Crys Matthews’ Songwriting Survival Kit

Crys Matthews: “I’m never in one place too long, especially home in Nashville.”

From motorway melodies to rain-soaked reflection, a socially conscious artist from Nashville shares the everyday essentials behind her creative process

Crys Matthews is on a mission to “amplify the voices of the unheard, to shed light on the unseen, and to be a steadfast reminder that hope and love are the truest pathways to equity and justice.” That guiding vision can be heard on her single, The Difference Between. Featuring fellow LGBTQ+ musicians Melody Walker and Chris Housman, the rousing and soulful country anthem advocates tolerance and understanding instead of division and prejudice. A taste of her album Reclamation, it’s an example of how a social message and artful composition can complement and elevate one another. Inspired, we wanted to learn more about Matthews’ crucial creative tools…

First published in Songwriting Magazine Nashville Special

Because I’m one of those indie artists who drives most places, my approach to songwriting has to be pretty flexible. I’m never in one place too long, especially home in Nashville, so being able to capture an idea when it starts to percolate is essential, even if that means capturing it going 70+ down the New Jersey Turnpike.

1. PHONE

My phone is my lifeline. I don’t always have pen and paper around me, so just being able to grab my phone, open up Gmail and start a draft is essential. I also like it because it keeps track of the date I started working on it, if it happens to be a stubborn one that just isn’t ready to be finished on my timeline. Most importantly, I’m able to dictate lyrics easily, which comes in handy when I’m driving, and I drive A LOT. My song Red was started and nearly finished on the New Jersey Turnpike, which brings me to my next essential tool.

Crys Matthews: “One of the only things I got to take with me after my divorce was Cordelia, my Martin D-28.”

2. MOTIV AUDIO APP

During the pandemic, my partner (social justice singer-songwriter Heather Mae) and I had to learn how to maintain connection with our fans while trapped at home and unable to tour. We, like most of our fellow artists, had to learn how to make our Zooms sound good, and that’s when we started using our Shure MV51. The accompanying app has come in handy for me when I have a melody coming to me, but can’t pick up my guitar and get it into my bones. Regardless of whether my mic is with me or not, I can just open up the app and sing or hum right into it. I can also name the clip so that I don’t forget what I was thinking about at the time.

3. MY MARTIN

One of the only things I got to take with me after my divorce was Cordelia, my Martin D-28, which was, ironically, a gift from my ex-wife. The songs I have written on her are some of my absolute favourites. I rarely write on anything else these days, even though Heather and I have a few other guitars between us, and even though I first started out playing keys.

4. SOLO TIME

I love solitude. At first, I was going to say “the quiet,” but that isn’t entirely accurate. I think back to writing my song Red in the car amongst the white noise of the pavement moving beneath me, and cars and trucks passing me on either side. There wasn’t silence, but there was a stillness that was present within me. I think that, because one of the most important aspects of this job is being around people and connecting with people, I really enjoy the moments when it’s just me (and maybe my cat and/or dog). The stillness allows me to calm my mind enough to hear whatever little message the universe is trying to send my way.

Crys Matthews: “I love writing when it’s raining. I guess because I’m an Aries, rain seems to calm me right down.”

5. A SOFT PLACE TO LAND

On those rare occasions when I’m home in Nashville, I find that I’m often enjoying a cosy bed or couch when I write. I love a soft place to land. That makes sense to me because, as a social justice singer-songwriter, I often write about very hard things. The universe demands balance in all things big and small, so I suppose that being comfortable while navigating subjects that can often be uncomfortable is a small way I achieve balance within my process. One of my favourite soft spots at home is affectionately known as “The Floof”, which also just happens to be a fantastic spot to listen to a rainstorm.

6. RAIN

I love writing when it’s raining. I guess because I’m an Aries, rain seems to calm me right down. I also love that the weather in Nashville feels like a perfect blend of all of the places I’ve lived and that have been special to me: the summer rains here remind me of the summers of my childhood growing up in southeastern NC, but the winter rains remind me of Boone and DC at the end of fall. There is always a certain mood that seems to accompany the rain, and it always makes for some good writing.

Crys Matthews’ album Reclamation is out now. To find out more, head over to crysmatthews.com

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