tag:songwriting.blog.co.uk,2009-11-09:/This blog is a song writing diary that should record my creative process in song writing from now on. Ideally it also functions as a discussion board for those who are interested in Song writing irrespectively of any genres and styles. MokoFeed2009-11-09T23:30:49+01:00tag:songwriting.blog.co.uk,2008-01-10:/2008/01/10/finally~3556356/London20052008-01-10T14:15:17+01:002008-01-10T14:15:17+01:00 <p>the second one is called Believe in you: </p> <p>My project is completed now and I want to thank you for your feedback, your comments and the attention you paid to my music! You inspired me a lot and it was great for me to see that you enjoyed my music!<br> I'll definitely continue song writing and I'll let you know about any future work and releases. </p> <p>love,<br> Lara </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://songwriting.blog.co.uk/2008/01/10/finally~3556356/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:songwriting.blog.co.uk,2008-01-10:/2008/01/10/title~3556314/London20052008-01-10T14:04:21+01:002008-01-10T14:16:02+01:00 <p>Hello,</p> <p>finally, I've finished all recordings after a 5 hour session with my friend Elinor who recorded my songs at her home studio.<br> I hope you like the songs and let me know what you think.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://songwriting.blog.co.uk/2008/01/10/title~3556314/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:songwriting.blog.co.uk,2008-01-07:/2008/01/07/creative_moments~3540111/London20052008-01-07T10:10:00+01:002008-01-07T10:10:00+01:00 <p>Hi everyone,</p> <p>I feel a lot better and I've had some very creative moments the other day! I've written the last 2 songs for my project! yay! I just need to record them this week.<br> The first of the 2 songs is called "London". I'm planning to move back to Germany after my studies so I thought it was time to dedicate a song to this crazy city which has become my second home over the past 3 years:</p> <p><u><br> <strong>London</strong></u></p> <p>I take a deep breath<br> And smell the world around me<br> All the places that I’ve seen</p> <p>I take a deep breath<br> And smell the world around me<br> All the places where I’ve been</p> <p>I’m taking you with me<br> Although you will stay<br> I hope you’ll forgive me<br> I need to take another way</p> <p>How can I ever know you<br> A city full of memories<br> How can I ever know you<br> A city full of histories</p> <p>Thanks for all the joy you brought me<br> For the people that I’ve met<br> For some funny situations<br> For many times that I got wet</p> <p>You’ve given me good times<br> I know I’ll come back<br> To see how you are<br> To see how you’ve changed</p> <p>You’ve given me hard times<br> I know I’ll come back<br> To see how you are<br> To see how you’ve changed</p> <p>Musically "London" has not the common Verse-Chorus-Verse structure, although certain melody lines are repeated. I like the song cause it's different from all the others that I've written so far, but you will know what I mean as soon as I've uploaded the song. </p> <p>The second of the 2 songs is called "Believe in you". I remembered the amount of songs that were released during the football world cup in 2006 and I thought it would be nice to write a new encouraging song. The next football event is just around the corner, but this is not the right platform to discuss the European championship I guess *g*.</p> <p><strong><u>Believe in you</u></strong><br> <strong><br> Stand up - you can win<br> Don’t give up – it’s not too late<br> You are strong and keen<br> Be sure that we believe in you</strong></p> <p>Don’t be afraid to loose<br> It happens many times<br> But it’s up to you to choose<br> The right mountain for you to climb</p> <p><strong>Stand up - you can win<br> Don’t give up – it’s not too late<br> You are strong and keen<br> Be sure that we believe in you</strong></p> <p>Remember what you’ve learned<br> Be confident and smart<br> Like a bird that wants to fly<br> Spread your wings and make a start</p> <p>This song seems to be much more simple than the first but in fact it's just different, the melody is catchy and easier to sing along with compared to the first.<br> Hopefully I will have the recordings ready to upload until friday.</p> <p>have a great week,</p> <p>Lara</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://songwriting.blog.co.uk/2008/01/07/creative_moments~3540111/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:songwriting.blog.co.uk,2008-01-03:/2008/01/03/new_year~3525217/London20052008-01-03T22:36:35+01:002008-01-03T22:36:35+01:00 <p>Hello and a happy New Year to everyone,</p> <p>I know it's been a while since my last post. I've finished the tour as a backing singer, finished my bachelor thesis and I'm currently staying in bed with a cold. I started some new song ideas and been practicing piano. I hope I will have something new to post on here by the end of this weekend. My project needs to be handed in in 2 weeks which means that I feel a little time pressure already :-(.</p> <p>ok, I need to go to bed now - my headache is getting worse. I hope I'm feeling feel better tomorrow to do some creative work. I will let you know!</p> <p>love,<br> lara </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://songwriting.blog.co.uk/2008/01/03/new_year~3525217/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:songwriting.blog.co.uk,2007-12-11:/2007/12/11/ideas~3426094/London20052007-12-11T07:52:25+01:002007-12-11T07:52:25+01:00 <p>Hi,</p> <p>Today is my second day off from the tour that I'm currently attending in Germany. It went well so far. After touring south Germany for the past week we will do a north Germany tour starting tomorrow. Next Sunday I will then have done 15 gigs and although I really enjoy being on tour I can't wait for some days off when I can actually do some uni work as this is hard to do while on tour. I still need to write 2 songs and I can already feel the time pressure, because my portfolio needs to be finished on January 17th.<br> Oh yes, I did my project presentation last week before I left to Germany. It went well and I'm so happy that it's over.</p> <p>AAaaaaahhhh, I need song ideas!!!!</p> <p>more about this from next monday...</p> <p>best,<br> Lara </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://songwriting.blog.co.uk/2007/12/11/ideas~3426094/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:songwriting.blog.co.uk,2007-12-01:/2007/12/01/always_by_your_side_uploaded~3378658/London20052007-12-01T12:22:34+01:002007-12-01T12:22:34+01:00 <p>Hi,</p> <p>it's already saturday and time seems to go by so fast. I'm still working on my presentation for Monday and I'm planning to play my four songs live. Then I will leave again on Tuesday to do another tour around Germany until the 16th of December. Then I've got another 4 weeks to complete my project which means that I have to write another 2 songs and record them. Oh, yes, and did I mention the 7000 word thesis I have to write as well?!?....lol, you see, I don't have any time to get bored, not even over Christmas. </p> <p>Today I want to introduce you to my fourth song "Always by your side". I sometimes think about angels and whether they exist or not, at least I like the idea of their existence. </p> <p>have a lovely weekend,</p> <p>lara </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://songwriting.blog.co.uk/2007/12/01/always_by_your_side_uploaded~3378658/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:songwriting.blog.co.uk,2007-11-30:/2007/11/30/listen_new_song_uploaded~3375208/London20052007-11-30T16:11:19+01:002007-11-30T16:13:54+01:00 <p>Hello!</p> <p>Finally - here is "stand still for a moment" as a demo recording.<br> I love piano ballads that's why I find it always hard to write a more up-tempo song. Well, ballads are just wonderful, there is no discussion about that, and with "do you remember me" I managed to write a song with a more up-tempo feeling. Altogether I'm happy with my progress - 2/3 of my work is done, 2 more songs need to be written, and on Monday I will have to present my project in a 15min presentation to some lecturers - that's 40% of the final mark. Wish me luck and let me know how you like the new song:-)</p> <p>here are the lyrics of my 4th song "Always by your side", the demo recording will follow within the next days:</p> <p><u><br> Always by your side</u></p> <p>Sometimes you wonder<br> What life is holding for you<br> And then you see a little wonder<br> And ask yourself if all this happens by chance<br> <strong><br> I am your angel<br> I’m always by your side<br> My wings are your shelter<br> My light is your guide<br> And I’m always by your side</strong></p> <p>You can cast all burden on me<br> All the weight that is pushing you down<br> I want to let you breath again<br> And forget all your sorrows and pain</p> <p>Ref</p> <p>Although you don’t see me<br> I’m the one that protects you<br> And whenever you fall<br> I’m the one that will catch you</p> <p>(© lara herrmann nov07)</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://songwriting.blog.co.uk/2007/11/30/listen_new_song_uploaded~3375208/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:songwriting.blog.co.uk,2007-11-23:/2007/11/23/on_tour~3341270/London20052007-11-23T15:54:57+01:002007-11-27T23:10:55+01:00 <p>Hello,</p> <p>I'm currently on tour as a backing singer in Germany and it is a lot of fun and hard work at the same time. We did 5 concerts and today I've got a day off which is nice but I have to pack my bags as I need to fly back to London for a couple of days to do my project presentation for Uni.<br> It's great to be on tour with so many great musicians. Of course I used the opportunity to get professional feedback on my songs. I played one of my songs to the crew during sound check. I was soooo nervous, but it went great and someone took a video recording of the performance. I received very positive feedback.<br> Last sunday the artist I am doing backing vocals for lost his voice and I did the show instead. It went really well and luckily I've got a video of the show.</p> <p>On my day off today I went to a studio and recorded another 2 songs, "stand still for a moment" and a brand new song "always by your side" which somehow developed (still in my christmas mood) from the first of the 2 songs. One verse of the angel song was originally meant to be part of "stand still for a moment" but it would have been too long so I decided to start a new song with this verse.</p> <p>Due to limited upload space I'll have to remove the 2 current songs from this blog in order to put the 2 new ones on here. I hope you have all listened to the songs and liked what you heard. </p> <p>I need some sleep now and you'll find some new songs on here tomorrow night when I'm back in London,</p> <p>good night,<br> lara</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://songwriting.blog.co.uk/2007/11/23/on_tour~3341270/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:songwriting.blog.co.uk,2007-11-18:/2007/11/18/new_christmasy_song_lyrics~3315727/London20052007-11-18T18:15:17+01:002007-11-18T18:15:17+01:00 <p>thank you all for the nice feedback and kind words. You have given me some good inspiration for my future work and of how I could develop and possibly improve my songs. </p> <p>Now I would like to introduce you to my new song "stand still for a moment" which I have been writing during the last week. Initially I was thinking of a typical kitschy Christmas song but then I thought it would be nice to give the song a more general feeling so that it can be sung and performed independently of Christmas time. Does that make sense? For me, it is still a christmas song as I have written it in a christmasy mood<img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"><br> Hopefully I'll be able to record the song next week. </p> <p><u><br> Stand still for a moment</u></p> <p>There is a kind of magic in the air<br> A warm nice feeling everywhere<br> the smell and the sparkling lights<br> let me dream and see the world with different eyes</p> <p><strong>We should all stand still for a moment<br> Being calm and taking a rest<br> Let the music fill our minds and souls<br> And think of those that we want to be blessed</strong></p> <p>I’m looking back on this year<br> And see so much that I had to fear<br> But now I got through which gave me strength<br> For new challenges to appear</p> <p>Ref</p> <p>It’s time to reach out<br> Our hands to those who need us<br> To comfort and to cheer them<br> When they can’t help themselves</p> <p>2x Ref</p> <p>(© Lara Herrmann, November 2007)</p> <p>Oh, I might not be able to post anything during the next week as I'll be touring Germany as a backing singer. How exciting! For those of you in Germany, check the tour dates on my website <a href="http://www.lara-herrmann.de">www.lara-herrmann.de</a> and come along.<br> For all others...hmm, well, I'd love to perform in the UK someday, that would be fun. Maybe after I've got enough songs ready.</p> <p>have a nice week!</p> <p>lots of love,<br> Lara</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://songwriting.blog.co.uk/2007/11/18/new_christmasy_song_lyrics~3315727/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:songwriting.blog.co.uk,2007-11-17:/2007/11/17/listen_to_do_you_remember_me~3310013/London20052007-11-17T12:38:24+01:002007-11-17T12:38:24+01:00 <p>Hello,<br> it's Saturday, 17th of November, and I have uploaded my second song "do you remember me". I hope you like it as much as I do, and I really do:-). Please let me know what you think of it, even if you don't like it, tell me why; and again the song is recorded on a demo stage and is not a finished mastered production. </p> <p>I hopefully will be able to blog the lyrics of my third song "stand still for a moment" (if that's the final titel!?!?!?) tonight.<br> Hope you have a lovely weekend and I hope to hear from you,</p> <p>Lara </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://songwriting.blog.co.uk/2007/11/17/listen_to_do_you_remember_me~3310013/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:songwriting.blog.co.uk,2007-11-16:/2007/11/16/listen_to_endless_roads~3307302/London20052007-11-16T18:56:56+01:002007-11-16T18:56:56+01:00 <p>Hello Everybody!</p> <p>I have uploaded the demo recording to "Endless Road" and I am too curious to know what you think of it. Please let me know! It's been quite a long process until I fit all parts of the song together and until I could finally call it a finished song. Well, it's only a demo for now but I can imagine the song to be really nice as a final mastered recording. </p> <p>I am currently working on a "Christmas Song" and it won't have the word Christmas in it:-). It's going to be a surprise, but I shall put my lyrics idea on this blog very soon. I have had some creative ideas the other days.<br> Somehow I feel the whole process of song writing has given me more routine already and I can track down my ideas more easily. </p> <p>I wish you a nice weekend and watch out for the second demo song "do you remember me" in the next days.</p> <p>Lara </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://songwriting.blog.co.uk/2007/11/16/listen_to_endless_roads~3307302/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:songwriting.blog.co.uk,2007-11-09:/2007/11/09/what_are_your_ideas~3270619/London20052007-11-09T16:14:56+01:002007-11-09T16:14:56+01:00 <p>hello!<br> I'm quite satisfied with my progress. I've recorded the 2 songs a couple of days ago and can now start with new ideas. I've already got some ideas but they are still in an initial stage.</p> <p>I just wondered how you approach a new song idea, I mean when do you usually write songs? While listening to music? I can't listen to any music while composing, I always get the feeling that I get distracted and can't get anything original done.<br> And what are you writing about? Personal experiences? I have found out during my work that the topic I'm writing about must be somehow related to myself, possibly in an abstract way, so even if I haven't experienced such an emotional situation I have to be able to put myself in the situation. </p> <p>I will let you know as soon as I've come up with something new!</p> <p>have a nice day and be creative :-) </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://songwriting.blog.co.uk/2007/11/09/what_are_your_ideas~3270619/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:songwriting.blog.co.uk,2007-10-30:/2007/10/30/progress~3220813/London20052007-10-30T21:02:17+01:002007-10-30T21:02:17+01:00 <p>it's been a while now since my last post.<br> Songwriting really takes time and I'm still looking for the magic formula to create a song. Again, I had some frustrating days when I spent hours on melody/chords or lyrics. I haven't decided yet whether it is easier for me to start with the music or with the words, therefore I'm trying to do it both ways and change the approach from time to time.</p> <p>I'm still quite satisfied with "endless roads" and played it to my friend the other day and he really liked it. Such positive feedback is very important for me and I can get new motivation from it. I would also like to thank YOU who read my blog and comment on my posts for all the encouraging words. That really keeps me going. </p> <p>I talked to a professional songwriter the other day who told me that he hardly works on a song for more than 3 hours. I would love to have this routine, I could complete my portfolio of 6 songs easily within a week. But I'm still far away from that. </p> <p>Since my last post I've been working on another song which I called "Do you remember me", somehow I was inspired my Sarah McLachlan's title "I will remember you". There is indeed no other similarity than the title. My song is about this moment when you think of someone who you haven't seen for a very long time, possibly someone who you've met once and never seen again.<br> Here are the lyrics:<br> <u></p> <p>Do you remember me?</u></p> <p>It’s half past midnight<br> and I’m sitting at my window<br> It’s a nice and clear night<br> and no clouds obstruct my view</p> <p>I could not sleep<br> and found some old photographs<br> of you and some friends<br> - memories of laughter and wonderful times</p> <p><strong>Do you remember me<br> Like I remember you<br> After so many years<br> And all that we have been through</p> <p>Do you remember me<br> Like I remember you<br> Like it was yesterday<br> And I was listening to you</strong></p> <p>I know you see the same moon<br> and the same stars in the sky<br> No matter where you are<br> We share the same view – and I</p> <p>I wonder what you are doing<br> and how you have been all these years<br> what you are laughing about<br> and what brings you to tears</p> <p>(© lara herrmann october 07)</p> <p>I wonder how you like these lyrics. Let me know. </p> <p>I'm planning to record "endless roads" this week and I'll let you know when you can listen to it <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>Lara</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://songwriting.blog.co.uk/2007/10/30/progress~3220813/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:songwriting.blog.co.uk,2007-10-16:/2007/10/16/frustration_days_and_other_ideas~3144832/London20052007-10-16T13:38:41+02:002007-10-16T13:38:41+02:00 <p>It doesn't work when I want to sit down to write music or lyrics. It just does't work. I can't think of anything to write. I guess I have to free myself from the thought that a song has to be difficult. I have just played a song on the piano which had only 3 chords. How great is that. </p> <p>Well, the song that I'm working on at the moment is probably again more difficult than I wanted it to be. The titel is "Endless Roads" and I set myself some rules before I started writing it. It shouldn't be a love song and I tried to avoid the first person narrator (except for one place I managed that<img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"> ). Somehow it doesn't rhyme but it still fits to the music. Not sure of this is the final draft and I might work it over again. </p> <p>here is the text:</p> <p>Endless roads</p> <p>There are roads that seem endless<br> And unbearable to walk<br> They seem too steep and far to long to go<br> And you know it’s up to you to start</p> <p>(but soon) your legs are getting tired<br> and hunger fills your thoughts<br> You consider turning back or at least sitting down for a while</p> <p>But when you keep on walking<br> You’ll find flowers on your way<br> Next to the stones that<br> Let you feel the ground under your feet<br> And they are growing every day</p> <p>If you could only see<br> Where this road is going to lead you<br> What all these crossroads mean to you</p> <p>Before your legs are getting tired<br> And hunger fills your thoughts<br> Just think of me and let me guide you<br> On this endless road</p> <p>(cause) when you keep on walking<br> You’ll find flowers on your way<br> Next to the stones that<br> Let you feel the ground under your feet<br> And they are growing every day</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://songwriting.blog.co.uk/2007/10/16/frustration_days_and_other_ideas~3144832/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:songwriting.blog.co.uk,2007-10-15:/2007/10/15/introduction~3139435/London20052007-10-15T14:22:31+02:002007-10-15T14:22:31+02:00 <p>Hello everyone,</p> <p>my name is Lara Herrmann. I'm a singer and songwriter studying Commercial Music at University of Westminster in London. As one of my final year projects I'm writing new songs in english language (I'm originally from Germany).<br> So.... 6 new songs, easier said than done. </p> <p>I'm sure there are a lot of songwriters out there and no matter if you are experienced or never have written a song before, if you are an english native speaker or like me trying to find the right words in a foreign language, I hope some of you out there want to share thoughts, ideas and inspirations on songwriting. </p> <p>Let's start the creative process!! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://songwriting.blog.co.uk/2007/10/15/introduction~3139435/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>