Thank you for this timely reminder Chris, as a fully paid up member of FOMO , I constantly succumb to overwhelm. A reminder to stay focussed on one or at most 2 USP’s for licensing is so helpful.
This is exactly what I need to hear. Before I moved to NY and was bombarded with all sorts of bands/artists looking for a new member who could play their music that totally isn't my style, I had no other path. Once I was more engulfed in trying to establish a social media presence or work as a musician, it felt like I needed to become a jack of all trades on the guitar in order to make any money.
Hey Chris, Rick S. here. I’ve been so close to being part of the Sync-Songwriter program in the past. In fact I had one of my songs favorably reviewed and you were kind enough to refund my money when I hit a real snag in my personal life about three years ago. Anyway, my painting seems to have supplanted my music and my songs. But, I can’t get those songs out of my head and there’s lots of them. I can’t discard them like they never happened, and I can’t keep from searching for the inspiration that could become a new one. My style nowadays is generally regarded as lyrically driven, Americana gumbo. I’m not sure why I wrote this except your video came up and started playing out of the blue, so, I’m responding in kind.
As always, great (and reassuring) insights. At this stage in my life, I know that I am lyrically and melody driven. The genre, style, groove, vibe, etc. is very flexible and I often have a number of versions to bear that out, which has received great response from the music community.
Hi Chris. I listen to you quite a lot. The advice about h'ow to find your sound' rang a bell. I spent a of of my life since my formative years to an adult in UK. But at heart I like sixties music of the West as well as the Bollywood songs (Indian popular songs used in movies) which was dominated by a singer called Rafi and another called Mukesh plus just a couple of others. Since the songs fitted the situation in movies they span a lot of generes. I have found that I tend to go for sad songs as well as romantic songs. And at the beginning of 2024 I took a decision that I will go for those two types of songs. That was a break through decision, made me more motivated to learn to accompany myself on the piano and develop a system for learning full songs fast. Now I am developing a digital product to teach other singers how to learn songs fast and acquire just enough musical theory to help them make fast progress and feel confident when communicating with other musicians. So thank you for confirming that I am on the right path through this video.
The challenge for me is putting it all together, I definitely have specific genres I gravitate towards and a sound that I'd like to emulate although it's challenging to figure out how to convey that as a cohesive whole. For example, Jack White nailed it with the red, black, white aesthetic for Seven Nation Army and his White Stripes band...and then was able to parley that into his work with the Raconteurs and The Dead Weather. Some people seem to have a talent for dialing in their 'vibe' while others end up looking like a Temu version of some other established band. I guess the question is how does one maintain an aura of authenticity while at the same time being purposeful about their style without coming off as contrived?
I'm in an Instrumental band called Tokyo Green, and we get together when we can as we live in different areas in the UK. We're recording a new ablum at the moment and its going well. I like what were producing and quite often it'll sound better than I thought it would when we lay the tracks down. However, I also have my own solo singer songwriter music 'side project' thats just me. I have about 25 finished pieces, and about another 25 or so half finished ideas. Some of which sound amazing in my head. The issue is now that Im almost 40, and am starting to feel a bit down about my solo music, and im getting the sense Im not as excited about it any more too. I try laying down my own music but it never sounds as good as it does in my head. I quickly lose interest, and give up. Theres also financial restrictions as in a band you can support each other so Im trying to self produce, albeit unsuccessfully (im not really an engineer). But people need to hear this music, I know it could be amazing! I keep telling myself Ill do it (this has been going on now for 15 or so years now) but it never happens. A bit of an essay I know... Thats my Songwriter story!
Hi Chric , Rick im sesay im in manitoba musicians. I have one album. Im country gospel song singer . I like to make my 2ed album. In English and my mothertung oromifaa. So please i like your help to lead me . And i have you tub channel and youtub and page too. And im also a painter . And writer too. But now days I'm not working my job health care. Because i got health problem. So in my art work i started focusing. But i didn't knew where to start.thank you for your helping.
Thank you for this timely reminder Chris, as a fully paid up member of FOMO , I constantly succumb to overwhelm. A reminder to stay focussed on one or at most 2 USP’s for licensing is so helpful.
Great to hear this was a good reminder for you!
This is exactly what I need to hear. Before I moved to NY and was bombarded with all sorts of bands/artists looking for a new member who could play their music that totally isn't my style, I had no other path. Once I was more engulfed in trying to establish a social media presence or work as a musician, it felt like I needed to become a jack of all trades on the guitar in order to make any money.
Nice!
Hey Chris, Rick S. here. I’ve been so close to being part of the Sync-Songwriter program in the past. In fact I had one of my songs favorably reviewed and you were kind enough to refund my money when I hit a real snag in my personal life about three years ago. Anyway, my painting seems to have supplanted my music and my songs. But, I can’t get those songs out of my head and there’s lots of them. I can’t discard them like they never happened, and I can’t keep from searching for the inspiration that could become a new one. My style nowadays is generally regarded as lyrically driven, Americana gumbo. I’m not sure why I wrote this except your video came up and started playing out of the blue, so, I’m responding in kind.
Sounds really cool! I launch the class again in January. Maybe I'll see you on the inside this time.
Great message and chill vibes. Thanks for taking us on your walk!
Beautifully said, thank you! ♥ & this applies to so many other areas of life.
Thanks for the kind words!
thats an awesome guide. thank you! exactly what I needed now...
You got it.
As always, great (and reassuring) insights. At this stage in my life, I know that I am lyrically and melody driven. The genre, style, groove, vibe, etc. is very flexible and I often have a number of versions to bear that out, which has received great response from the music community.
Great to hear about the great response. You are on the right path!
Thanks for the great information! I think I’m closing in on my comfort zone 🤔
Hi Chris. I listen to you quite a lot. The advice about h'ow to find your sound' rang a bell. I spent a of of my life since my formative years to an adult in UK. But at heart I like sixties music of the West as well as the Bollywood songs (Indian popular songs used in movies) which was dominated by a singer called Rafi and another called Mukesh plus just a couple of others. Since the songs fitted the situation in movies they span a lot of generes. I have found that I tend to go for sad songs as well as romantic songs. And at the beginning of 2024 I took a decision that I will go for those two types of songs. That was a break through decision, made me more motivated to learn to accompany myself on the piano and develop a system for learning full songs fast. Now I am developing a digital product to teach other singers how to learn songs fast and acquire just enough musical theory to help them make fast progress and feel confident when communicating with other musicians. So thank you for confirming that I am on the right path through this video.
The challenge for me is putting it all together, I definitely have specific genres I gravitate towards and a sound that I'd like to emulate although it's challenging to figure out how to convey that as a cohesive whole. For example, Jack White nailed it with the red, black, white aesthetic for Seven Nation Army and his White Stripes band...and then was able to parley that into his work with the Raconteurs and The Dead Weather. Some people seem to have a talent for dialing in their 'vibe' while others end up looking like a Temu version of some other established band. I guess the question is how does one maintain an aura of authenticity while at the same time being purposeful about their style without coming off as contrived?
I'm in an Instrumental band called Tokyo Green, and we get together when we can as we live in different areas in the UK. We're recording a new ablum at the moment and its going well. I like what were producing and quite often it'll sound better than I thought it would when we lay the tracks down. However, I also have my own solo singer songwriter music 'side project' thats just me. I have about 25 finished pieces, and about another 25 or so half finished ideas. Some of which sound amazing in my head. The issue is now that Im almost 40, and am starting to feel a bit down about my solo music, and im getting the sense Im not as excited about it any more too. I try laying down my own music but it never sounds as good as it does in my head. I quickly lose interest, and give up. Theres also financial restrictions as in a band you can support each other so Im trying to self produce, albeit unsuccessfully (im not really an engineer). But people need to hear this music, I know it could be amazing! I keep telling myself Ill do it (this has been going on now for 15 or so years now) but it never happens. A bit of an essay I know... Thats my Songwriter story!
Im lost. Trying to figure if my lyrics fit Americans, blues, country etc. I’m folksey with a nature, country sense. How do I fit in this landscape?
In another instance of the unlimited forests, Chris is a philosophy lecturer...
:) Thanks!
Hi Chric , Rick im sesay im in manitoba musicians. I have one album. Im country gospel song singer . I like to make my 2ed album. In English and my mothertung oromifaa. So please i like your help to lead me . And i have you tub channel and youtub and page too. And im also a painter . And writer too. But now days I'm not working my job health care. Because i got health problem. So in my art work i started focusing. But i didn't knew where to start.thank you for your helping.
Thought I was on a trail… turns out it’s a rabbit trail…. And I have rabbits listening to what I write, with an occasional gophers who download