For the first brief of our new group Shrewsbury Songwriters (created to give local songwriters an opportunity to meet each other and share their advice and experiences) I thought I would share something that I was able to try at the students’ Songwriters Society at Falmouth University (brilliantly run by songwriter Ilaina Lowe). The idea is that you randomly choose three words from a selection and write a song including those words. I created my selection and randomly chose my three words, which were Storm, Beige and Snow (I was quite relieved I didn’t get Reliant Robin!). I also thought I would use the opportunity to share and document the creative process behind my songwriting on my blog, which you can read and keep up-to-date with below.
Tag: behind the songs
Shrewsbury Songwriters – December 2022
The selection of words
The terrible moment I picked out Beige
I was a bit tired from helping on my sister Becky’s (AKA Daffodowndilly) craft stall at St Mary’s Church in Shrewsbury but thought I would crack out the Bouzouki and spend a few minutes trying to get down some ideas. I’ve started a chorus and managed to use two of my three words (Storm and Snow) in it, with the phrase (and possibly the song title):
“A money snowstorm in a winter wonderland”
My subconscious seems to have a hand on my creative controls – I often don’t know where the words come from and only find the meaning behind my lyrics after I have written them. With this one though, I think it might turn out as a comment on how much throwaway (and often quite expensive) stuff we buy at Christmas, when giving personal cards, messages and meaningful small gifts can be so much more meaningful. Some of the most precious gifts I have been given have not been the most expensive in cash-terms but when it is clear that some thought has gone into its choosing. To me, a personal hand-written card can be worth so much more than an expensive gift.
I think helping at the craft stall today helped to give me the idea for the message behind the song, as looking at all the wonderful designs and hand-made products from the brilliant local independent makers, such as Sister Sister, Eynonymous Designs and of course my sister at Daffodowndilly, reminded me that they were just so much more meaningful than the products advertised on Amazon and other massive online marketplaces and companies.
I’m quite happy with my start on the song and will hopefully be able to build on the chorus in the next few days.
Not much progress today but I did manage to add another line to my chorus, so only another two lines to completely finish the chorus. My mind is already thinking about how I want the finished song to sound like – I’ve discovered and have been listening to Slicer by Kensington and really like the way they double-up the vocals on the chorus, so might look at something similar for my song.
I’ve managed to finish the last two line for the chorus, although I’m not totally sold on them yet, so I might revisit it after I’ve made some progress with the verses. I’ve still got to fit Beige in somewhere, it might involve a sofa…