Finding Inspiration
A question I get asked a lot is: where do song ideas come from, and what do you do to find inspiration to write? These are very good questions, and are something that I find all musicians and writers will answer in a different way. Finding inspiration is very personal and each songwriter will find inspiration from many different situations, life events and emotions. We will all be affected in different ways. That’s part of what makes us all unique individuals.
I find that songwriting is an escape for me; a way to get things off my chest. But, equally, whilst I write, I think about how I want my songs to help others who may be going through something similar.
A song for me comes from the way something makes me feel. Whether it’s a situation or a personal experience, I am one of those people who writes when I am feeling down. I treat my writing and music almost like a therapy session. In these sessions, I sing about things I would never normally talk to anyone else about. Rather than deal with it on a personal level, I can sing as a third-person or sing as if I am somebody else going through the same situation. Really, it’s me all along, just venting and letting my emotions go, but by creating a layer of emotional distance through music, I can get perspective and feel the feelings all at once, even if I have to use a made-up character to do so.
Going back to the question of, “where do I find inspiration”, I have listed below some of the techniques I use to tap into my creative self and spark song ideas quickly.
1) The news.
Believe it or not, the news can be a great place to find inspiration and song ideas. There’s alway something going on, good or bad. By trying to empathize, imagining yourself in a similar situation to what you have heard or seen, and really letting it take over, letting it have an effect on you, you often lock into an idea or feeling in a way you’ve never quite expressed before. It isn’t necessarily easy. You almost have to mould yourself, like an actor would. Rather than just playing the part, you need to be the part. Good actors and actresses will live and breathe a role to the point of believing that they are the character they are playing, and it’s the same for music and songwriting, especially if you’re going to write songs for others and not just yourself. You have to immerse yourself deep into your feelings, emotions, hurt, love, hate; just let it all surface and you will be writing songs you never knew you had in you.
2) Listening to others.
Listening to a friend, family member or complete stranger who is going through a hard time, break up, or even a celebration, can really spark a good starting place or idea for a song. Try to let their situation take you back to a similar situation you may have experienced, something you may have put to the back of your mind (as I said above, it’s like a therapy session).
If you are anything like me, you might prefer to keep your feelings to yourself. I usually end up bottling them a lot up, which in turn, might makes me feel a hundred times worse. When I write music, lyrics, songs, it’s like I am talking to someone about it, but not on a personal level. When I use my music to vent like this, it’s like I am letting people know how I feel, but using a story or a character I have made up in my mind. It can really give you a great deal of relief, like someone has lifted a weight off of your shoulders, because it’s no longer buried in your mind. You have let it out of the box and in some ways, set it free, so to speak.
3) Relationships.
Some of the greatest and most successful songs to have graced our ears have been based on the good old relationship.
I mean there are literally thousands of songs about break-ups, make-ups and everything in-between. A relationship is something you can always rely on to get the creative juices flowing, when sitting down to write a song. I have written songs about previous relationships, whether that be good times, bad times, or times that have just really stuck with me for one reason or another. I have taken a walk down memory lane to where I had my first kiss, my first heartbreak, etc. looking for inspiration and opening the memory flood gates. I find this kind of inspiration so powerful and because even the toughest people find heartbreak to feel like no other pain they have experienced and falling in love can be the same, just on the other side of the spectrum.
4) Social media
This is kind of like a funny mix of all three previous sources of inspiration. There is always something or someone that can spark a song idea on social media. People are always sharing sad stories, or something is happening in their lives and they are reaching out on social media for comfort or help, etc.
Just the other day, I was scrolling through Facebook and heard this amazing story. A friend of a friend was going through a really hard time after losing her job, not being able to pay the bills or provide for her children. 24 hours later, all of her friends had pulled together to donate and help her out of the situation she was in. Some donated money. Some taking food over. Others just being there to support and talk to her. She was even offered jobs from her friends and others who came to her aid. Just seeing how this amazing group of friends and fellows pulled together, when it looked like nothing else was going to work for this poor lady, was a huge inspirational boost and another great place to start a song. (A bad start with a very happy ending.)
5) Life lessons.
Turning a life lesson into a catchy song can be a really cool and fun way to pass that lesson onto another person. There have been some great songs in the past that have turned a life of lessons into a cool and funny song that really has your ears glued to the lyrics. One of my personal favourites is Life’s Been Good by Joe Walsh from the Eagles. I remember watching him play that song live and he said, in his words, ” I got drunk once….it lasted 20 years”. A great writer, musician and storyteller all rolled into one. Try to think about the lessons in life you have learned over the years, and see if there is a way you can take those impactful experiences and lessons and turn them into a great song. Nobody usually listens to life lessons until they mess up, but if its put across in a quirky, cool, catchy, funny way, then it can really resonate with some people and save them a world of grief, embarrassment and much more.
6) Read books and magazines.
I find that reading a touching article, book or magazine can spark something new and exciting that can help you start a new song. Or maybe even finish an old one that has just been sat in the vault forever, because you have gotten too close and can’t see any way of finishing it. Try to read books or magazines that you wouldn’t normally read, like true stories, tragedies, fictional stories that really open the mind to a whole new level. Be adventurous. And don’t be afraid to get yourself out of your comfort zone. You will grow, not just as writer, but as a person.
7) Movies.
Cinema is one of the most powerful entertainment mediums that can really touch you and pull at the heart-strings. (I’ve actually written a lot of songs using this method). This is one of my favourite ways to get over writer’s block and find inspiration because movies can do what books can’t. Books leave it up to our own imagination whereas a movie doesn’t. We are watching what’s happening. We know how the characters look and behave. We feel the emotions in a scene when something bad has happened or is happening. The music. The acting. It all just draws you in. You even begin to feel like you’re part of what’s going on, getting personally attached to different characters.
There are so many powerful movies out there to choose from from so many different genres. Let yourself go. Really immerse yourself into the movie. I never used to get emotional with movies when I was younger, but now I find myself getting a tight throat and watery eyes. I don’t know about you, but when a powerful movie or great series comes to an end, I get that empty feeling. Almost like I’ve lost someone close to me and I’m never going to see them again kind of feeling. All very strange, but very powerful when looking for that spark of inspiration, because, in a way not entirely unlike fan fiction, I want to revisit or continue the emotional journey.
Some final thoughts.
Some people like to get outside, go for a walk or a run, get a breath of fresh air, clear their head, but these are my go-to sources when I am looking for inspiration. I find input helps my output. Don’t be afraid to tap into your emotions and really let everything go. Some of the most beautiful and touching songs are the ones where you can hear the writer or artist really laying their heart on the line. You know. The ones where you can hear the pain in their voice. The ones where the delivery of the performance makes you shiver from head to toe. Try this for yourself using the ideas above, I am sure these tips will help you overcome writer’s block and keep you inspired. Remember to let your creativity and emotions flow and, most of all, enjoy the process.
