That Moment it Comes to You

Passion Level: 10
Motivation Level: 9

Before I get into the topic for this post, I want to make a quick note about Despite the Things You Say. I'm very anxious to share this song, but I'd really like to get it set to music so I can present it in an effective way. I do not want to post the lyrics before then. I'm also going to be making a dedication video in which I will be dedicating the song to the people who inspired it and explaining why I feel they needed to hear the message most.

The other day someone asked me how I get my ideas for songs. I've found that journaling helps me the most. Writing down what I'm feeling in the moment helps me have something to reference when I need an idea. So if I'm in a creative mood but I'm not coming up with any ideas yet, I start flipping through my journal and that usually helps a little bit. Even if there's nothing particularly exciting about an entry, I can usually come up with something based on what I wrote about how I was feeling that day.

When an idea does come to me I usually get the melody and the lyrics at the same time, which is rare for a lot of people, but for me it's rare to get just the lyrics or just the melody in a particular moment. They just come at the same time and I'm very grateful that my mind works in such a convenient way.

I will usually have a verse or a chorus that I'm happy with within a couple of minutes. After I get that verse or chorus, however, I often have difficulty adding to it. I'm happy with what I have, but completing the song in a way that flows well and makes sense is difficult.

The main reason for that is that when I get the original idea, which is usually only a few lines, I'm busy doing something else and don't have the time to drop everything and try to add to the song in that particular moment. When I try to pick it up later, I don't have the same energy and inspiration that I did before. I've found that the best thing to do is continue with the song if you have the time, and if you don't have the time at least try to recreate the moment you got the idea. For example, if you get an idea when you're at work and scribble it down somewhere quickly, journal about your day at work up until that point. If you get an idea while you're driving it might help to try finishing the song while you're sitting in the car or even go out for a drive. You won't be able to recreate the moment it came to you, but you can recreate the mindset you were in. It may sound difficult, but if you try it you'll find that it's easier than you think.

~Eliza