Best known for his heartfelt love songs, songwriter Greg Wyard is about to surprise his audience with “Guns and Money,” a song that delves into significant global issues with a guitar-heavy rock sound. “Guns and Money” takes a more serious and thought-provoking direction than previous songs, taking inspiration from society’s obsession with wealth and weapons …
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Songwriting Challenge 2023: Listener Songs Volume 2
Our second batch of listener songs for our songwriting challenge 2023 to write in a mode included a song (mostly) in Phrygian, one definitely in Phrygian, and one with modal interchange. We talked about: The Song Talk Meetup Being sure you incorporate the unique intervals of a mode in your chord choices and melodies Phrygian …
Writing for radio with Kasia Livingston
Few things are as exciting as being a teenager with talent and a dream!! Located in the heart of the entertainment industry, the Los Angeles College of Music faculty are currently touring and working with music’s top stars and can give musical teens a leg up and inside track on the competition. Kasia ‘Kasey’ Livingston …
Songwriting Challenge 2023: Listener Songs Volume 1
Our first batch of listener songs for our songwriting challenge 2023 to write in a mode included a song in Dorian and two songs in Lydian. Lynn Moe shared his song Clean Up Time in D Dorian. Download the lyrics and chords to follow along. We talked about: Using a phrase that doesn’t necessarily make …
Neel gets all nostalgic for his songwriting challenge answer
For our first host-answer episode for our Songwriting Challenge 2023, Neel shared the process behind his answer to the challenge to write a song in a mode. Our good friend Susan Cattaneo joined in – thanks Susan for your awesome insights! Download the lyrics to follow along. We talked about: SummerSongs songwriting retreat The Number …
Collaboration tips with Alex Whorms and Aaron John
Songwriters Alex Whorms and Aaron John met ten years ago at a youth talent contest in Oshawa, Ontario, where they both performed original songs and tied for first place. They quickly bonded over their shared love of Coldplay, Keane, and Sara Bareilles and went on to write music and perform together often. Aaron would later …
Deep Dive: This Guy’s in Love by Burt Bacharach
For this special episode, Phil dives deep on the Burt Bacharach / Hal David song This Guy’s in Love With You, made popular in 1968 by Herb Alpert. We talked about: Our Songwriting Challenge for 2023, and thank-you to everyone who have already sent in their songs! Using ChatGTP to write (a really vanilla draft …
Being open to new collaborations with Jeremy Voltz
Burned-out mathematician turned indie-soul artist, Jeremy Voltz’s music is inspired by thinking deeply about the people in his life and what he’d love to have the courage to say to them. Reminiscent of Jeff Buckley, Hozier, and Stevie Wonder, he has a voice that is powerful and haunting. As a vocalist, Voltz has toured the …