter Sintja Baba returned to share some songwriting tips.

Sintja fronts Toronto based band THE NAIVE on guitar/vocals/keys, and is the principle song writer. Last year they released their Debut EP “Saw The Sun” followed by single “My Guitar” in July of this year. They released their most recent music video for single “The Moon” off their Debut EP on Nov.19 shot & directed by Marlon Chaplin.

Listen to the show:

Stuff We Talked About:

 

 

Show date:  Nov. 19, 2018

The 1st Annual Holiday Gift Guide: Great Gifts for Songwriters

With the holiday season just around the corner, we decided to help you out with some great gift ideas for songwriters and musicians in your life. We put them into four categories:

  1. Stocking Stuffers ( 0 – $15)
  2. Small Gifts ($15 – $100)
  3. Good Gifts ($100 – $300)
  4. WOW! Gifts ($300+) (the, gee if I only had a super-generous someone who had money to burn…)

Our suggestions ran the gamut from a cool Christmas tree ornament (under $15) to a Bob Dylan model Gibson guitar (WAY over $300).

So have a listen. It’ll make your holiday shopping a happier tune.

Listen to the whole show

 

Show date:  Nov. 11, 2018

Neel, Mike MacInnes, Michael Proudfoot, Vanessa, Linda, Bruce, and Phil

5-Year Anniversary Spectacular!

For our 5-year anniversary, we visited moments past and our favourite bits. Song Talk Radio Superfan Mike MacInnes joined us (for the 5th time!)

Listen to the show

Some of our favourite theme shows:

Some of our favourite guest shows:

We talked about:

  • How to write lyrics that are specific but open enough to allow the listener in
  • The distance between being inspired to write a song and developing it with craft
  • What the heck is polytonality?
  • We’ve done 47 theme shows in that last five years! Thanks to Mike MacInnes for the research
  • The growing Song Talk Radio Team

Show date:  Nov. 07, 2018

Steven Taetz sharing jazz songwriting tips

Writing Jazz Standards: Songwriting Tips with Steven Taetz

Jazz songwriter Steven Taetz returns to talk about creating new “Jazz Standards”.

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Stuff we talked about:

The Great American Song Book Buy The Great American Song Book 

Charts for The Great American Songbook
A “Fake Book” with just a lead line and the charts for the songs.