First thing off... yes, I'm drunk. Bur it's been one of those days and I needed booze. lots of frikkin' booze! Yes, I've consumed of lots of booze!
I joined this forum just over a year ago (seriously, it doesn't feel that long?!!). But in the last year, thanks to joining this forum, I've garnered opportunities I never thought I'd ever even have a sniff of. For the last year or so I've been writing the lyrics for oother artists. Whilst it's not been all champaigne and roses, I've learned a lot about the "business". It's easy writing lyrics for myself. Writing for other people... not always so!
I started off with one band where, let's just say, I ended up disappointed. I thought I'd written some decent lyrics (at least as a first draft) but the communication between us was prerry much one way and the project fizzled away. What I learned from this was that it's a two-way system collaborating: I get some music, write some lyrics. But then you need some feedback from the band so that I can either touch up the lyrics or re-write them totally. The first band just stopped communicating. Not that they communicated much in the first place. A pity - I loved the music I was writing to.
Then came along a second band. The first collaboration was fairly easy as they liked one of the lyrics I'd published here and wanted to adapt it to one of their tunes. From their we arranged for me to write a lot of their album.
I have to admit I wasn't prepared for the (slow) pace. I'm used to writing songs (lyrics at least) on a whim and several hundred a year depending on how creative I'm feeling. On the other hand, writing for someone else there's a feeling of wanting to get the wording as good as I can get it as I'm writing for someone else and not my own standards. There's an awkwardness to it - I'm not writing just to satisfy myself but other people have got to appreciate it as well!
Still... I must be doing something right because I'm not only writing for this particular band but I'm writing for another band as well (recommended by the first band). So I'm currently writing for 2 bands!
I got my first taste of proper collaberation (as in a song completely created) here too. I must thank pompey for liking my lyrics to Robotic Wedding enough to want to record them. I actually cried when I heard the song played. Although it was sung not exatly as i had it in my head, it was still one of those "wow" moments. My lyrics... for all the world to hear! That was special!!!!!
I'm hoping this year goes from strenght to strength. I'm nervous about it. But I'm also excited about it. This could very well be my "breakaway" year. I'm writing as good as I ever have (I feel) and, hopefully, I'll have something physical to show for it (hey, I have an EGO to feed!
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So once again, from a very pissed (drunk!) Sterix (Martin) - thank you to this forum for providing the opportunity for me to do what I love to do. Hopefully in 2020 I'll be able to increase my horizons and get to work with more of you tallented people.
Love,
Martin. AKA Sterix.
PS. Merry Xmas me hearties!
