No-one could doubt that the underlying ideas and emotions of a song or piece are crucial to how musically-compelling and effective it is. And yet these things are often discussed only in passing, as part of learning to write music or lyrics.
With the greater attention to Heart which we aim for with the H4 Model, we want to make sure we’re actively paying attention specifically to these elements in our music-making.
So rather than sitting down to write some lyrics and hoping some interesting ideas will emerge, or working on a melody and wondering how to make it more emotionally impactful, we can instead explore the ideas and emotions of our writing as an element in their own right. When we do this, we have a much clearer intention when working on the other elements and can create music and lyrics which are true to that intent.
Again, that’s not to say you ought to do this first, necessarily, nor that it needs to be a strict sequential step done before or after the other elements. Just that it’s an element which runs through everything else, and we can intentionally develop our skills with creativity on this element specifically. It’s interesting to start noticing how the same idea or same emotion can be expressed in so many ways in music.
The idea is to find a seed of inspiration. This could be from any of your senses (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell), an experience you have, an emotion you feel, or anything else from your life. Anything which catches your attention can serve as a starting point for writing.
Be on the lookout for potential “diamonds”. These could be words or phrases you hear or speak, something visual you find remarkable, fragments of music which resonate with you (other people’s or from your own Improvisation, Active Listening, or Expression practice, for example). They may currently be unpolished gems, still a bit buried in coal—but you see a spark that catches your attention. These diamonds can be incorporated directly, or used as a “seed” for exploration.
Remember to document what you find! You may not be working on a song or piece where a given seed or diamond fits right now, but if you capture it in some way, you may well find the perfect use for it later on. And simply by setting your brain the task to be on the lookout for interesting ideas and emotions, you’ll open up your creative imagination significantly.
| Zac Says… I believe there are no bad musical ideas, you just have to find a fitting context. For my song “Party Life” that I released last year, I needed another verse. I went through my old ideas and found a verse I had mostly written about 15 years ago. I was able to tweak a few words and the verse fit perfectly in my song! I was so grateful to myself for saving all my ideas. |
| Almut Says… I keep a note file on my phone and add interesting words, impressions, combinations of words or descriptions of feelings to come back to. It is often when I am travelling that I see a sign with an interesting word, or I overhear a conversation I can derive an idea from. Reading is another great source of inspiration. I find it easier to find my way back to those feelings or ideas that I have written down than to generate them on the spot when I am looking for inspiration. |
How to Write With Clear Ideas and Emotions
We will explore coming up with ideas more when discussing lyrics below, and expressing emotion much more in Chapter 17: Expression. For now, let’s start becoming more aware of the ideas and emotions at play in music.
EXERCISE: Analyse Ideas and Emotions
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EXERCISE: Start Documenting
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Like with Form, ideas and emotions run through all the other song elements, so bring this perspective with you as you continue through the following sections and exercises below.