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Grammy winning Writer and producer Cliff Goldmacher: The purpose of the chorus, saying less with more and bringing everything you can to the table
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Today I have Grammy winner and producer Cliff Goldmacher. Cliff has a catalog of over 1,000 songs and writes with and for artists across multiple genres. He has written a #1 single on the jazz charts, a song on a GRAMMY-winning album and multiple songs featured in major movie releases and national advertising campaigns. Some of his songs have been recorded by Kesha, Keb Mo, and Lisa Loeb to name a few.
On today’s show, Cliff shares some writing tips from his book “The Reason for the Rhymes” and breaks down his songwriting process and career advice. The function of a chorus, metaphor, simplicity and being a good cowriter.
Show takeaways:
- When trying to find a metaphor, ask the question "What is my concept like?"
- If you are using one metaphor, stay with that metaphor. Stay in the ocean for example, keeping all of your imagery connected to your original metaphor
- When in doubt say less
- Try to have the maximum impact with the fewest words
- The importance of staying organized
- The chorus is the moment in the song when you stop and explain to your listener why you’ve been saying what you’ve been saying in the verse
- The chorus should have the same lyric each time
- Productivity supports creativity and creativity supports productivity
- What assets are you bringing to a cowriter? production? great vocals? great instrumentalist?
- The art of collaboration
- The importance of listening to an artist and helping them translate what’s important to them
- Be macro-patient and micro-impatient: Be impatient enough to get up every day and do the work
Today's guest Cliff Goldmacher:
https://www.cliffgoldmacher.com
Cliff's book "The Reason for the Rhymes":
https://www.amazon.com/Reason-Rhymes-Mastering-Essential-Innovation-ebook/dp/B089RSCLCV/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1B1FNTKHS2MF1&keywords=cliff+goldmacer&qid=1672445129&sprefix=cliff+goldmacer%2Caps%2C80&sr=8-1
Podcast engineer Peter Sykes music:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/41llpsdBBIDlQixP0VHVA8?si=LhMf9SylS_6k6rjfWf2Daw
This is Apple Music
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/peter-j-sykes/1599264277
For info on Otto Gross:
The show's theme song "What's in a Song" was co-written with Otto Gross
Recorded and performed by Otto Gross:
@OttoGrossProduction (instagram)
@OttoGrossMusic (Youtube, facebook, TikTok)
https://biglink.to/ottogrossmusic
Scarlet's website:
https://www.scarletkeys.com
Scarlet's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scarletkeysofficial/
To purchase Scarlet Keys' book "The Craft of Songwriting:
https://www.amazon.com/Craft-Songwriting-Music-Meaning-Emotion/dp/0876391927/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2PP55NU6E9ST6&keywords=the+craft+of+songwriting&qid=1659573139&sprefix=the+craft+of+songwritin%2Caps%2C153&sr=8-1
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By Scarlet Keys
5
9696 ratings
Send us a text
Today I have Grammy winner and producer Cliff Goldmacher. Cliff has a catalog of over 1,000 songs and writes with and for artists across multiple genres. He has written a #1 single on the jazz charts, a song on a GRAMMY-winning album and multiple songs featured in major movie releases and national advertising campaigns. Some of his songs have been recorded by Kesha, Keb Mo, and Lisa Loeb to name a few.
On today’s show, Cliff shares some writing tips from his book “The Reason for the Rhymes” and breaks down his songwriting process and career advice. The function of a chorus, metaphor, simplicity and being a good cowriter.
Show takeaways:
- When trying to find a metaphor, ask the question "What is my concept like?"
- If you are using one metaphor, stay with that metaphor. Stay in the ocean for example, keeping all of your imagery connected to your original metaphor
- When in doubt say less
- Try to have the maximum impact with the fewest words
- The importance of staying organized
- The chorus is the moment in the song when you stop and explain to your listener why you’ve been saying what you’ve been saying in the verse
- The chorus should have the same lyric each time
- Productivity supports creativity and creativity supports productivity
- What assets are you bringing to a cowriter? production? great vocals? great instrumentalist?
- The art of collaboration
- The importance of listening to an artist and helping them translate what’s important to them
- Be macro-patient and micro-impatient: Be impatient enough to get up every day and do the work
Today's guest Cliff Goldmacher:
https://www.cliffgoldmacher.com
Cliff's book "The Reason for the Rhymes":
https://www.amazon.com/Reason-Rhymes-Mastering-Essential-Innovation-ebook/dp/B089RSCLCV/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1B1FNTKHS2MF1&keywords=cliff+goldmacer&qid=1672445129&sprefix=cliff+goldmacer%2Caps%2C80&sr=8-1
Podcast engineer Peter Sykes music:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/41llpsdBBIDlQixP0VHVA8?si=LhMf9SylS_6k6rjfWf2Daw
This is Apple Music
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/peter-j-sykes/1599264277
For info on Otto Gross:
The show's theme song "What's in a Song" was co-written with Otto Gross
Recorded and performed by Otto Gross:
@OttoGrossProduction (instagram)
@OttoGrossMusic (Youtube, facebook, TikTok)
https://biglink.to/ottogrossmusic
Scarlet's website:
https://www.scarletkeys.com
Scarlet's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scarletkeysofficial/
To purchase Scarlet Keys' book "The Craft of Songwriting:
https://www.amazon.com/Craft-Songwriting-Music-Meaning-Emotion/dp/0876391927/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2PP55NU6E9ST6&keywords=the+craft+of+songwriting&qid=1659573139&sprefix=the+craft+of+songwritin%2Caps%2C153&sr=8-1
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