i am very excited to announce a weekly series for the month of march geared especially to DIY musicians & songwriters. i asked industry professionals to share their advice on what need to know before we go knocking on their door. i’ve got no-frills, straightforward insight on various aspects of the music industry from the people that have spent years in it.
stay tuned every thursday in march for this special series.
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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Michael Ford Jr. is the front man of the roots-rock band The Apache Relay. If you don’t know their music, Michael’s voice can fill a stadium and reach you in the quietest little bar. Their songs soar like Springsteen and speak to the lost & lonely wanderer in us all. Fresh off several runs opening for Mumford & Sons, they are back in the studio working on their 3rd album. Michael talks about writing new material for the band, finding that inspiration meets him when he is most disciplined. Read more about his craft after the jump.
do you work on deadlines? i find they really help me stay focused and meet my goals. for some they squash creativity, but for me i really thrive in the pressure as long as i plan ahead and give myself enough space to be creative.
i am in the final stages of making plans to return to nashville in may to make my third album. i recorded a few songs before i moved, but i don’t want to release them just yet. i have been writing so much since i moved to london, i feel that some of my best work is starting to surface. at the end of 2012, i set a goal to write a song a week by may 1st. very happy and amazed that i have met my goal so far this year. i think the looming deadline of may has pushed me to put my head down and finish songs. i think i finished 2 songs in 2011. wow. i have finished 7 in 2013. 9 more to go! wish me luck…
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