09 Dec Songwriting Essentials with Fazal
Music-making can be a cathartic and rewarding process. For those who want to make their own music, but feel lost in the vast world of songwriting and don’t know where to begin, you are at the right place. I spoke to Fazal Khan – a composer, songwriter, producer, and guitarist from Lucknow, known for his soulful, and authentic creations, to gather some tips and tricks to share with aspiring creators. Remember- “you don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.”
1. Practice Active Listening
Expose yourself to different sounds and music from across cultures, styles, and genres, and reflect on why certain pieces resonate with you more than others. Through the reflection process, you will be able to narrow identify styles and artists that resonate the most with you. Spend time understanding why a piece of music speaks to you in the way it does to better understand yourself as a creator. Dedicate time to listen to these tracks, practicing active listening. Through listening, you can learn how other musicians weave together different elements to create a piece of music.
2. Create with the Intent to Create and don’t stop Creating
Practice stream of consciousness and write without judgement. Put all your ideas down on paper, giving yourself an abundance of choice for ideas. Refining the ideas is simpler once you have it all down on paper. It is easy to get caught up in thoughts about releasing a piece of music but putting this aside is critical in the process of creation. Every piece of work you create is a snapshot of your journey, making each piece uniquely you. It contains the human element to a musical piece and your expression is a reflection of where you are in a moment in time. The only way to be a better composer is by composing. If you create with the intent to express, it is bound to translate into your songs
3. Focus on Improving Weaker Areas
Identify the weaker points in your songwriting process- whether it is sketching melodic ideas, writing chord progressions, or lyric writing. Dedicate time to studying these areas in-depth, and create exercises that will help you improve this area over time. If you are sincere in your practice and determined to strengthen your weaker areas, you will become a better songwriter. Cultivate a sense of curiosity in your approach to learning, to see each new concept as an exploration and fall in love with the process.
4. Employ Effective Learning Habits
Practicing and creating in a distraction free environment is crucial for any creator. Switch your phone off and close all social media tabs while you focus on practicing, and creating, to engage with your creativity at a deeper level. Choose to surround yourself with musicians and artists who inspire you to be a better learner, and therefore a better creator. The people you surround yourself with in your musical journey are your biggest teachers. Finally, learning cannot be restricted to a practice room. As a songwriter, life is the arena through which you learn and the pool of experiences you gain will be channeled into your writing. It is also important to be passionate about more than one thing. In this way, you will have a broader lense through which you view the world, and these experiences and perspectives will translate into your music.
5. Seek Constructive Feedback from Peers and Mentors
Identify mentors and peers you trust to provide you with valuable and constructive feedback for your music. Each listener will hear it through a filter uniquely their own, and provide you with a different perspective through which your songwriting process can become more enriching. It is important to be open to receiving feedback in the spirit in which it was intended, and integrate it into your refining process. Through the drafting process, it is crucial to prioritise the betterment of the song above all else.
Happy creating!
Artist bio:
Fazal Khan is a multifaceted musician from Lucknow. He is a singer/songwriter, composer, arranger, and producer.
The sound of his music developed while he was studying medicine. Often isolated and unable to connect to his peers, he focused his energy on moulding his musical voice and experimenting with his primary instrument- the guitar. The result is a body of organic and unfiltered musical work laying bare many of the unspoken truths of the human experience. Fazal took a sabbatical from medical school to pursue his musical passions at Global Music Institute.
Meeting one of his favorite artists ‘Ankur & the Ghalat Family’, and hearing their appreciation for his music, played catalyst to Fazal leaving med-school to realize his musical dreams. He wants to share his rich and authentic musical sound with the world.
Written by Senjuti Maitra
No Comments