JPF Home Page Forums General Messages Songwriter Message Forum Ande's SongWriting Blog

I've decided to begin a songwriting blog here,
if that's OK
I'll share the details of my behind the scenes songwriting efforts
songwriting is a battle we fight at many fronts
a few years ago I started my swimming blog where I share the details of my swimming training
it's had over 134,000 views and gets several hundred a day
http://forums.usms.org/showthread.php?t=4298

Friday December 28, 2007

Last night I went to dinner with my friend and collaborator Dennis Livingston and his wife Karen at Biga on the Banks on the San Antonio Riverwalk, they are in from Boston
http://www.dennislivingston.com/
had a great time,
his dad was quite a songwriter
http://www.dennislivingston.com/jerrylivingstonmain.htm

Halie send me her demo of Eventually
http://www.songramp.com/mod/mps/viewtrack.php?trackid=61657

and final mix of That Magic
http://www.songramp.com/mod/mps/viewtrack.php?trackid=61658
I'm sending her a check and figuring out what she can demo next

added some touches to the draft of my Resolution song

Corresponded some with Donna Galbraith on a cowrite
she's a wonderful writer and artist
http://www.songramp.com/homepage.php?userid=4347

Eric expressed interest in one of my song ideas and asked me to writ more on it since I just sent him a chorus

going to be in
Tampa Sat Jan 5 - Wed Jan 9th and
LA Fri Feb 8th - Tue Feb 12th for grammys

need to vote for Grammy's

Love rading Marc Allen's stuff
read this today:

"Ande,

Check out my earlier post. I think I answered that. Try to write ten up tempo and mid tempos for every ballad you write. Try to establish yourself with co-writes before you try to hit with the big ballad. Most ballads by "outsiders" or newer writers are generally turned off at the intros.The reason is pretty evident when you hear a lot of songs. They are usually very average. They will have identical rhymes and story to what you have heard before.

As you get more established, either through publishers or co-writers, you get two more lines. With some people they will listen to the first two lines before turning it off. The reason is the publisher or co-writer may know other work of yours enough to give you the benefit of the doubt. But of course if you don't have some amazing lines and go for the average rhyme, you are going to be dead very quickly,

When you are very well known they will give you a chorus. That is because you have earned it and they try to pay attention, but know they have an uphill fight with every thing.

Songs picked for a project start off like this:
Everything the artist writes gets first pick.
Then the producer and their publishing company catalogue.
Then the "Big Dog" writers.
Then known publishers who have friends that have written with the artist.
About 17th down the list are outside writers. Now knowing that there are only going to be two ballads per 12 song project and those could be the career songs for the artist, they are going with the tried and true first or the way the artist wants his feelings known, which he has written himself.

So your chances of even getting it heard are very slim indeed. If you get known for nothing but ballads, you are known for bringing a square peg in a round hole.

Even with all the communication out there today, Internet, pod casting, Sattalite etc. AM/FM Radio is still the primary method of reaching the audience, And until every car comes equipped with an I pod as standard equipment, it will probably stay that way. Radio screams for up tempo because it sells commercial air time. That is how they stay in business.

So unless you have amazing ballads, that just hit a homerun every time you are at bat, you are going to increase your odds the more mid or up tempo you get. Unless of course you are established. Or the artist. Or producer. Or have gold and platinum records. Sell a lot of those and you can write all the ballads you want. Dianne Warren does.

MABBO"

Hi Ande,

Glad you shared your latest version of "Eventually" w/a female vocal version. Halie has a very interesting and great voice. You already know I'm a big fan of this song THAT SHOULD BE ON THE RADIO BY NOW !!!???!!! Anyway that's probably a good idea to show the flexibility of the lyric to be gender neutral. I'll admit my favorite rendition so far is w/the Dave Brooks vocals but Halie did do a great job and kind of gave it a Diana Krall feel. Seems she went a little deeper/lower on the verses than did Dave. What studio does Halie work out of? Very good. No offense to Halie I'm just partial to the Dave Brooks version, but she did a beautiful job as well.

Best,
Lynn

Saturday, Dec 29th 2007

Corresponded with Donna G on our song
she wanted the bridge to be smart and sexy so I wrote a new one for it
I'll post it soon

I hope Halie can do a couple more demos for me before school starts

sent a few "checking in" emails to writers who are working on my lyrics

read very cool blogs by

john arthur martinez
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=73543296&blogID=342398611

and megan conner
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=25199812&blogID=341703905

I suggest writers subscribe to myspace blogs of their favorite writers and artists

Last night a member of drum jam called me and invited me to their gig in austin on new years
http://www.myspace.com/drumjamaustin

Hi Lynn,
you're welcome, great to hear from you
I'm a fan of Halie and always wanted a female demo for eventually, by the way, an artist from corpus christi has asked to cut eventually. Halie recorded it in her home studio.

Sunday, Dec 30 2007

went through my "Oct 4, 2007 - Dec 20th 2007" songwriting journal, typed down my favorite song ideas and lyric starts

worked a bit more on the song I'm writing with Donna G
hope to have something soon

Mon Dec 31 2007

Heard back from Harold Payne on a song we're working on
I met Harold at Austin's JPF road tour several years ago,
He was traveling with Brian Austin

Had a nice talk with Sandy Knox today

Got some nice responses to my JPF collaborator thread that I bumped
http://www.jpfolks.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=179904

I posted Halie's demos of "That Magic" and Eventually at the same time on songramp
for some reason Eventually has gotten twice as many listens as That Magic
http://www.songramp.com/homepage.php?userid=8001

galexc500@yahoo.com

Tuesday Jan 1, 2007

not sure what this means


today I dug up a Jimmy Buffet type lyric I wrote a while back
did some rewriting then offered it to moker jarrett here at JPF
he liked it so maybe we'll have a new song

a few years ago I started a really good New Years Resolution song, I placed it in a list of song ideas and Donna Gailbraith liked it but I hadn't finished it, I finished a first draft this week then kept tweaking it, I really like how it's taken shape, I was hoping to get it done before new years
I really like how the bridge has taken shape
I'll post it when we have a draft

I started a lyric idea that contains the word
debauchery

worked on a wonderful christian lyric with Tammy Edwards
I feel we progressed it to a presentable first draft which I sent to a producer friend to see if it interests him

I've got a situation,
I placed one of the best lyrics I've ever written with a really wonderful nashville based artist/songwriter around March 2007 and he's still hasn't sent me a draft
It's one of the best hooks I've ever come up with but I'm getting ancy, I'd really need to hear from him
think I'll shoot him an email

Wed Jan 2nd, 2008

worked with Tammy Edwards last night on a lyric to present to a Nashville Producer for an artist project, used JPF messaging
now we wait to see what's next
this part might take months

This same producer told me he's cutting another song I cowrote with him for his own project. Havent heard a rough yet.

I cast my Grammy votes today.

I'll be in Tampa Fri Jan 5th - Wed Jan 9th

Thu Jan 10th I'm attending the Austin Grammy Career Day Event

I submitted my app to run as a Texas Grammy Governor 2008 - 2010

Monday January 7th 2008

I'm in Tampa at Imaging USA 2008 it's a big photography event
Went to the expo, while there I saw
Jeff Zimmer with www.theslideshowcompany.net
Joe Refano with www.brokenjoeyrecords.com and
I met Ali Handal with www.triplescoopmusic.com

Many professional photographers are looking for excellent music to license in their slide shows and DVDs

Photodex has an awesome slide show creation program
http://photodex.com/

Heard from Carl Thiel, I invited him to work on a song I wrote for the University of Texas. He serves on the Texas Grammy Board with me.

Heard from Tammy Edwards, we need to get another song cooking, she's such a talent.

Tuesday January 8th 2008

does anyone read this
feel free to comment

sent an email to Jeff Zimmer who I saw at Imaging USA about a song and a project that might interest him and help his company

heard back from john Arthur martinez on a song idea
I sent him a while back
it interests him and he wants in
did a little more work on the lyric since all I sent him was a chorus, called him, he was kind to answer but was in a meeting and on the other line

spoke with an artists manager and producer last night,
they want to cut eventually

I am reading it.. = )

"they want to cut "Eventually" well it's about time!

Ande,

I just read this all today. I will definitely put it on my to-do list every day. I appreciate all the time you take to help educate your fellow (or wanna be) songwriters. Keep doing it, I think a lot of people are paying attention.

By the way, here is a throw-away song I did with the word "debauchery: in it (lol): http://soundclick.com/share?songid=5494697

Kevin

Wednesday January, 9th 2008

Hi Brian
glad to read you're reading this

Hi Lynn
thanks for your comment about "Eventually"
hope it works out, cuts ain't final till they're vinyl

Hi Kevin,
glad to hear from you
keep writing


Today I flew from Tampa to Austin, we had plane problems and waited 3 hours before out plane took off

did a little work in on a few lyrics
when I got home there was
1) a $217 check from ASCAP, $200 was my ASCAP plus award and 17 was payments for previous foreign airplays
2) a demo from Halie Loren, I've asked her to do a few more
hope she can before she get's too busy

tomorrow I have Austin's Grammy Career day,
I'm serving as a facilitator for the songwriting breakouts with Monte Warden

Today I caught up on Gary Powell's blog
http://www.garypowell.com/blogs/
check out his 2007 year in review post
http://www.garypowell.com/blogs/session-notes/2007-year-review/

Wednesday January 9th, 2008

got this email from my cowriter Tommy Byrd,
Last year we wrote My Forever Family.
to help hard to adopt children find families.
http://www.songramp.com/mod/mps/viewtrack.php?trackid=55107
http://www.heartgallerytexas.com/portraits/

http://www.heartgallerytexas.com/Media/Media%20Archives/Song%20release%20_Final.pdf

~ ~ ~ ~ ~


Here's hoping everyone is having a good new year! And here is the link to a story that was run on CBS 8 in San Diego. It focuses on kids in the foster care program. CBS 8 chose MY FOREVER FAMILY for the sound track. We are honored and pleased to have a part in this production. Check it out.

http://www.cbs8.com/community/adopt8/story.php?id=113259
http://www.cbs8.com/flv/video_pop_hd3.php?startID=113259

See you soon,

Kathy & Tommy
www.byrdandstreet.com
http://myspace.com/byrdandstreet

Thursday January 10th, 2008

Thanks to eveyone who commented on Eventually
I plan to write my comments and thanks to you soon
I bumped the thread because I got an new demo
http://www.jpfolks.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=231855

Did y'all notice that Jason Blume is now on MySpace
got a friend invite from him yesterday.
I gladly accepted

Grammy Career Day in Austin at UT
I bought my wife's Canon Rebel and took many photos plus I worked as a facilitator / introducer in Monte Warden's Songcrafter workshop. Monte cowrote "Desperately" with Bruce Robison for George Strait who performed in Austin last night at the Erwin Center.

Saw my buddy Gary Powell and sat in on his "voice class" he's a great instructor, great producer and freakishly brilliant
I suggest y'all catch up and subscribe to his blog at
www.GaryPowell.com

Met Hillary with www.theFlighingAs.com
she has a lovely voice

Saw Lauren Tenney, she's a wonderful high school singer that I introduced to Gary

Bowling for Soup closed the event
they were hilarious and entertaining.


Saw Carl Thiel, he sang me the melody on the UT song we're working on

Met Emily Kaye who's started Proud Pappa music


Got a facebook message from a film producer (not spam)
who's looking for a raunchy strip club type song similar to "Pour Some Sugar on Me" to use in a scene so I sent her an message with songs in my catalog that might work.
then followed up with phone calls, finally reached her but she was in a production meeting.

I may attempt to cowrite
such a song just to add another one to
my catalog and create a short term project / challenge

Friday, January 11 2007

started a new lyric I'm digging
they always tend to come in bits and pieces

halie put up a video of her performing her song ALONE on youtube
http://www.youtube.com/halieloren

kara dioguardi put up a blog
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=99668840&blogID=346531858

Ande you are indeed organized, motivated, energetic, focused and dedicated! Enjoying your blog.

Cool stuff, Ande....thanks for sharing

Emily

Saturday, January 12th, 2007

Hi Lynn,
Thank you for your compliments
Success in songwriting comes from conistent daily actions


Hi Emily
great to hear from you, you're welcome
hope your writing is going well



I'm going to the Grammy's next month,
(they're Sunday Feb 10th) I:
scheduled time off from work,
bought my tickets,
got hotel reservations on Hotwire and
booked the air. Just need to rent a car
I'll be in LA Fri Feb 8 - Tue Feb 12th


MAIL Call:
songwriters never know what will arrive in the Mail on any particular day

Friday: I received an invite to the
Recording Academy's Special Merit Awards Ceremony and Nominee Reception on Saturday Feb 9th
I filled out my RSVP card and will send it back Monday

Saturday: the tracks for Eventually and That Magic arrived from Halie and I had a nice conversation with her. I've budgeted to spend $800 to have her do 4 more demos. I'd like her to demo, My Forever Family first so I can offer it to agencies that work with hard to adopt children. A new demo would give me a reason to contact them all again.


I waited for an hour in a lobby while my daughter danced, during that time I fished for hooks. One way I fish for hooks is I flip through magazines looking for interesting phrases, when I find one I write it down in my latest songwriting journal. (my songwriting journals are hardbound 9.5 x 11 200 page sketch books
I found a few. I also worked on one of my song ideas I'd like to complete.

I printed out the lyrics to "Pour Some Sugar on Me" to see if I could come up with a similar song." Haven't heard back from the movie producer yet.

Need to follow up with the writers I've placed lyrics with.

Been following a real interesting thread over on SongRamp
someone took a writers song, called it theirs and put it in a movie.
http://www.songramp.com/mod/forumpro/showthread.php?thread_id=57759&page=83
It begins where EdWilliams wrote:

OK, I'll throw out a topic.
A songwriting friend of mine named Liz Miller just got word that someone released one of her songs without her permission - no license - no compensation - no nothing.
Anybody got any good advice for her?

~ ~ ~

What would you do if that happened to you
I'm curious to see how it unfolds

Yesterday I exchnged some myspace messages with a girl who wants to record blue Holiday. I've already sent her a track and she's performed it at the Oklahoma Opry but thought my publishing on the song was with a publisher that I signed a few of my songs to. I explained to her that that publisher didn't have that song and I did.

Thanks for the blogs Ande! I find them very informative. I think alot of people are reading yours and the other threads, they just don't always comment. I read yours everyday.

Tam

www.tammyedwards.com
www.myspace.com/tammyedwards2

Two questions Ande if you don't mind and have time.....

Curious why you use a sketch book as your hook book since it doesn't have lines. Do you find a lineless book advantageous and why????

Also on "Blue Holiday" (which I also enjoy) now what happens. You sent the girl the track and she performed the song, but do you benefit monetarily in anyway or are you just hoping for the exposure of the song? How does that work in this particular situation????

Wouldn't that be a good reason to find an attorney and sue for her fair compensation? Might just end up settled equitably without the courts, but I think legal counsel would be a good idea at such a juncture. Might even turn out okay for her in the end...they did all the work that songwriters usually enjoy the least!

Edit: I'm assuming this was released on a label. But if this was just someone putting their own performance of the song on Soundclick or something like that, I'd contact them personally first. Could end up being the start of a friendship, who knows---at least that person likes her work.

It's often best to simply contact the people involved and let them know they owe you X amount for their usage. Harold Payne found out a multiplatinum rap artist had used one of his songs without crediting, paying or permission (though it's not actually required to get permission to do a song that's already been released.. in this case I think there were also samples involved). Instead of raging, he was polite and professional and ended up getting exactly what he asked for (including his name being added to future copies of the multiplatinum album as well as the actual platinum records awards as well). It's not always the right move to lawyer up.. give civility a chance first, and know you always have legal action to fall back on. But hiring a lawyer often will eat up anything you'd get in return anyway.

Brian

Brian,

I am SO glad to hear you say :give civlity a chance first" !

I am consistently amazed at the great things that happen when people are decent to each other - especially in the entertainment business

Emily

Brian great point about the civility working better. I bet both the songwriter and the rapper got extra mileage out of the positive publicity showing them both as good guys rather than neg publicity from a court battle. A point worth bearing in mind. I always say lawyers make enough already without making money from needless avoidable battles. They thrive on uncivility.

Monday Jan 14th, 2008
24 days Fri Feb 8th till I go to LA for the Grammys

pitched several songs on
http://songu.com/ifs

got the "no unsolicited" songs excuse from the webmaster of an artist I wanted to pitch "blue Holiday" to

got several myspace messages and a youtube message from a girl in the netherlands who likes and wants to sing a few of my tunes

I've been enjoying "I Believe" by Peter Searcy
it was on a CD waterloo records in austin did
it's catchy positive pop rock song
it's the first song on
www.myspace.com/petersearcy

got an email from Jeff Zimmer with the Slideshow campany
we discussed him offering to make slide shows for adoption orgs around the country that help hard to adopt kids
featuring "MY Forever Family"

note to readers
check out and use google alerts to track topics that interest you
http://www.google.com/alerts

what did y'all think of the David Byrne article?
David Byrne's Survival Strategies for Emerging Artists —
and Megastars
http://www.wired.com/entertainment/music/magazine/16-01/ff_byrne

Hi Tam,
Great to hear from you
glad you read it
let's write more songs


Hi Lynn,
I prefer using a lineless book, that's all
RE: Blue Holiday, that artist may cut a not for sale demo
no money for us on that, just being nice guys
ask her to send me a copy of what she records, plus
credit the writers, & producers


Mark,
the person who used the song is wealthy and can spend circles around liz, best not to hunt butterflys with a bazooka


Hi Brian,
Civility is the way to go,
Harold is a class act, I'm cowriting a song with him
hope to hear something soon



Hi Emily,
nice to hear from you


Hi Jim,
thanks for commenting

I agree about civility first. But if the wealthy one were to steal my song, shut me out and tell me to take a hike...at the very least, my squeaky little voice would make some noise about it.

Tuesday January 15th, 2008

I'm sick today, feel crappy

Have you heard about the Indie Venue Bible?
https://nt4.magma.ca/bigmeteor/ivbaras_order.cfm

enjoyed watching AI 2008

enjoyed MAB's story about SHOES on
http://www.songramp.com/mod/forumpro/showthread.php?thread_id=57759&page=84
and MAB's advice on writing songs on
http://www.songramp.com/mod/forumpro/showthread.php?thread_id=57759&page=85

Mark nice to hear from you again,

Ande,

I think I am going to try and find the time to read all 85 pages of the "Marc Alan Barnette's question and answers" thread!

Kevin

thats a huge task, I started following it
4 months ago when it had half the posts
took me a few days to catch up

HI Ande! I hope you feel better today. It is no fun feeling sick and yucky! Hang in there! It will get better. Can't wait to get our first song demo'd!
Talk to you soon!

Tammy

www.tammyedwards.com
www.myspace.com/tammyedwards2

Wednesday January 16th, 2008

Hi tammy
great to hear from you
can't wait to hear or song demoed

Still sick stayed home

enjoyed watching AI 2008 last night
several of the singers who were finalists were already myspace friends of mine

look forward to seeing more tonight with the Dallas AI auditions

today I got a message on my cell phone from Harold Payne
I called him back and spoke with him on today on a song we're cowriting, we talked for a while then he sang it over the phone
he made a few lyric changes, it sounded excellent
I'm very excited about it and look forward to sharing it with y'all

wrote a silly lyric for a female blues singer today

this just in

a while back I pitched
Ain't Gonna Stop in the songu pitch # 368
(below are the details)
http://www.songramp.com/mod/mps/viewtrack.php?trackid=32584

this email just arrived

Subject: SongU Spin N' Pitch #368: Interest in your song!

Dear Ande,

Good news! Our special Spin N' Pitch guest for pitch ID #368 has expressed an interest in your song ain't gonna stop. We have listed below the contact information we have on file for you. If this is correct, you do not need to reply to this email. But if your contact information has changed, please let us know by replying to this email. Also be sure to make any changes in your "My Account" area at SongU.com so that it will be correct for next time.

Name: Ande Rasmussen
phone2:
Email:

Please note, at this time we will forward your contact information to the guest. They will likely re-listen as they narrow down the songs. Should they decide to pursue your song further after re-listening, they will contact you directly.

Keep up the good work and congratulations!

Sincerely,

The Spin N' Pitch Staff

Pitch#: 368 - NEW! Film/TV/Advertising/Media.
Pitch to Music Supervisor. NY-based company, Audiobrain, is compiling original musical content for NBC Sports and NBC Olympics for use in their broadcasts, website, and VOD. Music selected will receive the highest priority for airing. They have agreed to listen to 2 songs at a time from SongU.com members on an ongoing basis.
What type of songs should you pitch?
They must be master/broadcast quality demos. Instrumentals and background music will have the highest priority. Orchestral and rock music are widely used as well. However, any genre and tempo, male or female, will be considered as long as the lyrics fit an emotion of sports (i.e. Champion, Reach for the Gold, Stronger).
Important:
You must own the material, master recording and publishing AND you must be clear of obligations from other talent that may be performing on your track. In other words, you must have signed clearances from all musicians and vocalists who perform on your demo, or they must have been paid at Master rate.
What's the deal?
You will retain all your writer and publisher rights and revenues. However, since the music may go across multiple platforms writers will be asked to sign a "zero dollar waiver", meaning that you
1) understand that there may be re-broadcast on another medium such as the NBC sports website, and
2) there are no additional payments that will be made for sync and master licenses for the other medium except in a for-sale product. Re-broadcast is usually for a very limited timeframe. NBC will submit music cue sheets to ASCAP, BMI and SESAC for any use where applicable. You will be paid the performance royalties directly from your performing rights society. Royalties are variable based on how many markets the piece airs, whether or not it is primetime, etc.
SU MEMBERS: This is great opportunity for you.
Please pitch appropriately.

Wow! Are you right about that! I have only finished pages 1 and 2 and I'm worn out.

Kevin

Thursday January 17 2008

I found a video of the
Skinny Jeans song I cowrote with Jen Rathbun
http://www.jenrathbun.com/Skinny_Jeans-lrg.wmv

Heard from a producer on a lyric Tammy and I cowrote
we need to wait longer till he shows the lyric to the artist

bought an olympus digital recorder today

got this email from brent allen

Hey there Ande,

Happy New Year to you – it was good to see you at the Grammy event last year. I won’t be able to attend the Grammies this year, unfortunately, due to being on the road so much and also lack of funds. J

I’m looking for new original material do perform during shows, and wanted to see if you could post something in an upcoming IFS issue. Traditional to contemporary country but NO Nashville fluff stuff like Rascal Flatts or Keith Urban. Asleep at the Wheel, Dale Watson or George Strait themed and the like can be sent over to info@brentallen.net. We’ll work them up to play on stage at shows, and if they’re really good, it may end up on a future album.



Thanks buddy – hope to see you again soon,

-brent



Brent Allen

"Heart of a Poet, Soul of an Artist"

www.brentallen.net

www.myspace.com/brentallenmusic

New CD on sale NOW!

www.cdbaby.com/cd/brentallen

Friday January 18th, 2008

Today I wrote a lyric to the title Chillax and pitched it to Steve Brooks
I called him driving to a gig
he was intrigued so I emailed it to him

thanks to Gary Andrews
I just found out about Craig Bickhardts blog http://ninetymilewind.blogspot.com
and look forward to reading it it all
http://www.jpfolks.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=576907

I loved the blog Craig did from his website
I wrote about it several years ago in IFS
craig is an excellent songwriter and an insigtful writer
http://www.craigbickhardt.com/songwritersjournal.html

Craig Cowrote THRIVE with Helen Darling and Jack Sundrud
http://helendarlingmusic.com/listen.html
it's one of my favorite songs by helen
have a listen

Helen cowrote "Bring On the Rain"
Here's the story I shared about it
http://www.jpfolks.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Board=2&Number=158222

I'm past due to launch an IFS issue
www.SongWriterBlog.com

Saturday January 19th, 2008

started a really cool MLK song

saw juno friday and found a couple cool song ideas in the movie,
as I'm sure every songwriter who sees the movie will
(remember my theory of song ideas:
the easier a song idea is to find, the more songwriters will have found the idea and already written it.)
I was suprised with some of the songs they put in the movie especially as the end credits rolled
If I told my wife I want to write a song where I repeat
"I am a vampire" over and over
she'd say that's stupid, go write something from your heart, but low and behold there it is in Juno as the end credits roll.
Yep I'm one of those dorky movie goers who watches the end credits to see who wrote what songs.

swam in a meet yesterday
smashed my right hand on the wall in the 50 bk
it's puffy and sore today

hope BMI does an LA workshop on Grammy weekend
like they did last year
http://bmi.com/events/entry/3618

Sunday January 21, 2008

a girl from belgium asked to record and make youtube videos of a few of my songs, my cowriters said sure
so I sent her tracks to

Blue Holiday
http://www.songramp.com/mod/mps/viewtrack.php?trackid=34592

We Ran Out of Time
Dave Brooks
http://www.songramp.com/mod/mps/viewtrack.php?trackid=12392
Tiffany Derose
http://www.songramp.com/mod/mps/viewprivtrack.php?trackid=48767

find your favorite singer songwriters on youtube
subscribe to their pages then you'll get updates when they post new videos

same with myspace
subscribe to their blogs

Tuesday Jan 22nd 2008

I've got an extra ticket to the grammy's (ticket and after party)
(the person I got it for can't go)
I've been working on placing it, so far no takers.


made more progress on my MLK lyric


started a new song idea, based on a service club's 2008 theme


recently an person wanting to make an animal adoption video asked my cowriter if they could use "My Forever Family" as the back ground music

My thought was "why not" recently I saw the ASPCA commercial with Sara McLachlan, it plays "Arms of the Angel" then she talks at the end

did a mentoring session last night with a songwriter
I encouraged him to
cowrite, get procritiques and get better demos

my cowriter was afraid that use might brand the song as an animal adoption song
so he told them no.

then he went and wrote and recorded a pretty good song for animal adoption similar to "You've got a friend in me"
I wish he would have invited me to cowrite the animal rescue song with him.
What do you think about that?

Thursday, January 24, 2007

last night I got an email from Harold Payne
it was an mp3 of the song I'm cowriting with him.
It sounded great
I'm very excited about this song
http://affinityrecords.com/haroldpayne.cfm
http://myspace.com/haroldpayne


got this email from a cowriter
"Hey Ande,
How are you at writing lyrics to existing melodies?
Would you be interested in writing/filling in words to an existing song that already has melody and phrasing?
I've handed over songs to lyricists with mixed results, so I wanted to see if this is something that I could keep you in mind for.
take care,

~ ~ ~

my response to him was:

hi,

i've had mixed results
but i'll take a crack
i tend to work best writing to a piano melody track
i'm better at editing lyrics or filling in the blanks on started lyrics

writing to a track is like solving a suduko puzzle

I'd say send one, put a deadline on it,
when I send you lyrics:
you have the with the right to accept, reject or rewrite them

i've got a lyric I'm thinking about sending your way

Ande

PS "We ran out of time" is an example of one song I wrote to a track
the track was "Marks' Song"
http://cdbaby.com/cd/betsyfoster2
here's where you can hear "We Ran Out of Time"
http://www.songramp.com/mod/mps/viewtrack.php?trackid=12392



mez

Friday, January 25th, 2008

been enjoying the music of Delta Goldrem
loved her songs on myspace
http://www.myspace.com/deltagoodrem
http://www.deltagoodrem.com/
John Shanks produced her last CD

Saturday January 26th & Sunday January 27th, 2008

In 2 weeks I'll be at the Grammy's

finally launched a new IFS Issue
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/DIFS/message/776

my friend and cowriter Tony Walsh has been working with anne lorelle and invited me to meet with them, cowrite, and submit lyrics

www.annelorelle.org

www.myspace.com/annelorelle

posted at the AI songwriter thread
http://www.americanidol.com/myidol/forums/topic/?tid=806957


pitched several songs at www.songu.com/ifs pitching

Pitched Look Up to Dad
and
If Only I could http://www.songramp.com/mod/mps/viewtrack.php?trackid=14915
on this one below

All genres. Specialty Project. ASAP. Our friend Quint Randle is doing the A&R and co-producing a "Father's Day" tribute to Dad's compilation CD. He is seeking "Master Quality" (or close to it) original songs (all styles) paying tribute to fathers, or about fathers, grandfathers, father/child relationships, etc. This can be a previously released track, HIGH-quality demo, or totally new. The compilation CD is set to be distributed and promoted in a regional bookstore chain (25+ stores), etc., for Father's Day. Writer(s) must own rights to the master recording.

Monday January 28th, 2008

Several years ago I cowrote
"Hand Over Your Heart"
with Abi Tapia http://abitapia.com/
she cut it on "her one foot out the door" CD
it's the 9th track
you can hear it at:
http://cdbaby.com/cd/abitapia2/from/ande
The CD was produced by Chris Gage
his wife Christine Albert serves on the Tx Grammy board with me

Christine called yesterday and ask if I'd be willing to sign a copub deal on that song, she said she has a relationship with a big Nashville publisher and they are looking for Texas songs.

I said "Sure, I'll be happy to what ever Abi did."

Abi Tapia is a huge talent, I fell in love with her song
"Back To Back" http://cdbaby.com/cd/abitapia/from/ande
She is back in the studio working on her 3rd CD with Chris Gage.
Can't wait to hear it.

Somebody asked me

What is your songwriting process?
So I wrote it down
sometimes I skip a few steps

I tend to following the lyric writing guidelines I described in
http://www.jpfolks.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=537816
but here's how most songs come together for me


Ande's Songwriting Process

01) Fish for Hooks and find excellent song ideas:
I am always looking for
titles, hooks, stories, or situations to write songs about.
when I find an idea, I ask myself has it ever been done before, I want to find a unique angle or title
sometimes I invite potential collaborators to read through lists of my song ideas then pick one or a few faves, then I/we focus on getting the ones they like to a solid first draft)
I keep a songwriting journal, I am very disciplined about writing ideas down in it.
when I have enough of a song going
I transfer what I have into my computer
I put them in my email archive and or in a word doc.
Many times I'll google the title and the phrase to see where on the web it comes up
I also do title searches on BMI.com and ASCAP.com
I think about
who'd want to hear it
who'd want to sing it
what sort of emotion it stirs


02) write the chorus
I want the chorus to be simple, catchy, easy to remember, hard to forget, well crafted, rhymy,
my choruses tend to have short phrases
I look at syllable patterns of each line
repetition of the title
correct placement of the title which is covered at:
http://www.jpfolks.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=537816

03) write the verses,
( I write way more lines than I need and attempt to edit it down to the very best)

04) write bridge or bridges (usually have several alternatives to offer)

05) complete first draft lyric

06) let it sit for a while

07) rewrite it on my own

08) get peer critiques & rewrite some more if necessary

09) attempt to place it with a collaborator

10) collaborator send lyric modifications and a rough recording

11) listen to first draft recording

12) rewrite and let it sit a while

13) ask for peer critiques

14) get pro critiques

15) rewrite

16) if we feel it's ready to demo, we demo it at this point
I want my demos to sound like they were done by professional songwriters
I prefer cowriters who can create excellent demos in their home studios

17) if we're pleased with the demo
I put it up on web and start pitching it


My process is kinda complex but it's what works for me.
Usually songs arrive in bits and pieces.

Andy,

I like the steps but why don't you put "how" you go about each step....details are good!

Interesting process!

I usually come up with a phrase or expression or something uniquely colloquial and start toying with a song idea. The worst time of all is like 2:00 AM and I have to force myself to get up and put it down on paper... otherwise, it's gone forever.

I'll usually put down a verse or two and let it simmer for awhile. If a melody comes to mind, I'll crank up the old arranger and try to get the rudiments of a preliminary song recorded 'cause I can't read a note of music. With a rough lyric and usually rougher melody, at least I have something recorded to continue work after my wife interrupts with her list of chores for me to accomplish.

Sometimes I'll finish a song in less than an hour (thanks to the arranger and my digital recorder, etc.) but I've noticed that during the last year, I'm taking longer, writing fewer and really spending more time sharpening each creation. I always keep a record of what I've done, exact keyboard settings including instrument volumes so I can pick up where I left off whether its a day or two years later.

Compared to your process, Ande... I am more or less flying by the seat of my pants but it works for me. It's the singing part that really wears me out. Often, I'll make anywhere from three to twelve cuts before I think a song is ready to start getting serious about.

Now if only I had paid more attention in Marketing 101. Pitching is the most difficult part of the process and is evidence of my lack of experience at networking.

Thanks for an interesting post.

Dave http://www.xenaRadio.com/David_Lynn_Rice/

Thursday January 31st, 2008

Hi Kathy,
very nice to hear from you
I went back in and edited my process post
adding details

Hi David,
Very nice to hear from you


MAIL: today I got my 2007 1099 from ASCAP

Sent 3 songs to Jason Blume to critque
I'm an old student so he'll critique my songs
but he's not accepting new students to critique
but his business www.JasonBlume.com
does critiques by prowriters and they are extremely helpful

got some nice feedback on a song
I have on my private page on songramp

Member Reviews

glenn_pattison
2008-01-30 Nice tune Ande! only thing I don't like around the end of bridge- chorus melody comes in around the same note - think it would be better to start last chorus 1st couple notes higher - nice tune! glenn

AnthonyM
2008-01-30 hey ande,
this is a hit-song hook - well done!...really enjoyed it...
tony

lps45s8tracks
2008-01-30 (;AWESOME TITLE;)Drew me right in.Love it.Thanks for the heads up. You sold me.I'm in. Your Songramp Bro.~(;Yrral Mallik;)

Nitesong34 (Tammy Edwards)
2008-01-30 Nice job Ande and Harold! Great message and great tune!!

Tammy:)

MBarne4908 (Marc Alan Barnette)
2008-01-30 Good job Ande. Good message.I tend to agree with Glenn but for the most part you are dead on.
Thanks for posting it.

MAB

Norman.D.Bradley
2008-01-31 Sorry little late to the party..Great Song, Wondeful Lyric, Hook Melody& Co-write
and Good Demo

Good Luck with it,
Thanks for sharing
Norman

Thanks for sharing your process, Ande. I am fascinated to see that you do so much work on the song before bringing in a collaborator. In this case do you consider the collaborator a co-writer ? Do you share songwriting credits 50/50 in a situation like this where you have basically written the majority of the song? Is that common practice amongst a lot of songwriters you know? Could you share with us your thinking on that? What do you find to be pros and cons of this approach and/or co-writing in general?

Hope you don't mind me hitting you with all these questions. I just found it very interesting.

I mostly write alone. And all of my experiences at co-writing have been either working in the same room as the song evolves, or writing music to someone else's lyrics. I am considering trying to do more co-writing, so I am very curious about this concept.

Thanks again!

Hi Kester,

You're welcome
In this case do you consider the collaborator a co-writer?
absolutely

Do you share songwriting credits 50/50 in a situation like this where you have basically written the majority of the song?
usually,
there are some songs where I didn't write the majority
and negotiated lower splits
like 25 me 75 them
I just want my cowriters to
feel it's fair,
like me and
be willing write again with me, or keep the door open to present new song ideas and lyrics

usually song splits don't determine how to allocate profits because there will probably never be any
they determine how to allocate the expenses

so if I'm a 50% cowriter I'll pay half the demo
If I'm 25% I pay 25%

Is that common practice amongst a lot of songwriters you know?
most writers split 50 / 50

Could you share with us your thinking on that?
I want my cowriters to feel they are being treated fair.

What do you find to be pros and cons of this approach and/or co-writing in general?
cowriting helps me write better songs faster
I need melody writers, artists and producers

cowriting is like dating
write with bunches of people and find a few favorites

sometimes my cowriters get cuts and activity on songs
though I tend to be the rainmaker when it comes to exploiting songs and getting cuts.

different people bring different sets of skills to the table.

a good guideline to use is
the Rotary 4 way test
"Of the things we think, say or do:
1. Is it the Truth?
2. Is it Fair to all concerned?
3. Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned?"

Great response, Ande. Thanks for sharing your insights :-)