Writing a classic love ballad with Colm Gavin

Colm Gavin has always been hugely inspired by the great American Songbook – particularly: Jerome Kern, Harold Arlen, Hoagy Carmichael and their brilliant love ballads.

Lyrically, Colm wanted this to be playful and honest. “While I’m someone of simple means, goes wild for the finer things, a Paris balcony with a view, I’m more an early bird lunch for two.”

Colm shared the process behind his song It’s starting to feel like love. Download the lyrics to follow along.

We talked about:

• Using chord changes incorpoating secondary dominants, parallel keys and “Gershinwy” chords
• Combining simple, almost cliche lyrics with complex musical ideas
• Taking cues from The American Songbook and 50s movies
• Writing a short song and the relevance of the album