Interview: Howard Jones
October 10, 2019 in Interviews, Songwriting Magazine Spring 2019
A defining figure of mid-80s synth-pop, Howard Jones reflects on his venerable career 35 years after his sudden transatlantic success…
Songwriting Magazine
Discover: Topic Records
October 1, 2019 in Songwriting Magazine Spring 2019
On its 80-year anniversary, we explore the scene, icon and players associated with the oldest independent label in the world…
How I wrote One Direction’s ‘Little Things’ by Fiona Bevan
September 29, 2019 in How I Wrote, Interviews, Songwriting Magazine Spring 2019
The Suffolk-born singer-songwriter explains how she and Ed Sheeran made the little song that gave 1D another UK No 1…
How I wrote ‘Connected’ by Stereo MCs’ Rob Birch
September 14, 2019 in How I Wrote, Interviews, Songwriting Magazine Spring 2015
The frontman explains how their most famous song is a long and winding tale of riots, London buses and underpants…
How I wrote ‘Silence Is Easy’ by Starsailor’s James Walsh
September 1, 2019 in How I Wrote, Interviews, Songwriting Magazine Autumn 2017
The indie band’s frontman on creating their two-chord, Phil Spector-produced hit single, and how easy it is to sing drunk!…
How I wrote ‘She’s So Lovely’ by Scouting For Girls’ Roy Stride
August 27, 2019 in How I Wrote, Interviews, Songwriting Magazine Spring 2018
The pop-rock band’s frontman explains how their debut hit took two years of tweaking and “dicking around on the piano”…
How I wrote ‘Why Does It Always Rain On Me?’ by Travis’ Fran Healy
August 15, 2019 in How I Wrote, Interviews, Songwriting Magazine Spring 2019
The Glaswegian frontman talks about piecing together their precipitative breakthrough hit single in the arid climes of Israel and Spain…
Songwriting Magazine Summer 2019 issue out now
August 12, 2019 in Features, News, Songwriting Magazine Summer 2019
Our new edition features Black Francis, Jamie Cullum, Gabriella Cilmi, Guy Chambers, Grant Nicholas, Jenna Andrews, Gretchen Peters and more…
How I wrote ‘Girl From Mars’ by Ash’s Tim Wheeler
July 31, 2019 in How I Wrote, Interviews, Songwriting Magazine Autumn 2016
The Northern Irish frontman recalls how a song he wrote as a 16-year-old schoolboy became the rock band’s breakthrough hit…
How I wrote ‘Forever Lost’ by The Magic Numbers’ Romeo Stodart
July 30, 2019 in How I Wrote, Interviews, Songwriting Magazine Spring 2019
The English pop-rockers’ songwriter tells us how their debut single managed to blend an uplifting melody with a darker lyric…
Timothy Showalter’s Songwriting Survival Kit
July 25, 2019 in Interviews, Songwriting Magazine Spring 2019
The Indiana-based singer-songwriter behind acclaimed alt-rock outfit Strand Of Oaks takes us into his world and reveals his essential gear…
Jonathan Donahue: My Songwriting Hero, Bobbie Gentry
July 18, 2019 in Interviews, Songwriting Magazine Spring 2019
The frontman of psych-pop veterans Mercury Rev reveals his love for the Mississippi songwriter and why they reimagined her album…
How I wrote ‘Fireflies’ by Adam Young (Owl City)
July 14, 2019 in Features, How I Wrote, Interviews, Songwriting Magazine Winter 2015
The singer-songwriter-producer explains how insomnia, a new synth and Blink-182 inspired a multi-platinum single that topped charts across the globe…
Four strategies for improving your lyrics
July 10, 2019 in Songwriting Magazine Spring 2019, Tips & Techniques
Nashville songwriting coach Mark Cawley gives us an extract from his book ‘Song Journey’, offering some helpful advice for lyricists…
Geoff Wilkinson: how to win friends and collaborate
July 8, 2019 in Interviews, Songwriting Magazine Spring 2019, Tips & Techniques
If you’re a vocalist/topliner looking for a collaboration, then the Us3 and YLD producer has some top tips for you…
Dean Friedman on the art of the performing songwriter
July 3, 2019 in Songwriting Magazine Spring 2019, Tips & Techniques
In this extract from ‘The Songwriter’s Handbook’, the chart-topping recording artist expounds the importance of producing an authentic live performance…
Lists & Opposites
June 26, 2019 in Songwriting Magazine Spring 2019, Tips & Techniques
Founder of The Song Foundry, Ed Bell presents us with two powerful lyric-writing techniques: creating list lyrics and using contrast…
Diary Of A Songwriter: Ruarri Joseph
June 23, 2019 in Interviews, Songwriting Magazine Spring 2019
The William The Conqueror frontman delves back into his family history to chronicle the evolution of a deeply personal song…
The Album That Changed Everything (Spring 2019)
June 20, 2019 in Interviews, Music, Songwriting Magazine Spring 2019
Some of our favourite past Songwriting interviewees reveal the seminal albums that have inspired them the most over the years…
How I wrote ‘Ho Hey’ by The Lumineers’ Wesley Schultz
June 4, 2019 in How I Wrote, Interviews, Songwriting Magazine Winter 2016
The frontman explains how their breakthrough hit single was inspired by a decidedly uninspiring period spent living in New York…
How I wrote ‘Graffiti’ by Maxïmo Park’s Duncan Lloyd
May 2, 2019 in How I Wrote, Interviews, Songwriting Magazine Summer 2017
The guitarist recalls creating a song that helped his Newcastle-based band reboot the UK indie-rock scene in the post-Britpop years…
Songwriting Magazine Spring 2019 edition out now
April 30, 2019 in Features, Songwriting Magazine Spring 2019
Our latest issue features Kiefer Sutherland, Ashley Monroe, Chris Difford, Howard Jones, Tim Burgess, Nile Rodgers, Fiona Bevan and more…
