bridge

Neel, Phil, and Andrea

Writing a long song with Civil Wray

Sparkle. It’s exactly what Civil Wray does on her brand-new single, appropriately entitled “Sparkle”.  Civil Wray, the nom de plume of Toronto singer songwriter Andrea de Boer, worked with producer Matt DeMatteo (Danko Jones, Big Wreck, Ashley MacIsaac) in creating an ethereal, dreampop song, that may remind listeners of artists like Fiona Apple, David Bowie, and Tame Impala.… Read the rest

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Neel, Phil, and Alex

Alex Whorms writes her first original Christmas song

While some artists work to master their chosen genre and others may even manage to define one, Alex Whorms crafts music that is essentially a genre unto itself. Seated at her beloved keyboard, the young vocalist and composer flows freely and flawlessly between styles and sounds, gracefully blending classic singer-songwriter pop, jazz, soul, rock, classical, folk and almost anything else that strikes her fancy — all while investing everything with honest tales and authentic emotions drawn from her own life and experiences.… Read the rest

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Allister, Phil, and Neel

All about bridges with Allister Bradley

Allister Bradley, Canadian singer-songwriter, pianist, producer, and technical director of the Song Studio Songwriter’s Workshop in Toronto, and co-host of the Hooks & Ladders youTube show with Blair Packham, joined us to talk about three songs with great bridges.

We talked about:

  • How the bridge differs from the verse and chorus
  • How a good bridge changes the viewpoint, the key signature, or uses something you haven’t used in the song yet
  • How do you know if a song needs a bridge or not?

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Neel, Phil, Dave & Meghan

Writing in a blues band with Bywater Call

Filled with incredible vocals and musicianship often compared to the Tedeschi Trucks Band, Canadian Americana/Roots band Bywater Call has made their unprecedented mark on the Canadian and international Blues/Roots scene with their brand-new album, “Remain”. From explosive television performances to radio play across the country, their distinctive sound blending Rock, Americana, and Soul is highlighted by the explosive vocal talent of lead singer, Meghan Parnell, with a voice coined as one of the “best in Roots and Blues today” by European press, often compared to Susan Tedeschi.… Read the rest

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Neel, Phil, and Matt

Chord Progression Tips with Matt Zaddy

With a sound that seamlessly blends folk-rock and modern soul, there’s something for every music fan to love about singer/songwriter Matt Zaddy. A storyteller at heart, his music is filled with tales of life, love, hardship and redemption. As someone who has shared stages with a diverse array of artists including K’Naan, Francesco Yates, and Canadian Rock legends Tom Cochrane and Jim Cuddy, Matt Zaddy’s intention is to connect with as many listeners as possible, regardless of any genre restrictions.Read the rest

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Nabs-D, Neel, and Teresa

Funky Collaboration with Nabs-D & Teresa

Nab-s D & Teresa is a new Toronto-based duo featuring funky basslines and powerful, soulful vocals. They featured their new single On The Run on the podcast this week.

We talked about:

  • writing an instrumental bed to support a singer
  • leaving room for spontaneity in the studio
  • structuring your song with very high contrast between sections
  • having a balance between repetition and surprise in your song
  • considering the energy map and the journey of your song, especially if it’s a longer song

Download the lyrics to On The Run to follow along.… Read the rest

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