When it comes to writing songs, two (or more) heads are better than one sometimes.
Songwriting doesn’t have to be something that you do by yourself. Some of the greatest songs were written by two or more people.
Examples of these songwriting teams are:
- Elton John/Bernie Taupin
- Hal David/Burt Bacharach
- Tim Rice/Andrew Lloyd-Webber
- Mick Jagger/Keith Richards
- John Lennon and Paul McCartney (of course)
Working in collaboration with someone else can be the most rewarding thing for your songwriting process you can ever do. There are many reasons for this.
1. You can be challenged by someone else
Some people relish the opportunity to work alone but for the most part it can be pretty lonely and un-motivating working by yourself.
Working with others keeps us honest and there is a joy in being spurred on by someone else to be your best.
2. You can cover more strengths
Maybe you are strong with lyrics and not so strong with melody or arrangements. If you choose a collaborator that has strengths in other areas then imagine what songs you can come up with?
I bet you they will be songs that you will both be happy with.
3. Brainstorming is much more fun with a collaborator
The concept of brainstorming for songwriting ideas is most effective when there are more than one songwriter participating. When you have someone else to bounce ideas off of the songwriting process seems to run more smoothly.
4. Double the experience you can write about
You and your collaborator are both individuals with different experiences. The amount of scope you have to write about expands.
5. You get exposed to new ideas
Working with someone else can be very eye opening. I can guarantee you that you will learn something new every time you and your collaborator get together.
6. It’s a great way to meet new people
You can collaborate with people that you know or you can seek a collaborator by looking on different songwriting forums, websites and organisations from all over the world.
You dont even have to know what they look like, you can collaborate by email or (if you have the appropriate recording technology) do it all online.
How exciting is that!!!
The most important thing about working with a collaborator is open and honest communication to make sure that when a song is written you work out the writing credit percentages straight away.
There is nothing that destroys a songwriting team faster than the feeling that credit is not being given where it’s due.
If you are feeling like you are in a bit of a rut with your writing go and write with someone else for a while, you wont regret it.
Until next time, happy writing,
Corey Stewart
Singer/Songwriter/Musician
Keywords: songwriting, writing songs, songwriter, songwriting idea, songwriting tip, songwriting help, songwriting technique, corey stewart
Filed under: Songwriting Tips | Tagged: Corey Stewart, creativity, music, Songwriter, Songwriting, Songwriting Zen, zen
