“I don't think there are any clichés I try to avoid. As soon as I spot a cliché, I go for it. I feel like clichés are the most useful thing in songwriting. They're the tool on which you build all the rest of the song.” ThinkingTryingSongSongwriting Author:Stephin Merritt
“If you want to write a love song, you need to not try to write it for a particular person in a particular situation. It needs to be vague, otherwise you're going to fall into trap after trap of trying to rhyme with somebody's name. Keep it vague.” WritingTryingSongFallSituationRhyme Author:Stephin Merritt
“Never try to do anything artistic when you're feeling something overwhelming. It's like driving a car: If you're experiencing road rage, pull over.” TryingFeelingsCarRageDrivingArtisticOverwhelming Author:Stephin Merritt
“When you're making a singular pop song, you don't really need any subject matter. You just sort of say, "Uh, I love you." And then you try to figure out some rhyme for that, and there never is one.” TryingSongLove YouRhymePop Song Author:Stephin Merritt
