Song Talk Radio | Songwriting Tips | Lyrics | Arranging | Live Feedback

Song Talk Radio | Songwriting Tips | Lyrics | Arranging | Live Feedback

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Song Talk Radio | Songwriting Tips | Lyrics | Arranging | Live Feedback episodes

  • Neel gets all socially distanced for his songwriting challenge

    Neel shared his answer to our songwriting challenge for 2026 to write a traditional country song. Download the lyrics to Hideaway Island to follow along. We were joined by Boston-based singer-songwriter and music educator Susan Cattaneo. Thanks for doing this Susan!… Read the rest

    47 min
  • Personalizing the protest song with Julian Taylor

    Toronto-based singer-songwriter Julian Taylor joined us for the first time since 2018 to talk about his new song Drive. Download the lyric sheet to follow along.

    We talked about:

    • Our songwriting challenge to write a traditional country song – please send us YOUR mp3, lyric sheet, and a brief paragraph about your songwriting process to [email protected]
      • … Read the rest
      36 min
    • Writing a heartbreak “aftermath” song with enemies, lovers

      Canadian singer-songwriter and band leader Hatley Edmonds of the band enemies, lovers, joined us to talk about the process behind their song Fraud. Download the lyrics to follow along.

      We talked about:

      • Our songwriting challenge to write a traditional country song – please send us YOUR mp3, lyric sheet, and a brief paragraph about your songwriting process to [email protected]
        • … Read the rest
        36 min
      • All About Happy Songs

        For this special episode, we talked about happy songs and what makes them tick, with a few examples. We talked about:

        • How we remember negative experiences in our lives more than the positive ones, and Neel’s video about backing up your stuff
        • The difference between positive songs and happy songs
        • Recent guests with happy songs: Modern Country Songwriting with Amanda Keeles and An open approach to songwriting with Brettyn Rose

          • The song picks:

          Queen: Don’t Stop Me Now – download the lyrics

          • Using declarative statements
          • Writing in present tense

            • Katrina and the Waves: Walking on Sunshine – download the lyrics

            • Holding tension in the chorus before resolving to the I chordOK
            • Exclusively happy without any other emotions

              • Deniece Williams: Let’s Hear It for the Boy – download the lyrics

              • Conventional happy pop chord structure, and strong catchy, sing along melodies
              • Introducing a little bit of darkness with minor chords and melodies

                • The New Radicals: You Get What You Give – download the lyrics

                • A great uplifting chorus, but more positive and inspirational than happy
                • Some dark shades with the lyrical content

                  • Jason Mraz: The Freedom Song – download the lyrics

                  • A happy song in a minor key
                  • A happy song born from a negative experience

                    • Electric Light Orchestra: Mr.… Read the rest

                    52 min
                  • Writing a love song about the fragility of life with Russell Leon

                    Canadian singer-songwriter and band leader Russel Leon joined us to talk about writing a love song that’s also about the fragility of life. Download the lyrics to The Dream is Real to follow along. We talked about:

                    • Our songwriting challenge to write a traditional country song – please send us YOUR mp3, lyric sheet, and a brief paragraph about your songwriting process to [email protected]
                      • … Read the rest
                      32 min
                    • Julie Neff and intentionally using repetition

                      Alternative artist Julie Neff joined us to talk about writing her song Something in only 20 minutes, and using repetition with intention. Download the lyrics to Something to follow along. We talked about:

                      • Our songwriting challenge to write a traditional country song – please send us YOUR mp3, lyric sheet, and a brief paragraph about your songwriting process to [email protected]
                        • … Read the rest
                        46 min
                      • Writing a song of Indigenous resilience with Gen7Path

                        Laurie Shaw-Greyeys, founder of Gen7Path, an Indigenous education organization, and Métis singer-songwriter Michelle Joly joined us to talk about their new song 1876. Download the lyrics to follow along. We talked about:

                        • Our songwriting challenge to write a traditional country song – please send us YOUR mp3, lyric sheet, and a brief paragraph about your songwriting process to [email protected]
                          • … Read the rest
                          31 min
                        • Collaborative songwriting with Blu Beach Band

                          Carter Vosper of the Canadian-Indie-Frat Rock band Blu Beach Band joined us to talk about collaborating with his band and more. Download the lyrics to Queens to follow along.

                          We talked about:

                          • Our songwriting challenge to write a traditional country song – please send us YOUR mp3, lyric sheet, and a brief paragraph about your songwriting process to [email protected]
                            • … Read the rest
                            41 min
                          • Writing a slow-burner song with UK band Don’t Worry

                            We were joined by Ronan Van Kehoe and Samuel J. Watson of the UK band Don’t Worry to talk about their song Everything. Download the lyrics to follow along.

                            We talked about:

                            • Our songwriting challenge for 2026 to write a traditional country song
                            • The reemergence of our Song Talk Meetup and return to the Tranzac club in Toronto
                            • Writing in a very “British” way
                            • Collaborating by bouncing ideas off each other
                            • Tuning your guitars down a half-step or full-step
                            • Writing a “love song” that’s not about romantic love
                            • Brexit, the BBC, and Coronation Street
                              • About Don’t Worry

                              Don’t Worry is an indie rock band from Essex, England formed in 2014.… Read the rest

                              38 min
                            • Country songwriting tips from Andrea Stolpe

                              For this special episode, Phil and Neel react to tips from a video by Andrea Stolpe on country songwriting tips. See the entire video below and let us know what you think of these tips.

                              We talked about:

                              • The reemergence of our Song Talk Meetup
                              • Our songwriting challenge for 2026 to write a traditional country song
                              • Characters who can be “rough around the edges” and that we can connect with
                              • Using simple chords progressions, and making your music reflect the character (i.e.
                                • … Read the rest
                                33 min

                              About Song Talk Radio | Songwriting Tips | Lyrics | Arranging | Live Feedback

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                              Songwriters sharing tips and techniques on better songwriting – and the odd bad joke.