I Wish I Knew THAT About Songwriting

Today, Callum and Jamie welcome Molly Ann Leikin (rhymes with bacon). Molly is a Professional Song Doctor, and has written songs for and with everyone from Katy Perry, to Placido Doming, Cher, Tina Turner, Anne Murray, Billy Preston – even Yitzy Ya Ya and the Yo Yo’s. She has been nominated for an Emmy for the song Happy Ending, and written themes and songs for dozens and dozens of TV shows and movies, including the Oscar winning film, Violet. As a personal consultant to lyricists, songwriters, and singer/songwriters, Molly’s job is to help you make your songs sizzle so they're ready for the marketplace. Molly popped in to celebrate and discuss the publication of her new book Insider Secrets to Hit Songwriting in the Digital Age. 

In this episode you will discover; 

• The shifting tides of the modern music industry and how you can try to earn money within this new model.
• The new role of music supervisors and why you cannot rely on streaming to make a living. 
• The importance of working with the team of your dreams and how hiring the right people gets results.  
• Why lyrics are king and songwriting skill has to come first. 
• How you can build a team without a massive budget. 
• Why contracts and agreements are so important.
• What the music is, and what the business is. 
• Why song’s are NOT chord progressions.
• Plus so so so so much more.

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Book a free consultation call with Jamie: https://calendly.com/jamiekarlcoupe/60min

Jamie's Instagram: @jamiekarlcoupe
Jamie's Website: jamiekarlcoupe.com

Get your song reviewed: send an MP3 or download link to [email protected]

Join the Discord family!

https://discord.gg/v5XRSKAeqX

If you feel like supporting the show, use our affiliate links to these SONG CHANGING resources. We would all love you even more and every little helps.

• Writing Better Lyrics https://amzn.to/45NxOWy
• Murphy’s Laws of Songwriting https://amzn.to/44xTWmK
• The War of Art https://amzn.to/45tHLbW
• The Go-Giver https://amzn.to/3EigbST

Edited and mixed by Tiki Horea
tikihorea.com

Today Jamie chats to the founder of Perfect Vocals Academy, John Burke. John started his own recording studio in Northeast Ohio called Vibe Recording Studios, which was a home to many bands and solo artists for 7 years. In 2018 he closed the studio and moved to Nashville, TN and worked alongside Sean Giovanni at The Record Shop as well as operated a remote mixing and mastering service from home. Since 2020, John has relocated back to Northeast Ohio and still operates his remote mixing and mastering business from home.

Perfect Vocals Academy:
Website
YouTube
Instagram
Facebook

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Book a free consultation call with Jamie: https://calendly.com/jamiekarlcoupe/60min

Jamie's Instagram: @jamiekarlcoupe
Jamie's Website: jamiekarlcoupe.com

Get your song reviewed: send an MP3 or download link to [email protected]

Join the Discord family!

https://discord.gg/v5XRSKAeqX

If you feel like supporting the show, use our affiliate links to these SONG CHANGING resources. We would all love you even more and every little helps.

• Writing Better Lyrics https://amzn.to/45NxOWy
• Murphy’s Laws of Songwriting https://amzn.to/44xTWmK
• The War of Art https://amzn.to/45tHLbW
• The Go-Giver https://amzn.to/3EigbST

Edited and mixed by Tiki Horea
tikihorea.com

In this episode, Callum and Jamie continue their chat with the wonderful and insightful Grace Jackson.

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Do you want free constructive feedback on your songs?
Send us an mp3 or SoundCloud link to [email protected] and we'll be sure to give your song a listen and send you our thoughts!
Also, we'd love it for you to send us videos of you playing so we can share them on our Instagram.

We love hearing your suggestions for the show or send us a question about songwriting on Facebook or Instagram.

Be well, write well.
J & C

Today, Callum and Jamie chat to the wonderful Grace Jackson.

In this episode, you will discover:

• The subtle and important difference between writing for yourself, as an artist, and knowing when one of your songs is for someone else. Grace knows a good deal about both! 
• The importance of finding your ‘why’ as a songwriter.
• To develop as a writer it takes time and understanding WHY we need to be patient and use this time efficiently. 
• Where Grace learned to shape her velvet vocals, the challenges of being a ‘sensitive kid’ and some of the struggles she has faced so far in the industry. 
• How we can try to avoid ‘infecting the perception’. 
• Why Grace hates dating apps and how that relates to the creative process of writing.
• A VERY unique and free approach to writing that moves towards the meditative. 
• What it means to make yourself ‘available’ to write songs.

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Do you want free constructive feedback on your songs?
Send us an mp3 or SoundCloud link to [email protected] and we'll be sure to give your song a listen and send you our thoughts!
Also, we'd love it for you to send us videos of you playing so we can share them on our Instagram.

We love hearing your suggestions for the show or send us a question about songwriting on Facebook or Instagram.

Be well, write well.
J & C

Today, Callum and Jamie discuss Melodic Contrasting and why you need to get your head around this beautifully simple tool if you want to craft better songs. 

In this episode you'll discover: 

• How melodic contrasting works, why it works, and some examples to help you get started.
• Why you should be putting this tool into practice if you want to start crafting better songs today.  
• How you are already very familiar with this tool as you have been listening to it for as long as you've been listening to popular music. 
• How you can use melodic contrasting to take your ‘shower songs’ and turn them into effective, emotive bangers! 
• And finally... why it’s NOT all about going big, it’s just about providing the listener with enough contrast!

Show Links: 

• Pharrell Williams Masterclass (Maggie Rogers)
• Song of the Day Playlist on Spotify
• The Songwriter's Toolkit 'Free-DF'

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Book a free consultation call with Jamie: https://calendly.com/jamiekarlcoupe/60min

Jamie's Instagram: @jamiekarlcoupe
Jamie's Website: jamiekarlcoupe.com

Get your song reviewed: send an MP3 or download link to [email protected]

Join the Discord family!

https://discord.gg/v5XRSKAeqX

If you feel like supporting the show, use our affiliate links to these SONG CHANGING resources. We would all love you even more and every little helps.

• Writing Better Lyrics https://amzn.to/45NxOWy
• Murphy’s Laws of Songwriting https://amzn.to/44xTWmK
• The War of Art https://amzn.to/45tHLbW
• The Go-Giver https://amzn.to/3EigbST

Edited and mixed by Tiki Horea
tikihorea.com

Today, Callum and Jamie continue their chat with Jantine Annika Heij. Jantine is a songwriter from the Netherlands who has worked with Skrillex, Hardwell, Exo, NCT 127, Rock Mafia, and released songs on Spinnin' Records, Universal Music Group, SM Entertainment and more. 

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• How even published writers have days when they think about throwing in the songwriting towel and why self doubt is NO EXCUSE not to write. 
• Why it's a good idea to learn at least some music theory if you want to empower yourself as a songwriter. 
• What to expect from a music publisher, how to nurture relationships, as well as building a team of people you LOVE working with. 
• Why it's important to know when you can't contribute anything more to a writing session and it's time to say "goodbye" and leave. 
• Why it's important to have a side hustle as it will be a 'slow burn' for most songwriters, and you must be prepared to NOT make a living off songwriting alone.

Check out Jantine's playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2nEhXdts9QbgztdkeH5rP7

---------------

Book a free consultation call with Jamie: https://calendly.com/jamiekarlcoupe/60min

Jamie's Instagram: @jamiekarlcoupe
Jamie's Website: jamiekarlcoupe.com

Get your song reviewed: send an MP3 or download link to [email protected]

Join the Discord family!

https://discord.gg/v5XRSKAeqX

If you feel like supporting the show, use our affiliate links to these SONG CHANGING resources. We would all love you even more and every little helps.

• Writing Better Lyrics https://amzn.to/45NxOWy
• Murphy’s Laws of Songwriting https://amzn.to/44xTWmK
• The War of Art https://amzn.to/45tHLbW
• The Go-Giver https://amzn.to/3EigbST

Edited and mixed by Tiki Horea
tikihorea.com

Today, Callum and Jamie chat with Jantine Annika Heij. Jantine is a songwriter from the Netherlands who has worked with Skrillex, Hardwell, Exo, NCT 127, Rock Mafia, and released songs on Spinnin' Records, Universal Music Group, SM Entertainment and more. 

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• What kind of schedule you might have to keep up with, should you choose to write full time like this heroine. 
• Why collaboration is the only way to make meaningful progress with your craft. 
• How to work with artists and approach various songwriting briefs.
• Why mental health and self care are key to a sustainable career in songwriting, even if you can’t always avoid the dark depths. 
• Why clarity is KEY to great choruses!
• What makes a bad songwriting session, how you can avoid the pitfalls and the holy trinity of writing.  
• Why having the concept or title of your song first will open you up to more ideas.
• Accepting the inevitable struggle of being a songwriter and standing up to labels and publishers. 

Check out Jantine's playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2nEhXdts9QbgztdkeH5rP7

---------------

Book a free consultation call with Jamie: https://calendly.com/jamiekarlcoupe/60min

Jamie's Instagram: @jamiekarlcoupe
Jamie's Website: jamiekarlcoupe.com

Get your song reviewed: send an MP3 or download link to [email protected]

Join the Discord family!

https://discord.gg/v5XRSKAeqX

If you feel like supporting the show, use our affiliate links to these SONG CHANGING resources. We would all love you even more and every little helps.

• Writing Better Lyrics https://amzn.to/45NxOWy
• Murphy’s Laws of Songwriting https://amzn.to/44xTWmK
• The War of Art https://amzn.to/45tHLbW
• The Go-Giver https://amzn.to/3EigbST

Edited and mixed by Tiki Horea
tikihorea.com

Today, Callum and Jamie discuss lyrical deep diving. A tool that is going to help you take your 'surface' or 1st layer lyrics deeper and grab the emotions of your listener. 

In this episode you'll discover; 

• Why lyrical deep diving is going to change your world of songwriting 
• Why SHOWING not telling is how we take our lyrics to an emotive place 
• The 5 levels that will unlock your ability to deep dive 
• How you can take something from cliche to 'no way', and how to get your head around writing better lyrics 
• The difference between hearing a lyric and FEELING it, and the power of empathy
• The 'set up science' of lyrics and why eliciting questions is the key! 

Be sure to check out the following for more on lyrical deep diving.

IMRO Songwriting Seminar with Pat Pattison

John Mayer Berklee Clinic

Pat Pattison - Writing Better Lyrics

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Book a free consultation call with Jamie: https://calendly.com/jamiekarlcoupe/60min

Jamie's Instagram: @jamiekarlcoupe
Jamie's Website: jamiekarlcoupe.com

Get your song reviewed: send an MP3 or download link to [email protected]

Join the Discord family!

https://discord.gg/v5XRSKAeqX

If you feel like supporting the show, use our affiliate links to these SONG CHANGING resources. We would all love you even more and every little helps.

• Writing Better Lyrics https://amzn.to/45NxOWy
• Murphy’s Laws of Songwriting https://amzn.to/44xTWmK
• The War of Art https://amzn.to/45tHLbW
• The Go-Giver https://amzn.to/3EigbST

Edited and mixed by Tiki Horea
tikihorea.com

Today Callum and Jamie chat to singer-songwriter and busking king, Josh Gleaves. 

This week you'll discover; 

• How Josh uses live music and open mics to get instant and honest feedback on his original songs, allowing him to rewrite his ideas in a way most of us can't even understand. 
• How Josh managed to make two trips to Nashville, arrange songwriting sessions and meet some colourful characters, all before the age of 20 and on his own dime.
• What really makes a song emotive, particularly how Josh tries to maintain honesty throughout the writing process.  
• Why Josh thinks that real connection and emotional hooks beat manufactured ones every single day of the week. 
• Why Josh thinks Country Music is the most heartfelt and honest genre out there. 
• What it takes to make a living off music on the streets in the UK.

---------------

Book a free consultation call with Jamie: https://calendly.com/jamiekarlcoupe/60min

Jamie's Instagram: @jamiekarlcoupe
Jamie's Website: jamiekarlcoupe.com

Get your song reviewed: send an MP3 or download link to [email protected]

Join the Discord family!

https://discord.gg/v5XRSKAeqX

If you feel like supporting the show, use our affiliate links to these SONG CHANGING resources. We would all love you even more and every little helps.

• Writing Better Lyrics https://amzn.to/45NxOWy
• Murphy’s Laws of Songwriting https://amzn.to/44xTWmK
• The War of Art https://amzn.to/45tHLbW
• The Go-Giver https://amzn.to/3EigbST

Edited and mixed by Tiki Horea
tikihorea.com

Today, Callum and Jamie discuss who the creative and the critic are and why separating the two is going to help you create in a more focussed way. 

In this episode you'll discover:

• How to preserve your creative space and work in tandem with your critical mind.
• What happens when we put the creative and the critic in the same room?
• Why self-regulation and avoiding distractions is key.
• How we can use pressure to aid our creative process. 
• Ellis Paul’s Editing Wheel for Songwriters.

---------------

Book a free consultation call with Jamie: https://calendly.com/jamiekarlcoupe/60min

Jamie's Instagram: @jamiekarlcoupe
Jamie's Website: jamiekarlcoupe.com

Get your song reviewed: send an MP3 or download link to [email protected]

Join the Discord family!

https://discord.gg/v5XRSKAeqX

If you feel like supporting the show, use our affiliate links to these SONG CHANGING resources. We would all love you even more and every little helps.

• Writing Better Lyrics https://amzn.to/45NxOWy
• Murphy’s Laws of Songwriting https://amzn.to/44xTWmK
• The War of Art https://amzn.to/45tHLbW
• The Go-Giver https://amzn.to/3EigbST

Edited and mixed by Tiki Horea
tikihorea.com