PA Songwriters'/Composers' Association

^ What is your 5 over 7? Is it ...

Edited by Dayvenkirq - July 16 2014 at 13:09

RE your first post, the 5/7 I'm referring to is a 5/8 phrase running over a 7/4 phrase.

1. Electronic Press Kit would be the one. Basically something to send out to promoters so they have an idea of what we sound like.

2. The most challenging piece I've ever written is Mosaic, featured in the video. Here's a live recording: https://soundcloud.com/zeitgeist575/mosaic

3. I think we stand out because we are constantly pushing the complexity of our music whilst still trying to make it flow as musically as possible. We aim to challenge our audience, test their threshold on what is entertaining and what isn't. In regards to influences, we try and bring in elements of Metal, Prog Rock, Indian Classical Music and Western Classical Music to the mix. The musical element we mess around with the most is probably rhythm, although harmony also gets its fair share of meddling too.

Dayvenkirq wrote: @ Polymorphia: When you or your mate write the lyrics, how do you avoid that holier-than-thou attitude (preachiness) and self-pity?

There is no moral idea or personal problem that is inherently preachy or self-pitying, but examining writers you consider preachy or self-pitying is helpful. An example, for me, would be Morrissey circa Meat is Murder. The lyric for "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore" doesn't have a bad concept. But Morrissey talks about somebody laughing at suicidal people without mentioning the joke. He says that this somebody "kicks them when they fall down" several times and tries to enforce his point with assertions instead of examples. Now, part of the preachiness has to do with Morrissey's persona and delivery. There's always the right music and delivery you can give to a bad lyric to turn it into a good one. (The Queen is Dead was much better both in terms of lyrics and delivery).

Edited by Polymorphia - July 17 2014 at 22:51

^ Brute force? With no thought involved?

Polymorphia wrote: Dayvenkirq wrote: @ Polymorphia: When you or your mate write the lyrics, how do you avoid that holier-than-thou attitude (preachiness) and self-pity? There is no moral idea or personal problem that is inherently preachy or self-pitying, but examining writers you consider preachy or self-pitying is helpful. An example, for me, would be Morrissey circa Meat is Murder. The lyric for "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore" doesn't have a bad concept. But Morrissey talks about somebody laughing at suicidal people without mentioning the joke. He says that this somebody "kicks them when they fall down" several times and tries to enforce his point with assertions instead of examples. Now, part of the preachiness has to do with Morrissey's persona and delivery. There's always the right music and delivery you can give to a bad lyric to turn it into a good one. (The Queen is Dead was much better both in terms of lyrics and delivery). So mainly I avoid making assertions without backing them up first. If I were to say "I hate cookies" I'd want to back it up with reasons, examples, or experiences first. The purpose of a lyric is not to display an idea or emotion, but to show how the writer's mind processes certain ideas and emotions and by doing so prove the idea or emotion.

Thanks. I'll follow your advice and see what happens.

Edited by Dayvenkirq - July 18 2014 at 00:03

Lyrics to my only completed song with lyrics:

Dayvenkirq wrote: ^ What kind of instruments would be involved in playing the song?

Dayvenkirq wrote: ^ Certamente. I was thinking some parts could be sung a cappella, while the rest would be accompanied with a string arrangement.

Glad you like it 

Repetition is a useful device. You just have to find a line worth repeating.

Also, it is essential to write a lot. You do need to think in some stages of the writing, but the more you write, the more you'll know which stages in which you need to do the thinking. You do want to have some kind of thinking in the first draft, or at least I do, but it doesn't have to be critical thinking directly related to the poem. You don't have to write a lyric feeling like you absolutely can't be preachy. Just write and then address whatever problems are there.

Polymorphia wrote: Also, it is essential to write a lot. You do need to think in some stages of the writing, but the more you write, the more you'll know which stages in which you need to do the thinking. You do want to have some kind of thinking in the first draft, or at least I do, but it doesn't have to be critical thinking directly related to the poem. You don't have to write a lyric feeling like you absolutely can't be preachy. Just write and then address whatever problems are there.

... which is the backbone to lyric-writing. Creativity comes with time. It's not an immediate thing.