"The Process I"

In most cases, the songs we write begin with the lyrics. Charles is typically the one who puts the first words on paper. After multiple drafts, rewrites, and plenty of polishing, he arrives at a set of lyrics he feels are ready for Jamey.

Jamey is the music man.

As he reads the lyrics—or perhaps more accurately, as he feels them—he is usually drawn in one emotional direction or another. Sometimes the complete lyric "sings to him," as he likes to say, and he can put together a first-draft melody in short order. Other times, he may appreciate the story being told but not quite connect with it musically.

More often than not, however, there is at least one part of the lyric that sparks something. It might be a phrase, a chorus, a title, or even a single line. Just enough of a creative nucleus to set the songwriting process in motion.

This is where the true collaboration begins.

It's back to the drawing board. Jamey and Charles put their heads together and try to determine what needs to be removed, rephrased, strengthened, or expanded. While this has become a normal part of their process, it can still be difficult for Charles to rewrite lyrics he once felt were already strong. But there is no room for ego in songwriting.

One thing Charles has learned during the thirty years he and Jamey have written together is that he is, at heart, a poet. Jamey is an exceptionally talented musician and performer. Each excels in his own realm, but it takes both of them to create a song. Like yin and yang, their individual strengths complement one another, and together they become something greater than either could be alone.

In the next blog, we'll take a deeper dive into the ongoing creative process and share more about the new material we're releasing.