Rewiring

HAPPY NEW YEAR

I wanted to use this first blog of 2022 to wish you all a healthy and prosperous new year and to let you know about a major change in my life. Hope you’ll indulge me and read until the end.

70 !!

January 9th, 2022 marks my 70th birthday or as I like to call it, the 70th anniversary of my escape from the womb:-) I’ve been completely obsessed with music from the age of 14. I blame this on the Beatles, the Stones and Motown. First in garage bands, eventually graduating to a few major record deals and touring. Before long I realized that songwriting was my real, one true passion and I shifted my focus to publishing deals and writing for artists. This path has taken me on one amazing journey, even getting songs recorded by some of the very artists that started me on my path. Tina Turner, Diana Ross, Chaka Khan, Joe Cocker and many, many more. All the way through the years to writing for pop, rock, jazz and country artists with my songs appearing on more than 16 million records and a few #1s. Beyond my wildest dreams for sure.

Starting in 2011 I branched out to coaching writers from around the world, conducting workshops, mentoring and, in 2019 and 2020, writing two books about the art of songwriting. Both books continue to sell well with “Song Journey” entering the Amazon charts at #1 in six categories upon release. All things I would never have imagined starting out in Endwell, New York all those years ago.

Songwriting has allowed me to be able to travel the world, marry and raise a beautiful family, first in California, then the UK, to Indiana and finally some 26 years ago, to my current home in Nashville, Tennessee. This journey has given me some of my most cherished memories and life long friendships. A special shout out to my “second home”, the UK.

REWIRE

To my point. As I began eyeing the approach of the big 7-0 I made myself a promise that I would push myself into new territories. It has seemed like a natural time not to retire, but to rewire. I’ve always been a voracious reader and the success of “Song Journey” and “The Daily Song Journal” ignited a passion for writing books. I’ve had the germ of a novel for a few years and I’m co-writing it with one of my oldest and most talented friends. I’ve also begun working on what we hope to be a series of children’s books with my wife, Kathy. I’ve decided to follow this new passion and to do so I know I need to dedicate the majority of my time to it.

So, this will be my last article/blog. Honestly, I like to feel I’ve “emptied the tank” with the extent of my experience and knowledge of the songwriting world and never want to repeat myself or overstay my welcome. I’ll also be pulling back from much of my music related social media including interviews and podcasts. I’m proud my blog came in #3 in a recent survey of the most read blogs on songwriting in the world. You’ll still be able to access the archives, 10 years of blogs on my website www.idocoach.com anytime. I want to thank all of the magazines and songwriting groups in the US, UK, Canada and Australia who have been featuring my work as well as the major songwriting contests that have invited me to judge, Universities who’ve invited me to speak to students, but most of all… you. If you’ve been listening to my songs, reading my articles and blogs, listening to podcasts and interviews, buying my first two books, or signing up for one-on-one coaching, I can’t thank you enough for how you’ve enriched my life. You’ve given me a long career not to mention a lot of love and a wealth of encouragement.

THE FUTURE

I do intend to continue my one-on-one coaching a few days a week through 2022 but will not be taking on workshops or seminars. Coaching has allowed me to give back so much of what has been given to me and it remains a huge passion. Kathy and I are in great health and along with focusing on the new books, we plan to get back to lots of traveling when the world re-opens including spending longer periods of time living in some bucket list places. I love the phrase “adding life to our years” and it’s become a mantra for us.

I hope you’ll wish me good luck with this next stage of life and I look forward to sharing new adventures, and hopefully a book or two in the coming years. To be continued…

Again, thank you and God bless.

Mark Cawley

Nashville, Tennessee

Image: Shutterstock

I'm currently coaching writers worldwide, online, one on one and taking new clients for 2022. Visit my website for more info www.idocoach.com or write to me at mark@idocoach.com

mark Cawley iDoCoach.com

Mark Cawley is a hit songwriter, best-selling author, in-demand speaker, songwriting coach, and popular blogger. As a songwriter, his songs have been on more than 16 million records to date with cuts ranging from Tina Turner, Joe Cocker, Chaka Khan, and Diana Ross to Wynonna Judd, Taylor Dayne, Paul Carrack, Billie Piper, The Spice Girls, and many more. Through his coaching service iDoCoach.com, he has coached thousands of songwriters worldwide.

His book, Song Journey, was released in April 2019 and went to #1 in 6 categories on Amazon. Mark is a past judge for the UK Songwriting Contest, Nashville Rising Star, Belmont University’s Commercial Music program, and West Coast Songwriter events. He’s also a contributing author to USA Songwriting, InTune Magazine, Songwriter Magazine, a sponsor for the Australian Songwriting Association, and a past mentor for The Songwriting Academy UK. Born in Syracuse, New York, Mark has lived in Boston, Los Angeles, Indianapolis, and London. Mark now resides in Nashville, Tennessee. The Daily Song Journal is his second book. He is currently co-writing his first novel as well as a children’s book.

 Here is a link to “ The Daily Song Journal” on Amazon

You can also find Song Journey on Amazon.

CAN YOU WRITE A " VIRTUOUS" SONG?

Ever thought about writing a song based on a virtue? Lots to pick from. How about faith, hope, charity, fortitude, justice, temperance and prudence. Also know as the “seven heavenly virtues”. 

There are “moral virtues” like courage, liberality, magnificence, magnanimity , proper ambition, truthfulness, wittiness, friendliness, modesty, righteous indignation.

We even have the “human virtues” of humility, honesty, courage, perseverance, hope, charity, balance, wisdom and justice.

Honesty

I’m going with honesty today. Give this one some thought before you jump in. Know someone who’s honest as the day is long? Lots of classic songs play off this simple theme. “I Honestly Love You”, “Honesty“ by Billy Joel, maybe the Jimmy Reed classic, “Honest I Do”. Try creating a new list based solely on words in the family of honesty. 

Songs of affirmation are always in demand. Anytime you can lift the listener up it’s a good thing. How about “Hope”? “ Courage”? “Bravery”? All great, big, virtuous words to start with. The word doesn’t have to be your title, it can be your theme. The Beatles classic “Here Comes The Sun” has a strong feeling of hope. One of my all time favorites “People Get Ready” has the dominant theme of faith. You can find courage and perseverance  in the Tom Petty classic “I Won’t Back Down” and even friendliness in Bill Withers’, “Lean On Me”. 

The Good Result

You get the idea. By virtue of being a songwriter you can tap into one of the very definitions of the word, “The good result that comes from something”. Write something great today, I’d call that a good result!

And… wherever you are in the world, wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas!!

Mark Cawley

Nashville, Tennessee

Parts of this blog are quoting from my book “ The Daily Song Journal”

Image: Shutterstock

if you'd like to stay up with iDoCoach including receiving the latest blogs and my favorite 7 Toolbox tips here ya go!

http://idocoach.com/email-newsletter

I'm currently coaching writers worldwide, online, one on one and taking new clients for the Fall and Winter. Visit my website for more info www.idocoach.com or write to me at mark@idocoach.com

iDoCoach.com

Mark Cawley is a hit songwriter, best-selling author, in-demand speaker, songwriting coach, and popular blogger. As a songwriter, his songs have been on more than 16 million records to date with cuts ranging from Tina Turner, Joe Cocker, Chaka Khan, and Diana Ross to Wynonna Judd, Taylor Dayne, Paul Carrack, The Spice Girls, and many more. Through his coaching service iDoCoach.com, he has coached thousands of songwriters worldwide.

His book, Song Journey, was released in April 2019 and went to #1 in 6 categories on Amazon. Mark is a past judge for the UK Songwriting Contest, Nashville Rising Star, Belmont University’s Commercial Music program, and West Coast Songwriter events. He’s also a contributing author to USA Songwriting, InTune Magazine, Songwriter Magazine, a sponsor for the Australian Songwriting Association, and a past mentor for The Songwriting Academy UK. Born in Syracuse, New York, Mark has lived in Boston, Los Angeles, Indianapolis, and London. Mark now resides in Nashville, Tennessee. The Daily Song Journal is his second book.

 Here is a link to “ The Daily Song Journal” on Amazon

You can also find Song Journey on Amazon.

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Songwriting Paralysis By Analysis

iDoCoach.com

Ever suffer from paralysis by analysis? Stressed out over a line or a melodic phrase? Easy to get caught up in your song with the smallest of details. If you tend to overthink your song just …don’t.

I’ve mentored a ton of songwriters through the years both online, in sessions, workshops, and writer retreats. Can’t begin to tell you how many times I’ve come into a room and found co-writers have retreated into their respective corners and the song has come to a complete halt. I’ll ask them to take me back to the beginning of their co-write and walk me through it. It’s usually a short walk. Why? Someone is overthinking and doing it too early in the process.

Maybe it’s the writer who writes a line or two and immediately begins to dissect them. Basically editing before there is much to edit. Whatever it is that’s caused the once-promising idea to go on life support is something to overcome. The time to edit is really when you have a whole bunch of ideas on the page. That’s when you need to analyze what you have and consider possible ways to make it better. If you find yourself paralyzed, indecisive, and unable to move forward consider getting away from the song for a while. If you’re co-writing on the day and don’t have the luxury of time, try being acceptive of the other writer’s ideas even when you’re feeling they may not be the best ones. You can always revisit these when you have the bones of your song. Move on.

An age-old tool is to use placeholders in your lyric. Rather than stopping time by waiting for that perfect line, just make something up - anything - and keep the flow going. Again, you can come back to it later. The Beatles were particularly good at this technique and sometimes the nonsensical lines actually ended up in the final version.

You probably know the most famous of these placeholder stories. If not, Paul McCartney was writing a beautiful song but totally stuck for the title. He had the cadence down but rather than letting this stop him he carried on with a working title of “Scrambled  Eggs”. Eventually the title “Yesterday” took over from “Scrambled Eggs” and worked out ok for the song and for Paul.

Pays to think about these moments in your song but not to the point of paralysis by analysis. It will come and sometimes when you just quit thinking!

Mark Cawley

Nashville, Tennessee

Image: Shutterstock

if you'd like to stay up with iDoCoach including receiving the latest blogs and my favorite 7 Toolbox tips here ya go!

http://idocoach.com/email-newsletter

I'm currently coaching writers worldwide, online, one on one and taking new clients for the Fall. Visit my website for more info www.idocoach.com or write to me at mark@idocoach.com

Mark Cawley iDoCoach

Mark Cawley is a hit songwriter, best-selling author, in-demand speaker, songwriting coach, and popular blogger. As a songwriter, his songs have been on more than 16 million records to date with cuts ranging from Tina Turner, Joe Cocker, Chaka Khan, and Diana Ross to Wynonna Judd, Taylor Dayne, Paul Carrack, The Spice Girls, and many more. Through his coaching service iDoCoach.com, he has coached thousands of songwriters worldwide.

His book, Song Journey, was released in April 2019 and went to #1 in 6 categories on Amazon. Mark is a past judge for the UK Songwriting Contest, Nashville Rising Star, Belmont University’s Commercial Music program, and West Coast Songwriter events. He’s also a contributing author to USA Songwriting, InTune Magazine, Songwriter Magazine, a sponsor for the Australian Songwriting Association, and a past mentor for The Songwriting Academy UK. Born in Syracuse, New York, Mark has lived in Boston, Los Angeles, Indianapolis, and London. Mark now resides in Nashville, Tennessee. The Daily Song Journal is his second book.

 Here is a link to “ The Daily Song Journal” on Amazon

You can also find Song Journey on Amazon.

Songwriter...Are You A One Trick Pony?

Definition of one-trick pony: one that is skilled in only one area

Grohl has never been mistaken for a one-trick pony.

— Lars Brandle, Billboard, 25 May 2021

Times have changed for songwriters. I’m not talking about the pure act of writing a song. It will always take inspiration and skill that you’ll have to summon up from inside but, more about the tools needed to succeed as a songwriter in 2021. If you’re writing just for the sake of writing, then you can stop here, but…if you want this to be your livelihood, read on.

Love it or hate it, we’re in a time of co-writing. Just look at the songwriting credits of the top ten around the world. You’ll see anywhere from 2 or 3 names up to 7 or 8. Crazy, no? All to do with the skill set of the writers involved. Can they sing or play well enough to create a finished product? Production skills? These alone can make a writer invaluable to the process. You’re seeing the writer credits reflect a track person, a top liner and…yep…even a “vibe master”. 

In an era where publishers look at your social media numbers when deciding to offer a deal, it makes perfect sense that the more you bring to the table, the better your chances of getting that holy grail of a publishing deal.

This can take the form of you developing a young artist and co-writing with them, being able to record great demos from your home studio, bringing your social media followers to a project or even being an aspiring artist yourself. 

Point is, the more you bring to the table, the more attractive you are to a publisher and that ups your odds of doing this for a living. Be at least a two-trick pony, just develop one more thing that makes you more than just a good songwriter.

Mark Cawley

Nashville, Tennessee

Image: Shutterstock

if you'd like to stay up with iDoCoach including receiving the latest blogs and my favorite 7 Toolbox tips here ya go!

http://idocoach.com/email-newsletter

I'm currently coaching writers worldwide, online, one on one and taking new clients for the Fall. Visit my website for more info www.idocoach.com or write to me at mark@idocoach.com

Mark Cawley iDoCoach.com

Mark Cawley is a hit songwriter, best-selling author, in demand speaker, songwriting coach, and popular blogger. As a songwriter his songs have been on more than 16 million records to date with cuts ranging from Tina Turner, Joe Cocker, Chaka Khan and Diana Ross to Wynonna Judd, Taylor Dayne, Paul Carrack, The Spice Girls and many more. Through his coaching service iDoCoach.com, he has coached thousands of songwriters worldwide.

His book, Song Journey, was released in April 2019 and went to #1 in 6 categories on Amazon. Mark is a past judge for the UK Songwriting Contest, Nashville Rising Star, Belmont University’s Commercial Music program, and West Coast Songwriter events. He’s also a contributing author to USA Songwriting, InTune Magazine, Songwriter Magazine, a sponsor for the Australian Songwriting Association, and a past mentor for The Songwriting Academy UK. Born in Syracuse, New York, Mark has lived in Boston, Los Angeles, Indianapolis and London. Mark now resides in Nashville, Tennessee. The Daily Song Journal is his second book.

 Here is a link to “ The Daily Song Journal” on Amazon

You can also find Song Journey on Amazon.

Songwriting: Staging Your Lyric

iDoCoach Blog

If you’ve been writing songs for awhile you’ve no doubt heard the phrase “show, not tell”. It’s the art of letting the listener into your world, letting them see what you see. Color and detail are your tools. But how do you go about doing this more?

Think of your lyric writing like a stager.

A stager is the person who goes into a house for sale with the job of making it inviting for the potential buyers. If they cram too much into the house it’s harder for the buyer to picture themselves there. If they were to just take everything out of the house they present a different problem. The buyer has to imagine themselves in this empty space. But, if the skilled stager can put in just enough to give the buyer a feel for how the house could work for them, it makes a world of difference and contributes to the sale of the house in the end.

I first heard of this idea from Jimmy McDonough’s bio of Neil Young called “Shakey”. It’s a brilliant analogy for any lyricist to think about how they can invite the listener into their story. It’s also an art to balance the right amount of color and detail. If you endlessly use words to describe every part of your lyric a listener has no room to put themselves in it which is what a great song has the power to do. But if you put in just the right amount of color and detail, the listener can see what you want them to see and they can take it from there.

Sometimes this can be as simple as giving someone a name instead of “she or he”. Maybe it’s using a word like “auburn” instead of “red”, “Rebel Yell” instead of “whiskey” or “Penny Lane“ instead of “my street”. You get the idea. Think of your song like that  house for sale and stage your lyric to sell.

Mark Cawley

Nashville, Tennessee

Image: Shutterstock

if you'd like to stay up with iDoCoach including receiving the latest blogs and my favorite 7 Toolbox tips here ya go!

http://idocoach.com/email-newsletter

I'm currently coaching writers worldwide, online, one on one and taking new clients for the Fall. Visit my website for more info www.idocoach.com or write to me at mark@idocoach.com

Mark Cawley is a hit songwriter, best-selling author, in demand speaker, songwriting coach, and popular blogger. As a songwriter his songs have been on more than 16 million records to date with cuts ranging from Tina Turner, Joe Cocker, Chaka Khan and Diana Ross to Wynonna Judd, Taylor Dayne, Paul Carrack, The Spice Girls and many more. Through his coaching service iDoCoach.com, he has coached thousands of songwriters worldwide.

His book, Song Journey, was released in April 2019 and went to #1 in 6 categories on Amazon. Mark is a past judge for the UK Songwriting Contest, Nashville Rising Star, Belmont University’s Commercial Music program, and West Coast Songwriter events. He’s also a contributing author to USA Songwriting, InTune Magazine, Songwriter Magazine, a sponsor for the Australian Songwriting Association, and a past mentor for The Songwriting Academy UK. Born in Syracuse, New York, Mark has lived in Boston, Los Angeles, Indianapolis and London. Mark now resides in Nashville, Tennessee. The Daily Song Journal is his second book.

 Here is a link to “ The Daily Song Journal” on Amazon

You can also find Song Journey on Amazon.

Does Songwriting Have An Expiration Date?

Does Songwriting have an expiration date?

I might just as well ask if songwriters have an expiration date. I coach songwriters all over the world, of all levels and all ages. I’m seeing a surge of writers coming to me for coaching who are coming back to a love of writing they may have put on the shelf for years. Maybe it was the need to focus on work or family. Whatever the reason most put their dream on hold. In some cases Covid provided more time and more focus on being creative and that’s bringing them out.

I love coaching these writers because most are realistic. They know they aren’t about to get a record deal, probably not a major publishing deal either. They just want to do something they connect to and do it well. They are usually smart enough to know they want to learn from someone with experience and there are even those who feel they need to really dig in now because well…there might be less time in front of them than behind them at this juncture.

This is not to suggest that songwriting is for the young. Songwriting is not the music business. Songwriting is the business of being creative. You’re never too old to learn, practice and …dream. There are some attainable goals for this age group. Sync (for example, getting songs in TV, movies and commercials) is something they can aspire to learn more about, even single song deals for something unique enough to interest a publisher. Is a publisher going to make a long term investment in a songwriter of a certain age? Doubtful but again, writing something undeniable and doing everything you can to get it heard can lead to some interesting opportunities. 

I’ll be honest, it’s different for me in a way. I’ve made a career and life in music since I was a teenager but as the years moved along I’ve had to make some realistic changes not only to change with the business side but to acknowledge my own changing passions. In this way I’m not so different from my songwriting clients. I’m looking out for new, realistic attainable goals and new ways to be creative. Am I gonna go in search of an artist deal? Been there but it was in my youth. Seek out a major publishing deal? Nope. Been there too and not where my energy and passion lie at this stage. So I look for new challenges just like the older songwriters I’m working with. I guess the difference is they are returning to a first love while I’m looking for the next one.

In the meantime I can teach, mentor and even write books and these are more recent passions. Wisdom never goes out of style and neither does the act and pure joy of writing a song. Whatever age you are, go for it. As long as you keep it fresh, songwriting has no expiration date, trust me.

Mark Cawley

Nashville, Tennessee

Image: Shutterstock

if you'd like to stay up with iDoCoach including receiving the latest blogs and my favorite 7 Toolbox tips here ya go!

http://idocoach.com/email-newsletter

I'm currently coaching writers worldwide, online, one on one and taking new clients for the Summer. Visit my website for more info www.idocoach.com or write to me at mark@idocoach.com

Mark Cawley iDoCoach.com

Mark Cawley is a hit songwriter, best-selling author, in demand speaker, songwriting coach, and popular blogger. As a songwriter his songs have been on more than 16 million records to date with cuts ranging from Tina Turner, Joe Cocker, Chaka Khan and Diana Ross to Wynonna Judd, Taylor Dayne, Paul Carrack, The Spice Girls and many more. Through his coaching service iDoCoach.com, he has coached thousands of songwriters worldwide.

His book, Song Journey, was released in April 2019 and went to #1 in 6 categories on Amazon. Mark is a past judge for the UK Songwriting Contest, Nashville Rising Star, Belmont University’s Commercial Music program, and West Coast Songwriter events. He’s also a contributing author to USA Songwriting, InTune Magazine, Songwriter Magazine, a sponsor for the Australian Songwriting Association, and a past mentor for The Songwriting Academy UK. Born in Syracuse, New York, Mark has lived in Boston, Los Angeles, Indianapolis and London. Mark now resides in Nashville, Tennessee. The Daily Song Journal is his second book.

 Here is a link to “ The Daily Song Journal” on Amazon

You can also find Song Journey on Amazon.

Songwriting: Letting Go Of The Wheel

iDoCoach.com Blog

Let go of the wheel

You might consider a whole lot of things when you start putting a song together. Can I suggest one that might not enter your mind while you’re making choices? Choose to let go of the wheel and let the song dictate the structure at some point.

This is a good time to mention, once again, that there are no rules in songwriting, only tools. This one is as valuable as any other in your toolbox. 

There is so much information out there for songwriters, online and in person. So many valuable tools and methods being taught that it can get easier and easier to lose yourself in the song structure. Along with having two songwriting books out, conducting and speaking at international workshops and coaching songwriters for the past 12 years, it may sound funny coming from someone like me but there comes a point when you have to put all that information in the trunk and just drive. 

Same goes for when it’s time to bring some structure to your idea. If you find yourself totally relying on what you’ve been taught, read or heard, you might find yourself painting by numbers. Sure there are common denominators when you look at the charts. Maybe it’s a trend to have only one verse before the chorus, no bridge, a post chorus and breakdown chorus. All good to be aware of if you’re aiming for the charts but it’s so important that somewhere in there you just get out of the way and see where the song wants to take you.

The “information into inspiration” line…

There’s a great John Mayer quote while speaking to students at Berklee when he cautions them that while information is great, they need to turn all the information they’re receiving into inspiration. Fantastic advice. It's great to discover how hit songs are put together, get’s in your writer DNA. We all learn from what’s come before but then trusting what you’ve learned enough to let go of the wheel gives you a shot at real originality.

I would even take this idea further as it pertains to co-writing. Knowing when to inject something and when to get out of the way can make for some magic that might not have appeared if everyone in the room is trying to drive.

Next time you come up with a song idea and are tempted to stick to a tried and true route, think about just throwing away the map, letting go of the wheel and just enjoy the ride!

P.S. Update on July 11, 2021. Just to say I’ve received a ton of emails and messages from writers saying they feel restricted by rules and formats right now. Don’t lose yourself !!

Mark Cawley

Nashville, Tennessee

Image: Shutterstock

if you'd like to stay up with iDoCoach including receiving the latest blogs and my favorite 7 Toolbox tips here ya go!

http://idocoach.com/email-newsletter

I'm currently coaching writers worldwide, online, one on one and taking new clients for the Summer. Visit my website for more info www.idocoach.com or write to me at mark@idocoach.com

Mark Cawley iDoCoach.com

Mark Cawley is a hit songwriter, best-selling author, in demand speaker, songwriting coach, and popular blogger. As a songwriter his songs have been on more than 16 million records to date with cuts ranging from Tina Turner, Joe Cocker, Chaka Khan and Diana Ross to Wynonna Judd, Taylor Dayne, Paul Carrack, The Spice Girls and many more. Through his coaching service iDoCoach.com, he has coached thousands of songwriters worldwide.

His book, Song Journey, was released in April 2019 and went to #1 in 6 categories on Amazon. Mark is a past judge for the UK Songwriting Contest, Nashville Rising Star, Belmont University’s Commercial Music program, and West Coast Songwriter events. He’s also a contributing author to USA Songwriting, InTune Magazine, Songwriter Magazine, a sponsor for the Australian Songwriting Association, and a past mentor for The Songwriting Academy UK. Born in Syracuse, New York, Mark has lived in Boston, Los Angeles, Indianapolis and London. Mark now resides in Nashville, Tennessee. The Daily Song Journal is his second book.

THE DAILY SONG JOURNAL

 Here is a link to “ The Daily Song Journal” on Amazon

You can also find Song Journey on Amazon.

The Importance Of Being A Good Hang

Steelworks Workshop ( L to R Kareem, Kevin, Conan and Holly )

The Intangible

There are tons of books, articles, blogs and videos to do with co-writing. Love it or hate it, it’s certainly the norm these days. You might be in Nashville, New York, London, LA or attending a workshop or retreat in some exotic locale. Wherever you find a couple songwriters you’re bound to enter into a co-writing relationship even if it’s just for a day. Aside from all the tangibles you need to bring to the session, maybe the biggest intangible is your ability to be a good hang.

Why? 

Isn’t it enough to be a strong lyricist? Great musician? Awesome singer? Do I also have to have a good personality? Yep. I’ve been in every kind of writing situation over the course of my career and I want to share the one thing that you don’t find in any “how to”. The importance of being a good hang. What does this mean?

Keeping the atmosphere light. Being able to laugh and make those around you comfortable, and trust me, if they're comfortable enough to let their guard down and be vulnerable the song goes to a deeper, more real place pretty quickly. Have you ever been in the room with someone that sucks the air out? Maybe they're more of a buzz kill? Pretty hard to be at your best in those situations. Maybe it’s the writer who takes time to complain about the current state of the music business according to them. Or the writer who just can’t let go of that idea that died an hour ago. So many things can derail a once promising session but, you can avoid most of them by having a good attitude. 

Think of it this way…

Think of it as being the kind of person other people enjoy being around. Not suggesting you try to be the comedian when in truth, that’s just not you. Or the total extrovert if it doesn’t come naturally. What I am saying is try your best to bring energy and positivity to the day. I’ve had days where the song just didn’t happen but the writers had a good time and were up for trying again . . . and that’s huge. 

This journey you’re on has the potential to be a long and rewarding one and, at the end of the day, being a good hang can bring you lifelong, talented friends. The ones you like to hang with and make music.

One last thought, be a good listener, an encourager, show up early and oh yeah, pick up a check once in awhile!

P.S. This photo is from a workshop Eliot Kennedy and I hosted at his Steelworks Studios in Sheffield, England awhile back. Great songs, great people and each one a great hang!

Mark Cawley

Nashville, Tennessee

if you'd like to stay up with iDoCoach including receiving the latest blogs and my favorite 7 Toolbox tips here ya go!

http://idocoach.com/email-newsletter

I'm currently coaching writers worldwide, online, one on one and taking new clients for the Spring. Visit my website for more info www.idocoach.com

Mark Cawley iDoCoach.com

Mark Cawley is a hit songwriter, best-selling author, in demand speaker, songwriting coach, and popular blogger. As a songwriter his songs have been on more than 16 million records to date with cuts ranging from Tina Turner, Joe Cocker, Chaka Khan and Diana Ross to Wynonna Judd, Taylor Dayne, Paul Carrack, The Spice Girls and many more. Through his coaching service iDoCoach.com, he has coached thousands of songwriters worldwide.

His book, Song Journey, was released in April 2019 and went to #1 in 6 categories on Amazon. Mark is a past judge for the UK Songwriting Contest, Nashville Rising Star, Belmont University’s Commercial Music program, and West Coast Songwriter events. He’s also a contributing author to USA Songwriting, InTune Magazine, Songwriter Magazine, a sponsor for the Australian Songwriting Association, and a past mentor for The Songwriting Academy UK. Born in Syracuse, New York, Mark has lived in Boston, Los Angeles, Indianapolis and London. Mark now resides in Nashville, Tennessee. The Daily Song Journal is his second book.

The Daily Song Journal

 Here is a link to “ The Daily Song Journal” on Amazon

You can also find Song Journey on Amazon.

To stay up to date on Mark’s latest work you can also visit www.markcawley.com.

Hit Chorus = Hit Song

iDoCoach Blog

My article first appeared in the Spring 2021 issue of Songwriting Magazine and reprinted here with thier permission.

Chorus First

You can’t have too many tools in your songwriting toolbox and this is one of my favorites. So you’ve hit a wall, your approach to songwriting is starting to seem like too much of the same thing, the usual method is getting stale. Try forgetting about everything else in your song but the chorus. Seriously. Just focus on those huge 4 to 8 lines that are going to be the most memorable part of what a listener hears.

I would call myself a title writer and could also add that I’m a chorus writer first a lot of the time. I’m looking for an interesting title and I know that title is going to be an integral piece of the chorus and I also know I’m probably going to use it more than once. Not a hard and fast rule by any means but a good place to start. In coaching songwriters, I’m always pointing them to the idea of settling on their title followed by writing a short bit of prose. What’s the song going to be about? The big idea? That’s you're prose. That’s also going to be what your chorus reflects.

It’s common knowledge that a listener picks up on the melody of your chorus first followed closely by the title of your song and as much of the chorus lyric as they need to sing along. Only makes sense that if something is that important it’s worth being your main focus. I was told a few years back by a pretty well-known hitmaker that he always starts with a chorus. When I asked why he replied, “If you don’t have a hit chorus you don’t have a hit song”. Again, not suggesting this is the only way to go about writing your own hit but it’s one great tool to try.

 Almost Home

I’ve always felt that if I had a chorus that felt great that I was 75% home. Almost as if I could fill in the blanks in the verses, pre-chorus, post-chorus, or bridge. I’ve even gone so far as to start right out putting my chorus idea in bold print so my eye always comes back to it as I write the rest of my song. Am I still following my prose? No rabbit trail detours from my main point? And most of all is my chorus all about the big idea?

Repetition is another valuable option as you’re putting together your chorus. For instance. You might try drawing four lines and putting your title in line one and line four. Now you only have two lines to fill in. Take the same approach with an eight-line chorus. The title is the first line, 4th line, 5th line, and 8th line.  Just one way of going about it but you can see the major role your title might play in your chorus. Can you overuse the title? Maybe, but the more you can use it in your chorus the easier it is for a listener to instantly learn your song.

Listen to your favorite songs to see how these choruses are put together to help you build your own. No rules here and there are tons of exceptions to the idea of the importance of the big, fat hit chorus but it is hard to deny the role it plays in most popular music. 

 Multiple Hooks

We’re in an age of multiple hooks. Your intro should be a hook along with every other part of your song but, there is no more important hook than your chorus, so why not start there? Hit chorus hit song.

Mark Cawley

Nashville, Tennessee

Image: Shutterstock

if you'd like to stay up with iDoCoach including receiving the latest blogs and my favorite 7 Toolbox tips here ya go!

http://idocoach.com/email-newsletter

I'm currently coaching writers worldwide, online, one on one and taking new clients for the Spring. Visit my website for more info www.idocoach.com or write to me at mark@idocoach.com

iDoCoach Blog

Mark Cawley iDoCoach.com

Mark Cawley is a hit songwriter, best-selling author, in demand speaker, songwriting coach, and popular blogger. As a songwriter his songs have been on more than 16 million records to date with cuts ranging from Tina Turner, Joe Cocker, Chaka Khan and Diana Ross to Wynonna Judd, Taylor Dayne, Paul Carrack, The Spice Girls and many more. Through his coaching service iDoCoach.com, he has coached thousands of songwriters worldwide.

His book, Song Journey, was released in April 2019 and went to #1 in 6 categories on Amazon. Mark is a past judge for the UK Songwriting Contest, Nashville Rising Star, Belmont University’s Commercial Music program, and West Coast Songwriter events. He’s also a contributing author to USA Songwriting, InTune Magazine, Songwriter Magazine, a sponsor for the Australian Songwriting Association, and a past mentor for The Songwriting Academy UK. Born in Syracuse, New York, Mark has lived in Boston, Los Angeles, Indianapolis and London. Mark now resides in Nashville, Tennessee. The Daily Song Journal is his second book.

 Here is a link to “ The Daily Song Journal” on Amazon

You can also find Song Journey on Amazon.

 iDoCoach Blog

A Songwriters Guide To Fishing " Catch And Release "

iDoCoach Blog

A fish story

I’m a songwriter living in Nashville Tennessee and it’s pretty common to hear songwriters say they’re fishing for ideas. This fishing is one fun step for me and always has been. There is no better part of the songwriting process than that initial bite, no matter how you got there but if you don’t capture the idea it’s just more  “one that got away” story. 

I’ve heard some songwriters say they don’t write ideas down or worry about recording them in the early stages because “if it’s great I’ll remember it and if I don’t …well it must not have been that great”. Ok, I don’t know any professional songwriters who subscribe to this*. That first step is the inspiration but the next one is the one I want to focus on. You need to catch that spark and with the least amount of production worry as possible. It’s all about the song and the song starts with the big idea and that big idea can get away from you as fast as it poked its head out of the water if you don’t catch it and quick.

This step is not about the most sophisticated, expensive piece of gear, it’s all about the one that does the job and the job is to document the idea. If your idea is good you’ll no doubt be moving on to the big stuff because in the end, you want it to sound the best it can be but for now, it’s all about catching it.

Whatever it takes

I love technology and have had every device I could lay my hands on ( or could afford) over the years starting with the least expensive microphones, Tascam Portastudios, 8 track reel to reel, 16 track, ADATs, DAT’s, a full-blown ProTools production studio built onto my home and these days a more portable system based around UA’s Apollo Twin with a UAD-2 Satellite running LUNA on a MacBook Pro. I can go as far back as co-writing a #1 hit “Day and Night “ in 2000 for the UK artist Billie Piper and having to capture my melody on something less than great… my home phone answering machine. Thankfully there are a lot’s better options out there these days! Most songwriters I know start by recording those hooks on their iPhone, myself included.

Catch… then release

More than ever it’s about getting that idea down and perfecting it later. Usually, much later and sometimes with the best players and gear, you can buy before you release it into the world. But again… this step is further down the road. You need to catch the idea before you get near the release of your song.

Here’s hoping you hook a big one!

* On April 16 I ran across the following quote from Vince Gill. Had to include it because He IS a professional songwriter I know and he’s awesome so there you go😊

“When inspiration strikes in the middle of the night—be it a lyric, a riff, or an entire melody—Vince Gill has a foolproof method for capturing the moment. “I go back to bed!” he laughs. “I don’t get up in the middle of the night to write songs. If you think about it at 2am and you can’t remember it at 9am, it probably wasn’t that good.”

Mark Cawley

Nashville, Tennessee

Image: Shutterstock

if you'd like to stay up with iDoCoach including receiving the latest blogs and my favorite 7 Toolbox tips here ya go!

http://idocoach.com/email-newsletter

I'm currently coaching writers worldwide, online, one on one and taking new clients for the Spring. Visit my website for more info www.idocoach.com or write to me at mark@idocoach.com

Mark Cawley

Mark Cawley is a hit songwriter, best-selling author, in-demand speaker, songwriting coach, and popular blogger. As a songwriter, his songs have been on more than 16 million records to date with cuts ranging from Tina Turner, Joe Cocker, Chaka Khan, and Diana Ross to Wynonna Judd, Taylor Dayne, Paul Carrack, The Spice Girls, and many more. Through his coaching service iDoCoach.com, he has coached thousands of songwriters worldwide.

His book, Song Journey, was released in April 2019 and went to #1 in six categories on Amazon. Mark has been a judge for the UK songwriting contest, Nashville Rising Star, Belmont University’s Commercial Music program, and West Coast Songwriter events. He’s also a contributing author to USA Songwriting, InTune Magazine, Songwriter Magazine, a sponsor for the Australian Songwriting Association, and a past mentor for The Songwriting Academy UK. Born in Syracuse, New York, Mark has lived in Boston, Los Angeles, Indianapolis, and London. Mark now resides in Nashville, Tennessee. The Daily Song Journal is his second book.

Here is a link to “ The Daily Song Journal” on Amazon

You can also find Song Journey on Amazon.