Tag: new york songwriters

COLLABORATIONS CAN BE MAGIC

So, I’ve been collaborating with this talented producer that I happen to work with on my day job. It’s probably one of the most magical combos I’ve had thus far. I remember a time when I would write songs only on my own. I had my ideas and I just went for it. I didn’t always feel the need to partner up with people, and definitely not more than once. There were maybe one or two writers I would work with every now and then but that was it. As time passed, I started meeting more and more talented individuals and the things we would come up with-sheesh! It’s interesting because us creative people love to have a high level of control over whatever it is that we’re working on but the ideas that other people can bring to your project can make things even bigger than you imagined.

So far, Cherokee and I have completed about five songs together for different purposes (and plenty more in the works) and I love every single one. I’ll definitely have some of our work posted on here in the near future. For anyone who doesn’t like to work with others because of any doubts or restrictions you may feel you would have to deal with, I encourage collaborating anyway. You never know the number of songs you’ll come up with, with hit potential. So many ideas are in the air and we all need to just take advantage, and create often.

LOVE SOMETHING? DO IT

I have stayed at this point in my life where I am determined to make something out of the things that I have always loved doing. I am older and I have loved these things for a decade, and some for far longer. I was working my regular jobs, going to school and doing what I needed to do for years and I never forgot about using my talents, but I was definitely distracted.

There was a time when it became like an itch to me. I would ask myself questions like, “what am I doing with my life?” and “why am I not where I always planned to be?” My life was always going in some other direction but I knew what felt important in my heart. One day I sat down with a pen and paper and I rewrote my goals. I wrote down all of the steps that I needed to take and I found a way to allow myself free time. In my free time, I would create and I would plan more. I would also focus on the business side of things more. We all have responsibilities but I knew that something was missing. Action needed to be taken.

Here I am now, having written songs for some projects and even a couple e-books, which was my second plan. I had gotten so far in my progress within just months of planning the e-book process. I believed in myself and I let my talent get to work.

Nothing feels worse than that feeling of being unfulfilled. It begins to eat at you and the only way to fight it is to use what you know and do what you love. As you see things start to happen, you realize that all the time you put in was worth it.

DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK QUESTIONS

All my life I have been a do-it-yourself person. Not having to rely on others for resources is a good thing but we all need assistance sometimes. When it came to what I wanted to do with my life, I knew some well-connected people but for some strange reason, I never wanted to ask anyone anything. I felt like if they made it to where they wanted to be in their career alone, I could too.

I began to understand that it takes a lot already. It isn’t always just hard work and using only what YOU know. And of course there are some who will not, but there are some people who would be willing to help you in any way they can to see you move up.

Not too long ago, I started asking questions. I started getting information that I would have never gotten because I wasn’t on the inside. It was very useful and it made me think smarter about my decisions. I realized that I didn’t need to do it alone. Had I known what I found out sooner, who knows where that information might have taken me then? It’s all a matter of using what it is, as well as who it is we have access to, to obtain the necessary help and knowledge that they might very well be open to giving us.

THE WAITING, GETTING IN WHERE YOU FIT IN

As a songwriter, you have to find ways to get your music into the right ears. The process can seem pretty intimidating because so many others are trying to do the same. You submit and you wait…and you wait. It can feel stressful but it really doesn’t have to be. Yes, a lot of people might have the same exact goals as you do (they want to get their music to some major artist, etc.) but I, myself, have come to understand that every road and every situation isn’t for everyone.

I have learned that you have to be a little more innovative with ideas when it comes to your dreams. You can create different avenues for yourself and in time, more and more things will happen. Maybe focus on smaller goals that can become part of the process to you getting to the finale. I want to do a lot with my own music and I have started to create both small and large goals so that something positive is bound to come of my hard work. Sitting around, waiting only brings discouragement but if you’re constantly working, and you’re constantly searching for ways and places to fit in your music, you’re being consistent and you’re getting closer.

It’s fine to submit and reach out to people, but I have learned that those methods should not be your only options. You can create your own avenues and be your own platform if that’s what it takes.