how to write a song
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 ต.ค. 2021
- 10000% accurate
tickets to my upcoming shows here! US feb march and EU apr may tours on sale dodie.co/tickets
listen to Build A Problem here! dodie.ffm.to/buildaproblem
kids club leader / barry_happy
flatmate / gretaisaac
thank you everyone who came to Buffer Festival in London to see this! I screened this in a cinema and it was VERY NICE to hear everyone laughing along
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THE SPAIN BIT HAD ME ROLLING
When Sibelius crashes for the 17th time: “don’t worry guys, it’s all part of the process”.
Tbh it really is, there's a universe where you made the song but it was totally not as good as what you might have made if sibellius had crashed and you started playing with a meter bridge and kept a plastic ruler over it. GOING OUT OF YOUR NORMAL IS ALWAYS REWARDING!(mostly)
Sibelius crashed..
SIBELIUS CRASHED.
Quit Sibelius
t͉he̟̠̤̯̯ ̭͚c͍͈̤̜̱͍h̠̼̠̼͉̕e͙̫̪̪̣e͓͕̖̞͈se̻̻̖̤̜̯̖ ̴̜͎͇̣m͖͖͈̞̘e͉̪̹̗͍͚l͈̞ts̞͇͓̰͕̝ͅ ̗̲̬i͔̤̯͘n͟ ̴̭͎̙t͇͇̗̳͡h̳͚̫e ̴̘͓m̴̞̰͚i͠c̛r̪̯̯ǫw̙͔̮̪͇ąve, t̑҉̀҉̩h̀̕ẹ̥̰ͤ͑́ ̗͉͓̰̣̝̺mṳ̝͚̟̝͇̖̟̦̗̳͉ͥ̍̐̔ͪ̓͊̊ͨͫ̄͌̔ͅs̵̼͇̦̗̩͎͙̞̏ͫͯͣ̎ͪ̄̿͠ȋ̦̞͖̺̘̥̤̙̇̈̌ͤ̾̄͑̚ͅc̼̱̜͍̻̊ͬ̃̍̊́̕͞ ̡̭͈̝̟̮̍̾̐͌̈m̨̠̜͉͈̠̞̳͖ͦ̄ͭ̉̊̎̎͐́e̳̥͍̖̖̬̜͖̹͉lͭͣͨt͖͚s̕ ̤͈̘̞̱̠̹̗͍͓͍̞͕͡ͅin̸̍ͭ̕͞ ̯̻̤̗͙̘͉̱̠̱̱̈̎̊ͩͩ̀ͮ͂̆ͥ͊̚ͅs͕̤̹̯̳̫̺̣̱̹̗̳̣̳̭ͬ̊ͪ͗̐̔͂̔͂ͬͦ͆̀ͬ̚i̡͚͘ḇ̞̬̝̹͙̰̫̟ͅe͍̦̖͚̥̐̇́ͩͮl̷̢̳iu͖͖͓̜̗̬̍̔̄̄͑̏s͏̱̮̪
@@PentameronSV jankman bless you
PrO lEvEl ChOrDs
“Notice the natural rhythm of a line” this is SO apparent in your music. Some lines hit so well because it’s exactly how someone would speak it, but it fits seamlessly into the orchestration!
! Thank you!!!
So true
Yes!!! The words really feed the music but for me it’s usually the other way around and I make the lyrics fit the melody, goes both ways..
@@doddleoddle please cover heavy lies by neck deep
@@doddleoddle please cover neck deep heavy lies
I love that you showed authentically what you go through when you can’t write a song when you want to... I’ve been struggling with this for so long and haven’t written in a long time and it’s very frustrating
Have you tried moving to Spain?
@@SmallBlogV8 good idea
I am also going through this although I’m not a songwriter. It’s really frustrating.
me failing my art exam on wednesday: ‘don’t worry yall dodie says it’s part of the process’
yes😭
stop this is literally meee
It truly is though! Succeeding in life will always lead on the same path. But failing in things and struggling can lead to so many more
hmm relatable
Such a true depiction of the creative process
Like for the Sappho avatar
@@schniT_T hahah thanks
Haha totally!
this would’ve been a sick ad for a new single
It would
But I am terrible at organising
How the tables have turned… it actually is her new single
this comment is so funny to me
@@doddleoddle 8 months later
Nine months, like a baby
Alternative title: Dodie telling us "it's all part of the process" for 10 minutes and 9 seconds
this is giving me like old is it dodie yellow tho vibes from the intro and outro and i’m living for it lol
I was just thinking that xD
YUH
Same!!
my first thought as the video started hahaha
sameee
THE OUTRO SONG IS SO GOOD?!?!?!? Wish we could hear more of it!
Ikr it's so good
Same i keep playing it over and over
Me too
IK I WAS WAITING FOR THE DROP WITH BATED BREATH
Maybe some news tomorrow? 👀
Came here legitimately looking for a song-writing tutorial, left having unexpectedly watched a short film about the epic highs and lows of the creative process. There's some comfort in that. Not what I expected, but perhaps what I needed. Thanks Dodie
gonna need ‘it got weird when we made out’ on the next album please and thank you
im workin on it
@@doddleoddle good luck!! It's impressive to me that you're already working on that 👀 :)
@@doddleoddle ily and your bangin songs queen
@@doddleoddle cover neck deep heavy lies please and thank you
@@doddleoddle WE WON BESTIES
as someone who writes weird poetry memos in my phone, yes. i totally felt this? i always start hearing a sentence in the back of my mind like when im working or whatever, and sometimes it just flows out when i come to actually write it. i find leaving a project and coming back to it later (days or months) makes you come to it with a fresh look.
one thing i always struggle with though is making things rhyme
as jokey as this video was, she’s totally right when she says that there’s no one right way!! poems don’t have to rhyme. as someone who writes a lot of poetry, most of mine don’t rhyme at all, and when they do there’s a lot of internal rhyme (this is just my personal taste, but poems that are mostly/all end rhyme feel very cheesy to me haha) go ahead and write your poems even if they don’t rhyme and see what you come up with :)
I love music and poetry that doesn't rhyme. I mean sure rhyming is fun, but I feel like some lines just come out so much more powerful when they don't rhyme. It's better to not have a rhyme than to force a rhyme where it doesn't belong. I'm sure your poetry is just lovely
As others say,
Poems aren't all about rhyme.
There it also rhythm.
The cadence and flow.
You can play with motifs:
Repetition is a powerful tool.
Maybe shift focus each line.
Repetition creates expectation.
A tug-of-war between two topics.
Broken patterns can emphasize.
Dichotomy can emphasize.
Bring thing together at the finish line.
Or you can throw all that out and just put words down. It's about expression through words at the end of the day. As long as you have expressed yourself with intent, you're doing it right. A rambling flow of conciousness has just as much potential beauty as any kind rhyming scheme. After all, it's truly the thoughts and feelings that are trying to be conveyed that hold the beauty. The words are just the artistic medium used to convey what's inside.
Rhyming really isn't all that great.
After all...
Repetition gets old fast.
This is all exceptionally accurate but the little hiss when you got interrupted is everything
Made my day 😂
I was just at a John Legend concert that he explained that he came up with the music first then came up with the words later (using gibberish as a placeholder). It's great to hear about everybody's process. Thanks for sharing!
Similarly, on Bon Iver's first album, he wrote the lyrics by "recording a word-less melody and listening to the recording over and over while writing words according to the sound of the syllables of the melody". That's why the lyrics are so abstract but strangely beautiful. Only love is all maroon, gluey feathers on the flume.
Devin Townsend my favorite songwriter does this
That’s just the way my dad used to write songs hahaha, he just played with words and gibberish until he liked something
Oh man this is so real. People like to assume that as musicians, music is always just pouring out of us with ease. Which is just not true. We can live and breathe music and can still sometimes just not write for months. It’s hard, for me it feels like a loss of identity. “If I’m not making music then I’m nothing.” But it’s important to remember that we are ALWAYS artists, regardless of our ability to create at any given moment. We deserve patience in our creative endeavors. All of it is just part of the process, as some would say
Dodie's mini breakdown around the 7 minute mark is the most accurate description to how I felt as a writer and then the whole ending when it finally hits you is just the best feeling
Omg this has the exact same energy as Bo Burnham’s inside and I’m living for it
Just watched this video after hearing the new song, and I thought this exact same thing. I can really feel the Bo Burnham influence in this, and as a huge fan of both of them I love it!
All jokes aside, I totally agree with the going for a walk / doing something else. As soon as I stop forcing my mind to think of an idea, I find the world throws up wierd and wonderful ideas that I'd never have thought of otherwise.
THAT SONG BIT WAS EVERYTHING. You’ve inspired me to lean into the process, too, because who’s to say these aren’t the same steps to finding ourselves in this life ❤️ love you dodie! You are truly such a talented song writer musician TH-camr everything human
Ooooh now that Got Weird is officially out I would love to hear the "full version" of the acoustic/demo at the end 😍
REVISITING NOW THAT GOT WEIRD IS ACTUALLY OUT!!! WOOHOO!!! 🥰🎉
Pov: you are here from dodies Twitter after she announced that this is in fact the song being released on Friday 29th of July 2022
the subtle yet hilarious humour in this is abso-fukin-lutely brilliant and the lil cushion in the back is too cute 🥺
I like how realistic this is, u don’t just sit down and write a song, it takes a year, patience and many distractions👌🏼
hi! a) you're so cute and I love this b) this is such a true and honest depiction of the creative process c) I was sitting under my desk crying because I can't do my uni essays and watching old dan and phil videos when this came up and it felt so perfect so thank you! and d) I saw you in Glasgow a few weeks ago and I just wanna say it genuinely has been the best part of my 2021. Thank you!!
what’s your profile picture
@@abdullahsuliman9722 it is a photograph of a 1st century CE Roman fresco found in Pompeii known as the Sappho fresco (although it wasn't intended to depict Sappho)
@@gabrielle2829 thanks
Watching Dan and Phil to cope is such a mood lmao
@@juliasutter6996 bahahah its called being raised on the 2012-15 YT
Hot songwriting tip: after playing an open string note, play a note on the first fret for instant heavy metal
this is so comforting; when I started finding interest in writing songs, I always thought ppl wrote songs magically all in one day & I had deemed myself uncreative for not being able to think of things within 5 minutes of trying. it's good to know it takes months sometimes. I find myself going back to phrases I wrote like 4 or 5 years ago and being able to develop them with newfound experience/knowledge
fun fact, i've had writers block for WEEKS now, and a couple hours after watching this vid something just CLICKED and i wrote one of my best songs yet. idk, ig just something about seeing my entire writers block process in a video made me feel safe and comfortable embracing it, so thank you dodie! can't wait to see you on tour
This whole skit is a masterpiece and criminally underrated. The acting and camera work was amazing. The subtle and smart humor. Holy shit she actually made it a song too what a champ.
I hope you release a full version!! (provided it doesn't force you to change your name and move to Antarctica)
I love the gradual destruction of a creative,,,and the song is LOVELY
I don't write songs but I used to write poetry :D
One of my favourite poems is unfinished but I like it that way and I don't plan on changing it. It was something I was going to come back to when I was feeling better and more able to write and be creative but I think it's a perfect time capsule of what was happening in my head at the time. I love that it just trails off like an unfinished thought :)
As someone who writes poetry and has trouble with songwriting, this was really nice to watch. Just knowing that inspiration isn't guaranteed, and it's okay to have a bad draft before getting anywhere, thank you for this dodie.
And the face Greta made the second time around was pure gold.
It's funny because I write code for a living an I'm pretty sure that's my mental process too. Find a bug in your code, then try to fix the bug but you can't figure out what's actually wrong, give up. then like a month later wake up in the middle of the night with the answer, or someone says something completely unrelated and a lightbulb just goes off in your head.... and you have to go and finish it NOW and do not sleep eat or drink anything until it's finished!
find bug
> fix it
> 14 more bugs
> repeat
Here from Tom Scott's channel and your winning game of 'No Thanks'.
9:41 manifesting dodie releases this full song on firday
well well well
CALL ME UP AGAIN I WON’T GET WEIRD. Delicious melody. Connecting the dots from your insta story I was like aaaah! The Instagram snippet drove me nuts in the best way haha.
Loved everything about this. Just recovering from a mini meltdown so this video was such a treat. Thank you dodie!
It's the recording, mixing and mastering that I find the hardest thing, if it doesn't sound like how I imagine it to sound in my head then I hate it lol, I don't have the best equipment but hopefully one day I can make good music :)
Can someone tell me the actual chords she plays when she says a 1 to minor 5? I don't understand music that well but that was SO BEAUTIFUL!
c to g minor!!!
@@doddleoddle THANK YOU!!
@@doddleoddle in the second verse make it a Major 4 to 1 in g minor, now you have a key change. :)
DODIE PLEASE MAKE THIS A FULL SONG I LOVE IT
That hiss was perfect. It gave me a good chuckle.
"GIVE UP fuck it all" is definitely part of any creative process. 😅
I like to write songs for fun or when I'm feeling emotions intensely. For a while I was thinking of being a bit more serious about it. I was and am struggling to make songs but this was just really relatable. Thank you so much for this and you always have inspired me.
This video just goes from absolute creative block to ✨hyperfixation✨
I love that this shows that creativity and creating is not always linear. It’s not always beautiful. But it is always worth the ride ♥
we NEED “i got weird when we made out” on the next dodie album i beg
The most accurate video on the creative process to date. (Especially that hiss.) Thanks for all your honesty, Dodie. And that song is a certified BOP.
Your music is brilliant, this video is brilliant, and thank you for existing ❤️ I've struggled for years writing songs and having confidence in them - knowing that you go through this process too is reassuring! Just giving your secrets for free! Incredible 🙌
Songwriting is so weird because I feel like there's no way to learn it or to consciously and intellectually do it, at least not for me. Like, the only thing you can do is wait for your subconscious mind to force its way through into your consciousness and spill out of your hands and throat (and usually eyes), and then you look at what you've made and it's like "huh, I never thought of it that way". But clearly you did, maybe for years, you just didn't have the words. I often bring lyrics to my family or therapist and tell them, "this is what I've been trying to say". It's just a matter of waiting for that door between conscious and subconscious to be unlocked by a melody or a chord progression or a key change.
Oh this is lovely. And made me tear up quite a bit. The drained feeling is one I’m struggling with a lot - and it’s kind of reassuring that even such seasoned musicians like you go through phases like this. ♥
The 5 months later is too relatable hahaha. Songwriting is literally impossible
drinking game: have a shot every time dodie mentions “part of the process”
Haha I like your process, I am a lyric hoarder so when I need to finish a song I'll go through my scraps and see if anything can be repurposed - it's fun to see how easy a line can take on a different perspective
It's kind of funny to watch this after the official video is out
I know it probably won't be a thing and it's just one other possible line but just as I heard "I got weird when we made out" the immediate line that came to my mind was something along the lines of "the ticking sound is getting loud" as in a clock marking the passage of time and you becoming more aware of it (which could lead into a section of the song having a constant or semi-constant percussion element in the background like a clock ticking).
Just me being dumb or overthinking, I can't write music lol
thank you so much for posting this!! ive been wanting to write music for so long now but every time i try i just dont know where to start and feel like whatever i do sounds bad. but there are so many great, original ideas in here that i cant wait to try!
Congrats on the win!
omg i feel so much better now lmao i always avoid writing when I like a line too much cause it's like WHAT IF I RUIN IT
Damn, this is literal ART. I love it! I know these feelings all too well, and the moment you plucked that little guitar I knew the cogs were spinning and the look of tears as you expirted your project is like a climax after months of teasing! Ugh! Then you get to bask in the adventure that came with creating it....
If only all art had a nice long story of the struggles that lead to its creation, we could all love it even more~
Cheers!
-A long time fan and fellow creative
It was so fun watching this on the big screen at Bufferfest and having a chat with you about the creative process! 💛💛
As someone who doesn't even attempt to write songs I was so ready to learn...
And I learnt so much! Thanks Dodie :D
You have no idea how long I have been waiting for this video from Dodie 💛💛
This just made me think of a cool TikTok challenge idea. Give people a single sentence or melody to write a song with. Then see all the different songs everyone comes up with when given the same starting point.
Oooh
As an aspiring songwriter who looks up to you, I love this so much. The amount of times you've mentioned, "It's all part of the process." is so reassuring. I love how the tips you shared are all very general and emphasize that there's no right way to do things. I love you, Dodie. Thank you for this.
and i thought i was just not cut out to writing songs lol so you're telling me it's /normal/ to sit in silence with only one phrase down and barely some chords? aaah i love you dodie
Loveed this so much, that exact rant has gone through my head countless times and I haven't even put anything out yet😂😭, Thank you for your vulnerabilty
I needed this from you so badly thank you!!! You could not have come at a better time. I'm getting serious about music and I just got back from my first vocal lesson!
I loved how this was edited, very personal. Thanks for sharing this, very inspirational!! ✨
This literally brought me through an entire ROLLERCOASTER of emotions thank you for making this
loving it!!! ❤️
BEAMING !! Jeezus this is brilliant - thank you for doing this. It's wonderful to see this from you.
Sidenote: I honestly feel like no one creates songs like you in their final result ???! Like it's always this BLEND that feels endlessly gorgeous idk - a whole world !! Ofc it's gonna eb and flow
Really loved this video! Always love stumbling across things that'll make me reframe my process!
I also relate to putting things on hold when they need to be. Putting care into "great ideas" while also churning through the average ideas. I once had a dream in May 2020 where I woke up with a page of notes in my notebook/binder with chord progressions, melody structures, lyric ideas, and general note taking. Five months later in October 2020, I "rediscovered" the melody in the dream, wrote 2 songs, and released a 4 track EP in January 2021.
I still write constantly, developing ideas into full productions. Some are for later, some are for solo projects, some are for bands. I just love creating!
finally a TRUE insight to the creative process
Thank you thank you! In starting a cover channel and want to eventually write my own music and I absolutely love your style so I'm very glad you posted this :)
-a very content fan
This is what I have so far (ik it’s bad lol)
Verses 1:
Reality crashes like a card tower
Each shard floats down like a leaf
Am I the only who can see the cracks
In the smiles that look so sweet?
The room is dark but there’s no stars.
How long has it even been?
Eyes are wide
Why can’t I cry?
The blood on my hands isn’t pretend
Chorus:
Shards on the floor
From the rock that you threw
to get my attention at night.
Who am I talking to?
How did I get here? Why?
Blank walls
Blood on the floor
Who am I singing this for?
The only way out is to be cut cut cut
From jumping out the broken window
(Woah-oh)
(Woah-oh)
(Woah-oh)
THIS IS SOO GOOD
I’ve been struggling with art block for a few months now. I do a lot of different things but none of them have called me, even though I’ve been listening for them as much as I can. I know it’s just sort of the way of things, but it’s really reassuring to actually see other people (that I look up to no less) struggling with the same creative troubles and doubt. Some songs take fifteen minutes. Some take years, and some never see completion. One of my favorite songs I’ve written was 90% done the first day it existed, but I couldn’t find the last little spark for another three years (and believe me I looked for it everywhere). I’m glad I did find it though, and I hope everyone in this comment section with similar tales finds a lot more like it. Thank you Dodie!
Alsooo loved the look out the window and the clock shot, really brought us into the room with you
As someone who wants to start writing songs I think this video is something I really needed. Thank you Dodie. 💝
I absolutely loved this video 😂❤ it felt so genuine and just felt like a total insight into Dodie's life!
New life motto... "It's all part of the process"
i need a longer version of this song ASAPPPPP
I was literally thinking how I haven’t written in a long time!! And I just don’t know where to start. Then I get notification for this video! How crazy!
Love this Dodie!!! 💖🎶 Love your music keeping plugging away i'm sure more inspiration will strike!!! 💖🎶
Doddie, you can't imagine how much joy you bring to my life.
This pure genius exposition and depiction of your human frailties in producing such original and exquisite songs sums up why this 68 year old adores every single song you have ever composed and performed. Keep them coming Dodie!
I was literally just thinking of trying song writing for the first time and now...I'm a tad bit excited and worried. With that said, I'm encouraged to keep my eyes and ears open for inspiration and see if something come of it.
I love you so much dodie, this is exactly what I needed ❤️
dang, of course this pops up on my feed right after i finish writing the first ever song i've been proud of. this is- scarily accurate and hit a LIL too close to home. thanks for inspiring me to do the thing i love dodie, you've helped me more than i can express rn, especially after recently realizing i've been depressed for the past few months!! thats the power of music tho lol. but yea thanks :)
and to anyone else reading this who wants to create something, just DO it. don't let imperfections stop you from doing soemthing you love, make something for the fun of it :D
SUCH A TALENT wow. Brilliant, fucking loved every second of this dodie! ♥️
This got way more real than I was ready for
the trip to Spain lmfao:) that was so funny, also a beautiful moment to see the rediscovery of art after you've had to take a much-needed break from it. you can take the girl out of the studio but you can't take the music out of the girl. well done!
Ahahahah thank you for this Dodie! I listen to your CD like every morning on the way to school in my car so thank you
thanks for sharing this, i feel like i ALWAYS go through the same steps when i have a bit of writers block, and at some point i always feel like i probably am past my prime and that i probably never am going to write a song i like ever again. so pretty much like 6:30 dodie feels. Thank you very much for letting me see that that, too is just a part of being creative :)
I discovered your music a couple of months ago.
Bought a CD copy of Human and have had it on repeat ever since.
I ordered the CD of Build a Problem three weeks ago - and am still waiting for it to arrive.
So I bought the download of You to keep my current addiction sated.
Damn woman, you are a brilliant Songwriter, singer and musician.
Dodie is the soundtrack to my 2021. And that has given me much joy.
I look forward to following and buying your music for years to come.
Thank You.
Please tour Australia one day soon..
🖤
@@doddleoddle I have been binging on Build a Problem since it arrived. ‘Guiltless’ has been added to ‘Not What I Meant’ as best songs of 2021. Now I discover that you have a deluxe version with more songs for sale on your site. So I ordered that too. Oh, and just bought a tenor ukulele to learn…. dodie you are a bit addictive. I am twice your age and totally into your music. Not that age matters in musical taste but it might surprise you how many people love your music are well beyond their twenties. Thank you for giving so much joy.
i’m a music student at uni & this is very motivating! just what i needed to actually get to work :)
Hi Dodie! I just did a music course for girls and omg it was great. I did tons of songwriting with new friends and I got to learn more about the music industry and why it’s harder for us ladies. You are such an inspiration and this video was just at a perfect time for me, I’m hoping to release my own music at some point but I got stuck, this was perfect omg
I’m LIVING for the Bo Burnham inspo you pulled!! Being able to pull off the shift from bright and silly and bubbly to the serious, dark, call-of-the-void-y moods and back makes my brain go brrrrrrrrr
I write songs as I go, so like while I'm producing, lyrics come to me along the way, and that made me feel wrong because everyone pre-writes their songs but I feel a bit better about it now
I LOVE THIS DODIE!!