Whiplash, Backlash, and Rose-Colored Classes

Whiplash

Have you seen “Whiplash”? J.K. Simmons is amazing and absolutely frightening as a jazz band instructor. Makes for great conversation with musicians especially.  I was in a studio here in Nashville on Tuesday with some pretty well known session guys, and asked if anyone had seen it. The answers ranged from “No, and I don’t want to”, to "Not yet, but I will…eventually. I’m a little scared".

If you haven’t see it, here's a clip, you’ll get the flavor of it. The instructor/bandleader is looking for perfection, genius; to bring out a level of commitment players couldn’t get to on their own no matter how driven. His method is what's in question. I know a few music folk who lead bands or sessions by intimidation, and I’ve even seen it work. Don’t think it would work for me, I like to think I can drive myself.

Backlash

So the more interested I got, the more articles I came across from actual Jazz drummers who said they had never experienced anything like this guy but wouldn’t respond to that type of "tough love". One went as far as to say creative people are hardwired...and most of the players he knows would have hit back big time! Check out what Peter Erskine had to say.

Rose Colored Classes

This led me to think about favorite teachers and the methods they used to inspire. I always come back to Mr. Rose, my high school Social Studies teacher at Maine Endwell High in upstate New York. We’re talkin' late 60’s, and there was change everywhere. Most of my teachers were old-school; some would throw you out daily with “come back when you get a haircut!" Hard to imagine now.

 Mr Rose was younger than the rest of my teachers, as I remember. Might have even been growing his hair a bit over his ears but I’m foggy on that one. What I do remember clearly is his outside-the-box approach to teaching. He had us pull our chairs out of the old row model and put ‘em in a circle so we could all see each other. He talked with us, not at us. Learning became more fun and way more interesting. I must have responded because I definitely remember. 

I’m coaching songwriters from all over the world these days and love it, but I constantly have to stay aware of the tools over rules idea. I try to engage and not outrage. I don’t wanna be “that guy”.

So who’s your Mr Rose? How did they inspire you in music and in life? Share your stories!

And Now...The Best Part!

P.S. Through Facebook, I came across Mr Rose. I call him Jim now but I haven't decided if I’m comfortable with this new arrangement. He’s still teaching, so I asked him if he would give me his thoughts.  Here ya go! Thanks Mr.Rose...JIm!

Jim Rose iDoCoach Blog

"Mark I've done a lot of thinking about what makes a good teacher. Hard to come up with a good explanation. Think about those teacher's you thought were good. Is there a single identifiable trait? I can't put my finger on just one or two. However, I can tell you what makes teaching good. First it's the look on the faces of the students. Not just the big smile but that look that says show me what you got. It's when the student is engaged and want's to challenge the ideas you present. What makes a good teacher is when, after 45 years, the student comes back to the teacher and remembers a lesson that has stayed with them all those years. Good teaching comes from preparation before, during and after the lesson. Very similar to when you performed, you would not walk on the stage without practice, rehearsal and a desire to bring a bonding with your music. Sorry I couldn't be more definitive but I could have give you a bunch of BS but you would have seen through that :-) Hope this helps!"  Jim Rose

Mark Cawley

Nashville, Tennesee

March 6th , 2015

Photo : Google Images

About Mark Cawley

Mark Cawley's songs have appeared on more than 15 million records. Over a career based in LA, London, and Nashville his songs have been recorded by an incredibly diverse range of artists. From Tina Turner, Joe Cocker, Wynonna, Diana Ross and Chaka Kahn to The Spice Girls, Tom Scott, Kathy Mattea, Paul Carrack, Will Downing and Pop Idol winners in the UK. He has had #1 records in the UK and throughout Europe as well as cuts in Country, Jazz & R & B. His groundbreaking website Song Journey created with Hall of Fame writer Kye Fleming was the first to mentor writers from around the world one-on-one online. He is currently writing and publishing as well as helping writers and artists worldwide with a one-on-one co-active coaching service, iDoCoach. In addition he is a judge for this years UK Songwriting Contest, a contributing writer to the US Songwriting Competition , a popular songwriting blogger and from time to time, conducts his own workshops.

A Songwriters Hits You'll Never Hear

iDoCoach Blog The Spice Girls

Please Release Me!

Most songwriters, if they’ve been around long enough, have “the one that got away” stories. These are worse than the “they put my song on hold but…” stories. These are the ones where you end the call from your publisher and start shopping. At least in your mind. Your song was on hold, actually got cut, made the final running order. And that's where the old phrase “it ain't final ‘til it’s vinyl” came from.

Before I get to mine, I have to give you the worst one I’ve heard over the years. A writer here in Nashville wrote a song that got to a major artist of the day. The artist loved it. Cut it, talked about it as a sure first single and even the eventual title song. The writer was beyond excited, told everyone they knew, and God only knows what else they did. Release day comes, the writer runs to Tower Records (hey, it’s an old story!) picks up the album, flips it over, reads through the list of songs and--their song isn’t there.

Read it again because the mind can play tricks. Still, nowhere to be seen. Until the writer flips the album back over to the cover. There it is. It is the title of the album, but not actually on the album. Enough to make any writer cry 96 tears.

Spice Up My Life

I started thinking about these songs this morning when I noticed a CNN headline about four brand-new 'leaked' Spice Girl songs. The more I Googled, the bigger it got. The story was everywhere and the four songs where featured in most of the articles. Two were co-writes of mine from time I spent in England writing with four of the Girls and Eliot Kennedy; “A Day in Your Life” and “Pain Proof” . Like opening a time vault. Brought back some great memories of that trip, including hanging with David Beckham in the studio kitchen most mornings. It was easy to see why they got so huge by being around them for the first few hours. A real force of nature. What a buzz! But in the end, neither song made it.

Another one was a song called “Dare You To Love Me”, written with my great friend Brenda Russell and Eric Mercury, and recorded by Chaka Khan. It was cut, a probable first single, and the title of the album. I’m counting my money! Then Chaka has a fight with the label...and leaves. The record goes unreleased. She’s talking about re-cutting it this year and you can find both the song and album cover online.

More Wy-ning

I also have a unique history of this phenomenon with Wynonna Judd, who’s cut at least 3 of my songs over the years. For her album“Revelations” she held a song called “Can’t Stop My Heart”. Seemed perfect for her coming off a huge debut album. Everybody loved it, high-fives all around! I bought a new Toyota 4-wheel. At the 11th hour...no cut. This one has a happy ending because totally unbeknownst to me, she had cut a another song of mine called “My Angel Is Here”. It made it, and my heart started again!

Wy cut a few more, including one of my favorites, “I Am Strong”. I thought this was the perfect fit, and so did everyone else. It made the final cut, went to mastering and...a decision was made to leave it off. The rumor was that her husband at the time thought it made him appear weak. She later dumped the husband, but I wish she’d done that a bit earlier.

I could go on: Ronan Keating, Peter Cox (one of my favorite singers), Glenn Tilbrook, Bonnie Raitt, Luther Vandross, Faith Hill; songs for Disney movies, new artists, old artists, and even one who passed away before recording the vocal to my song. Roy Orbsion. That one hurt on every level. Don’t feel bad for me, though. Lots did get cut and actually make the record. But the ones that got away have a special place for all of us who do this long enough: in a folder somewhere in our iTunes library. 

We keep hoping the vaults will open and out they’ll come--like today. Spiced up my life for a bit!

Mark Cawley

Nashville, Tennessee

Feb 17, 2015

Image: Wikimedia Commons

About Mark Cawley

Mark Cawley's songs have appeared on more than 15 million records. Over a career based in LA, London, and Nashville his songs have been recorded by an incredibly diverse range of artists. From Tina Turner, Joe Cocker, Wynonna, Diana Ross and Chaka Kahn to The Spice Girls, Tom Scott, Kathy Mattea, Paul Carrack, Will Downing and Pop Idol winners in the UK. He has had #1 records in the UK and throughout Europe as well as cuts in Country, Jazz & R & B. His groundbreaking website Song Journey created with Hall of Fame writer Kye Fleming was the first to mentor writers from around the world one-on-one online. He is currently writing and publishing as well as helping writers and artists worldwide with a one-on-one co-active coaching service, iDoCoach. In addition he is a judge for this years UK Songwriting Contest, a contributing writer to the US Songwriting Competition , a popular songwriting blogger and from time to time, conducts his own workshops.

A Songwriters Guide To The Movies

iDoCoach Blog "The Last Waltz"

Almost Oscar time.

I not only love movies but have been inspired by them my whole life as a songwriter. I still keep a pen and paper handy hoping some gem will come out of a character's mouth. I’ve used more of these lines in some form in lyrics than I can count. Every co-writer and friend I have in this business knows the value of the inspiration and information you’re libel to get anytime you spend a couple hours in the dark with someone else's vision.

 Movies are a songwriter's resource for life.

Here are a few movies with music that I love. Rather than try to express why I love each of these I’ve included a link for you to decide for yourself. Impossible to name them all but I picked 20 to start, no particular order and I tried to keep my comments short! Hope you'll share this and add some of your own favs.

1. A Hard Day's Night            Beatles!         http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Hard_Day's_Night_(film)
2. 20 Feet From Stardom      Lisa Fischer!  http://twentyfeetfromstardom.com
3. Greenwich Village             Folk               http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1941541/
4. Sound City                      Valley Rocks    http://buy.soundcitymovie.com
5. History Of The Eagles       American Band   http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2194326/
6. Who the F**k is Arthur Fogel? Who knew? http://whothefisarthurfogel.com/reviews-links/
7. Amadeus                          Pre Prince      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amadeus_(film)
8. Woodstock                         60's                 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066580/
9. The Harder They Come    Jimmy Cliff       http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Harder_They_Come
10. Muscle Shoals                    Alabama Soul  http://www.magpictures.com/muscleshoals/
11. Standing In The Shadows Of Love   Motown! http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0314725/
12. The Commitments              Irish Soul         https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3paf2TLrgsg
13. The T.A.M.I Show                 James Brown!!  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T.A.M.I._Show                    
14. Purple Rain                           Prince Genius   http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087957/
15. Oliver                                     Lionel Bart       http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver!_(film)
16. The Last Waltz                      The Band      http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077838/
17. Monterey Pop                        Meet Jimi !   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monterey_Pop
18. West Side Story                    Great songs  http://www.westsidestory.com
19. Stones In Exile                      Love 'em      http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1609157/
20. Don’t Look Back                    Dylan           http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dont_Look_Back

Hall Of Fame  “This Is Spinal Tap!” Stonehenge! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N63XSUpe-0o

Photo: David Gans

Wikimedia Commons

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About Mark Cawley

Mark Cawley's songs have appeared on more than 15 million records. Over a career based in LA, London, and Nashville his songs have been recorded by an incredibly diverse range of artists. From Tina Turner, Joe Cocker, Wynonna, Diana Ross and Chaka Kahn to The Spice Girls, Tom Scott, Kathy Mattea, Paul Carrack, Will Downing and Pop Idol winners in the UK. He has had #1 records in the UK and throughout Europe as well as cuts in Country, Jazz & R & B. His groundbreaking website Song Journey created with Hall of Fame writer Kye Fleming was the first to mentor writers from around the world one-on-one online. He is currently writing and publishing as well as helping writers and artists worldwide with a one-on-one co-active coaching service, iDoCoach. In addition he is a judge for this years UK Songwriting Contest, a contributing writer to the US Songwriting Competition , a popular songwriting blogger and from time to time, conducts his own workshops.

The Voices In My Head

I hear voices. Not that “little voice inside my head” thing but big voices. Used to think it was just me until I got to know lots of songwriters and heard the same story. When I start to write a song it’s not the voice that’s coming out of me that I’m hearing. It’s the sweet soul of Aretha, the attitude of Tina Turner, the phrasing of Rod Stewart or the edge of John Lennon, the smoothness of Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross, Curtis Mayfield, James Taylor, Sam Cooke…the list goes on.

Truth is my voice sounds nothing like them, not even close believe me, but in my head …

One of those voices that’s been with me for years is silent this week with the passing of Joe Cocker. He was a songwriter’s dream. Number one he didn’t write (we love that one) he was an interpreter. Saying he covered songs doesn’t get it. He could take a song that was already a part of your life and turn it inside out and make it his own anthem. A Little Help From My Friends, You Can Leave Your Hat On, even Bye Bye Blackbird became pure Cocker. That kind of soul got inside my head as soon as I heard it. When I’ve met some of my favorite singers they have their own stories. 

They may be the voice you hear in your head but they have their own inspirations. Some make perfect sense like Bono with Lennon, Jagger with Howling Wolf, Cocker and Ray Charles, Rod and Sam Cooke, you can hear it in their voice but you can pick up on it in their songwriting. The voices in their head are almost like co-writers.

The most amazing part of this for me has been when that voice inside my head ends up actually coming out of the person who put it there. I’ve been lucky enough to have some of the ones I named record songs of mine including Joe doing Wayward Soul. It’s surreal. All of the sudden there’s no degree of separation between you and them. It’s a little like sighting a movie star or a famous athlete, you’re breathing the same air and it’s just too bizarre. 

Your voices may be totally different from mine but I’m betting you’ve channelled someone that came before when you’ve written one of your best songs.

It hurts to lose these voices but we know where to find ‘em. Rest in peace Joe and thanks.

P.S. I have to share a story to illustrate my point a bit. A few months back I picked up a Epiphone Casino guitar, same model John Lennon used. Pretty soon something came through, few chords that felt a bit like John and a melody that came from a familiar voice in my head. I gave the track to one of my favorite co-writers, Kye Fleming, who tapped right into it and wrote an amazing lyric. The song is being sung by another of my best friends and co-writers Brenda Russell and produced by yet another amazing friend Kevin Savigar. These are people I knew would share a vision and bring their own voices. The song is in development now for a project with the UN. It’s called “What Would Lennon Do?”  Keep you posted!

Mark Cawley

Nashville, Tennessee

December 24th, 2014

Epiphone bottom L, Joe top R iDoCoach Blog

Image: Wikimedia Commons

iDoCoach Photo: Taylor Sullivan

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About Mark Cawley

Mark Cawley's songs have appeared on more than 15 million records. Over a career based in LA, London, and Nashville his songs have been recorded by an incredibly diverse range of artists. From Tina Turner, Joe Cocker, Wynonna, Diana Ross and Chaka Kahn to The Spice Girls, Tom Scott, Kathy Mattea, Paul Carrack, Will Downing and Pop Idol winners in the UK. He has had #1 records in the UK and throughout Europe as well as cuts in Country, Jazz & R & B. His groundbreaking website Song Journey created with Hall of Fame writer Kye Fleming was the first to mentor writers from around the world one-on-one online. He is currently writing and publishing as well as helping writers and artists worldwide with a one-on-one co-active coaching service, iDoCoach. In addition he is a judge for this years UK Songwriting Contest, a contributing writer to the US Songwriting Competition , a popular songwriting blogger and from time to time, conducts his own workshops.

How To Be A Powerful Songwriter

iDoCoach Blog

 Power up

Knowledge is power, and we live in the information age. So why are so many songwriters still in the dark about some of the most important tools of the trade?

There are great resources out there just a search away. YouTube seminars, free guitar lessons, theory instructors, industry blogs, "behind-the-scenes" books by top artists; mentors, tutors, and coaches.

I’m hearing from songwriters every week, from all over the world. I’m one of those coaches you can work with one-on-one.  I’m always excited to bring a lifetime of hard-won experience to someone who’s just jumping in, but at the same time I really urge them to start out by researching as much as possible about the road they’re starting down. 

Not everything is free, but it is available. Writers can study Bob Dylan's lyrics, watch someone dissect a Beatles song, listen in to John Mayer talking to students at Berklee, send their lyric to be critiqued by a pro, even pay for one-on-one mentoring from someone who’s actually done what they aspire to. The list keeps growing.

I was powerless

When I started out I didn’t even know you could have a career as a writer. I didn’t know one, and no one I knew had ever met a songwriter. Even if I'd had the money, which I never did, there was no one to pay to learn. Different world. I couldn’t even ask the questions. Now, though, the answers are out there for anyone to find.

So here's my point. Knowledge is power, and it’s easier than ever to get. But for whatever reason, most artists (myself included in the early years) put all their energy into the creative process and view the business as a necessary evil or something that will take care of itself.

Here's a "Top Ten" list of quotes from emails I received this week:

1. I’m hoping to sell my songs.
2. Someone offered to demo my song for $2,500 and get it to some people in the business.
3. I’m looking for a 75-100K job as a staff writer. Will relocate to Nashville if I need to!
4. My songs are better than 99% of the crap on the radio.
5. I don’t believe in rewriting. Either the Muse brings an idea fully developed, or it’s not worth it.
6. You can’t teach writing…but I’m willing to give you a shot. (I love this one).
7. I don’t know why I haven’t received any royalties on the CD that I sell at my shows. What's a P.R.O.?
8. I’m only interested in co-writing if I can “write up”.
9. Networking is for nerds, the song should speak for itself.
10. Music, intellectual property, and expertise should be free.

Here are my Top Ten responses:

1. You don’t “sell” songs. You hope to get them published and keep the writers' share at the very least. Fight for your publishing rights!
2. Run. Fast
3. Me, too! Doesn’t exist these days. Deals are just different.
4. Really? You're still writing for a listener in the end, the person in the car, find out how to reach 'em.
5. How many songs have you written? How many have been cut? Rewriting is hard but one thing that can separate the wanna be's from the pro's.
6. I disagree, but I understand the point. You can give someone tools and expertise. What they do with it is the deal. Information into inspiration!
7. Google ASCAP, BMI, SESAC. How is money made from songwriting? Understand performance and mechanical royalties, self publishing, Harry Fox, and more.
8. Get really good at what you do! Network, play nice, and hope you get the shot to show what you can do. Pray that write up writer needs a boost from what you got!
9. Maybe once in awhile...but if a career is the goal see my response #8.
10. Do your research. If someone is offering mentoring, coaching, or demo services; decide if they’ve done what you want to do and are offering attainable goals. What kind of success have they had? How much is thier experiance worth to you? If they promise to get you cuts, a publishing deal, an artist deal, CD release, etc., see response #2.

Power To The People

Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking these statements or questions I get from writers , just don't want them to be uninformed when the information is out there.  I learned so much of what I know about songwriting the hard way, they don't have to. Power to the people!

Mark Cawley

Nashville, Tennessee

11/20/14

image: Wikimedia Commons

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Image: Google images

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About Mark Cawley

Mark Cawley is a hit U.S. songwriter and musician who coaches other writers and artists to reach their creative and professional goals. During his decades in the music business he has procured a long list of cuts with legendary artists ranging from Tina Turner, Joe Cocker, Chaka Khan and Diana Ross to Wynonna Judd, Kathy Mattea, Russ Taff, Paul Carrack, Will Downing, Tom Scott, Billie Piper, Pop Idol winners and The Spice Girls. To date his songs have been on more than 16 million records. Mark’s resume includes hits on the Pop, Country, R&B, Jazz, and Rock charts and several publishing deals with the likes of Virgin, Windswept Pacific, and Steelworks/Universal. Mark calls on his decades of experience in the publishing world, as an artist on major labels, co-writer with everyone from Eliot Kennedy and Burt Bacharach to Simon Climie and Kye Fleming, composing, and recording to mentor clients around the globe with iDoCoach. He is also a judge for the UK Songwriting Contest, a contributing author to  USA Songwriting, Songwriter Magazine,  , sponsor for the ASA, judge for Belmont University's Commercial Music program and West Coast Songwriter events , a popular blogger and, from time to time, conducts his own workshops.Born and raised in Syracuse, NY, Mark has also lived in Boston, L.A., Indianapolis, London, and the last 20 years in Nashville, TN. 

The Heart Of A Songwriter

iDoCoach Blog

I’ve been coaching writers and artists from all over the world for over three years now. One-on-one, almost entirely by Skype. Before I agree to coach someone I ask a few basic questions, like “Why do you want to do this?" It’s all about expectations but it’s also to find out more about their heart. Some people say you can’t teach this stuff. I disagree, but I'm positive you can’t teach the heart part. It’s so hard that you have to want to do it more than anything else in the world. You have to be built to do this! Able to play like a kid and still be able to handle rejection. Able to think you still have your best work in front of you when it gets a bit dark. The highest highs and the lowest lows...sometimes in the same day.

Of course I get some writers whose goal is to make 100k at a staff job in Nashville or L.A. or London. If that's the main reason to write it’s gonna be a rough road. I won’t go into how the model has changed over the past 10 years, you’ve probably heard that before. Can you still crack this business? Sure. But it may look different. Maybe a single song deal instead of a bigger commitment. Maybe you have to be your own plugger, social media person, and artist development guy. More and more to it these days but it can be done.

It still has to start with the heart.

It might sound familiar but I think it’s true! If you can’t not write, you’re a writer. If you live to write that's a good enough reason to do this.

What I’ve been learning these past few years is that this thing we do has no boundaries. I coach a writer in Singapore with the same goals as a singer/songwriter in Dayton Ohio. I have young artists and 60-year-old doctors; teachers and students, 15 year old piano prodigies, and 45-year-old physical therapists. All looking for ways to write better, clearer. To be heard. Sure we discuss the current marketplace but we also spend time talking about the mindset of a songwriter. 

Here's what I’ve grown to love:

The heart of a songwriter. Some of these folks I’m coaching may never get a song cut and may never make their living from this--and they know it. Hope springs eternal and that's enough. Hope is HUGE! I have to confess here that over the years when I’ve had major publishing deals and some success, the heart and the head could get confused. But talking with my clients every day I come away inspired and more convinced than ever that to be able to put your thoughts into words and set to music is a gift. You can teach the craft and the ways to make your gift recognizable, but in the end it’s all about heart. All the information you get as a writer is just that: information. Turn it into inspiration and you get to the heart of songwriting.

A big thanks to John Mayer and his series of talks at Berklee for the inspiration. Here’s a link to a past blog I wrote about his insight.

Mark Cawley

Nashville, Tennessee

10/16/14

photo: Wikimedia Commons

Nevit Dilman

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About Mark Cawley

Mark Cawley's songs have appeared on more than 15 million records. Over a career based in LA, London, and Nashville his songs have been recorded by an incredibly diverse range of artists. From Tina Turner, Joe Cocker, Wynonna, Diana Ross and Chaka Kahn to The Spice Girls, Tom Scott, Kathy Mattea, Paul Carrack, Will Downing and Pop Idol winners in the UK. He has had #1 records in the UK and throughout Europe as well as cuts in Country, Jazz & R & B. His groundbreaking website Song Journey created with Hall of Fame writer Kye Fleming was the first to mentor writers from around the world one-on-one online. He is currently writing and publishing as well as helping writers and artists worldwide with a one-on-one co-active coaching service, iDoCoach. In addition he is a judge for this years UK Songwriting Contest, a contributing writer to the US Songwriting Competition , a popular songwriting blogger and from time to time, conducts his own workshops.

Songwriting: Making A Big Noise

I miss being in a band.

I grew up playing in bands. That's what you do when you’re young; find the other misfits and and form your own band of brothers. Didn’t matter how good you were, none of us could play yet anyway. All about the hair, the clothes, and the girls. My first band was called (no lie) The Patagonianists. Flipped open an atlas, closed our eyes and picked. Lasted one gig but we rocked the Maine Endwell dance...and all the sudden I was pretty sure Mary Spring saw me as sure as she saw Paul McCartney! I had been invisible just the day before. From then on I walked around with my Cortez bass, no case, just to make sure girls in my neighborhood knew I was a guitar player.

It was Power. Making noise, plugging in and playing in my garage. The world got better and clearer; and Ed Sullivan, the most un-hip guy in the world, became my guide. The Stones, The Searchers, The Supremes, The Kinks, The Young Rascals, The Miracles, and of course The Beatles.

The long and winding road

I played in bands up and down New York State and beyond. The names changed but the dream was the same: make a big noise. The names got better, The Basket Of Flowers, Beggars Opera, The Faith Band ( that one actually had one hit, a a few albums on Mercury and played with acts like Fleetwood Mac, The Doobie Bros, Hall and Oates and more) Movieola, Little Big Men and  Blinding Tears.

Beggars Opera, I'm the serious guy on the bottom right

I played in bands up until my early 30s. Then it started to get harder to visualize sharing my life with grown-ass men. I don’t know how the Stones and U2 do it! (Well, maybe I do. $$$.) But I bet there's still a part of them that feels the same blast I felt for so many years. If you haven’t done it, it’s a tough one to explain.

Gearin' up

Bear with me, I swear I have a point comin’. Just as I outgrew the bands, technology helped make them obsolete and I was good with that. The whining drummer got replaced by a Linn Drum Machine, my Rockman made me sound as big as the last guy's twin Marshalls. I could use my Tascam to make noise now. I was a band.

So as my career shifted from artist deals to publishing deals and my writing took off, I was a happy guy. I traveled the world with a keyboard loaded with drum loops, Pro-tools, and a laptop. Even got to write and work with my idols. I was never the acoustic guitar guy. Always needed noise to make the music feel alive. This led to living in Nashville and writing success let me build my dream studio in the country. This was a beautiful thing. Overlooked a creek with all the toys I could imagine. Free to make music on my own, anytime.

Rage against the machines

Around 2002, I felt like something was missing. It was less fun. I wasn’t writing better songs with all this stuff, I was a slave to the gear. Over the next few years I unplugged more and more. A little more acoustic guitar, Strat through a Vox amp, and writing with other writers who made noise and I started to feel that blast again. I always heard the adage that if a song was a real song it will sound just as good unplugged. I agree but I also think some sound best with, in the words of John Hiatt, “A Telecaster through a Vibro-Lux turned up to ten”.

I still love technology...but that might be as simple as Garageband or playing a new idea into my iPhone and e-mailing it. Apps have replaced my racks. Right now I think I’ve come full circle as you can see by this picture of a little corner of my small home studio. Mary Spring would still be proud.

P.S. Got to meet the Stones on the Nashville stop of the Bridges To Babylon a few years back. Impossible not to look at them and think of all those Ed Sullivan shows, trying to learn the licks and do my best Brian Jones. Keith asked who I had been working with or something like that...satisfaction.

iDoCoach Blog

Mark Cawley

Nashville, Tennessee

9/18/14

Rolling Stones photo: Google Images

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About Mark Cawley

Mark Cawley's songs have appeared on more than 15 million records. Over a career based in LA, London, and Nashville his songs have been recorded by an incredibly diverse range of artists. From Tina Turner, Joe Cocker, Wynonna, Diana Ross and Chaka Kahn to The Spice Girls, Tom Scott, Kathy Mattea, Paul Carrack, Will Downing and Pop Idol winners in the UK. He has had #1 records in the UK and throughout Europe as well as cuts in Country, Jazz & R & B. His groundbreaking website Song Journey created with Hall of Fame writer Kye Fleming was the first to mentor writers from around the world one-on-one online. He is currently writing and publishing as well as helping writers and artists worldwide with a one-on-one co-active coaching service, iDoCoach. In addition he is a judge for this years UK Songwriting Contest, a contributing writer to the US Songwriting Competition , a popular songwriting blogger and from time to time, conducts his own workshops.

Part 2: Everybody's Talkin At Me

iDoCoach Blog

Why A Part 2?

I’ve gotten so many comments on the last blog, "Everybody's Talkin At Me", about how to incorporate all the different critiques and opinions you get when you put yourself out there, that I thought I'd share some more thoughts. I’ve heard from current and past clients, but most have come via the Facebook songwriting groups I belong to. It's a bigger (or at least more far reaching) problem than I imagined. Rules are constantly changing. It makes sense; we're in a soundbite society where people take in music in a new way. It's bound to affect how music is made, songs are written, and what's expected of us now.

Everything Changes

Writers are getting critiques with terms like "post-chorus", "multiple choruses", getting asked to "lose the 2nd verse before a chorus", "lose the bridge", etc. Do you change the way you write to adapt? Depends.

There are a couple of schools of thought. Write what you write and write it well and its time will come around. The other is that if you want to actually make a living now from songwriting, your best chance is to follow the newest trends.

This is something I've heard from lots of writers going to workshops and seminars or using critique services.  "I'm being told to focus on what's on the radio--but at the same time told that by the time I've nailed it, radio will have changed". There's logic here. Nothing happens quickly in this process. Your song gets picked up and goes through the phases from production to release, which could be a year down the road. Not to mention the time you spent writing and pitching it! Things change. If you're writing Bro-Country, for instance, it may have run its course long before you’re ready.

So Should I ?

So what's your best chance of success? Unless you're locked in with a publisher, producers, management or THE ARTIST (your best case scenario), you need to be writing something no one’s thought of. Something so original and irresistible that all the usual suspects didn't see it first.  

Where do you start? Finding something unique to "write about" is a start. Sure, most songs have to do with love. Lost love, found love, lookin’ for love...can you come up with a different angle? Can you come up with a topic, story, or emotion no one’s thought of before? Tough one, but that's part of your gig.

Titles are another great place to start. Some publishers call them "concepts " but we're essentially talkin’ about that idea or title that makes someone want to know more. To want to open the book, see the movie, hear the song.

I was on a panel awhile back when a publisher addressed the group and said something to the effect of, "if I have a hundred CDs on my desk and not much time to listen, do you think I'm gonna play the one called ‘I Still Love You’, or ‘My Tractor Thinks I'm Sexy‘?”. 

Everybodys Talkin'

Most co-writing I've done in Nashville over the years involved talking first. A lot of talking. Sometimes a couple days of talking to find something unique to write about. I once spent two full days with Craig Wiseman at my house just telling each other about our lives. Trying to find the hook. At that point it's a given: you both know how to write, and that it has to be a cool idea to begin with to have any hope of standing out. 

The Bottom Top LIne

I've also spent years writing in the UK and they have a unique term for the person who comes up with the title or the concept. A top-line person. I think the concept has spread to all forms of music as we get distracted by more and more choices; gotta make it stand out. Valuable talent. One of my coaching clients heard the term "Golden Ticket” recently to describe this particular talent. Just may be.

Share Your Stories, Please!

It would be great if you could share your own stories about getting critiques, workshops, seminars, coaching. What do you tend to hear? Is it helpful, sometimes hurtful? How have you dealt with criticism of your songs? Best advice you've had?

SmallBusiness.com just featured my coaching in an article this week. Check it out if you'd like to get an idea of what I do!

If you're looking for a differnt take or just more info on Songwriting I would highly reccomend my buddy Shelly Peikens site as well as some of the articles posted by Clay Mills and Marty Dodson at Songtown USA on Facebook. Good stuff!

Mark Cawley

August 22 , 2014

Nashville, Tennessee

Photo; Shutterstock

Quotes courtesy of Harry Nilsson 

Please be sure and hit the share button and the like button for idocoach on Facebook!

About Mark Cawley

Mark Cawley's songs have appeared on more than 15 million records. Over a career based in LA, London, and Nashville his songs have been recorded by an incredibly diverse range of artists. From Tina Turner, Joe Cocker, Wynonna, Diana Ross and Chaka Kahn to The Spice Girls, Tom Scott, Kathy Mattea, Paul Carrack, Will Downing and Pop Idol winners in the UK. He has had #1 records in the UK and throughout Europe as well as cuts in Country, Jazz & R & B. His groundbreaking website Song Journey created with Hall of Fame writer Kye Fleming was the first to mentor writers from around the world one-on-one online. He is currently writing and publishing as well as helping writers and artists worldwide with a one-on-one co-active coaching service, iDoCoach. In addition he is a judge for this years UK Songwriting Contest, a contributing writer to the US Songwriting Competition , a popular songwriting blogger and from time to time, conducts his own workshops.

Mark presenting a songwriting class at Ensworth in Nashville for Jam Camp, Summer 2014

Songwriting: Everybody's Talkin' At Me

iDoCoach Blog

I always encourage the writers I coach to get their songs out there, any and every way they can; and to seek as much wisdom as they can handle. Yep, handle. 

One of my best and brightest clients is a pretty good case in point. She's made some huge leaps in her writing, especially her lyrics. We've focused on this for months and the change has been fun to watch. All of the sudden the ideas are more solid, the mechanics are solid, rhyme schemes, meter, structure...better, better, better and better. She's begun playing songs for other people, coming to Nashville, attending NSAI functions, setting up co-writes and meetings. Here's where the handle part comes in.

The Road To Nashville...but it could be any music center

When I talked to her this week she had just come back from a Nashville trip and was feeling a bit beat up and confused. Some people loved one song but not another. One publisher loved a song but professed to not "know what to do with it". Others suggested lyric changes, music changes, style changes. Listen to what's on the radio, be ahead of the radio, don't pay attention to radio. Listen to every kind of music, focus on current Top 10 country, write more old-school, new-school, school's out.

You can't figure out the bag I'm in...mixing up my 60's songs! 

So now it's not so much a problem with confidence as it is with direction. She got all she could handle and it didn't always line up. Different strokes for different folks? A publisher I really respect told me, "if you play a song for 4 people and they all point out the same type of problems with your song, by all means listen and make some changes. Listening is so subjective you’re bound to get some different opinions if you ask enough people. Consider getting opinions  of a few people you really respect and who have done the kind of writing you're going for. Research their backgrounds".

I've read some critiques from NSAI, for example, that have been done by some wonderful writers. Even when they differ they all make some excellent points. Do you make every change they suggest? I urge writers just to try them on. It takes some time to incorporate these new ideas to see if you love 'em. At the very least, the exercise will give you more tools for that toolbox. 

If possible, stay away from spending money on a full blown demo when getting critiques is your aim. Making these suggested changes after you've blown your budget gets expensive. Gather all the suggestions and then head to the studio. 

My own beliefs are in my song

In the end, try not to let the other voices discourage you. If you find others' opinions hard to deal with just limit the listening experience to a few trusted ears. I've had songs cut over the years that were turned down for projects, where someone loved it but the time wasn't right. Other times I was playing the right song for the wrong person. Seek out all the wisdom you can handle by all means, but don't lose yourself. It takes a sensitive person to write a song...and one with a thick skin to pitch it.

For some reason while I'm writing this, I'm remembering being a kid in Catholic school in Baldwinsville, New York. You went to confession every Friday in those days, and me and my buddies used to make up a game of confessing the exact same sins and then comparing the penance we got from different priests. Always different. Kinda shook our faith in the wisdom of the whole exercise. But we assumed they were experts in their field! Guess we'll know eventually if it took.

Me at St Marys, Baldwinsville, NY pondering my sins

Mark Cawley

August 1st , 2014

Nashville, Tennessee

Photo; Shutterstock

Quotes courtesy of Harry Nilsson & Sly and The Family Stone

Please be sure and hit the share button and the like button for idocoach on Facebook!

About Mark Cawley

Mark Cawley's songs have appeared on more than 15 million records. Over a career based in LA, London, and Nashville his songs have been recorded by an incredibly diverse range of artists. From Tina Turner, Joe Cocker, Wynonna, Diana Ross and Chaka Kahn to The Spice Girls, Tom Scott, Kathy Mattea, Paul Carrack, Will Downing and Pop Idol winners in the UK. He has had #1 records in the UK and throughout Europe as well as cuts in Country, Jazz & R & B. His groundbreaking website Song Journey created with Hall of Fame writer Kye Fleming was the first to mentor writers from around the world one-on-one online. He is currently writing and publishing as well as helping writers and artists worldwide with a one-on-one co-active coaching service, iDoCoach. In addition he is a judge for this years UK Songwriting Contest, a contributing writer to the US Songwriting Competition , a popular songwriting blogger and from time to time, conducts his own workshops.

The Future Face Of Songwriting

Jam Camp

Until last week, I almost forgot how much I like talking with kids. (I never know when to make the leap from calling them kids to young adults but they were ages 13 to 19. To me they’re kids).

This was at a school named Ensworth in Williamson County, Tennessee for a function called “Jam Camp”. It's put on in part by Laura Hill (wife of one of the best songwriters I know, Ed Hill) and is a 2 week long camp for gifted musicians. I was invited to be a speaker at the end of week one.

So…walking in the door I’m greeted by young musicians with guitars, keyboards, and basses. One bass player even asked me if I knew Pino Pallidino, which I do. Can’t believe he knew who he was! I love it! Berklee School of Music presented after I did. It was kind of ironic since I was quoting from John Mayer's Berklee series on Youtube and was (briefly) enrolled there myself in 1970.

I was introduced and found myself in front of something like 125 young adults. Handheld mic, big stage, auditorium...just me. Here's where you have to be careful. Being funny in my mind and being funny in theirs could be two very different things. Showed 'em a picture of me at 17 just to prove I really was thier age once. Think I scared them. What does connect, though, are stories. Their response was great. How did you do this? How did you feel about this? What do you when this happened? Lot's of great questions.

at 17

The Future

Every time I do this kind of thing it reinforces my faith in the future of music. These folks were there to get better. To connect and network. They represent the future and respect the past. Let's be honest...they are the future. Listen to country music now; it's basically a mashup of classic county, rock, hip-hop, and everything a 20 something grew up on. Makes perfect sense! As a side note, I really love the term "Hick-Hop" to describe the mix of urban and country going on now.

What did I tell them?

Don’t write in a vacuum. Music is for the listener. If you don’t do something well, find someone who does and connect. Co-write but still keep your vision. Don't have a plan B or you'll proabably end up in plan B, might be hearing from a few parents this week:-) Learn the language. Even if you don’t love a particular style of music you can respect it. You never know when it will make it into a project you’re working on. Go have some adventures, live to be able to have something to write about.

I spent a few years working with Steelworks, sort of a modern day Motown in Sheffield, England. Artists like the Spice Girls, 5ive, and Ronan Keating would come in and pick your brain. Have you ever heard of the Temptations? Dave Clark Five? Otis Redding? Sam Cooke? Yes, Yes, Yes and Yes. Pass it on.

Even though music is in a weird phase right now for writers, I have faith in the kids to take the past into the future and make it better. Now if we could just find a young John, George, Paul and Ringo...

Mark Cawley

7/14/14

Nashville, Tennessee

Mark's songwriting presentation  at Ensworth, Franklin Tennessee

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About Mark Cawley

Mark Cawley's songs have appeared on more than 15 million records. Over a career based in LA, London, and Nashville his songs have been recorded by an incredibly diverse range of artists. From Tina Turner, Joe Cocker, Wynonna, Diana Ross and Chaka Kahn to The Spice Girls, Tom Scott, Kathy Mattea, Paul Carrack, Will Downing and Pop Idol winners in the UK. He has had #1 records in the UK and throughout Europe as well as cuts in Country, Jazz & R & B. His groundbreaking website Song Journey created with Hall of Fame writer Kye Fleming was the first to mentor writers from around the world one-on-one online. He is currently writing and publishing as well as helping writers and artists worldwide with a one-on-one co-active coaching service, iDoCoach. In addition he is a judge for this years UK Songwriting Contest, a contributing writer to the US Songwriting Competition , a popular songwriting blogger and from time to time, conducts his own workshops.