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This is a weekly podcast about the craft of songwriting hosted by Berklee College of Music Professor Scarlet Keys. She takes deep dive into the craft, technique and art of songwriting in conversations with eminent songwriters, producers, and other creatives asking questions only a songwriting professor would ask so listeners can walk away inspired and armed with clear and actionable tools and techniques they can apply to their songwriting.
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In this episode, I am talking to Prince Charles Alexander about the evolution of hip hop music, production and rap.Prince Charles is a sought-after recording and mixing engineer whose clients include Mary J. Blige, Destiny's Child, Faith Evans, P. Diddy, the Notorious B.I.G., Usher, Boyz II Men, Brandy, Babyface, Sting, Aretha Franklin, Usher, Brian McKnight, and others. Alexander has garnered more than 40 Platinum and Gold certifications from the RIAA and has multiple Grammy Awards and nomin...
In this episode, I talk with Grammy nominated composer and award winning pianist, educator and author of the best selling book “Effortless Mastery” and “Becoming the Instrument”.Here are some episode takeaways:You don’t move forward unless you practice Let your arms defy gravitySate of presence of mindThe body is the instrument that plays the instrumentBE the instrumentGet your mind out of the way so the body can commit to muscle memory and motor skillThe need to sound good obscure...
Back for more in part 2:Ken Yates has gained a reputation as one of his country’s brightest rising singer-songwriters. The winner of two Canadian Folk Music Awards for Songwriter of the Year and New Artist of the Year. Yates supported Passenger on their tour across North America and in Europe in 2020, and has shared stages with Ryan McMullan, Jenn Grant, and many others.He doesn’t like bar chordsIn this episode, he talked shares his secret sauce open tuning that inspired several songs o...
In this episode, I talk with legendary master songwriter Hugh Prestwood about his craft and break down two of his masterpiece songs "The Song Remembers When" and "Ghost in this House".Show highlights: Writing alone and how for some writers, co-writing causes anxiety and doesn't allow you to do your best work. He likens cowriting to a painter handing another painter their paint brush in the middle of a painting.How important truth is in a song and how it gives you confidenceSus chor...
Multi grammy award winning songwriter Lori McKenna. Lori is an American folk, Americana, and country music singer-songwriter. In 2016, she won a grammy for Best Country Song "Girl Crush" performed by Little Big Town. In 2017, she won a grammy for her song “Humble and Kind” recorded by Tim McGraw and most recently was nominated for a grammy for best song “Beautiful Noise” co written with Brandi Carlilie, Alicia keys, Brandy Clark, Linda Perry, Ruby Amanfu, Hailey Whitt...
Wendy Moten Is known affectionately in various industry circles as “The Voice,” the multi-talented Memphis born performer launched her career with a self-titled album that included the ballad “Come In Out Of The Rain,” which reached the Top 5 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and later hit the Top Ten on the UK singles chart. Wendy opened for Michael Bolton and then recorded well received albums (including one produced by Foster).Wendy diversified and launched a new phase o...
In this episode, VP and A&R of Warner Bros. Nashville B.J. Hill, shared music biz gold! He talked about what he looks for in a writer he signs to a publishing deal, what he looks for in a song and nuances in lyric writing that he feels takes a song over the edge and onto the radio.He plays two of his favorite songs and talks about why he loves them. He shares a number 1 song and plays the original work tape before it was recorded by Kenny Chesney. He talked about h...
Rob Giles is a singer-songwriter known for his solo work, along with working with Andy Summers of the Police and the band The Rescues. He pivoted to film and television writing in 2015 when he sold two spec scripts to Warner Bros. Warner Bros also developed two shows with the CW in 2016 and 2017.This was such an inspiring and honest conversation touching on sobriety, therapy and working on yourself as well as your craft. We talked about lyric structure and the freedom in the boundaries...
In this episode, Jeff walks us through one of his songs and how he makes melodic decisions.Show take aways:How to evolve your melodyFocus to the relationship between chords and melodySecondary Dominant can be great chords for the bridgeCreate hooks both in the melody and piano partFocus on the song, not the businesshttp://jefffranzel.comhttps://www.scarletkeys.comThe show's theme song "What's in a Song" was co-written with Otto GrossRecorded and performed by Otto Gross: @OttoGrossP...
This week, I talk with Neuroscientist and best selling author of the book "This is your Brain on Music". Why we feel better when we hear sad songs, how certain compositional decisions affect the brain of the listener and so much more.https://www.scarletkeys.comhttp://daniellevitin.comThis episode was mixed by Peter Sykes:https://www.petersykesmusic.com"The Craft of Songwriting: Music, Meaning and Emotion: https://www.amazon.com/Craft-Songwriting-Music-Meaning-Emotion/dp/0876391927/ref=s...
This week, I talk with Norwegian born L.A. based hit songwriter and producer about how he found his unique voice as a writer and a producer. Creative Bravery and being yourself in a wold that wants you to follow the trend and writing with and producing artist Salem Ilese.https://www.scarletkeys.comhttp://www.bendikmoller.comThis episode was mixed by Peter Sykes:https://www.petersykesmusic.com"The Craft of Songwriting: Music, Meaning and Emotion: https://www.amazon.com/Craft-Songwr...
In this episode, Pat walks us through several songs demonstrating the powerful effect of melodic phrasing and how it can transform your songwriting. He also breaks down one of his original songs to demonstrate the before and after he changes the phrasing.https://www.patpattison.comhttps://www.scarletkeys.comThe final version of "Pieces" was arranged by: David Bawiec https://www.davidbawiec.com/?fbclid=IwAR0I9P7K-1IROgJBNQptzoVZKMWapVTv5-QNJzMiY_aQriaCXAuhPvZyUbMThis episode w...
In this episode I talk with singer/songwriter Sally Taylor about writing the music first, what she learned about writing from growing up with two of the most popular artists of our time and the power of metaphor. She shares her unbelievably inspiring brain child Consenses and how it can be so helpful to songwriters.Find Sally Taylor:https://consenses.orgScarlet's book on songwriting:"The Craft of Songwriting: Music, Meaning and Emotion: https://www.amazon.com/Craft-Songwriting-Music-Mea...
In this episode, I talk with best selling author of "Writing Down the Bones" on having a writing practice and trusting the mind. How writing topics can help songwriters, the zen of writing, haiku and being willing to write terrible things.https://nataliegoldberg.comhttps://www.scarletkeys.com"The Craft of Songwriting: Music, Meaning and Emotion: https://www.amazon.com/Craft-Songwriting-Music-Meaning-Emotion/dp/0876391927/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=the+craft+of+songwriting&qid=1...
1In this episode, I talk with hit songwriter Greg Becker about his writing process, what inspires him, what keeps him grounded as a writer. He shares his journey as a songwriter, how he cowrites and collaborates and the importance of rhythm in your melody.PersistanceProcess over outcomeCollaborateRelationship first, cowriter 2ndSay things you believeLeave your ego at the doorScarlet's website: https://www.scarletkeys.comScarlet's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scarletkeysofficial/T...
This episode is literally a master class on songwriting. Gary talks about his process, how he writes a song like it's a screen play and shows you how he writes a great melody and the notes that matter.Show take aways:· Start with a title· Decide what style the song should be in· Decide where to place the title to determine the song form· Is it the first line of the song? Does it occur at the end of every ver...
Steve Seskin is a hit songwriter and artist. He plays one of his hit songs and walks us through how the song came to be step by step, sharing his thought process and craft. He shares his insights on what it takes to write a great story song.Show take aways:Try writing your chorus first asking "What is the big pictures idea". Try to write so that your choruses grow in meaning each time you hear them.Try writing to the following chord progression:I VImin &nb...
In this episode, I talk with the author of "The Artist's Way", Julia Cameron and she shares some of her life changing tools for unblocking, creating flow, and handling the inner and outer critique.Show take aways:Take long walks, walking primes the pumpHave a weekly artist's dateUse humor to diffuse the mean critique voiceDue your morning writingWrite by handWhen we are vulnerable we are rewarded with the flow of creativityMiniaturize you're sensor and give it a cartoon wee small voicehttps:/...
Eric Roberson is a two time Grammy nominated singer/songwriter and producer and a professor at the Berklee College of Music.Some take aways from today's show:Be willing to crash and burn for the chance that we might find artPrioritize what's important and be willing to say noBe fully present and embody each and every momentTry different instruments to find new ideas in your writingWhat is your relationship with creativity?Write without responsibilityChew slowBe purpose drivenhttps://eri...
My guest today is award winning singer songwriter and producer Mark Erelli. Mark has produced albums for Lori McKenna, toured with Josh Ritter, Paula Cole, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. He has released over 11 albums as a solo artist.On this episode, Mark dives into the writing process from one of the songs off his new record Blindsided and the crucial art of critical thinking for the songwriter. He shares his favorite ways to rhyme, how to write to the biggest idea and a few o...
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