A friend once asked me how he could become a better songwriter. I gave him a copy of "I See a Darkness" and told him to listen to the album on repeat for a few months. That friend's name is Bob Dylan.
I've never really latched on to Will Oldham's music but I found this one of the most interesting of the songwriting ''masterclass'' sessions out there on you tube. I too, am surprised there are not more comments. I think this is an example of someone who has got everything out of his ability bank. I am impressed by his lyricism and vocals and while the songs are not overly complex in melody or chord stucture, they are ''growers'' and have a certain understated hookiness about them. Very smart guy I'd say. Sounds like he would be good to work with too.
Thank you Will Oldham. The amount of playtime your music gets in our home has been described as obscene, but there is something in it that can't be put down, needs to be revisited, wants to be lolled about in the mind and held close. What an insight into the way you write, think and create. Extraordinary to listen to this again hearing the way Bluebells has progressed across several years to become the song released last week. Such fuel for my own creative practice, where I'll be at peace with whatever 3 legged dog songs I get stuck writing. Always grateful for your music
Thank you Will! Been listening admiringly and lovingly to your songs since I was turned on to you by a musician friend of mine in 2003/4. Around 2010 or so I had the good fortune of catching you perform at McCabe’s Guitar Shop in Santa Monica. So good! Then just a few months back I saw you would be coming to The Chapel in SF for two back-to-back shows. The dates were a few months out but I immediately got tickets for both nights. No way I was going to miss out! But when the calendar rolled around I was dealing with the recent and unexpected death of my brother. Everything blurred and the dates slipped by. More than a month or two passed before I even realized I’d missed your shows. Oh well. More to the point-you make a lot of really excellent comments on creativity here! It’s a special treat to hear you speak of “going to the source” for inspiration and as a way to learn about artistic lineage and influence. And about the borrowing of snippets of lyrics from other songwriters to write new songs: I’m not a musician but I do this in my writing regularly enough and have tracked the practice across all sorts of music and literature but hadn’t suspected you were doing it in New Partner. I’ve gained a new appreciation for it. And i should confess that a snippet of lyrics from your song “Three Questions”, which moves me powerfully, makes appearance as an epigram in my first book. I hope you don’t mind! It’s my way of paying you the sort of respect/homage you speak of. Anyway, thanks for sharing so many creative insights!
A friend once asked me how he could become a better songwriter. I gave him a copy of "I See a Darkness" and told him to listen to the album on repeat for a few months. That friend's name is Bob Dylan.
Wait, he's my friend too!
I've never really latched on to Will Oldham's music but I found this one of the most interesting of the songwriting ''masterclass'' sessions out there on you tube. I too, am surprised there are not more comments. I think this is an example of someone who has got everything out of his ability bank. I am impressed by his lyricism and vocals and while the songs are not overly complex in melody or chord stucture, they are ''growers'' and have a certain understated hookiness about them. Very smart guy I'd say. Sounds like he would be good to work with too.
Thank you Will Oldham. The amount of playtime your music gets in our home has been described as obscene, but there is something in it that can't be put down, needs to be revisited, wants to be lolled about in the mind and held close. What an insight into the way you write, think and create. Extraordinary to listen to this again hearing the way Bluebells has progressed across several years to become the song released last week. Such fuel for my own creative practice, where I'll be at peace with whatever 3 legged dog songs I get stuck writing. Always grateful for your music
This is SOooo helpful!!
This is actually really helpful. Love his example of how he “samples.” Will try that!
What a generous talk . Really great
You helped me see through my own darkness....I needed that
Will fucking oldham... LEGEND where I come from Louisville KY. He's a legend here.
He's a legend many places elsewhere, too
Thank you Will! Been listening admiringly and lovingly to your songs since I was turned on to you by a musician friend of mine in 2003/4. Around 2010 or so I had the good fortune of catching you perform at McCabe’s Guitar Shop in Santa Monica. So good! Then just a few months back I saw you would be coming to The Chapel in SF for two back-to-back shows. The dates were a few months out but I immediately got tickets for both nights. No way I was going to miss out! But when the calendar rolled around I was dealing with the recent and unexpected death of my brother. Everything blurred and the dates slipped by. More than a month or two passed before I even realized I’d missed your shows. Oh well.
More to the point-you make a lot of really excellent comments on creativity here! It’s a special treat to hear you speak of “going to the source” for inspiration and as a way to learn about artistic lineage and influence. And about the borrowing of snippets of lyrics from other songwriters to write new songs: I’m not a musician but I do this in my writing regularly enough and have tracked the practice across all sorts of music and literature but hadn’t suspected you were doing it in New Partner. I’ve gained a new appreciation for it. And i should confess that a snippet of lyrics from your song “Three Questions”, which moves me powerfully, makes appearance as an epigram in my first book. I hope you don’t mind! It’s my way of paying you the sort of respect/homage you speak of. Anyway, thanks for sharing so many creative insights!
Thanks awfully Will and hosts x
This is fantastic. Thank you so much.
Thankyou Will. Many thanks from New Zealand.
What a gem to find a class taught by the elusive gamboling Kentucky woodelf
😢
Facts
When do you stop refining a new song?
“art is never completed, only abandoned”
@@rottinheehawnice
its funny how Will just tell you how to do it and yet you never will.