Every songwriter deals with the proverbial creative crisis from time to time. Fortunately, there are many sources of inspiration around us. Draw ideas from your own experiences and emotions, use creative lyric exercises, and think differently to create new songs.
Be inspired by art
Listen to music.
It seems obvious, but listen to the music and pay attention to the lyrics to learn how to create successful songs and get new ideas and inspiration, also use the libraries with royalty free music to imagine how you can match the lyrics to a specific beat.
- Take a walk and listen to instrumental music. It often helps to create new lyrics. If interesting lines come to your mind, make sure you write them down in a notebook!
- Listen to the music that inspired you to become a songwriter. That way you’ll know what to strive for and what mistakes to avoid in your songwriting.
- Don’t forget the classics. Famous songwriters gained this status for a reason. Listen to the lyrics, arrangements, and structure of the songs.
- Listen to new genres of music. Expand your musical horizons to incorporate new sound effects and style elements into your songs.
Explore other art forms.
You don’t have to limit yourself to music. You can be inspired by many different forms of art and in the most unexpected ways. You can watch films, read books, visit art galleries – any creative products will nourish your creativity.
- Read poetry collections as the poems are very close to song lyrics.
- The artwork will expand your vocabulary, making the songs more sophisticated and emotional.
Pay attention to non-traditional art forms.
Inspiration surrounds you all the time, you just have to look around. The more often you leave your comfort zone, the more exciting sources of inspiration will come your way, from street art to experimental theatre productions.
- For example, look closely at the graffiti in your city. Many street artists create their work for different motives, like to raise awareness of certain issues. Write down all the descriptive words, phrases, and emotions that came up as you looked at the drawings.
- Discomfort is not always a bad thing. New experiences can make you feel uncomfortable, but they can also inspire you to do new things, especially if you’re stuck in narrow confines and repeating yourself from song to song.
Draw inspiration from personal experience
Write about yourself.
Your own life experiences (memories, views, emotions) are a bottomless source of inspiration, and personal perceptions of the world make your songs unique. Make lists of events that happened to you or emotions you experienced to have a vast supply of material to work with.
- For example, write down stories you have heard or experienced. These would make a great basis for songs, not only because of their uniqueness but also because of their wide range of emotions.
Write about your emotions.
Recall an emotional event from your life like a death, a birth, a wedding, falling in love. Try to describe your feelings at that moment as accurately as possible in all the details.
- For example, for a break-up song, you could prepare a list of words that accurately describe the situation: your feelings, your surroundings, bright colors, and more. You don’t need to worry about rhythm and melody at this stage.
Keep a diary.
Many of us take notes, make lists, or write emails every day, but a personal journal can help you reflect on significant events in your life and become a source of images or phrases for your songs.
Record your dreams.
People often have unusual and abstract dreams that are forgotten immediately upon awakening. Don’t deprive yourself of such interesting images and out-of-the-box situations! Start a dream diary! With a written record, you will be able to remember your dreams for a long time and get a new stock of amazing and unusual stories and images that you can use in songwriting.
- Put a notebook and pen on your bedside table to write down your dreams as soon as you wake up.
Get out of the house.
Go for walks in crowded places, pay attention to events and people around you. Many songwriters write about nature, passersby, and unusual experiences. Let the world around you be your inspiration.
- Start eavesdropping. Sometimes eavesdropping helps you see a situation through new eyes. Other people’s words may contain intrigue or lyrical motives.
- If you have your own special place like a park, take a pen and paper with you, sit on a bench and write down all the thoughts that come to your mind.
Try something new.
Many musicians lead exciting lifestyles that inspire new songs. Get out of your comfort zone and try something new. Either way, you’ll be energized and impressed.
- Try new things for an inspiring adrenaline rush. Take an extreme action like skydiving or something as simple as going to a new restaurant.
Nostalgia.
Look through photo albums, reread letters, visit family and childhood friends, and reminisce about the past. Nostalgia is a powerful mix of emotions that can become your wave of inspiration.
Tips
- Don’t be afraid to write in the abstract. The lyrics don’t have to tell the story directly. Many songs can make no sense at all, but still, be universally loved and considered classics.
- You can also use online services like a rhyme generator] that find suitable rhymes or synonyms for words for you.
- Write down any ideas you have, including images or snippets of phrases. The more notes you have, the more likely you find inspiration for new songs.
- Don’t be afraid to use standard themes of love, sadness, and loss. They may be perceived as clichés, but every song is always unique. You can even challenge yourself and try to write a song on a hackneyed theme in the most unusual way!
- If you know several languages, try writing part of the song in a different language to make it sound in a new way.
- Buy a rhyming dictionary if you have trouble finding rhymes. It differs from the usual dictionary in that it groups rhyming words together. Save your time and mental effort, and expand your vocabulary.
Courtesy of Alex Degg.