I’m fairly sure my first radio airplay as a songwriter and performer was around 1996 on a station in Greater Manchester. I can’t remember which song got played, but I do remember the DJ played my song straight after Paul Weller, one of my favourite songwriters at the time, so I was a happy young man!
I think I started to write lyrics when I was around 15 or 16. Not content with just being a musician, I got a strong urge to try songwriting. Fuelled by being a typically unsettled teenager, the songwriting process seemed to be a perfect way to focus my internal turmoil on something creative. At this time I was mostly learning Iron Maiden and Metallica chops on drums, and playing cornet in Whaley Bridge Brass Band. Neither of these felt like the right vehicle for my fledgeling song ideas, and most singer-songwriters I was aware of seemed to play guitar, so I persuaded a friend to lend me their spare acoustic and a book of chords. I copied chord progressions and song structures from my favourite songs of the time, added my own stream-of-consciousness lyrics and melody and started dreaming of a future in the music industry.
Then followed many years of trial and error, fine-tuning my creative process, trying to emulate some of the best songwriters (in my opinion), and endlessly analysing hit songs to try to pick up songwriting tips (pre-YouTube!). It took me a long time to find my voice and finally be able to say I was a professional songwriter, but it was worth the effort.
We might all know that Bob Dylan and Taylor Swift are seriously clever at writing the songs, but there are countless lesser-known writers I’ve accidentally discovered that have inspired me to keep going and try new things. I’m still constantly surprised and inspired by great songwriting, wherever I hear it, and I hope I’ll never take it for granted.
Through some tough experiences, I discovered that the pointy end of the popular music business wasn’t for me. Writing and performing hits wasn’t to be my thing, but I’ve still had my songs played on national radio in the UK (Radio 2, since you ask), and something like 80 local and regional stations that I know of, with many more I don’t know about yet that I’ll find out about later. The fact that this has been part of what I do for a living for over 20 years now seems surreal to me, but I’m very proud of what I’ve achieved.
So that’s my story, but what sort of songwriting services can I offer you?
Remote/online songwriting help/mentoring
In the comfort of both of our favourite chairs, I could help you remotely with suggestions for songwriting themes, writer’s block unblocking, arrangement ideas and more. You could play me your song (or send a rough recording) and we can talk about how it might be developed, dynamics, tempo, chord ideas, the flow of the words, etc. Don’t worry, I’m not looking to get a cut of your royalties! Mentoring and offering my opinions and suggestions for your song are part of what I do. Simply book me for an hour (or however long you’d like) and get some fresh perspective!
Remote/online songwriter demo services
Perhaps you are writing songs, but don’t play an instrument, don’t like your own singing voice or just want to hear what your song sounds like with someone else giving it their take. I can take your lyric sheet or rough ideas recorded into your phone and turn the ideas into a high-quality demo. You can suggest some music reference points, tell me your budget and we can go from there.
Custom songwriting services & commissions
If you have a particular project for which you need a new song, I’m happy to work to a brief to write the song, or work with you to co-write. Unlike the above services, this will likely involve a split of songwriting royalties as well as a fee, but please do give me a call to have a friendly, no-obligation chat. I’m sure we can work it out!
In-person co-writing & songwriting help
If you’re booking time in the studio, I’m always happy to offer suggestions, either vaguely creative or very specific; for example, chord substitutions or lyric changes. As with the remote help option above, this is part of what I do as a producer and mentor.
If you have a part-finished song and would like me to help complete it, just let me know and we can chat about the songwriting credits.
FAQs
Writing a song can be approached from so many different directions. You might start with some music in the form of a whistled tune or a full piano piece. Or words could kick things off from a poem, a diary entry or a short story. You might create a very strict brief (a song about Suffolk tractors in a waltz rhythm?) or follow an emotion wherever it takes you. Just don’t sit staring at a blank sheet of paper or the guitar fretboard. Write something, anything! Make a chord and then another. Once you’ve started, you’re songwriting!
Songwriting can be different things for different people. Therapy, fun, maddening, joyous, essential to sanity… and that’s just what it is for me! It can be a craft that is honed over many years. And it can be something you do for work. If that’s what you’re interested in, have a think about where you are in your development and what work you need to put in to get your songs played live professionally or getting lots of streams. Are you just starting to write songs, or perhaps you’ve already had local radio airplay? Chances are you can already call yourself a songwriter.