photo by Fred R. Conrad for the NYT
i’m so excited to kick off a new series today that is near & dear to my heart. 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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i’m thrilled to kick off the series with BROOKE WAGGONER - fresh off her tour with Jack White and her 2nd date at the NPR Mountain Stage, she is gearing up to release her 4th studio album Originator early next year. In September Brooke released “Ink Slinger,” a jaunty piano rock tune (definitely showing her love for Bowie!) featuring her abilities as classically trained musician and expert songwriter & arranger. Brooke has mastered the craft of telling a story with her music & lyrics – let’s hear how she does it!
1. What is your typical work day? It really varies from one day to the next. If I’m home, I get up early, make coffee (lots of it), go straight to my music room to write, work, and return emails/phone calls. I can think the best early in the morning. Usually by 11 a.m. I’m out and about. There’s often a meeting I’m trying to get to. I like to break up the day in the afternoon. Lately that’s been filled with marketing plans, conference calls, and rehearsals. I’m gearing up to release a new record and it’s just endless work at this point. By about 4:30 I’m usually winding down a little bit. I like to cook dinner and take a walk with my husband at dusk.
2. What tools do you use to keep you organized and productive? To keep my schedule organized I always type the dates in a column on my Mac “stickies.” It’s literally the icon right next to my “iCal” icon but I always go for the sticky. Ha, not the most efficient method, but I’ve just gotten so used to it. Lucky instrument: My Alesis keyboard definitely has special powers. That guy’s been with me forever.
3. Do you have any habits, exercises or activities that jumpstart your creativity? If I’m feeling stale or uninspired, I always put Debussy’s String Quartet in g minor, Op. 10 on (specifically the 3rd & 4th movements). There’s something about this piece that connects. It gets my mind moving. I also like to take long drives. I can just think with more clarity. Ideas come to me stronger on a road and in something that’s physically moving.
4. Are there any specific books, films, lectures, etc. that have impacted your creative process? Flannery O’Connor’s collection of essays Mystery & Manners has really inspired me. She has the innate ability to pick apart and articulate the importance of writing in a way that really resonates with me. Dorothy Parker’s biography has also had an impact. In my mind she seems larger than life. I collect Alfred Hitchcock films, have seen every Mary Tyler Moore episode atleast 100 times, and listen to way too much Nina Simone, Talk Talk (the later albums), and Bowie.
5. Where do you get your best work done? At home in my music room / library.
6. How do you combat writer’s block? I don’t combat it. When it’s around I just let it run it’s course. No one’s a machine. I usually end up biking down to Bobby’s Dairy Dip and eating icecream. That seems to do the trick.
7. Who is your songwriting hero? Hoagey Carmichael
8. Do you have any advice to offer a new songwriter? Don’t take songwriting classes. No forums, conventions, conferences, clinics. Basically any organized function with the title “Songwriting” in it, stay away.
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Thank you so much, Brooke! Watch this space for the new series FILL THE WELL featuring interviews with songwriters on their creative process.
image from brooke’s facebook
