Lessons Learned: Devon Portielje of Half Moon Run, on songwriting

Story by webadmin | Thursday August 1st, 2013

  • Over-thinking will kill any song in half a second. Under-thinking will create an ineffective song. Find a balance of analysis and emotion.
  • Work under pressure. If you don’t have a deadline, make one up.
  • Ideas are a dime a dozen. Be open and don’t get emotionally attached. Every idea could go somewhere.

Lesson Learned: Jason Blaine

Story by webadmin | Tuesday November 5th, 2013

  • “[Producer] Rick Hutt told me, ‘You’re going to get to wherever it is you’re going.’ It sounds simple, but it’s really about enjoying the process of getting there, not just arriving.”
  • “My game plan when I’m going into a write is that I have something I’d enjoy singing, whatever it says. And a lot of times I’ll have a tempo, groove, melody or phrasing to fit a topic or theme.”

Lessons Learned: Dallas Good’s songwriting tips

Story by Tiana Feng | Monday June 17th, 2013

  • If your song kind of sucks, kill it while it’s weak. There’s already too much bad music out there. No, strings won’t help.
  • If your brother’s song isn’t that great, don’t tell him. It makes your songs sound better on the album.
  • Try not to rhyme love with love more than once a song.