How Tension and Release Creates Successful Songs

Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6-ebook bundle, and get your songwriting career going! _____________ I’ve been listening to Foo Fighter’s fantastic new hit, “Rope“, from their newly released album “Wasting Light”, and it got me thinking about song energy, and specifically about the issue of tension and release. “Rope” is a relentlessly powerful tune, […]

Got Songwriting Ideas, But Can’t Finish the Song?

Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6-ebook bundle, and learn how to pull all your musical ideas into a GREAT song! _____________ When we just can’t seem to generate anything that sounds like a songwriting idea, we usually chalk it up to writer’s block. But there’s a particular kind of problem that’s a bit different: […]

“Jar of Hearts”, and the Art of the Long, Slow Build

Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6 e-book bundle, and kick-start your songwriting career! ____________ Christina Perri’s single, “Jar of Hearts”, currently no. 19 on Billboard’s Hot 100, is a beautiful example of how to contour a ballad into a hauntingly beautiful musical journey. The secret to the song’s success lies in its subtleties. The song evolves […]

Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep”: Why it Works

Lately I’ve been hearing lots of people lament the dreadful state of pop music, and wonder what the future holds for us. Nothing’s new: every year has its hit-makers whose popularity can make any self-respecting pop music enthusiast weep. But Adele, pop soul artist from England, should give any and all reason to hope. Her […]

Song Analysis: Hey Rosetta!’s “Yer Spring”

Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6 e-book bundle. Here’s how to get your songs working right away! __________________ Recently CBC Radio’s premiere arts & entertainment show, “Q“, with host Jian Ghomeshi, featured award-winning Newfoundland indie group Hey Rosetta! performing “Yer Spring” from their newly-released album “Seeds.” The album is simply fantastic, a model for […]

How to Analyze Songs, and Why You'll Benefit

Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6-ebook bundle, and discover why great songs are great! ____________ The songwriters who get better quickly are the ones who know how to analyze music. Look at it this way: If you don’t have the ability to analyze songs, you have only your instincts to help you improve. With […]