The Process III

Continuing from our last post, an initial spark of inspiration has led to words being put on paper, a story beginning to emerge, and another set of song lyrics coming to life.

There is no guarantee that every spark will lead to a completed song. The time it takes to develop a first draft of lyrics can range from one day to thirty years—at least that has been our experience. Typically, though, if we haven't produced a rough draft within a couple of weeks, we feel we may be forcing it too much. At that point, we set it aside and move on to something else.

Over the years, we have accumulated a folder full of partial lyrics and unfinished ideas. We revisit that folder regularly. Quite often, an older piece will inspire us in a new way, allowing us to finally complete a strong first draft.

With a respectable draft in hand, Charles turns to Jamey. While Jamey is not considered the lyricist of the team, he has a knack for spotting phrases that, from a musical perspective, simply don't feel right. Adjustments are made until both are satisfied, and the rough draft gradually evolves into a polished set of lyrics waiting for the melody that will bring them to life.

By this stage, Jamey has developed a feel for the lyrics and usually has some ideas about the type of melody that might complement them. The development of that melody, however, takes considerable time, experimentation, and patience. Eventually, a melody begins to emerge, and with that crucial piece of the puzzle, a complete song starts to take shape.

At this point, we have what might be called the bare bones of the song: basic instrumentation—usually a keyboard—and a "scratch vocal" recorded by Jamey. We've found that if a song sounds good at this stage, the odds are excellent that it will become something even more special once the remaining pieces are added.

Join us for The Process IV, where we'll look at the instruments, arrangements, and creative decisions that transform a simple demo into a finished song.