How I wrote ‘Big In Japan’ by Alphaville
March 15, 2019 in Features, Interviews
A synth-rock anthem inspired by Berlin’s heroin scene, we learn all about a classic 80s track with a surprising origin…
How I wrote
How I wrote ‘MMMBop’ by Hanson
November 27, 2018 in Interviews, Songwriting Magazine Winter 2017
Isaac Hanson, the eldest of the sibling trio, tells the story of his group’s chart-topping blockbuster with the super-catchy chorus…
How I wrote ‘Boogie Wonderland’ by Allee Willis
November 25, 2018 in Interviews, Songwriting Magazine Winter 2017
The disco classic from Earth, Wind & Fire might have sounded very different if it wasn’t for Allee Willis’ insistence…
How I wrote Bristol
November 11, 2018 in Interviews, Songwriting Magazine Autumn 2018
Eight local songwriters, including Roger Cook and Beki Bondage, tell the stories behind some of our home city’s classic songs…
How I wrote ‘I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing’ by Roger Greenaway
November 4, 2018 in Interviews, Songwriting Magazine Autumn 2018
The acclaimed songwriter explains how the song ended up soundtracking a famous Coca-Cola TV ad and became a million-selling hit…
How I wrote ‘JCB’ by Nizlopi’s Luke Concannon
September 16, 2018 in Interviews, Songwriting Magazine Summer 2018
We learn all about the effortless birth of the quirky, million-selling No 1 single about Luke’s digger-driving dad ‘Bruce Lee’…
How I wrote ‘Breakout’ by Swing Out Sister
July 14, 2018 in Features, Interviews
Corinne Drewery and Andy Connell explain how the 1986 World Cup and a panic-inducing deadline inspired their sophisti-pop hit single…
How I wrote ‘What A Beautiful Day’ by The Levellers
March 31, 2018 in Interviews, Songwriting Magazine Spring 2018
The punk-folk-rock band’s lead singer, Mark Chadwick, tells us how the rousing, mid-90s anthem took just three minutes to write…
How I wrote ‘She’s So Lovely’ by Scouting For Girls
March 31, 2018 in Interviews, Songwriting Magazine Spring 2018
The pop rock band’s frontman, Roy Stride, explains how two years of tweaking went into creating their debut hit single…
How I wrote ‘Living In The Past’ by Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson
March 28, 2018 in Features, Interviews
On the 50th anniversary of the band’s formation, the enigmatic, flute-toting frontman talks about writing one of their best-known songs…
Shelf help: 10 of the best books for songwriters
March 1, 2018 in Features, Gear
In celebration of World Book Day, we share our favourite songwriting reads and also include several titles that you’ve suggested…
Revealing the winner of our Christmas Gift Guide competition
February 15, 2018 in Competitions, News
The lucky person who received all 10 products in our festive kit list was a very grateful, Scottish, budding singer-songwriter…
Win! The Songwriting Christmas Gift Guide 2017
December 14, 2017 in Competitions, News
Be in with a chance of winning all of the products featured in our gift list with this seasonal competition…
Interview: The Doors’ Robby Krieger
June 28, 2017 in Features, Interviews
We chat to The Doors guitarist and songwriter about his time in one of the most influential bands on earth…
Songwriting publishes first ‘How I Wrote’ book
June 14, 2017 in News
Origin stories of over 40 much-loved hits from the 60s to the present day, as told by the songwriters themselves…
Songwriting Magazine playlist #1!
November 4, 2014 in Music
To celebrate the release of the Songwriting app, we’re offering you a playlist featuring the artists included in issue #1…
How I wrote ‘Everybody’s Got To Learn Sometime’ by The Korgis
October 9, 2014 in Features
James Warren tells the story behind the 80s hit single that’s been covered by everyone from Beck to Baby D…
How I wrote ‘Missing You’ by John Waite
January 5, 2014 in Features, Interviews
The 80s smash that hit No 1 on the Billboard chart almost wasn’t recorded and was the songwriter’s bittersweet tale…
How I wrote ‘Everlasting Love’ by Mac Gayden
November 2, 2013 in Features, Interviews
Our series continues with the story of a song that’s been a hit somewhere in every decade since the 60s…
How I wrote ‘Food For Thought’ by UB40’s Robin Campbell
September 15, 2013 in Features, Interviews
In the first article in a new series, Songwriting gets the story behind the legendary British reggae band’s breakthrough single…
