tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302142146030573783.post6376833565989623441..comments2021-05-15T23:49:03.005-07:00Comments on RECORD TIME: to keep myself accountable (or, "jacob tries to have more disciplined song-writing")jacob furrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781968768373283073noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302142146030573783.post-84697983004802810082011-02-10T12:49:16.523-08:002011-02-10T12:49:16.523-08:00I'm going to try to keep this relatively short...I'm going to try to keep this relatively short and without rambling, but, well, here goes...<br /><br />In regards to song writing process: when I started writing in college it was basically the "it just happened" method. I wrote the large majority of the Holy Family collection of songs that way. But when I finished college I had maybe 6 or 7 songs for it finished, a broken heart, no prospects of moving any direction in my life whatsoever. That's when I decided, I really need to get serious about songwriting. It’s something that I care enough about that I really want to develop it, especially if I’m not going to do anything else with my life right now. <br /><br />I drove to my dad's house in Georgia that summer to clear my head and finish the damn album. The first thing I did was outline the entire story and figure out where it was going and how it would end. I then broke that down into songs: I need one song to explain this part, I need one song to be about this, I need one song leading up to this next event. And then every day I sat on the porch and considered the topic of whichever song I was working on and messed around on the guitar and refused to think about anything else. <br /><br />Of course it helped that I was writing a story and so there was a plot to go off of, but when I was finally done writing, it had taken me a full four years to finish all of those songs. Which is insane, it shouldn’t take anyone 4 years to write 14 songs. But it was definitely a learning process, and the album became so much more than what it had originally started out. <br /><br />Anyway, I find I have to treat it a lot like work. I give myself deadlines. “Corbett, I need that song about loss and longing on my desk by Monday!” That’s silly, but I just have to say, “okay, I’m going to sit here and write about this topic today.” And sometimes what comes out is crap, or I’ll just type for miles and come up with one good line, and the next day I come back focus on that one line. And the more I work on it, the easier it becomes.<br /><br />That said, I suggest for you first, read The War of Art by Steven Pressfield. I’ve bought that book for so many people and recommended it to so many people it’s ridiculous. It will blow your mind, I promise. Next, If you haven’t already, listen to Anais Mitchell’s Hadestown. It’s a folk adaptation of Ovid’s story about Orpheus. Just fantastic. <br /><br />I hope this helps some. I love talking about this stuff, so keep it coming. Also, I wrote all of this while listening to The Only Road. I’m super excited to hear anything you’re working on.Neil Corbetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15334989781405276640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302142146030573783.post-25123666471125674982011-02-10T12:30:50.468-08:002011-02-10T12:30:50.468-08:00i think this is a great step! i can't wait to ...i think this is a great step! i can't wait to hear moreChristinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12493805259847916557noreply@blogger.com