come back and rip yourself off later if there are good bits in it. WRITE A NON-WORD CHORUS Take the words out of the problem. Don’t think at all about the “what” of the song, but focus on the vibe of the notes and chords you already have. Say you have a cool chorus written, but the words are just not fitting right, play that pattern and start singing to it using only vowels. By using soft consonants like “d” and “b” and add vowels. Start with “Doo, Doo,” and then use “Bah, Bah.” You can try to use “Oohs” or “Ahs,” but I have found that you need the consonants in order to establish syllabic rhythm. Humming is fine, but it won’t get you finishing quicker. Using these types of “nonwords,” you will start to feel the rhythm of the melody and perhaps, where there are too many (or not enough) notes.
RIP-OFF ANOTHER SONG Is this professional publisher and licensor telling me to rip-off songs? Yep. Seriously, take a song you love or even hate, and try to write your own version of it. Pick a song, any song. Remember, the point of these exercises is not to write a great song; it is to simply break the block. I do this with commercial jingles and show themes. For instance, I took the theme from Golden Girls and made it into “Spank You for Wearing Depends.” But it doesn’t have to be a parody song. Fire up Spotify and pick one of the Top 5 streamed songs, and write your own version. Again, this is not going to be recorded or released. It will get your creative juices flowing and you just might expand your writing style. CHANGE INSTRUMENTS If you write on piano or synth, pick up that
MUSIC BUSINESS
BREAK THROUGH NG BLOCK
old guitar and strum a while. Conversely, if you always write on acoustic guitar, try writing a chorus on a bass, or even just the low E guitar string. If you have a synth, try writing a song using only a horn sample. By changing the tonality of the instrument you are writing on, you will find new areas to spark your imagination. Look, the struggle is real. But, it’s only temporary. You have tons of great songs to write, and I can’t wait to hear them.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Michael St. James is the founder and creative director of St. James Media, specializing in music licensing, publishing, production and artist development. PERFORMER MAGAZINE JUNE/JULY 2017 9