Art Before Tools

Tools to make it sound artistically better.

Tools of the trade

In the nascent stages of my songwriting journey, I was desperate to learn more about the craft from any books and courses I could find¹. The basics, like rhyme schemes, structure, title placement, and other things, were great but got me caught up in technical tools.

These were, without a doubt, the tools of the trade that I had to acquire before thinking about actually having a song cut. But, at that stage of my journey, I was so focused that I forgot something more important: artistry.

Artistry of the craft

As a commercial songwriter in Nashville, I quickly realized that songwriting is a balance between both artistry and tools. It’s a dance between using technical stuff (left-brained) and being creative (right-brained). The tricky part is finding the right balance, not going too much into one side or the other.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s still important to learn what the tools are and how they work. Here at www.simononsongs.com, there are many cool tools to improve your skills to write great songs. But here's the catch – only use these tools when they make your song sound artistically better.

Tools to make it sound artistically better

My Berklee Music professor ²always used to say, "Tools are just tools, not rules." And he is so right.

I remember when I first tried to write a lyric. I immediately opened a rhyming dictionary to find words matching each section. Using tools like that isn't a bad thing. But sometimes, if you can tell there's a rhyming dictionary behind the lyric, it means someone used tools before a great artistic idea they were trying to capture. 

The goal isn't to showcase the tools but to move the listeners' hearts artistically without them noticing them. Invisible.

But how does that work?

Ways to put art before tools

Here are a few ways to help put artistry before tools in your songwriting:

1. Only start with great ideas – if I am going to serve as my co-writer, one of the best things is to bring great ideas to the party. So, before I have a writing trip I always open my Idea Bank and score and rank the quality of each idea to write with my friends. This is because, without several great ideas, it can be tricky to hone down the options to something worth writing for the few hours we have together. A productive co-writer is a happy co-writer. I’m sure successful songs have all started with a great idea worth writing. "Viva la Vida" by Coldplay has a rich orchestral arrangement and explores themes of power and loss. "Happy" by Pharrell Williams is a great idea behind a super-successful song - an upbeat anthem promoting positivity and happiness. All great ideas. Example: "Happy" by Pharrell Williams

2. Craft a captivating title – technically, it’s possible to write pretty much any title. I talk about this in the outro chapter of my first book, Song Maps,³ where I demonstrate you can write a lyric with “impossible titles”. You might think an impossible title might never get cut. But there are some out there. The trick here is to try writing titles that enhance your artistry. That can be using words or phrases with a picture, a story, or some other kind of DNA coded within the title. Great examples are out there in pop, like Taylor Swift's "Shake It Off" and Bruno Mars's "Uptown Funk." These aren't mere labels; they are magnetic invitations into a realm of emotion and rhythm. Example: "Taylor Swift - Shake It Off"

3. Mesmerize with your introduction – by this, I mean a few lines of the first verse. These are often the most valuable musically and lyrically real estate to capture your listeners. So, this is an important opportunity to breathe into these lines with a little artistry glitter here. Make it a picture, a color, a place a question or something that would capture the imagination of your listeners. See the irresistible charm of Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream" or the pulsating energy in The Weeknd's "Blinding Lights." These introductions aren't mere musical greetings; they are the initial steps into a sonic adventure. Example: "Katy Perry - Teenage Dream"

4. Craft catchy choruses – transitioning to crafting choruses that linger in your mind. There are many ways of doing this, but often, it involves writing both the music and lyrics and getting it right together. Hear the infectious catchiness of Sia's "Chandelier" or the anthemic quality of Imagine Dragons' "Radioactive." Both of the above songs are also good examples of well-written, artistically crafted, catchy choruses. And these choruses aren't just hooks; they are the heartbeats of the songs, leaving an indelible mark on your musical soul. Example: "Sia - Chandelier"

5. Use verse dynamics – there are many new ways to inject cool changes from one section of the song to the next. It’s those junctions between verse 1 to a pre-chorus or the chorus itself where you can press a button of creativity to move a gear in the music or the lyric to change the landscapes with a bit of magic. It could be a change in story (plot development) or a move in the melody to a new high. But whatever is crafted at these moments it needs to be a deliberate artistic choice. It’s ultimately what sounds best. Look at the artistic narrative in Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" or the conversational elegance of Ed Sheeran's "Perfect." Verses aren't mere bridges between choruses; they are the lyrical landscapes unfurling your song's story. Example: "Adele - Rolling in the Deep"

6. The bridge to brilliance – often, the bridge is a great opportunity to go somewhere completely new, either musically, lyrically, or both. It can also be a short bridge, another new high in the melody, or another way of looking at the journey of the song. Listen to the unexpected twists in Taylor Swift's "Love Story." Or the new musical plateau in Lewis Capaldi’s “Someone You Loved.” Bridges aren't just transitions; they are elevations that add depth and emotion to your masterpiece. Example: Lewis Capaldi’s “Someone You Loved” 

7. Write a grand finale - these are wonderful artistic opportunities to leave something meaningful with listeners, often a strong closing to your song. Embrace the powerful finales of songs like Adele's "Someone Like You" or Avicii’s “Wake Me Up,” which goes from A to Z in 4 minutes. Conclusions aren't just endings; they are lasting echoes lingering in the listener's mind. Example: Avicii’s “Wake Me Up”

So, when setting up for your next co-write, try making creative choices based on art before using your arsenal of tools (especially opening a rhyming dictionary!).

Make creative choices based on art before using your arsenal of tools

Whether you're coming up with titles that touch the heart, making introductions that make people curious, or putting together choruses and verses that go well together, it's the artistry you have contributed to turning your piece of work into a piece of art. A piece of art designed to stand the test of time.

Questions

Three questions that might help:

1. Can your song title pull people into the feeling and rhythm of your creation like a magnet? 

2. How can you make an introduction that not only says hello but gets everyone ready for the whole journey of your song?

3. How will you put your special touch into every part of your song—like the chorus, verses, bridges, and the ending – to make it a memorable experience?

Hope this helps!

Simon.

1. See Sheila Davis’s Successful Lyric Writing, here.

2. See Pat Patisson’s Writing Better Lyrics here.

3. See Song Maps: A New System to Write Your Best Lyrics, Second Edition, here.