Who Am I Writing For? Myself or the Listener?

It's been a long time since I've been here, a lot's changed, but I want to get back to more writing, so, to those of you who've stuck with this, thank you, you're appreciated.

As many of you now know, for the last eighteen months or so, I've been working as a song writing tutor on an online platform called "I Am A Songwriter", created and run by local folk artist, Amy Goddard. We have thirty or forty mentees, at all stages of their song writing, who we help hone lyrics and musical ideas. (If you want in, I'll put you in touch... ;-)

This is not me.

An interesting and important question was asked this week... "Who are we writing for? ourselves or the listener?" and I can feel myself disappearing down a bit of a rabbit hole with this one, because I honestly think the process of teaching song writing has changed my answer to that. It occurred to me also that question applies as much to this blog as to my own personal song writing, so I felt compelled to go back and read my first blog from about three years ago, to see if I felt I was still in it for the same reasons.

I'd say in summary, it appears it was two-fold. A desire to communicate, and a desire to have a vehicle to work through my own problems. Writing is, as I'm sure virtually all writers find, a great way of getting all your ducks in a row.

So, applying that to my initial question, I am writing for me. The process of writing fulfils some need in me, and that I can say that includes some level of communication, i.e. that I'm looking to share, on some level, what I create. I'm also very aware that the mere process of being creative also fulfils something for me. It makes me happy. My brain likes to think I've been productive. I think probably everyone's brain does. Maybe.

So I'm going to create to make me happy. I'm going to share what I create : more happy.... but is it important to me that people enjoy what I create? Does that make me happier still?

For me personally, that's probably a "yes" too. I'm a firm believer in doing, artistically, (and within certain social boundaries) what you want to do...... and if people like it, then great. I don't seek acceptance at any cost, but if I want anybody to come along for the ride, I feel I need to be understood.

Or do I?

At this point, I hit a conundrum Suzie Dent would struggle with. I love R.E.M. and I love Wilco, but I definitely do not understand all of their lyrics. Did that prevent me from connecting with their songs?.... no....

Hmmphh.

But with recording artists you're buying into a lot more than just lyrics....by the time I've heard the song and bought the cd (yes, I still do that) I've bought into the sound, the look... maybe even just the hype of somebody telling me I ought to check them out. Would I have given them a listen if you'd just given me a sheet of lyrics? If I'm honest, probably not.

These are both bands that didn't write with the sole purpose of being commercially successful. They were just honest. For the most part.....

So these are artists that are writing for themselves, for the love of music and creation. Sometimes they're understood, sometimes they're not, sometimes they're misunderstood, but they're writing what they want to write.

So, back to our song writing group. How does a fledgling song writer navigate the maze of knowing when they should be understood and when they shouldn't? When they should be writing to please the audience, or simply to please themselves.

Unfortunately the answer is different for everyone. And there are loads of other variables, such as whether they wish to go as far as performing their own songs, or is their goal to write for other singers and local bands. Do they want to distribute to the streaming platforms, or is it all just a theoretical exercise to make them happier people?

Only you know who you are. Quite honestly, the song writer is the only unique variable in most of this, chances are the music, instruments and lyrics have all been used before by somebody somewhere.

Overall, I'd say this.

Music I think, is meant to be shared. Write songs that try to make a connection. That doesn't mean write plain, uninteresting stuff, but have a message, try to make it clear, and try and say it in an original way. Big, unusual words don't often help, they can be a distraction, but when lyrics are all somebody has to judge you on, give them an "in". Build a castle with the drawbridge down, it's not all in plain sight, but there's a way in, a way to explore....

I don't know if any of this has helped. There's no golden ratio of artistic value, song writer enjoyment, self worth, listener engagement and financial reward. I think you've just got to hope to tick some of the boxes every now and again.

Thanks

p.s.

This blog is free to subscribe to. It's about lots of musical stuff. You may get an email once in a blue moon telling you I've written a few things, that'll be it.