Songwriting Challenge 2024: Neel’s multicultural approach to his holiday song

For our first host response to our Songwriting Challenge 2024 to write a holiday song, Neel shared the process behind his song Forest for the Trees.

Download the lyric/chord sheet to follow along.

We talked about:

• Mystery blobs washing up on Newfoundland shores likely man-made, says scientist | CBC News
• Listeners, you still have time to submit your song for the challenge and have it featured on the podcast! Send us your song by November 18.
• How Neel now always starts with a concept for his songs
• Researching your idea on Wikipedia can be helpful
• Neel’s musical approach to incorporate an eastern-sounding mode and the classic Christmas chord cadence
• Letting the structure of your song being inspired by your idea, and a great Peter Gabriel song
• How self-imposing limitations or rules in your songwriting can help you focus
• How the specifics of the rhythmic language you’re using are essential to the groove and feel of your song
• Taking the time to develop your song is worth it