I am writing songs again.
As someone who goes in and out of songwriting mode for my own records, there’s nothing like the comfort and relief of sitting down and feeling the cogs start to turn and whir in a direction pointing towards a new body of work for you to throw yourself into. Although I’m writing songs and music all the time for various artists, pitches and projects, there is something specifically different when your creativity grabs you by the scruff of the neck and says “dude, it’s time”.
I’ve noticed a trend when I speak to my songwriting friends and mentors where the go to metaphors used to depict this particular creative period commonly relate to plumbing. The first time I became conscious of this was when I was lucky enough to be writing a tune with a very accomplished songwriter who told me in a deadpan voice that creativity is like a cistern - you can’t keep hitting the flush button again and again expecting there to be water. Instead, you have to allow time for the cistern to fill up before syphoning out what’s inside. Poetic stuff.
Another visual that has been shared with me was from a friend who described those early days of writing songs after a break from producing output is like turning on an old tap - you have to let it run for a little while to allow it the flowing water to go from murky to clear.
Right now, I feel like the cistern has refilled and is ready to be flushed, but the water is yet to run entirely clear. Learning to be patient with myself and accepting this part of the process as being the challenge that it is par for the course in this craft.
Some of you have asked me to share some of my process when it comes to writing songs and I’ve found it hard to determine any cardinal rules for how I go about it, and that’s because, well, there aren’t any. But now feels like as good a time as any to share with you some “guidelines” that I’ve been trying to work alongside and challenge at the moment:
Don’t start editing before you’ve even started writing the damn song
This is my biggest battle - trying not to second guess my instincts before they even get a chance to manifest. Although it’s good to get out of your bag of tricks and push yourself in new and different directions, it’s also important to be kind to yourself and allow yourself to let things happen and give them time to naturally mutate into exciting and unexpected results. I’m big on the concept of “mutation” when it comes to writing songs. It’s part of the magic of it all and where the most surprises seem to come from. Just let it happen, baby.
Nothing is set in stone
I used to very rarely revise and rewrite songs, mainly out of fear of admitting to myself that something may not actually be as good as what I thought it was in the moment. These days, I feel strongly about rewriting parts of songs as it kind of takes the pressure off what comes out of yourself when you start putting something together. Knowing that nothing is permanent and can be improved upon is a really valuable mantra for doing the scariest part of the process - starting.
Be brave
Don’t run away from the crux of a song, even when it becomes a bit scary or a little deep. Lean in!
Show up
In a world of rules that are made to be broken, this one is about as solid as it gets. Any lightening bolt of inspiration that comes out of nowhere only happens because you’ve shown up time and time again. One of my favourite ever quotes is “fortune favours the prepared mind”, which manifests in my life as “that awesome song that fell out of your fingertips and onto the page in 10 minutes is actually thanks to all those not so awesome songs you slaved over for hours”. You gotta turn on the taps, dude - show up!
Until next time,
AL x
AL READS
The Evolution of Steve Albini - Jeremy Gordon for The Guardian
In the wake of the untimely death of recording legend Steve Albini, this profile of him from just under a year ago resurfaced and is a captivating unpacking of Albini’s attitudes towards recording bands, the senseless nature of how the music industry pays (or doesn’t pay) artists and his part in the history of modern music. But what’s more is that it is an article about how people can grow and change through acknowledging failure and misjudgement. Admirably, Albini’s greatest legacy is more than just the culture shaping records that passed through his hands and ears - it was also his capacity to reflect on himself and his actions as an individual and fall on his sword with humility and honesty. Thanks for the life lessons in and out of the studio, Steve x
AL WATCHES
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
As a lifelong Star Wars fan, I have of course done my duty and rewatched The Phantom Menace on its 25th anniversary year. For all of its famous flaws, it has been a very comforting nostalgia trip diving back into the world of Anakin and Obi Wan and being able to recontextualize it with a quarter of a century’s worth of popular culture, history and time (did anyone else know that a very young Keira Knightley is in this film or is that only news to me??). Let me put out there my big idea for moving the franchise forward: a faux documentary series about the podracing league in the style of ‘Drive To Survive’. If anyone at Disney is out there, drop me a line to discuss further.
AL LISTENS
What can I say, I’m on a JJ kick right now. Janet is an artists that despite historically enormous commercial success and notoriety is somehow still underrated and unacknowledged for her influence and innovation as we roll on through the 21st century. There are some wild stories woven into to songs on this album (Janet was rightfully taking back ~control~ in all facets of her life) and the production is famously groundbreaking. Have a Janet Jackson dance party with your mates this weekend. You can thank me after.
Has Anyone Ever Told You You’re Alive - Plastic?
A few years ago, I was a part of a lockout/rehearsal space that was built into the loft of a carpentry workshop in the backstreets of Collingwood. One of the bands that occupied the spot with me was called Plastic. I’ve recently been unearthing some old playlists I’ve woven together over the years and was reminded of this tune from their 2017 EP ‘Air Conditioning’. Dude, I don’t know what the hell was in the air the day this was recorded (potentially wood dust), but holy shit it’s so good. It’s one of those magical recordings that captures the synergy of a REAL band that has been playing together for years. A real treat.
Look, put simply, this is a fantastic album. Charli has managed to do something on BRAT that so many artists have been trying to achieve for so long - make a club record that is ambitiously and willingly vulnerable and personable. I’ve been a fan of Charli for a decade now and it’s inspiring to see her continue to climb both vertically and sometimes laterally to the point of owning the zeitgeist. Unsurprisingly, she did it and, unsurprisingly, she did it with a brilliant record.
As always, head over to my infinite playlist to get the full neverending scope of what’s flooding my ears (best consumed on shufflé).
AND JUST WHILE WE’RE ALL HERE…
I am so, so excited to be joining my friends Vacations on tour through the US and into Mexico City in July and August! I’ll be opening all shows solo, with the exception of the LA show where I’ll be main support with a full band set. AND you might just spy me whipping out some guitar and sax with the fellas during their set ♥‿♥。)
Feed the beast - buy AL a coffee
Get well soon, I hope it's not something serious
One of the best songwriters in the game imo!