Category Archives: Creativity

Articles about creativity

SCALA Songwriting Workshop Tonight

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I’m going to be one of the special guests along with good friend and songwriting partner Adrian Miller, for the last SCALA Songwriters Workshop for 2010 starting at 7:30pm sharp tonight at the Higher Ground Arts Cafe.

It runs for about 2 hours or so and in the first hour of the workshop, Adrian and I will talk about “The Joys Of Collaboration” in which we’ll feature two of our songs we’ve recently written together.

In the second hour all attendees will get a chance to play one of their original songs to the group for constructive feedback and encouragement and it’s all for a gold coin donation.

It happens tonight at Higher Ground Arts Cafe at 7:30pm sharp. If you’re in Adelaide I’d love to see you there.

Peace,

Corey :)

Songwriting – It Doesn’t Matter Where You Start, As Long As You Start Somewhere

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As I’m preparing for the SCALA Open Mic Network Showcase gig at Higher Ground today, I remind myself that writing songs is sometimes:

A linear experience
You come across a possible song title that jumps out at you and after writing the first line of the first verse, a first draft is suddenly completed from start to finish.

A puzzle solving exercise
You take a piece here, a song title there, a bit of a verse here and a half written phrase there and, after discovering the common thread that connects everything, a song is eventually completed.

Like incubating an egg
You finish writing a chorus but find you can’t go any further however, after leaving the half finished song for a period of time something triggers in your mind and the song magically completes itself.

Sometimes you start writing a song from the beginning and work forwards, sometimes you start a song from the middle and work outwards and sometimes you start writing at the end and work backwards.

It doesn’t matter where you start, as long as you start somewhere.

Peace,

Corey :)

Sting’s Songwriting Process – A Video Insight

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I stumbled across this old video of Jools Holland interviewing Sting (circa mid 80′s) recently and it gives a brilliant insight into the way that Sting gathers, processes and demos his songwriting ideas before introducing it to the rest of the Police band members

Even though the video primarily focuses on how he come up with “Message In A Bottle” (one of my all time favourite songs) there are plenty of pearls of wisdom to be had if you listen for it.

Look out for the introduction of Dennis as one of the central characters in his songwriting process.

I loved every minute of this video especially the old recording technology I mean, I used to have one of those Tascam 4 track machines (ahh, the memories of it all). I hope you enjoyed it too, let me know what you think.

Peace,

Corey :)

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What I’ve Learnt From Being Sick

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I’ve been keeping a low profile since last Sunday because I’ve been cooped up in bed getting over a nasty chest infection which has really knocked me about.

Again! I’m feeling like getting sick is becoming a regular event in my life

Normally, when something like this happens I feel guilty about not being able to do anything and from there start beating up on myself about how lazy I am but this time was different.

I gave myself the time to heal and I was surprised that the more I recovered, the more I liked being in a position of not having to do anything.

And you know what?

My world didn’t fall apart…

I’d forgotten how good it felt to just stop and reflect on, rather than react to, what life throws at me. This was a bit of a revelation, a wake up call, a real “aha” moment.

Being in bed since Sunday has given me a lot of time to think about stuff, and I’ve come up with four things to work on.

1. Take Better Care Of Myself
I have been sick more in the last 12-18 months than I have in a long time and this is really worrying me. I’ve started seeing a GP regularly again recently and that’s a start but I know that is not enough, there’s a lot of work I have to do as well.

2. Stop Worrying About Money
It’s really easy to hop onto the money chasing merry-go-round but it’s really hard to get off it. Although finding work that pays the bills is important when you’re self employed, obsessing over it to the point of not functioning is not the way to go about it.

3. Stop Trying To Constantly Please Others
“You can’t be all things to all people” and “What others say about you is none of your business” are two quotes that sum up my core motivators for doing anything at the moment. I’ve got to learn that no matter what I do there’s going to be someone who doesn’t like it and that by being “the nice guy” at the cost of my own self is the wrong path to take.

4. Immerse Myself In Music Again
I certainly don’t write enough music, play enough music, record enough music and listen to enough music for my liking and this has got to change. I have been far too busy neglecting myself by chasing my own tail trying to make a buck while at the same time trying to please everybody by being the nice guy who does everything for others but nothing for himself.

I see a pattern forming here…

At the moment, I don’t have any answers but I do have a clearer path to take and I choose to walk that path today and use this blog as a means to track my progress from time to time. I am noticing though that as I’m writing this the little voice inside my head is screaming at me:

“What does this post have to do with your music business?”

Well, if I find ways to address these four things and hold myself accountable through this blog then my music business will thrive, I’ll feel better about myself, I’ll get more things done, I’ll get more sleep and generally, I’ll become a better artist, songwriter, musician and human being.

After all, isn’t that what life is all about?

Peace,

Corey :)

Catching Up With Old Friends

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Recently I caught up with an old friend of mine Jeff Smith whom I had lost contact with for about 8 years.

When we finally caught up it was lovely to discover that there was none of the awkwardness or guilt that sometimes comes with a reconnection with a good friend after a long time apart, we just picked up where we left off and interacted as if we saw each other yesterday.

Besides fulfilling a need to reconnect with an old friend, I contacted Jeff to let him know that a song we wrote together way back when called “Billboard Angel” was going to be part of the next SCALA CD release.

I can’t remember how Jeff and I first met but what I do know is that he’s an amazing guitarist, studio engineer and an all round nice guy with unique perspectives on life which make for great conversation and for writing really good songs.

It’s through reconnecting with Jeff that I’ve become really inspired to get stuck into my home studio setup and start recording my songwriting ideas again, something I very thankful for.

I want to finish this post today with another example of a song that Jeff and I wrote. It’s called “Groove With You” and it touches on the concept of two people who just can’t seem to connect fully even though they adore each other. I just love the funkiness of the song.

Enjoy!

Groove With You
© 2001 (C. Stewart / J. Smith)

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Peace,

Corey :)

CD Project Update #10 – Sailing Into The Great Unknown

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I know it’s been just over a week since my last post and with recording on hold because of Anthony being on tour for a couple of weeks (lucky bugger) I thought I’d take the opportunity to outline what’s been happening.

Last Wednesday’s recording session saw electric guitar overdubs completed on “Half Hearted Man” and “Back Of My Mind” which made the day a long, slow process.

I’m surprised how drained I felt at the end of the session (and I didn’t even pick up the guitar once).

There have been times of late where I felt that all the songs should’ve been recorded live in the studio at the very beginning but then I listen to the finished takes (especially the finished version of “Billboard Angel”) and I’m reassured that the decision to do everything separately was the right one.

What I am realising is that this CD is going to take much longer than I anticipated and I don’t know how to feel about that. Do I have the patience needed to see this through? I was kind of hoping that the CD launch could coincide with my birthday in January but I’m not so sure now.

Hmmm, all this sounds like I’m perhaps getting cold feet or, having second thoughts about the whole CD project.

Not at all… I think I’m feeling the venerability that almost all songwriters feel when creating something that will project their innermost thoughts and feelings out in the real world for mass consumption.

It seems that now that a finished CD is becoming more and more of a reality with every recording session, I’m becoming more and more aware that I’m sailing into uncharted waters of the great unknown.

In essence, this CD is pushing me way out of my comfort zone and that scares the hell out of me.

This is a question I pose to anyone who has done this before:

  • What has been your experiences with recording your CD?
  • Am I going mad here or, is what I’m feeling normal?
  • Is there any advice you can give me?

Please let me know what you think as I’d love to hear from you all about this but in the meantime I better start learning how to swim in case I get thrown overboard.

Peace,

Corey :)

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CD Project Update #9 – Mixing The SCALA Exclusive Song “Billboard Angel”

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I just wanted to thank all of you who passed on feedback regarding which song should become the “SCALA Exclusive” release. I’ve now finally decided and the winner is Billboard Angel.

As Darren wasn’t able to make it to the studio to do his guitar parts yesterday I took the opportunity to finish off the vocals, minor tweaks and final mix-downs on the song.

I now have a CD of the final mix of Billboard Angel for me to review over the weekend and it sounds fantastic. I’m very happy with how the song has turned out.

Billboard Angel is a song that I co-wrote with a dear friend of mine and amazing instrumentalist/studio producer, Jeff Smith. The song is about a man who falls in love with a picture of a woman on a sexy billboard hence the title of the song.

The concept of the song was Jeff’s idea which demonstrates beautifully his off the wall sense of humour.

Doing the vocals was a bit touch and go at the beginning as I hadn’t properly warmed up before attempting the take but after a few run-throughs and a hot lemon and honey drink to help the vocal chords along I was able to complete the vocal tracks and do some harmonies in the bridge section.

Personally, the mixing process is a fascinating one for me to witness but one where I have no real clue as to what really goes on. My hearing is not that flash at the best of times so it’s wonderful to have Anthony’s ears working on the job at hand.

With every session I’m learning something new. It’s back to overdubbing electric guitars and keyboards next Wednesday.

Peace,

Corey :)

SongDare And Other Video Projects

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Picture of a canon video camera.

Image via Wikipedia

Ever since I wrote Pomplamoose & The Covers VS Originals Argument in late July I’ve been mucking around around with my Canon video camera, working out how to use it and, at the same time, trying to work out what my promotions and marketing angle for me using video would be.

Obviously my first step is to put my own songs onto video. I really do think that for me, video is going to become an integral component in my online music marketing however, I’m also going to take a leaf out of Pomplamoose’s book and start experimenting with playing covers.

Why not? There’s a couple of ways I’m going to do this.

First of all I’m going to start a video series on this blog called I Wish I Wrote That where I pay homage to the songs and songwriters that have inspired me throughout my life. It’s where I can show you through video who my musical influences are and it will also give you an opportunity in sharing with me your musical influences as well.

I’m looking forward to some fascinating conversations from this…

Secondly, I’m starting an ongoing series of videos where I play any song that is requested of me, from you. The concept is called SongDare and it’s an idea that has been running through my head ever since I started seriously playing covers either as a soloist or with bands professionally, about 5 years ago.

The concept is very, very simple.

You request a song, and I mean any song, no matter how bizarre or beautiful it may be, and if I can play it just by using my voice and an acoustic guitar, I’ll video it and put it up on YouTube and embed the video on this blog.

As well as putting my own songs onto video, SongDare is something I’m really excited about.

It’s always amazed me the diverse range of songs that people would request me to do for them at my cover shows from Duran Duran to Meatloaf to Garth Brooks to Beyonce. I do love a challenge and SongDare gives me a chance to have a go at playing anything and everything.

So, I now open it up to you.

Contact me with your request and I’ll do my best to learn it, cover it and put it on video for you. When your song is ready to be put online I’ll let you know and send you through the YouTube link. I’ll personally make sure that I put your name in the credits.

Which means YOU get instant bragging rights.

Remember, your SongDare request could be your favourite song or, a song that you’d think would be hilarious to watch me attempt to play.

All I can say is bring it on… I dare you!

Peace,

Corey :)

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CD Project Update #8 – Electric Guitar Overdubs, The Fun Begins

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The recording session went very well yesterday however, I wasn’t quite prepared for the time it was going to take to get things done. Right now, it seems like it’s going to take forever to complete this CD.

In a 6 hour period Darren and I only completed one and a half songs and I was really feeling the frustration early on in the day after being so used to the immediacy of live music. I tell you the temptation to just say “yeah, that’s good enough” on any particular guitar track we recorded was high on my list but I remained strong.

I’m glad that we’re taking the time to get this part of the recording process just right.

We arrived at the studio at 9:30am started recording at around 10:30am after Darren finished setting up all of his guitars and amps that he and I were going to use for the day.

We started off proceedings with Billboard Angel

Overkill? I think NOT!

A nice rack

Once we finished Billboard Angel we had pizza for lunch thanks to Fat Pizza and Yiros (staple studio food) and by 2:30pm we started on the second song Back Of My Mind finishing up at around 4pm.

Anthony Stewart loves his pizza

Darren Zaza

I learnt a lot about patience and tolerance yesterday but I also started to learn the fine art of music production and how to use the recording studio as a separate musical instrument. It’s amazing what you can do to change the overall ambience of a song through the layering of sounds on top of one another.

By the end of the day I was absolutely worn out due to the amount of listening and concentration that was put into the session but somehow I had to get home and get ready to run the Open Mic @ The Dan that night.

The recording madness continues next Wednesday…

Peace,

Corey :)

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CD Project Update #7 – Recording Starts Again!

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Me @ Industrial Records Studio 1980
Image by Chris_Carter_ via Flickr

This Wednesday (September 8th) I go back into the studio again and start putting down electric guitar tracks with my good friend Darren Zaza and after almost 4 weeks of not recording I can safely say that I’ve really missed the studio.

I know that at the beginning of my CD Project Updates I said that “…at times the recording process felt a little disjointed” but I’m now getting used to the layered nature of the recording process. I can see why some musicians want to stop gigging and just record music.

What I’m beginning to love about the recording process is embracing the elements of the unknown that exist between what ideas I have in my head and the end result of an overdub.

You really don’t know what is going to happen until you do record the take and that to me, is really exciting.

I’ve also decided on what I’m going to do with the 16 songs that you can still hear on my CD Project page, I’m going to use all of them but, there’s still an opportunity for you all to have a say in what’s going on.

I’ve been asked by SCALA (Songwriters, Composers and Lyricists Association) to submit a song for their upcoming CD release in a couple of months time so one of the 16 songs will be a “SCALA Exclusive.”

I’ve narrowed down my choice to 3 songs

Billboard Angel

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Don’t Turn To Me Now

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Girl Like You

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Have a listen and let me know which song should be the “SCALA Exclusive.”

As for the other 15 songs, I’ve decided to use all of them because I simply can’t choose which ones to leave out and all of the opinions that you’ve put through to me point to that very conclusion as well.

Barring any recording disasters or acts of God, “Out With The Old And In With The New” will be a 15 track CD project and that’s okay, I’m very happy with that outcome.

I’m proud of what I’ve done so far and I’m looking forward to continuing on with the recording on Wednesday.

Now, on to working out how to sell this CD…

Peace,

Corey :)

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