HOW I WRITE A SONG A DAY - Episode One: I Don't Care

[samjerom2001]

i put some videos on youtube. what do you use to make your videos. i have no experience with cameras

[HighschooladventerS]

thank you in the most awsome of ways please dnt stop what you started

[YhoJoKinson]

Finally someone who is creative and doesn't care about taking money from people just to give some advice into writing songs. I like how you edit the video so your face is everywhere, it keeps you alert and i gotta admit makes it more interesting compared to listening without watching so good directing also.

[MyPetPenguiin]

I love this. Totally doing this next year! Genius.

[pkpure666]

ha

[si7777888]

Great attitude!

[jonathanpmalm]

Brilliant creativity thought. Blogging it on my blog, Faking Creativity.

[0IALYSSAI0]

Your eyes are pretty(:

[rogozinski13]

I'm wondering where you get motivation to do this? I mean you are doing songs because you don't want to miss even a single day, or we (your fans/subscribers) are the motivation and you don't want to let us down, or is there something more what makes you want to do another song each day. (I'm guessing there is more then one thing, but I'm interested what are most important ones).

[MisterNoHead]

What I get from this is that you shouldn't over analyze to the point of paralysis.

Just write and do it ... don't be so critical of yourself that you do not follow through.

I want to hear more ... please keep blogging on song writing.

[Synthexy]

Overalls ! Woohooo!

Question:

Did you have the same "approach" to writing songs when you wrote the weekly "Mushroom Singdom" Songs or did this new understanding of your creative process come during your song-a-day days?

[hieristOL]

An true Artist !

[Nextmastermind]

Definitely an awesome series idea, and a great episode. I hope you keep it up. :)

[ZackVitus]

So so helpful, sometimes not caring is the most natural thing, when not much is forced, in an attempt to be number one.

[superbond2]

This video was extremely helpful to me.

[zarnaik]

This is some great stuff :)

[LeutennantDan]

Doesn't "not caring" remove every bit of emotion from your songs? I can't imagine myself a deep song with a difficult topic without caring for what I want to get across.

[therockcookiebottom]

@LeutennantDan You tell me! You've watched a ton of my songs, do you think they're devoid of emotion? It's a paradox: Try sitting down to write a song and telling yourself, "I'm going to pour my heart and soul into this song!"...that's a lot of pressure! Suddenly, you've put all these expectations on yourself. Now sit down and say, "I'm going to just write a song, whatever comes out."...now you're free to create without any expectations. But, as I said at first, the proof is in the pudding.

[LeutennantDan]

@therockcookiebottom Well, that makes sense. I was actually not bashing your songs but talking about myself. I'm kind of a "perfectionist" when it comes to making music. The biggest problem for me really is to satisfy myself instead of "what will people think about this". I'll definitely give your method a try, though. Thanks for sharing :)

[chrissheridan714]

Totally brilliant, dude!

Question is, how do you stop caring?

#methinksmecarestoomuch

[Kippz214]

That was actually pretty interesting, though you took a sort of different approach to it then I probably would have, but I'm looking forward to future episodes so I can see the entire process of writing a song a day.

[youngnam]

this is a plan for success if your goal is "i need to write some songs." this is a recipe for utter failure if your goal is "i want to write good songs."

[therockcookiebottom]

@youngnam Thanks for your feedback! I'll definitely be addressing this in future episodes, as it's something that seems to come up a lot. For now I'll just say that I've found the opposite to be true. In my experience, there's no correlation between how long I spend on a song and how good it is. One simple example: Have you ever had a song just come pouring out of you, fully formed? How would you rank that song among your others?

[GGuitar45]

@therockcookiebottom I kinda agree with both of you, you need emotion, but its also easier to let the song flow natrually

[Millahtime]

I want to see the creative process in making the song itself. I love watching people compose and write music.

[EmperiorEric]

I feel extremely inspired now. Look at what you've done.

[triedandwired]

Youare awesome. I love your song cockroaches

[TheRydog100]

YAYYY! MORE OF YOU!!

[relo999]

I really like it.

[sucksbeingSOawesome]

I like it!! I REALLY REALLY like it!

[xXxMikey42xXx]

i'm really looking forward to it. i hope i can use some of your advice!

[TheCooper365Project]

This is a really great idea. Keep doing them!

[ichangedtheworld]

Interesting vlog...... more interesting... one thick side burn other side... hardly any sideburn at all! What up with that....?? Just being fun.. no harm no foul!

[therockcookiebottom]

@ichangedtheworld I was born with more hair on one side! It's funny.

[foolykonno3]

Great advice! I use the same method when it comes to drawing comics that are either on a deadline or commissioned (or school work or anything matching the description). To be able to release yourself from your idealistic expectations is key to finding motivation to power through what started as fun, but eventually becomes a chore. I love drawing but when I fall into this structured rut I get depressed or get anxieties that my work isn't as good as someone else. But it's like you say, "so what?"

[foolykonno3]

also definitely keep making these vlog videos, it adds a certain freshness to Song-A-Day. The "making of" stuff you did during the full band month was really cool too.

[AngelVencedor2008]

:D you're Awesome

[toddtrann]

Cool! So my question / suggestion: can you tell us about the technical setup? I mean I have an acoustic guitar, a keyboard, a flute, a sax and a drum machine and of course mics for vocals. I also have an 8 channel mixer. How in heck do I get all of the sounds recorded and mixed into a complete song on my computer? What am I missing for equipment or software?

[therockcookiebottom]

@toddtrann This seems to be a popular one! Hoo boy!

[isisdazs]

i think this is actually real solid advice... whenever I write something I end up caring too much and try to make everything absolutely perfect, which ends up hindering me and never letting me actually finish the song. hooray for apathy!

[Spintown7]

Awesome, can't wait for more of these.

[kevin4peace]

I love it, looking forward to more updates. I'd personally like to know what artist inspires you the most when writing songs, or if you try to craft your songs like any particular artist.

[therockcookiebottom]

@kevin4peace K, written this one down for future reference.

[xTacosAreGoodx]

Woo! Road Trip! In the background. One of my favourite songs from you.

[Stratomacaster]

Like... :-)

Subjects:

1. Getting the most out the same tired chord progressions

2. Getting out of the rut of those same tired chord progressions :-)

3. Throw in some quick mixing tips - EQ ranges for different instruments, etc..

Cheers.

[therockcookiebottom]

@Stratomacaster Got these on the list now.

[Synthexy]

@Stratomacaster

Number 1 definitely worked for "Modern Talking" and most of the other 80's Ppop singers ;-)

[MrHumbugz]

Always wanted this from you jonathan yourll be fantastic jump cut or no jump cuts. great insight! :D love the idea of the way you personify your songs, and how if you leave them they will grow . dam youve got really attached to them blitters. i cant see you doing these regularly but theres always hope, id love an episode on how you edit all the audio, software,microphones etc and all that jazz :D