Thu 5 Oct 2017: I write the first lyrics for (NIW) on the way to work and again on the way home. I have to make a conscious effort to avoid obvious lines. It's not easy but I'm really pleased with the results and the tone so far.
Sat 7 Oct 2017: It's Saturday morning. I'm tired from the week and I want to relax. Already the pressure and guilt that I'm not creating enough. Luckily the early morning yoga class energises me a bit. Let's get busy! I spend some time writing more lyrics for (NIW). Must be in the right headspace and words flow relatively easily. I have 80% of the lyrics now. Next I want to get the demo music right so I work on the beats, fix the tempo and record the melody. It's only a few hours' work but I'm satisfied with the results.
Sun 8 Oct 2017: 9am and I head up to the studio. In many ways, Sunday is an easier day for music. I'm more relaxed and rested and there are fewer distractions to get started straight away. I listen to the music I recorded for (NIW) and I like the feel. The main focus of today is to improve the demo for (D). I start by using the new beats I drafted on the iPad and then experiment with some instruments. It's sounding more like the version in my head. In the afternoon I work on the verse lyrics. I already have a large set of lines; I just need to stitch them together. But it ends up being harder than I expect. I need to adjust the melody quite a bit to make things work. By the end of the day I've got two verses that I'm 50% happy with. They work but just don't feel right. Maybe I've been labouring on them too long. I think I need to sleep on them to get a fresh perspective.
Mon 9 Oct 2017: I'm reviewing the work from the weekend. Really happy with the music but the lyrics for (D) are still bothering me. This is one of the times I struggle with the choice to rhyme or not to rhyme. I write lots of lyrics that don't rhyme but sometimes the melody just doesn't flow any other way. This is one of those times. But the lyrics already feel a little like I'm holding back. Having to rhyme could dilute them further. And on this album I really want every word to count. I'll take another look at the melody to see if that's the problem. This reminds me just how frustrating lyric writing can sometimes be. When I'm in the middle of it, the feeling can be all consuming. I need to learn how to put the words aside and let them breathe for a while. Then later, after a day at my day job, I have another go at the melody and this time it works much better; some simple adjustments in timing make all the difference.