Share your unique vision of the world –says Sarah Bella
Your voice will sound its best when you’re singing something you have passion about.
Songwriting is a path to find your own voice and the artist you want to be.
I’m not a professional when it comes to teaching songwriting—but here are some ideas from my personal experience that may help vocalists take their first steps on this rewarding journey.
Jot things down. Some songs just pop up out of nowhere and when they do, hurry and jot them down! However, you may have an idea for a song but are unsure on where to begin. If this is the case, I find it is best to go about your day as usual. Go to work, class, do your everyday chores but keep that idea you have close by. Let it sink in and expand until it hits you. If you want to write about life, you have to live and observe it naturally.
Enjoy Language. Metaphors and similes will transform a word to a feeling. Think about it this way: I could tell you “His eyes are deep blue” or I could say “His eyes are like the sky at midnight.” Both tell you the same thing, but each gives a completely different vision. Use metaphors and similes to give the listener a vision, or better yet emotion, instead of a word. If you’re unfamiliar with these, utilize the internet. A simple Google search will provide more than enough resources.
Be honest. Many people will tell you, “Don’t make it too personal” but I feel this can be taken too far. A song that is generic leaves me with no emotion. Honesty is what attracts me to a song. I may never have been cheated on, but I can listen to a very personal and specifically written heartbreak song and really feel for that person.
Step back. Listen to your song as the listener who doesn’t know what the intentions are. Is it portraying the emotion you are going for? This is the time to make sure the melody really goes with the lyrics. If it’s a happy song, the melody should give that same feeling. Pay attention to the overall flow of the song; are there weak or awkward spots?
Go with your gut. There are thousands of books and online material that will teach you how a standard song is constructed. They will show you how the verses relate, what the chorus should do, how a bridge works. This is all fine, but do what feels right. Maybe you have a song that doesn’t fit the norm, don’t be shy! Go with it!
Your Own Vision in Your Own Way
Everyone has unique preferences about where they do their writing and where they refine it; the place I like to write is the bathroom – it’s quiet and both the guitar and vocals sound great.
I also find it best to close my eyes so I can listen more intensely.
That’s because, ultimately, I want to give vision with music, not eyes.
I’m sure that’s what you want too – to share with the world your own vision through your music.
Along the way you’ll also look at your own voice with a new vision, realizing how unique and powerful it really is.
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Sarah Bella is a singer-songwriter from Michigan with a rapidly growing YouTube fan base. Her recently featured original song, Time Hasn’t Moved, has had over 300,000 views. Sarah’s songwriting recently caught the attention of the film industry and she’s now written the theme song for the independent film Rancho D Amour. Sarah is also a recent winner of “Detroit’s Got Talent” and, as a result, will be performing two of her original songs at the Detroit Pistons’ Game! Check out Sarah’s many original songs on YouTube.