I write songs based on any emotional level of life that I’m in at any particular point in time. Especially in the valleys. So many people are going through pain, and you have got to empathize with them before advising. Great leaders know this.
When you’re happy, you enjoy the beat,
When you’re sad, you understand the lyrics
Great song writers know that you have to connect with the emotions of your listeners. You can’t just sing about something happening in the moon! I am pro gospel, but whatever genre or type of music you want to do, you always need to have a message as an artist, and a theme in all your songs!
There is always the need now-a days for many people to move with fads, and many musicians are very confused, in that their songs are just a replica of present hits. It’s just sad that a musician cannot be creative enough to carve their own niche in the industry. In the country I come from Nigeria; the music industry is so one-sided, or so it’s perceived, so people are hardly venturing out of the box. Almost all the songs are centered around a particular genre.
Music has different genres;
rap, pop, rock, R and B, soul, neo soul etc
You can’t be placed in a box, and think that you have to be restricted to a particular genre because it is the norm. I can see an open letter from who you might think to be a ‘minority’. If we do not sing certain songs from certain genres because of this reason, we would be depriving, even if it is soul, of something beautiful! We have different tastes
Shallow lyrics are a pity,
everyone doesn’t have to go into music
Now speaking as a gospel musician; Whatever I’m going through, the emotions of the moment, inspires my lyrics, so it’s more animated and redolent with the feelings I’m trying to exude. So I write based on that. The truth is that, whatever valley I’m in, I know that God will surely bring me out of it, and when He does, I can never ever feel EXACTLY the way I once felt, to provoke the same line of thought, idea, lyrics, and what have you. For every thing you’re passing through, there’s some other people in this world that are passing through such too. I believe then, that as many of us in the struggle, and as many of us that are still coming out, owe the world, as a matter of responsibility from an unwritten code the product of our pain and triumphs. Everyone hurts.
Learn to write despite the pain,
Every low place in your life prepared you for your high place.
Now this is a letter, not to everyone, but to those who believe they were born for this, to those that are some how convinced that they’ve been called and gifted to do this; music. Not everyone that can sing has to become a musician, not every one that is poetic, or lyrical should write songs, that is why some people sing songs others wrote, and some others write songs for others to sing, some others are simply back up singers you hear in a track. So when you’re confused, write! when you’re sad, write! when you’re disappointed write! you have to empathize with those in the same struggle, and the truth is that when God brings you out of the valley, your emotions are different now. You’re now better, stronger, wiser, smarter.
You can now relate to the character you once were,
but now you are not that character again
Which is a slightly different factor in your now than it was in your then as it concerns song writing
Your then, is far more able to relate to the theme and emotions you were trying to pass across than your now. Your now, can be smart enough for the tweaks, editing, splicing and sprucing, but your then is a better place to start from. Now it’s not just about the bad times, good times too! but people need something they can relate too.
Well you might ask, what do you know about the music industry; contracts, labels, royalties and so on. I’ll say well not much. But if more people can read this, I think it’ll do us good. I’m tired of seeing shallow, explicit, profane, sensual content in our musical industry. Not saying we all have to do gospel, even some gospel songs are so shallow, calling God doesn’t mean you can’t have a dope song. I believe that both secular and gospel future musicians can gain from this.
This piece of writing is about seeing music,
With a bit more common sense.
Songs are better when they tell a story. About the beautiful journey, struggles, contemplations of life; joy, sadness, peace, madness, disappointment, heart break, rejection, hate, love (not lust please! thank you), anger, and so on. There are just so many things. Let’s not narrow down our theme to drugs, money, fame and immorality.
This is the little contribution I have for now, but what do I know? I hope this helps someone.
Uche Emordi
emordiuche 