Getting Past Writer’s Block with Susan Cattaneo

Singer-songwriter and music educator Susan Cattaneo joined us once again, this time to talk about tips for overcoming writer’s block for songwriters. We talked about:

• writing in a different mode, on purpose
• a great video on understanding modes – The Modes Ranked by Brightness – YouTube
• lists of contemporary songs using modes, courtesy of Susan and her Berklee colleague Sarah Brindell:
  • • • Dorian songs: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3FndQl5VMjABdNsnxAalqP?si=ylKzbnNORkyV-C7nb0yyaQ
      • Mixolydian songs: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4dLuDaRLtyodMb5TDlQk5V?si=yyZsVrDORnasT_TYCyqPNA
      • Lydian songs: Down to Earth by Peter Gabriel, Oceans by Pearl Jam, When We Dance by Sting
      • For Phrygian: Unholy by Sam Smith
• how “not writing” can be seen like a rest in music, rather than a paralyzing feeling of never being able to write again
• how learning about more paths through writing a song can be helpful in overcoming a block
• letting ideas marinate before becoming a song
• how there are two kinds of writer’s block: “I can’t write” and “I don’t want to write”
• The Inner Game of Music (book)
• listen to music you don’t normally listen to or don’t like, but listen actively and analytically
• ingest more media like art, movies, TV shows, the news, a good meal
• On Writing (book)
• Writing Better Lyrics (book)
• have a bag of words – pick two at random to start a song
• keyword exercise: finding groups of rhyming words to start a lyric
• writing something dumb or silly to get started
• learn and perform cover songs to learn more about songwriting
• go to a food court and eavesdrop on conversations
• collaborate with others to overcome blocks