Revised July 2009
...on songwriting and such...
...started with poems (school and such). Age 9 or thereabouts I was having to read these efforts in front of class and so realised it was something that came easily and it was something I enjoyed; mid-teens, had had my fill of piano lessons, started listening to local bands and became smitten with the work of a young guitarist and well he was probably the reason I asked my mum for a guitar for my 17th - a Yamaha G65 Spanish classical one. I remember that day vividly, in a musical instrument shop in York, UK. Had no idea what I was looking for...the bridge was so high it was a difficult one to start with, but it strengthened the ol' fingers no end! Taught myself on that, so, my friend's guitars in comparison seemed easy to play and - like most people who buy guitars - that thing went everywhere with me. The songwriting naturally followed, although not until my early 20s. In hindsight, that was when Life afforded the time and the inclination!
Songwriting is a bit of a tease. You can sit for hours and nothing happens; other days you can sit for five minutes and a whole song will come out seemingly from nowhere. You *know* it's true! Triggers for a song can be anything...sometimes I'll be playing around with a chord-progression or with a beat on the keyboard... but most usually it is a lyrical-idea, whereupon out comes the guitar and that starts the process. I'm not very logical or methodical, it's more intuitive. With the guitar, I like open chords and so sometimes it's hard to tell what to call them, depends on what key you're in etc. A rhythm comes to mind and so I get that going and then the lyrics come from that. They're usually just waffle at first, around the lyrical-idea. At this point, music and words do tend to come together consensually. Snippets from life, personal experiences and thoughts... lyrics come from anything and everything that life throws at me. I'm an observer I guess and I tend to absorb things and I love to write everything down given the chance. If I ever get stuck there are files and files of stuff I can dip into for help. Not that I use that route often. The old notes are the 'old muse' and they don't usually apply, but you never know. So I keep everything. Well, eventually it takes shape. Then it gets honed.
Some songs are pretty tight, other's meandering. Ultimatley I tend to like all of them 'as-is' initially born. It's a hurdle to throw parts away or even fool around with the order. Heartfelt and just seeing what comes out from oneself is best-bet (starting-point at least). The 'formula' can come later!
During the 80s, searching for collaborations with others led to the very special working relationship I now have with Tony Lowe. He's a mentor and a friend and I'm honored to be able to call myself contributing writer to his groundbreaking project 'All of the Above', for which details can be found on Tony's site. Our collaboration has continued with a second album, 'Second Nature'. See TLP Productions website www.tonylowe.com.
Very well received by critics and listeners alike, 'All of the Above' made the first ballot for the 2007 Grammy awards in eight categories. Second Nature was balloted in six categories for the 2008 Grammy awards. You might want to check out http://www.bignoisenow.com/tonylowe.html
'All of the Above' was staged on 25th October this year at Inn on the Green, in London UK, to a sold out audience. A fabulous success and money raised for Action Aid 'Bollocks to Poverty' on tour.
An honor to join such accredited gifted folk on stage with maestro Tony Lowe (guitars and vocals) - namely - the rhythm king renowned Steve Gee on bass; gorgeous gifted Poppy Gonzalez on piano, strings, percussion, backing vocals; beltingly brilliant beat maker Buj Stapley on drums and samples.
Presently, I'm in the process of putting together a new studio and aiming on a solo album. As always, open to new adventures and more of the same!
Hey buds!
Alison
