bridge

Writing from your innermost truths with Rachel Cousins

Rachel Cousins joined us to talk about writing prolifically and from inner feelings. We also talk about AI in songwriting.

Rachel shared her song Little Help. Download the lyrics to follow along.

We talked about:

Our songwriting challenge for 2025 to write a song in an odd time signature.

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Neel plays with a polymeter for his songwriting challenge answer

by Neel Modi

For Neel’s answer to the 2025 songwriting challenge, he wrote a baroque-esqe song using multiple time signatures and polymeter sections.

Download the lyrics to Vice and Rack to follow along.

We talked about:

The song Cup of Coffee by Garbage and how they used a polymeter (which Neel incorrectly labelled compound time)
How Neel incorporated four different time signatures in his song, including a polymeter of “3 against 4” (3/4 and 4/4 simultaneously)
Using a 7/4 time signature with alternating 3+4 and 4+3 emphases
The appearance of odd time signatures in classical Indian music
How Neel’s approach to the bridge resulted in a modulation for the final chorus
How Neel used a metronome and selectively muting tracks to compose the polymeter section

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Alex Whorms and writing with a producer mindset

by Neel Modi

Singer, songwriter and keyboardist, Alex Whorms stopped in to talk about writing her latest song “Wrong”. Download the lyrics to follow along.

We talked about:

Our episode Mistakes that “amateur” songwriters make and feedback from a listener
Using syncopation and misalignment of lyrical phrasing and melody to introduce tension
Editing your song through iterations to make it better
Writing your bridge just in time for the recording session
Writing with a producer mindset
Writing the lyrics as the last thing
Our songwriting challenge for 2025 to write a song in an odd time signature.

… Read the rest

Using a diminished chord with intention with David Leask

by Neel Modi

Award-winning Scots-Canadian singer-songwriter, David Leask, is a celebrated writer and performer, known for his emotionally resonant songwriting, soulful voice, and deep musical craftsmanship that flows freely between genres. Throughout his three decade long career, Leask has performed over 3,000 shows and earned accolades across multiple genres.… Read the rest

Writing a classic New Orleans song with The Heavyweights Brass Band

by Neel Modi

John Pittman has been a member of The Heavyweights Brass Band since the release of their sophomore album “Brasstronomical” in 2014. He is a trumpet player and composer for the band who just released their fifth full length album “Knockout” in June 2025.… Read the rest

Breaking the rules with intention with Zoe Thiessen

by Neel Modi

Zoe Thiessen is a singer/songwriter, guitarist and violinist now based in Toronto after years of living abroad. Her finely crafted songs always have a hint of the fairy tale about them, and she delivers them with a warm alto that has a timbre all its own.… Read the rest

Intentional songwriting with Natalie Reis

by Neel Modi

Natalie Reis is an independent folk singer/songwriter whose music is caught between bittersweet narratives and soaring melodies. Following her debut EP ‘Bones on Fire’ in 2020, Natalie has released six singles that have evolved her storytelling-lyricism and solidified her sound as a distinctive emerging artist.… Read the rest

Remote collaboration tips with Mike Rudquist and Neel

by Neel Modi

For this special episode, we talked about a collaboration Neel did with Mike Rudquist, a singer-songwriter he met at the At Home Songwriting group for a songwriting challenge.

Mike Rudquist is a songwriter from Red Wing, MN who writes songs in Americana, pop/rock, and country.… Read the rest