Author Archives: alvaadmin

FILL THE WELL with ANDREW COMBS

January 15, 2013
in this series, i ask other songwriters about their quest for inspiration and how they tackle the day-to-day tasks of writing quality, engaging songs. behind every good song is a hard-worker. i want to know how songwriters work and how they fill their well so it never goes dry.
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This week’s FTW is with ANDREW COMBS, staff writer for Razor & Tie publishing in Nashville and an Americana singer-songwriter with a seriously fantastic new album out – Worried Man. Andrew’s music is a genius mix of Texas twang, close-knit folk, Mississippi blues and there’s Steelism. They make everything better. Most of all, Andrew is a great songwriter – he pays homage to his tradition with big, strong choruses and lush storytelling. He is opening for Shovels and Rope in February – check his site for dates. Thank you for sharing, Andrew!… Continue Reading
Written by alvaadmin | Filed Under: FILL THE WELL, INSPIRATION

metaphwork

January 14, 2013

wanna do some writing exercises? sounds like fun, right? i did this exercise a few mornings last week and it really got my brain going. like i was doing language burpees. i found myself thinking about verbs in the shower. at the sink doing dishes. verbs verbs verbs.

this is exercise (no. 8) from pat pattinson’s book writing better lyrics. you should try it! you can write better love letters  or snark – whatever your potion.

pat challenges you to develop the habit of looking. he says every fresh and exciting metaphor resides in a breathtaking collision. we should look at the characteristics of an idea in order to discover the unusual commonalities.

here are a few that i came up with:

stately whisper / deafening truth / crystal sun / pavement sleeps / flexible ego

don’t judge… i’m just getting started.

side note: i’ve been working in evernote for these free-writing exercises. that way i never lose anything and, let’s be honest, who can write faster than they can type? (do you think there is a DJ GWAM? just checked – yep!)

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content from pat pattinson’s 2009 book writing better lyrics

circle dots credit :: pugly pixel

Written by alvaadmin | Filed Under: SONGWRITING

london lately: hampstead heath

January 11, 2013

will and i went hiking at hampstead heath a few weeks ago on a saturday afternoon. the heath brings the countryside to the city – 500 acres of open, untamed space. after a long hike, we had a pub lunch and browsed a few shops on the high street. a relaxing afternoon outdoors – hard to believe we were just a few tube stops away from home!

Written by alvaadmin | Filed Under: LONDON, LONDON LATELY

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