We were at the BBC Introducing Live 18 event over the weekend to hear songwriting tips from some of the best musical minds in the business.
Here’s what they had to say…
Nile Rodgers on inspiration (pictured right)
Have you ever read a horseracing form? There’s amazingly cool names on them that you’d never think would go together. Get inspiration from those!
I get a lot of inspiration from people and real-life situations. It helps to have good relationships and people around you to have great dialogue with.
Write random sentences and stick them on a wall. The B-52’s used to do this. Play with those words, move them around and make something poetic.
Don’t be afraid to make mistakes; I learn a great deal from mine.
Gabrielle Aplin on collaborating
If you want to work with some, just ask them. There’s no harm in going direct to someone.
I often keep hold of songs I can’t finish to take to a collab session or give to other people to work on.
Iain Archer on finishing a song
Learn how to focus the mind. It’s good to be your own critic, but you also need to pick times and spaces where the inner critic is left out and you can do what you need to do.
Laura White on working with others
You need to follow your heart and your intuition when working with others. Find someone who really gets the music that you make, and who you respect.
Read Essential takeaways from BBC Introducing Live: funding to learn how to submit a successful application from Ms Banks and experts at PRS Foundation, UK Music and the BPI.
BBC Introducing Live is supported by BBC Music and the wider music industry, including PRS for Music, PRS Foundation and the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (BASCA).
This year’s event built on 2017’s BBC Music Introducing Amplify, and was broadcast live from Tobacco Dock, London, from 8 to 10 November.
Here’s what they had to say…
Nile Rodgers on inspiration (pictured right)
Have you ever read a horseracing form? There’s amazingly cool names on them that you’d never think would go together. Get inspiration from those!
I get a lot of inspiration from people and real-life situations. It helps to have good relationships and people around you to have great dialogue with.
Write random sentences and stick them on a wall. The B-52’s used to do this. Play with those words, move them around and make something poetic.
Don’t be afraid to make mistakes; I learn a great deal from mine.
Gabrielle Aplin on collaborating
If you want to work with some, just ask them. There’s no harm in going direct to someone.
I often keep hold of songs I can’t finish to take to a collab session or give to other people to work on.
Iain Archer on finishing a song
Learn how to focus the mind. It’s good to be your own critic, but you also need to pick times and spaces where the inner critic is left out and you can do what you need to do.
Laura White on working with others
You need to follow your heart and your intuition when working with others. Find someone who really gets the music that you make, and who you respect.
Read Essential takeaways from BBC Introducing Live: funding to learn how to submit a successful application from Ms Banks and experts at PRS Foundation, UK Music and the BPI.
BBC Introducing Live is supported by BBC Music and the wider music industry, including PRS for Music, PRS Foundation and the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (BASCA).
This year’s event built on 2017’s BBC Music Introducing Amplify, and was broadcast live from Tobacco Dock, London, from 8 to 10 November.
