Pop songwriter • arranger • vocalist • keyboardist
Do you ever feel like the well has run dry, like there’s nothing else to draw from? If so, how do you get beyond that?
I never feel like I HAVE to write. If I’m not inspired, I read. These days I read mostly non-fiction; politics, biography…that sort of thing. The best songs are generated by emotion and (besides being in love) anger can be a force for driving, rhythmic songs (see “16 Words” and “Yes I Am”). Reading can generate many good ideas.
Do you prefer writing straightforward or opaque lyrics?
I generally write straightforward lyrics. But I like to play games with myself. For example, “Thoughts” is a song made up of (only) two-word phrases and “Love” is a series of five questions.
“16 Words” was taken from George W. Bush’s 2003 State of the Union address and I thought of setting these words (a lie) to music while reading Joseph Wilson’s book “The Politics of Truth”. (There’s that anger again!)
In your experience, do the best-written melodies seem to be generated by an instrument or separate from one?
It depends on the writer. Many great composers ‘hear’ music in their heads and struggle to get it down on paper as fast as they can. I’m not one of them. My best melodies have come from improvising on the piano. If a lyric idea is lurking, sometimes the song just writes itself. I always feel like a lucky bystander when this happens.
Tell me about your featured song.
“Moon Ride” is the first song I ever had recorded. This is that record: Chris Connor on Atlantic Records.
I was a teenager…mostly influenced by the pop music of the time, but newly in love with jazz. I’m pretty sure I was influenced by a pop hit that had talking in it…”meanwhile, back in the jungle”. I hope you’re not disappointed that I didn’t choose one of my own records, but I thought this would be great fun.
Listen to the featured song!
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