Songwriting & Beyond…

Current Australian National Songwriting Content winner John Harely has scored another place  - this time in the top 20 - in another songwriting competition called ‘Unisong’.

A ‘top 20′ position may not seem like much to the naked eye, but most don’t realize that Unisong is a HUGE contest, and is judged by some heavyweight writers, - such as Peter Frampton, Bruce Lundvall & Desmond Child, Diane Warren and a host of others.

“While the winner of the current Australian National Songwriting contest is hard at work on new songs for another album the accolades keep pouring in for songs off his current album ‘Hope Harbour’…..this time from the judges of Unisong International Songwriting Contest who gave birth to songwriters Burt Bacharach, Jimmy Buffet, Stewart Copeland, Mick Fleetwood, Indigo Girls, Glady’s Knight, Peter Frampton, Lisa Loeb, Bonnie Raitt, Don Was and well, I’m sure you get the picture….. “

Click here to finish reading the article.

Source http://www.prleap.com/pr/42067/ (prleap.com)

technorati tags:learn, songwriting, online, tips, record, studio, demo

Most Aerosmith fans I know will loath at the fact that their biggest hit ‘I Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing’ was written by Diane Warren - a songwriter who has written predominantly ballads for artists mainly in the pop/soul & country arena. But I have another perspective on the matter.

If you are judging the song from a ‘band’ standpoint, then you probably will never fully appreciate the song. Fans of rock know the exciting music they are known for, and some would rather push the song to one side - for every reason pertaining to …”it’s just not Aerosmith.”

But when you listen to it form a songwriter’s point of you, you know that it’s quite simply a great love song which the band have performed brilliantly.

Here’s the video to a song that won a Grammy Award, went to number one in the USA and stayed in the top 5 of the singles chart all over Europe for weeks on end.

Calvin

technorati tags:learn, songwriting, songwriter, online, tips, record, studio, demo

If you started to play an instrument or write songs from as a child - and LEFT all those skills behind as soon as you entered adulthood, do you think it is likely that you would then pick up where you left off 15 years later?

Well, for Scott Pearce - not only is this true, but he has also come back in style.

Here is an article of a man who just recently gained second place in a songwriting contest by the Austin Songwriters Group….and relaxingly says, “I’m more comfortable in my own skin now than I was 15 years ago.”

On a sea of crystal glass
streets of solid gold
walls of every precious stone
No pain

That’s the vision of Winterville songwriter Scott Pearce in “No Tears,” the song that brought him his second consecutive grand prize in a contest sponsored last month by the Austin Songwriters Group, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating and developing aspiring songwriters.

Click here to finish reading the article.

Source http://www.reflector.com/local/content/news/
stories/2006/07/21/songwriter.html / T. Scott Batchelor
/ www.reflector.com]

technorati tags:learn, songwriting, tips, online, news, songs, record, studio, contest, competition

Stevie Wonder is a timeless musical genius. Amongst my many favorite songwriters, he sits in the top ten in my list. I couldn’t help but share this performance.

‘All Is Fair In Love’ - by Stevie Wonder.

technorati tags:learn, songwritng, tips, online, record, studio

I always find it very inspiring whenever I read an article on talented children who are pushed and encouraged to further heights - giving them the opportunity to showcase their work.

Here is an article of 15 year old Zan Grimsbo has been playin the guitar since he was 5, and in the last year has started writing lyrics for his own musical compositions.

He will soon be participating in the Severin Sisters’ American Roots Music Camp in Salem… - where I’m sure his confidence will be elevated.

Calvin

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“Zac Grimsbo, 15, has spent a good chunk of his summer working in the dusty fields of Rickreall. The young man has been driving a hay baler at a neighboring farm.

Sitting in an air-conditioned cab, Zac has had plenty of time to listen to the lyrics and music in his head.

Two weeks from now, the young man who’s been playing guitar for about five years will give flight to his pent-up musical passion when he participates in the Severin Sisters’ American Roots Music Camp in Salem.

His mom, Kristina, said her son is looking forward to the camp, and she’s excited about the crafts he’ll bring home. But she’s not pining for origami frogs or Chinese knots. She’s eager to hear Zac’s next song….”

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Click here to finish reading the article.

Source http://159.54.226.83/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060721/
COLUMN0101/607210306/1064 / CAROL MCALICE CURRIE/ StatesmanJournal.com

technorati tags:learn, songwriting, tips, online, record, music, studio