Lydia Brownfield: “Once I get author’s block, I discover quick freestyle writing in regards to the tune topic is absolutely useful.” Photograph credit score: Pleasure Kollmer
By mining her personal course of and writing on new album ‘Dig’, the folks songwriter has unearthed a septet of tips
Like all the greatest songwriters, Lydia Brownfield has skilled the highs and lows that life has to supply. It’s all there in her music: her formative years in Columbus, Ohio, the blossoming of her profession in Atlanta, performing within the espresso homes of Greenwich Village, to not point out two divorces. These life classes all shine by way of on new album Dig. A document that deftly tackles each the political and private, all sure collectively along with her edgy folks model, it’s a testomony to her potential to behave as each vessel and navigator.
Right here, Lydia examines her personal course of and the creation of Dig in an effort to tease out seven tips that may assist different songwriters greatest categorical themselves by way of music and lyrics…
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Songs are puzzles or work that typically take me years to finish. Getting every phrase precisely proper, every thought narrowed right down to completely convey its intention, deleting increasingly of the bullshit till the lyric is free from all issues non-essential. Ah, the right lyric. I often understand quickly after a tune is full, that it’s not the right lyric in spite of everything. The items virtually match, and the image is nearly proper. However I see the issues.
1. Let the music play
When looking for the correct lyrics, I all the time enable the music to affect the phrases. Your entire finish consequence ought to match comfortable (like items in a puzzle) in order that the lyrics and music stay in good concord with each other.
I spend a variety of my time contemplating one of the best ways to explain my predicament. And by “my predicament” I imply the connection between myself and the world. I’m awkward. I’m the fish out of water. The tree within the forest, a shadow at daybreak, the invisible girl. Am I on the within looking, or the surface trying in? Do I take pleasure in writing songs, or would I somewhat do one thing else with my time? Have I simply come up to now that to do one thing else now can be silly? Like getting out of 1 grocery line as a result of it’s too lengthy solely to get in a shorter line with no checkout clerk. This, after all, isn’t a singular predicament, however a part of what makes me happiest is crafting these concerns into tune lyrics.
Generally I simply let a tune be completed, flaws and all. Sometimes I’ll discover, ten years later, the lacking piece of the puzzle. Then I’ll rewrite it, I’ll delete that tune from the whole lot, and exchange it with the brand new model. Solely to search out it’s not precisely proper both. And again and again. Then I’ve a number of variations of a tune – and none of them really feel precisely proper. It’s exhausting.
Lydia Brownfield: “ I swing wildly between religion and doubt.” Photograph credit score: Pleasure Kollmer
2. Preserve the leftovers
Once I end a tune, there’s often a variety of phrases or phrases that I actually preferred however didn’t precisely categorical what I wanted in that individual tune, so I hold a operating doc of all these in case they could possibly be helpful in future songs.
This new album has three songs which are rewrites. Damaged was first written from the vantage level of a lady breaking off a relationship, and feeling regret for leaving… then the extra I listened the extra I heard that she was truly in an abusive relationship – so the phrases modified to replicate that story, as a result of that was the story the music instructed all alongside. Hurricane bought a model new refrain for this album. It first had a pre-chorus and refrain that took it to a close to 50s doo-wop place – however that sounded disjointed from a tune in regards to the one which got here in and wreaked havoc on somebody’s life. Say You Perceive was initially titled Nashville Love Track, then it was known as Love, Love, Love, and has been re-recorded 4 instances now. I’m nonetheless unsure it’s completed.
3. Freestyle it out
Once I get author’s block, I discover quick freestyle writing in regards to the tune topic is absolutely useful. Spend about 30 minutes writing furiously with out giving your mind the time to self-correct. Sing what you’ve written over the music you’ve been engaged on, and you’ll want to have your recording app operating. A number of the most inspiring demos I’ve made have occurred like this. Afterwards, undergo and reevaluate.
For me, no matter music I discover on the guitar once I choose it up is what conjures up the phrases. Most instances the concept for the tune isn’t even recognized to me till the music is made. I like that about songwriting. I like that it might probably really feel spontaneous and really existential. As if I’ve birthed a tune that the universe made.
4. Strive alternate tunings
Generally I really feel the guitar has completely nothing left for me to play. As if I’ve performed each chord development and each notice recognized to mankind and there’s simply nothing new. I discover alternate tunings may be completely inspiring! I wrote “Every part Out There” in one thing near open D. (Word: Make sure you write down your tuning otherwise you’ll by no means be capable to play that tune once more!)
A variety of my songs are conversations about whether or not I’m doing one thing worthwhile or losing my time. Once I dig deeper the query often ready on the backside of the rabbit gap is, how do I outline success? In opposition to The Gentle is the story of a moth’s plight to make the sunshine love her. The moth doesn’t know why she wants the sunshine. She’s going to simply bang herself towards it again and again, as if that gentle goes to avoid wasting her, the moth. Which, mockingly, will solely deliver loss of life to the moth. The urgency within the music, which is exacerbated by the 5/Four time signature within the verses, gave approach to the lyrics which for me matches fairly completely collectively. All of the phrases might not be precisely proper, nevertheless it’s shut. It’s shut sufficient to be completed, for now.
Lydia Brownfield: “Learn the way you need the tune structured first, and which will assist with prepare your lyrics.” Photograph credit score: Pleasure Kollmer
5. Be open to influences, not distractions
Once I’m engaged on a tune, I actually don’t wish to take heed to something as a result of I don’t wish to be influenced or distracted. Generally I discover it useful to take heed to instrumental music or vibey overseas language artists, equivalent to Icelandic or Portuguese singers. Their voices and phrases are stunning however since I don’t know what they’re saying, it’s much less distracting and I’m extra capable of really feel the vibe and use that to assist me with my story.
Because the canvas will get fuller and fuller and extra saturated with colour and hue upon extra colour, upon texture upon thickness upon…time, the long run slips into the previous and I look again and surprise if all I’ve finished has been well worth the effort. I imply, they’re simply songs. Who has time for this infantile accumulating of phrases and music? “Get a job! Make your self helpful!” says The Committee residing in my head. I swing wildly between religion and doubt. Between the gigs, after all of the crafting, the deleting, the rewriting, the recording, the shameless promotion, the query of whether or not I’m adequate nonetheless looms. Leaping full-on with out a web is the religion I lengthy for, however doubt nonetheless holds its agency grip on me. How lengthy can I hold leaping? Will I do know when to cease? Ought to I cease? How previous is just too previous… am I too previous? Is it a life effectively lived in the event you proceed to bang your self towards the sunshine? Or is it unhappy and pathetic? The Committee positively has opinions. The tune, Issues I’ve Performed, explores these, and different questions.
6. Outline the construction
If I get caught on the story of the tune, it’s useful for me to consider the construction I’m working with on that individual tune. As an illustration; the refrain is what the tune is about in a decent little nutshell. Then the verses inform the story in additional element. And the bridge is why I want to inform you the story. Learn the way you need the tune structured first, and which will assist with prepare your lyrics.
On the finish of the day, I all the time return to the query: What’s success? Your success can solely be declared by you, that a lot I do know. For me, expressing my expertise with no reservations and no inhibitions is my street to success. I’m unsure reaching success is absolutely what I’m after if it means “arriving” someplace. Possibly the method is the success.
7. Double up
More often than not I find yourself writing two songs directly. As I’m determining what a tune is about, I begin writing phrases or phrases that develop from the music I’m enjoying. Generally after many phrases and phrases are written I understand I’m speaking about two and even three various things, so one set of lyrics will get pushed apart and turns into a special tune. Whilst I’m working by way of the music, some chord progressions additionally get pushed apart. Many instances that discarded music and people discarded phrases find yourself collectively as a complete new tune.
We’re all bushes in a forest: After we fall, we do make a sound. Whether or not anybody’s there to listen to it, or prefer it, effectively that has nothing to do with me.
Dig by Lydia Brownfield is out 19 November 2021. Additional particulars on her music and stay exhibits may be discovered at lydiabrownfieldmusic.com
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