Finding your unique songwriting
voice: Write in a journal, religiously. No
one else has the same experiences or reactions
that you do. Even if you never directly
write a song from the observations you
make in a notebook, you’re still developing
your “voice.” I have hundreds of notebooks
full of rambly prose and poems from the
last 20 years, and while I’d never show anyone
most of it, it’s all part of a process that
has helped me get my ideas out of my
head and onto the page.
Running your own label: Approach the
business side as creatively and reverently
as you would your musical endeavors,
because in my experience, that’s the only
way to keep from “burning out.” Dealing
with distributors, publicists, retailers,
radio folks, and booking agents is no different
from cultivating your creative audience.
You want to be charismatic,
memorable but professional, and try to
always consider the other person’s point
of view when presenting your work. I find
that it requires so many of the same personality
“muscles” to stay sharp as a
label owner as it does when pursuing
music: physical discipline, emotional and
spiritual dedication, and a genuine
respect for the individuals with whom
you’re communicating. Beyond that,
remember that there’s always someone
excited to work at a label for college
credit — so harness those interns!
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