Writing with AI

I’ve always struggled with the perpetual discussion of “lyrics or melody first”. In my (very humble) experience the answer is both! I’ve started songs with a key phrase (words) or short hummed motif or a 2 bar drum loop or a few random chords. But I’ve generally struggled with getting really good lyrics to work.…Read more Writing with AI

Streaming for Mind

So - for the last three weeks I’ve been doing a livestream every Wednesday evening in support of the mental health charity Mind. Tomorrow is the final hour of my contribution to the #streamformind challenge. Here is the playlist so far. and for tomorrow’s session, I’m taking requests for any repeats. Stream For Mind 1Early…Read more Streaming for Mind

Paul Simon

I’ve recently found myself kinda embedded in the world of Paul Simon. Now, I’ve been a fan of Simon and Garfunkel and Paul Simon’s as a solo artist, since I bought Wednesday Morning 3AM as one of my very first albums probably in around 1967 when I was 14. However, I confess that I had…Read more Paul Simon

The next challenge

I’m really excited that I’ve signed up for an online writing group with Keppie Coutts at howtowritesongs.org The plan is to write 4 songs over a period of 8 weeks starting on Jan 29 in virtual company with 8 others. We will share the work in progress with the group and provide support and critique…Read more The next challenge

Let’s Finish this!

What could you do differently? So the prompt from bloganuary is “what could you do differently” and my answer is simple…. I really want to finish more of the work I start. I have a tendency to start things and I love to sketch and doodle. Either with my guitar or in a DAW. But…Read more Let’s Finish this!

FAWM – not complete but a really useful kickstarter

So I didn’t write 14 songs in 28 days which was the target for FAWM. However, I did start writing again and as a result of the discipline of trying to meet the target, I did finish 6 songs - or at least get them to the point of recording and posting an initial demo…Read more FAWM – not complete but a really useful kickstarter

First FAWM efforts

So after the first 8 days of my first February Album Writing Month, we're making progress. After doing almost nothing for the first 5 days 'cos we were on holiday in beautiful Thailand. Actually, I did manage a couple of sketches on the iPad but nothing substantial. However, yesterday, I wrote and recorded 3 songs:…Read more First FAWM efforts

FAWM 23

So in an attempt to break out of the desert that has been my songwriting for the last couple of years, I have signed up to the February Album Writing Month (FAWM) - https://write.fawm.org/@holybrook I am now on the hook for writing and recording 14 songs in 28 days. I will be on vacation for…Read more FAWM 23

It Ain’t Me Babe

So I started doing stuff on TikTok just to see how it works and differs from other channels. I like the informality of it. There’s less fuss I think. Anyway, here’s an example https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMFQVkFK5/

Getting out of the desert

I've been really struggling for over a year now to get beyond a series of 4 or 8 bar loops and snatches of one or two lines that might have a hook in them but never actually putting it all together. So I was inspired lately by listening to the Joy of Songwriting podcast in…Read more Getting out of the desert

Holybrook