Hi all,
A few of you have been asking me to blog on songwriting and I’ve been working on a blog around that topic for about six weeks now, but it was becoming a novel of tangents and I’ve decided there’s too much to put in a single entry.
SO I’m going to write a little songwriting-blog-mini-series for you split into three umbrellas. They are as follows:
CLIMATE
In this blog I’ll discuss the foundation on which your songs are built. Whether you like it or not, there is one, and it’s you. Your worldview, your motives, your ‘issues’ are indelibly marked on everything you create in your life – whether it’s a song or a conversation or a Tweet. Being aware of your headspace and internal-environment goes a long way to understanding why you are or aren’t writing the type of songs you’d like to.
PROCESS
This blog will be about the actual writing process, with all its peaks and valleys, frustration and elation. I’m going to talk very bluntly here about my process at the moment – it is full of frustration, so the blog may reflect this! I’ll cover inspiration, frustration, editing and also about how you might need to apologise to a lot of your friends because you may become moody and anti-social and just want to stay home and watch Masterchef. Speaking generally of course. Ahem.
RELEASE
By ‘release’ I don’t mean the song hitting the airwaves or iTunes… I’m talking way before then. I’m talking the moment you cut the umbilical cord and show someone your idea for the first time. AAHHH!!! Always good to have some kind of beverage on hand so you can take hurried sips when it gets really awkward. Release is getting that first outside opinion, taking the idea to some trusted musos and having a crack at arrangement. Many songs are still pretty malleable at this stage and it’s good to not be too precious about your ideas if someone points out that there’s a section or line of lyric that could do with improving. Community is good. In the last previous stages it’s not always, but it always is here.
So that’s my plan… I’m going off to work on the first one now, so check back in the next couple of days and it should be up. I’m much more disciplined now that I’ve joined the gym, you know. 
Brooke
Hooray! I’m very excited to see the upcoming blogs! The intro is quite appealing.
Keeeeeeen on these blogs!
OMG I’m so appreciative that you’re doing this and even more shocked because I didn’t even know how much I’d appreciate you doing this!!! I can’t wait for your next blog, I’m excited (don’t know how to say excited in Spanish) but yea, THANK YOU, GIRL!!!
You know, every time I try to write, I want to nail down a song really quickly. Then — this lyric is too trite, this melody line isn’t interesting enough…forget this song, I’ll just start over next time. I want to be cut out for this — are my struggles normal? Can’t wait to check out the blog. It’s gonna be sweet. By the way, I’m utterly disappointed that you’re backing down on your no-tights-as-pants campaign. Gym or no gym…there’s no excuse.
Thank you thank you, THANK YOU Brooke Fraser for this…I can’t wait for the rest!
Very surprised with this new “little” project…very excited and eager to read it knowing I’ll learn lots from it and enjoy it as well.
Lots of love from Puerto Rico…- Jen
and you wear tights as pants..
(only to the gym of course)
I can’t wait to read this! Been thinking of writing songs (hey, I’m a music major, so… why not give it a shot?) but it’s hard enough getting started =P
yea! so excited, can’t wait to learn from your process, thanks for sharing
Pretty genius I think!!!
I wish you creativity…as asked on twitter!
Blessings
JP
Oooh! EXCITED! Thanks for doing this! It’ll be incredibly beneficial for lots of people, I’m sure!
you’re hilarious! “always good to have some kind of beverage on hand” lol… i can’t wait to read your mini-series! i’ve always wondered about the songwriting process…
can’t wait to read it!
i was playing one of your albums in dad’s car the other day and when i went to take it out he insited that i left it in because i enjoyed listening to it so much
oh and sitting at home to watch masterchef. i can relate
x
Words fail to express my excitement!!! I cannot wait to read about your process as a songwriter.
PS- also about how you might need to apologise to a lot of your friends because you may become moody and anti-social and just want to stay home and watch Masterchef. Speaking generally of course. Ahem. (SO TRUE!!- You just summed up the last few weeks of my life) Ha!
I’m much more disciplined now that I’ve joined the gym,
Watch Masterchef- speaking generally of course. where are you “taking” hilariousness ?:D
Go for it Brooke!
Always good to share talents and gifts
Thank you so much! I’m not even a teen yet but song-writing is my dream and I am a little stuck now. It’s odd to see the little things that inspire us. Love your songs!
Looking forward to your blogs and to you album. I know it will be awesome : )
perhaps i should get a gym membership too if that’s what it takes to be more disciplined. hahhaha!!! having such a hard time getting up early. not much of a morning person. =) but i’m trying since i have to go travel for more than an hour to school. =) man, did i say too much?! haha!! lol..
Are clichés healthy alternatives when one’s juicyness goes numb? Otherwise I’m beyond excitement. Lets hope Im not diagnosed with internetlessness when the time kuhms!
Simply cannot wait!
The first letters of each of your umbrella topics are “CPR”. Was that intentional or mere coincidence?
(I see now what you mean about tangents as I just spent a few minutes thinking about the ABC’s of CPR: Airway, Breathing and Circulation…)
Anyway, I look forward to reading your upcoming blogs (and have enjoyed the previous ones)!
hey brooke! hi!
Glad to comment ur blog. my first blog comment too
I wish u to come to south India too, the big city called Chennai.
i wish u could come ove’ here and do a grand performance. welcome.
wishes for ur nex’ album..
Eagerly waitin’
charles.
hi! even my dad started singin Albertine Song after playin it continuously in my home…….
I study life science. In Protein engg. we deal with many amino acids. they end with suffix -ine. lik, Serine, Glycine, Alanine etc.
one day suddenly my professor asked me an amino acid. Guess wha i told? Albert-ine…. hahaha…
sure it is not an amino acid..
waitin for ur nex’ album..
Take Care.
I am very happy for her initiative Brooke! .. you really seem to have more posted on Twitter in here on your Blog!
We are anxious for the next and we can help you in your new project!
Tell Me!
Your Fan
Hannah Reis =)
Hey Brooke Fraser! I love this blog and your songs. Thank u for sharing with all of us!
Hmm… Suddenly posting my comment after like, a gazillion other comments, isnt as appealing haha. Okay…firstly, yayyyy! I am an avid song writer. So this blog is friggin awsome! Ive found myself making excuses while people are listening to my music… like: “uhm, yeah, ignore this part. wait..that part isnt done yet. uhhh that part needs work”. But Ive really learnt how just put a sock in it (literally sometimes). Anyways…I think I lost the point of this whole essay so Ill end it off with another firm, but polite: YAYY!
Love your bluntness!!!
It’s very encouraging to know that you do also get frustrated….
I always get frustrated after writing two or three lines….
I LOVE your blog, Brooke! I really hope you’d update more often… that is, of course, if you have enough time to.
But it’s great you write down these things for us to read. So useful
sorry for the typos… =)
Brooke, you are awesome! Love the way you write!
This site rocks!
brooke, i love your songs…
you have a beautiful heart..
kisses
Thank you much for this well written post.
Really nice posts. I will be checking back here regularly.
Great job on your blog.
Great job on your blog.
I wrote a similar blog about this subject but you did a better job