“The music comes first, like, 99 percent of the time. I come up with the basic chord structure and the melody first and then I get really obsessed with arranging, adding, and subtracting parts. The last step of the process, for me, is finding words that fit into that structure and figuring out exactly what I want to talk about.” WantFirstsLastsProcessStepsFitFindingsPercentStructureCome UpObsessedMelodyChordsGet RealArranging Author:Mikal Cronin
“I usually start with a guitar riff or some little pattern of chords, and then I kind of go from there. Usually my lyrics are the last thing to go onto a song. For years and years I only ever did instrumental, so I'm still trying to get confidant with my lyrics and find the right balance. I'll generally get inspired from the music. I'll have a guitar line, and then I'll have a melody line, and I hook the lyrics up to fit that rhythm. So, my lyrics to tend be very rhythmic as well. They work with the music rather than the music works around them.” TryingYearsWellsKindLittlesStillsLastsSongLinesBalanceFitInspiredGuitarPatternsRhythmMelodyHookChordsConfidant Author:Butterfly Boucher
“Some sounds are coming from the keyboard and they are very important in the writing process, but on the other hand, we have melody and we have the song before, so if the keyboard sound fits very well, it takes its artistic direction. We play the machines and the machines play us.” WritingImportantSongFitArtisticMelodyWriting Process Author:Nicolas Godin
“I don't really have a set-in-stone process or formula. Sometimes the melody is there and I have to chase down the lyrics. Sometimes, the song is there and I have to make the melody fit. What I've learned so far about songwriting is that I can't force a song. If I try to do that, it's hollow, and people know a hollow song when they hear it. It's the song they stop listening to and forget about. I'd prefer not to write those kinds of songs.” PeopleWritingTryingKindSometimesSongForgetListeningFitMelodySongwriting Author:Kasey Anderson
“As long as I can say what it is that I need to say, then I'll fit whatever I'm trying to say around a melody.” NeedsTryingLongI CanFitMelody Author:Alanis Morissette