What's in a Song

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On today's show,  Eric Roberson is back!!

Eric is a  2x Grammy Nominated Singer/Songwriter/Producer/Artist/Entrepreneur.  Winner of the 2012 Soul Train Music Award For Independent Artist Of The Year.  Widely regarded as the "King Of Independent Soul/R&B".  He was on Jimmy Fallon's show "That's my Jam" and has a new book out "Lessons".

Here are some show takeaways: 

• Perception is a golden gift
• Ideas are everywhere
• Say no to doubt
• When to say no
• How to say no
• When to say yes
• When recording it’s not about how good you sound it’s about how true you sound.
• Writing without agenda
• Capture the moment and get out of the way
• Remove doubt
• Say thank you for the idea
• Tell doubt to leave the room

To find out more about Eric Roberson and his music:

https://ericrobersonmusic.com
https://www.instagram.com/erro44/

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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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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In this episode, I talk with award winning singer/songwriter Anna Wilson and Golden Globe and Country Music Hall of Fame nominee, hit songwriter and producer Monty Powell.  This power duo have written songs for Keith Urban, Lady A., Reba McEntire, Rascal Flatts and too many more to mention.

This is a master class in lyric technique!

Take aways from today's episode:

• Song maps
• Lyrical flow
• Alliteration to grab the listener’s ear
• Internal rhyme 
• Technical writing 
• Image ladder
• Creating a visual picture with words
• Lead a narrative that you want your listener to perceive
• Be detailed and exact and clear so the listener sees what you want them to see

http://annawilson.com

http://www.montypowell.com

https://www.scarletkeys.com

https://www.instagram.com/scarletkeysofficial/

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

Engineer: Peter Sykes https://www.petersykesmusic.com

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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In this episode Berklee Professor and artist Susan Cattaneo shares the magic of songwriting and breaks it down offering some wonderful ideas on how to use metaphor.

With her powerful voice, captivating melodies and finely-crafted lyrics, Susan Cattaneo is one of Boston’s most respected singer/songwriters and educators. 

Susan won the CT Folk Festival and is nominated for Singer Songwriter of the Year at this year’s Boston Music Awards. She has been a finalist or winner in the country’s most prestigious songwriting and music contests. An in-demand collaborator for a wide range of local and national artists, she is a three-time Kerrville New Folk finalist. Her double album The Hammer and The Heartcharted #1 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart and yielded a folk radio #1 single and top 10 album. Her latest work, All is Quiet has been featured as a top 10 folk radio album since its release in April.

In her 20 plus years teaching Songwriting at Berklee, Susan has helped students work on over 15,000 songs in all musical genres and styles and mentored over 2,000 artists. 

https://susancattaneo.com

https://www.scarletkeys.com
https://www.instagram.com/scarletkeysofficial/
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

Engineer: Peter Sykes https://www.petersykesmusic.com

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

In this episode Berklee Professor and artist Susan Cattaneo shares the magic of songwriting and breaks it down offering some wonderful ideas on how to use metaphor.

With her powerful voice, captivating melodies and finely-crafted lyrics, Susan Cattaneo is one of Boston’s most respected singer/songwriters and educators. 

Susan won the CT Folk Festival and is nominated for Singer Songwriter of the Year at this year’s Boston Music Awards. She has been a finalist or winner in the country’s most prestigious songwriting and music contests. An in-demand collaborator for a wide range of local and national artists, she is a three-time Kerrville New Folk finalist. Her double album The Hammer and The Heart charted #1 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart and yielded a folk radio #1 single and top 10 album. Her latest work, All is Quiet has been featured as a top 10 folk radio album since its release in April.

In her 20 plus years teaching Songwriting at Berklee, Susan has helped students work on over 15,000 songs in all musical genres and styles and mentored over 2,000 artists. 

https://susancattaneo.com

https://www.scarletkeys.com
https://www.instagram.com/scarletkeysofficial/
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

Engineer: Peter Sykes https://www.petersykesmusic.com

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 

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Tom Hambridge is an American rock, country, and blues, producer, songwriter, musician and vocalist. Hambridge has received two Grammy Awards, an ASCAP award, seven Grammy nominations, seven Boston Music Awards, and has been inducted into the Buffalo Hall of Fame.

In this episode, Tom talks about his influences, how being a drummer informs his writing, working with vocalists, what he learned from Chuck Berry, avoiding cliches and navigating a cowrite.

https://www.instagram.com/tomhambridge/

https://www.scarletkeys.com
https://www.instagram.com/scarletkeysofficial/
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

Engineer: Peter Sykes https://www.petersykesmusic.com

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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Master piano player Matt Rollings

Matt has played on countless records for artists such as: 

Wynonna Judd, Lyle Lovett, Shania Twain, Trisha Yearwood, Leonard Cohen, Mark Knofler, Dixie Chicks, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Billy Joel, Steve Martin, Bruce springsteen, Toy Story 4 Randy Newman and Christ Stapleton.

 Matt has produced many artists such as: Keith Urban and Mellissa Manchester

 He won a Grammy for Producing, arranging and playing on Willie Nelson’s  record: Willie Nelson Singers Gershwin and  Willie Nelson’s record Willie Nelson Sings Sinatra 

 Matt has toured extensively with Lyle Lovett and Allison Kraus and is here today to talk about songwriting and the elements of being a master player in service of the song or the singer. 

Show takeaways:

• The importance of feel and timing
• Lean into the nervousness  
• Lead with your weakness
• The importance of vulnerability
• When playing: 80% attention on the singer who is performing and 20% read the chart, play the fills, adjust, play in time, remember the song and create the part
• Voicing an F Major chord: CFA: F chord in second position. Take the F out of the middle and drop it an octave 
• When you play close voicing, all of the overtones bash into each other
• When you don’t, it doesn’t ring the same way and  you give the overtones room
• The Three things: Time, Feel and Function

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/mattrollings88/

https://www.scarletkeys.com
https://www.instagram.com/scarletkeysofficial/
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

Engineer: Peter Sykes https://www.petersykesmusic.com

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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Justin Tranter is one of the most successful pop songwriters of our time.

Tranter has co-written with Julia Michaels, and written songs for artists such as Britney Spears, Gwen Stefani, Linkin Park, Kelly Clarkson, Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber, DNCE, Kesha, Imagine Dragons, Fifth Harmony, 5 Seconds of Summer, Ariana Grande, Lady Gaga, Bea Miller, Demi Lovato, Dua Lipa, Måneskin, and Fall Out Boy. From 2004 to 2014, Tranter was the lead singer of Semi Precious Weapons, a rock band based in New York. Since February 2017, they have been a board member of GLAAD, an organization that promotes LGBT acceptance in the entertainment and news industries and they also have their own jewlry line.

Here are some takeaways form todays show:

• The bullies are wrong
• Start each section of your song in a different part of the phrase
• Make sure you’re using new notes for the chorus
• Use the highest note in the chorus or now, use new notes, doesn’t have to be the highest note in the song
• Learn 10 different songs rom 110 different genre and feel what makes them great songs
• Lyricist looking for strong melody writer
• What you’re most passionate about you’re the best at because you pay more attention to it
• Lyric structure
• Enhancing your skills through technical thinking 
• Change your rhyme schemes up in each song section

https://www.instagram.com/tranterjustin/?hl=en

https://www.scarletkeys.com
https://www.instagram.com/scarletkeysofficial/
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

Engineer: Peter Sykes https://www.petersykesmusic.com

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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Ellen Britton is an amazing guitarist and songwriter who has toured with many huge acts and appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, The View, The Rosie O’Donnell Show, and The Today Show.
 
As a teacher, she has worked with Brandi Clark, Pam Tillis, Mickey Guyton, Carly Pearce, Little Big Town and so many more.

On this episode, Ellen talks about the importance of dynamics as a performer and guitar player and shares some voices, strumming patterns and power chords for anyone who would like to write on guitar!

https://www.ellenbritton.com

https://www.scarletkeys.com
https://www.instagram.com/scarletkeysofficial/
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

Engineer: Peter Sykes https://www.petersykesmusic.com

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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 Chris DuBois is a songwriter and music publisher based out of Nashville.  He is co-owner of Sea Gayle Music with business partners Brad Paisley and Frank Rogers. 

Sea Gayle is one of the most successful independent publishing companies in all of music.  In 2010 and 2011, Sea Gayle was named ASCAP Country Publisher of the Year. It was the first time since 1982 that an independent publishing company had won that award. In 2009, Sea Gayle Music launched Sea Gayle Records as an imprint of Sony Music Nashville.

They have some of Nashville’s most successful roster of staff writer’s one of which was Chris Stapleton.

As a songwriter, DuBois has had more than 30 Top 20 singles including 17 songs that have reached No. 1. DuBois has been the recipient of over 30 ASCAP awards and in 2004 was named ASCAP Country Songwriter of the Year.[3] DuBois was also named NSAI Songwriter of the Year for 2010 and 2011.[4]

A few of these songs include:

Mud on the Tires: Brad Paisley

Your Man: Josh Turner

Buy me a Boat: Chris Jansen

You should probably leave: Chris Stapleton

 He has had songs recorded by artists such as:

Darius Rucker, George strait, Tim McGraw, Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton, Keith Urban, Chris Stapleton, Kenny Chesney, Adele, and Sheryl Crow to name a few.

In this episode Chris shares how he finds titles, inspiration, what he looks for in a writer to sign, we talk about revenue for writers, writing techniques, story songs, copywriting your songs and so much more!

Take aways:

• Identify the songs that give you chills
• Identify the moments in the songs that give you chills
• Then study what’s going on there melodically or lyrically
• Try to emulate what you’re hearing
• Try to write a song that sounds like a song you love
• Try the title game
• Write from a piece of art with a 500 word narrative
• Have an outline for your song 
• Think of a third layer

An exercise on finding song titles

Pick a piece of art

Write a written narrative on that pieces of art

500 word written narrative

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