The Process II

We had hoped this post would give you a fuller understanding of our creative process and how we bring a song to life. Jamey and I began writing together more than 30 years ago, and surprisingly, the process we use today is much the same as it was back then.

Our original plan was to walk you through the steps we take and the systems we've developed that eventually lead to a finished song. Most of those steps are fairly clear-cut and easy to explain.

But there's one step that isn't.

The first one.

The idea.

It's really the most important step of all, and it deserves a blog of its own.

The reason it's difficult to define is that the seed of an idea can come from almost anywhere. More often than not, it isn't even a conscious discovery. It's something that seems to rise to the surface from a deeper place in the mind.

Hard to explain, right?

All of our life experiences are stored somewhere within us. Alongside them are the experiences of people we've known, stories we've heard, and moments we've witnessed over the years. Many of these memories aren't active or even readily accessible, but they're still there.

Sometimes, for reasons we may never fully understand, one small thought breaks through. A single image, emotion, phrase, or memory appears. That's the sprout.

When people ask us, "Where did that song come from?" the easy answer is often, "It just came to me."

But a truer answer might be, "From life."

Once that initial spark appears, the songwriting process begins. Other memories and experiences connect to it. New branches grow from the original idea. Before long, words start finding their way onto paper, a story begins to emerge, and another song starts coming to life.

In our next installment of The Process, we'll pick up where this one leaves off. We'll look at what happens after that first spark appears—how a simple idea grows into lyrics, melody, and ultimately a finished song. We hope you'll join us as we continue the journey from inspiration to creation.