I can recall several co-writing sessions whereby I’ve had to compromise despite knowing we were taking the safe option. If it’s already been shared a million times, why do we need to do the same? Is that how we make a difference? Phrasing. Musical and vocal phrasing. Taking risks with the rhythmic delivery of our phrasing, will get us noticed. If we want...

I remembered the triangular, pyramid like milk cartons we used to get delivered to our primary school in Edinburgh. Sometimes, they’d freeze. I remembered going to school many hours too early in the winter time, so that we could make a slide in the snow, in the school playground. I remembered bundling down snow covered slopes near home. Then thawing out at home by...

Writing on the road (and in the continuum)     A weekly column by Inside Songwriting contributor, Michael J Roberts.     “Well I been out walkin’, I don’t do too much talkin’ these days” ~ Jackson Browne (These Days)     The road for many a songwriter will prove to be a long and winding one, but one of our friends at Inside Songwriting...

7 Step Songwriting Video Course Only $7.70 (AUD) per episode $5.99 (USD) For each full set of 7 Episodes purchased, I donate $7.70 to UNICEF         I’ve created a walk through of my 7 step songwriting checklist, to ensure that when we’re writing, we are mindful of every moment of the song.   Step 1 – Your song’s Intro Step...

Why you should invest in yourself and your songwriting goals.   Karl speaks of the value of investing in yourself and your creative goals. This episode was recorded at the dag sheepstation in NSW, Australia. A cosy, isolated, inspirational location and a haven for songwriters and creatives.             There’s an accompanying...

Inside Songwriting Episode 22: Do you deserve to call yourself a Songwriter?     Links mentioned in this episode are below: Where do you currently see yourself on a scale of 1 – 10? Are you a songwriter? Listen to this episode, then jump on in to your/our FB Insider community here, and let’s discuss 🙂 Come over and talk to myself and more...

Leonard Cohen – Suzanne Michael J Roberts writes of Suzanne by Leonard Cohen       “Leonard Cohen took the opportunity to walk through a door that Dylan had kicked down with his cowboy boots and he stretched the poetic dimension of what folk-pop music could accommodate in doing so”.   Suzanne was the first song on his first...

Songs that stop you in your tracks. Musycks Musings & Topical Tips 14 A weekly column by Inside Songwriting contributor, Michael J Roberts. Every now and then you may experience that magic moment when you hear a song that stops you in your tracks and transfixed, you are transported to some other mystical realm. Now given that I’ve been listening avidly to...