Where does one get inspiration? Where do song ideas come from? How do I put it all together and get creative? These are questions in every songwriter's head. There are no easy answers, nor is there any one answer. Sometimes the answer is right in front of you, sometimes it's obscure and comes in the middle of the night, sometimes it comes in bits and pieces. I've experienced all of these in my songwriting.
When I look at beautiful sunset, like the one above in the vastness of the Sahara Desert (exquisite photo by Mark Paulda, markpaulda.com), it evokes an emotional response in me that I try to translate into words that make sense and convey my feelings. It might be an analogy of the beauty of this scene with the love I feel for my partner. Or perhaps the majesty of this scene as a symbol of strength in overcoming hardships or obstacles.
Obviously, the core of any song is personal experience. The trick is to translate that into a meaningful narrative that says something. Being old fashioned, I tend to write down bits and pieces of lyrics on little note pads. Or, showing my technical prowess, I'll record short sound bites on the iPhone. No matter which, I have a record of it that I can refer to at anytime.
I love the beauty of nature, and often find that to be a spark plug to creativity. On one trip to Ouray, Colorado, I pulled out a stool I travel with, and my guitar, and just sat on the side of a mountain and began working out a song I had bits and pieces of (picture below). This where the song "Restless Spirit" had its' genesis.
Comments