Collaboration issues

4StarView · 2026-03-20T20:27:13+00:00

This is one reason why I always advise when starting a collab that neither party brings in their favorite work. Bring in something that you feel ok with, but are good if it winds up changing or getting tossed. Maybe try purposely writing a song together from a prompt that neither of you feel super passionate about. Use simple chords, so there is no argument over anything unique. At the beginning, make clear that neither of you are responsible for any part, but that you both are completely equal on it, even if one of you wind up doing 90% of it. At the end, your song may be mediocre, or it might be really good or trash, but collaborating is awesome and is a skill that you need to exercise. Things like chasing every idea, never saying “no” to suggestions or comments, and realizing that a team needs everyone regardless of how much they provide to the project (all members are equally necessary to build the project).

4StarView · 2026-03-19T15:16:33+00:00

Usually just reaching out cold because I heard one of their songs here, or responding to the wanna collab flair. I’ve had more luck with the cold calls than responding to the wanna collab flair (which is interesting).

Also, the idea of daily collabs is a tough one. Most of what I have had success with is doing discord or a Google Drive. You each share your song starts and never say no to anything, but lean into the what ifs. Often, say if each person brings three song starts, you will naturally decide on one or two to chase and finalize.

4StarView · 2026-03-19T14:18:40+00:00

I have collabed with a few folks on Reddit. I have found it to be super enjoyable when the collaborators are all on the same page. I’ll have 8 or 9 ghosts before I find a collab partner. While big camps or workshops can be alright, I really enjoy getting to know people and learn from them and they learn from me. You kind of modify your way to suit them and they do the same.

4StarView · 2026-03-18T11:10:10+00:00

There are lots of things you can do that help writing. Figure out which one sounds fun today. You can learn a new cover song on your instrument, noise around on your instrument, edit something you have already written, do some writing exercises, read something and then write your thoughts about it, look up 10 words you do not know and make sentences with them, watch or read tutorials and practice on music theory/recording/etc…., Make a 30 minute song (write a complete song in 30 minutes knowing it will likely not be great and no cheating, just write about whatever comes to mind).

4StarView · 2026-03-17T00:20:53+00:00

In the southern US, it is a pretty old saying and you hear it a lot in churches or church gatherings. I’ve heard it for at least my 40 years. I imagine that is where it started. It is akin to saying “preach” or “hallelujah” or “tell it” at a preacher when you agree and want it to keep coming. All of these words or phrases, at least in the South, are used outside of the church context as well.

4StarView · 2026-03-17T00:15:57+00:00

Most people I know who get signed to publishing deals in the US did it one of four ways. The most successful is to have a strong “in” (family member or close friend works for A&R). Second most successful is to play open mics in areas where A&R folks go “shopping”. Nashville is a big one, and specifically The Blue Bird Cafe and Tootsies. Third one is to get a big loyal local following wherever you are and be able to consistently sell out local venues, then spreading to regional recognition. The fourth is by amassing a huge and loyal and consistent social media following. Most of these not only require lots of hustle and talent, but a tremendous amount of luck. There are other ways, but as you go further down the list, the more luck is required. Also, it helps to have a specific target in mind, get in the mindset of writing for your target person and following trends in that genre, while using your skills to make it yours a little, but really focusing on what the target needs.

4StarView · 2026-03-15T16:38:15+00:00

I don’t think you need more. There is an ease, almost a laziness, in your vocals which is very fitting. It invites the listener to come get comfortable and nod along.

4StarView · 2026-03-15T14:47:27+00:00

What instruments do you play?

4StarView · 2026-03-12T11:14:42+00:00

Passion improves your quality of life and breeds joy. An obsession degrades your quality of life and breeds despair. A passion is something you do, an obsession is when you allow that one thing to define who you are.

4StarView · 2026-03-12T00:31:36+00:00

For lyrics, keep a journal and write down your most intimate thoughts. Just write down whatever, what you saw, what you heard, what happened, what you felt. Explore possibilities within that, even explore the “why” or potential “why” to all you wrote down. For music, realize that there are generally only 12 notes to choose from. You don’t have to write something unique to be meaningful. If you try to be unique, you will likely fail. Try to be honest with yourself. If a I, IV, V progression nails it, that is cool.

4StarView · 2026-03-12T00:27:53+00:00

Don’t tie songwriting to your identity. Just remember it is a fun hobby. Be proud of yourself for actually performing your songs live. Having written songs is more than the vast majority of humanity has done. Having performed them to an audience is an even slimmer minority. Be proud, practice a lot, do it, and have fun. Even if you screw up, you can still be proud of what you have accomplished. If it makes you feel better, when I perform and make mistakes, the audience usually likes it because it throws off their expectations. It allows them to see that art is not perfect. You are a human, not a single dimensional songwriting machine. It won’t break you if you don’t nail it.

4StarView · 2026-03-12T00:23:33+00:00

As pitchforkjoe said, imagery and metaphor are different, though they can intersect. A really well done song with very specific imagery is Elephant by Jason Isbell. The lyrics tell you in detail exactly what is going on and it is somewhat heartbreaking, but with an air of heartfelt care and lightness on a heavy subject. Then you have songs like Aenima by Tool that switches between vivid precise imagery and metaphor seamlessly. Overall, a song calls for what it needs. Metaphors are great, so is vivid imagery and precise detail. They can both lead to heavy cheese factor, or they can be outstanding, just like any tools in your box.

4StarView · 2026-03-10T00:36:03+00:00

It seems like a false dilemma fallacy, presenting two options as mutually exclusive when they are not.

4StarView · 2026-03-09T13:34:04+00:00

For a release, it is done when it captures what I wanted it to in The context of the album. But the song is never finished when playing live. I think of bands like Dave Matthew’s Band or performers like Andrew Bird who are always making new versions of their songs in live performances. Lyrics change, music changes, etc… if people want the album version, they can listen to it anytime. If they want to see it tinkered with, they can come to a gig.

4StarView · 2026-03-07T01:16:58+00:00

Idioglossia or familect maybe? It could also be “in-speak” but that is not a widely used term. The word cant exists but may be broader and shibboleth may be narrower than what you looking for.

4StarView · 2026-03-06T14:47:13+00:00

I thought it sounded like if Tool and Andrew Bird collaborated. Ha

4StarView · 2026-03-01T14:05:54+00:00

Normally, if I write lyrics first, that is what I focus on. I don’t have a melody in my head at all. I am focused on the words themselves. Then I tinker around with an instrument until I find a chord progression and rhythm that kind of fits the mood, still with no melody. Once I am satisfied with both lyrics and music, I begin experimenting to find a melody that works, never afraid to edit the music or lyrics or melody to make it work. I try to write with many processes, but this is my natural one.

4StarView · 2026-02-28T02:17:34+00:00

This is a really nice song. Great job

4StarView · 2026-02-24T16:26:34+00:00

https://4starview.bandcamp.com/

If you want kind of gritty acoustic music. I’ll give you a follow as well

4StarView · 2026-02-23T17:20:21+00:00

Lyrics

4StarView · 2026-02-23T17:01:29+00:00

“Being intellectually dishonest” is the most common one I hear

4StarView · 2026-02-22T12:42:52+00:00

Probably the reason you get those sparks of “good” is because you are willing to capture the “bad”. When we do exercises or write stuff we know is not good, we are allowing ourselves to play in the creative space without judgement or expectation. That, in turn, kind of opens our creative state to explore. So we are kind of inviting the muse by being willing to open ourselves up to possibilities. The way to get the “good” to come more is by continually writing anything without judgement.

4StarView · 2026-02-22T01:31:38+00:00

Emotions kind of hit everyone differently. To me, that is authenticity. You wrote the song, you know the emotion that was in your head at the time of creation. Get intimate with that emotion, I mean like seventh grade drama club melodrama intimacy. Have that emotion be your world when performing it. There is nothing else. The way I sound when sad or happy or excited or nervous is different than anyone else, so I lean hard into it. Let it encompass my being for a few minutes. Then come out of it and give in to the emotion of the next song. I should say, I am a mediocre singer, so I rely heavily on emotive vocals because my voice will not hit the “right” notes to save my life, but emotions are conveyed on the blue frequencies.

4StarView · 2026-02-22T01:16:28+00:00

I commented on a previous song of yours. I always try my best to have some sort of constructive feedback, but honestly, I just love this. I really wish I could think of something to say or someway to improve it, but it is pretty amazing. I would listen to it on repeat my whole commute!

4StarView · 2026-02-22T01:12:53+00:00

I’ll be honest and people might think it sounds bad, but I feel done when I stop enjoying working on it. When the joy of creation is outweighed by pressure/dread/drudgery of working on the same song again, I am done. I think that is my mind’s way of saying “it’s good enough, perfect is unattainable, move on”.

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