Mentor: Pat Luboff Mentor Page: Pat & Pete Luboff
Q: I have a question that is probably not uncommon. I am recently married and happy. Before that, I used to be miserable and depressed, and wrote great songs. Now I am happy and my songs are lame sentimental rot with no edge or energy. How does one learn to have an edge in writing regardless of what is happening around them?
A: Happiness does not damper creativity! Songs about being miserable and depressed are not more creative than songs about being deeply happy in love. In fact, I'd rather hear the latter. Wouldn't you? The edge is always there: How do we, as songwriters, speak the absolute truth about the emotional experience of the moment? Songs about being happy in love do not have to be lame and sentimental rot. This is the ultimate challenge for songwriters: How do you say "I love you" in a brand new, interesting, unique, exciting way? Everybody wants to hear it! I wish
I had written "I Love You Just the Way You Are." What a great message! We songwriters want to communicate our experiences to the world. Right now, you have a love message and you know the world needs that. So, don't put it down, it's important. Work even harder to make your songs strong messages that convey your emotions. If that doesn't work, don't worry. You may be very happy now because you are recently married, but you will have rough times ahead, you can be sure. Then you can go back to writing songs with angst.
Pat Luboff's creative do's and don'ts:
1. Do Be playful.
2. Do Relax and enjoy any ideas that come to your mind, let them flow uncensored.
3. Do Hone in on your vision of the world, what makes you unique.
4. Do Focus on the particular message you want to communicate.
Since only you can create from your point of view, the product is sure to be original.
5. Don't Stop the flow of ideas by criticizing them.
6. Don't Copy.
7. Don't Take yourself too seriously.
8. Don't Write in generalities.
