For a songwriter, there's nothing quite as exciting as staring at a fresh, blank page.  A clean canvas.  

It's also one of the scariest things to look at.  Weird.  You want to fill it up, but where do you begin?  

Singer/songwriter, Ian Thomas ("Right Before Your Eyes", "Painted Ladies", "Hold On") once told me he didn't believe there was such a thing as an original song.  He believes that when we write a song it's merely a strange combination of the last 100 songs we've listened to.  I get that.  After all, there really are only 12 notes to choose from in the musical scale, so how many different melodies can we come up with?  Of the 20,000 or so words that we generally use as humans, only a fraction of those make it into popular music.  You most likely could guess the most common word used in pop music, right?  If you guessed "love", you're correct!  So how does someone take those 12 notes, a handful of commonly used words, and an even smaller handful of commonly used chords and create something UNIQUE that people will be singing along to for years to come?  

This is one of the mysteries of songwriting.  

Sometimes, when you sit down to write, you struggle to find the words, or a great melody, or an interesting chord progression. Some days, it just doesn't happen.  That's okay though, and as a songwriter you have to realize and recognize those "lost" days and just move on.  

Then there are those days when everything just falls into place.  The lyrics just pour out of you.  The melodies are so memorable that you don't even need to record them to remember them.  Everything works out.  Sure, you have to make some minor fixes here and there, but at the end of the session, or day, you have a song.  A song that never existed before.  

Magic.  It really feels like magic.  But it must have come from somewhere, right?  Maybe it WAS a combination of the last 100 songs you listened to.  Maybe it was something you saw on the news that inspired you, or a conversation you had with a friend. Regardless....you were inspired, and sometimes inspiration can turn into magic.

As a songwriter i believe it is important to do things daily that inspire you.  You should make it a part of your routine, just like you take the time to exercise for the better of your health.  Take the time to go for a hike, watch a great tv show or movie, or read a book or article you've been meaning to check out.  Take the time to talk with a relative or friend, especially if they have a story to tell you.  Listen to an interesting podcast on a subject you find fascinating.  Take the time to discover new artists you've heard about, whether they be musical or visual artists.  You never know where inspiration lies waiting for you to discover it.  

I also keep a book with "ideas" in it.  Anytime I feel inspired I write these ideas down.  Maybe they'll be a part of song someday. Maybe they'll inspire me to start a new song, or complete one I've already started.  Sometimes when I sit down to write, I just look through this book of ideas and see if anything "hits" me.  

So, where do songs come from?  Well, I believe they come from a well of inspiration that is inside each and every one of us.  How do we tap into that well?  Grab yourself a dollar store notebook and keep it somewhere handy to jot down ideas.  If a melody idea hits you out of the blue, make a quick recording of it into your phone, even if you don't have lyrics for that melody yet. Try to take the time every day to do something that inspires you...something that you love to do.  And don't forget to listen to lots and lots of music.  Music you know and love, and some new artists you've recently heard about and have been meaning to check out.  When you feel ready, sit down and let the inspiration come.  You just might end up with a song that you are truly proud of you and are excited to share with the world.

Magic.

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