What's in a Song

Apr 05 2024 13
What's in a Song Podcast artwork

This is a weekly podcast about the craft of songwriting hosted by Berklee College of Music Professor Scarlet Keys. She takes deep dive into the craft, technique and art of songwriting in conversations with eminent songwriters, producers, and other creatives asking questions only a songwriting professor would ask so listeners can walk away inspired and armed with clear and actionable tools and techniques they can apply to their songwriting.

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Minisode - The impact and storytelling of NOUNS

Apr 05 2024 17 mins  
The storytelling effects of nouns.Mixed by Peter Sykes: https://www.petersykesmusic.com/Otto Gross: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMnxx19QD-vxD4wnYGTn3JwScarlet's website:https://www.scarletkeys.comScarlet's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scarletkeysofficial/Scarlet's website:https://www.scarletkeys.comScarlet's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scar

Minisode: The song changing effects of good verbs

Mar 18 2024 20 mins  
In this minisode, I talk about the power of verbs and how they can do more than just their expected work but can help to tell your story, create characters and build metaphors.Mixed by Peter Sykes: https://www.petersykesmusic.com/Otto Gross: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMnxx19QD-vxD4wnYGTn3JwScarlet's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scarletkeysofficial/Scarlet's

Singer/songwriter Ingrid Saga on jazz, Joni Mitchell's influence, guitar tunings and process

Jan 17 2024 56 mins  
In this episode, Ingrid talk about her influences, meeting her producer and shares three songs from her upcoming album.She talks about writing in opening tuning and writing process.https://www.instagram.com/ingridsaga/?hl=enMixed by Peter Sykes: https://www.petersykesmusic.com/Otto Gross: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMnxx19QD-vxD4wnYGTn3JwScarlet's website:https://www.sca

Aidan Laprete on finding your sound and gibberish as a lyric writing process

Jan 01 2024 64 mins  
In this Episode I talk with singer/songwriter/producer/actor Aidan Laprete aboutVoice lessons, finding your sound, and producing.He walks us through writing melody takes - gibberish to find melodies, turning mumbles into words and making it make sense and shares guitar voicings to help you out of sonic ruts.Aidan is from Hawaii and was first known for his ukulele playing at age 8.

Writing For T.V. and film and how a little bit of Woo woo can help us with Stuart Roslyn

Dec 13 2023 76 mins  
Stuart Roslyn is a composer, producer and musician specializing in original music for motion pictures and their trailers. He also creates unique soundscapes for network tv and big brand commercials. His career spans more than 20 years composing and producing many genres of music for the biggest names in entertainment. He is either directing a full orchestra or writing and mixing in

The songwriting of Taylor Swift - Two things we can learn from the craft of her songwriting

Oct 24 2023 15 mins  
In this episode, I share a little peak into the craft and poetry of Taylor Swift's songwriting.We look at her choice of chord progressions and one way in to one of her epic bridge sections as well as her use of metaphor.You will walk away with a few tools from the woman currently ruling the world that you can try in your own songs no matter what the genre.Upcoming workshop sig

David Wilcox Part 2

Sep 25 2023 34 mins  
David Wilcox is an award winning and highly acclaimed American singer songwriter from Asheville North Carolina.His storytelling cuts deep into the soul and observes the human condition from both the nerve center and the outside looking in. He’s released more than 20 records and is famous for his thoughtful insights, humor and open tunings on guitar.In this episode, David talks ab

David Wilcox on inspired writing Part 1

Sep 18 2023 63 mins  
David Wilcox is an award winning and highly acclaimed American singer songwriter from Asheville North Carolina.His storytelling cuts deep into the soul and observes the human condition from both the nerve center and the outside looking in. He’s released more than 20 records and is famous for his thoughtful insights, humor and open tunings on guitar.In this episode, David takes a

Part 3 Mark Simos: Reflecting on your writing and what you can learn from it

Aug 17 2023 61 mins  
In this episode, we break down co-writing and talk about reflecting back on process and what can be learned from taking pause and observing what went well and what you wish had gone differently making you a better writer and co-writer going forward.To purchase Mark's books: https://www.amazon.com/Songwriting-Strategies-360-Degree-Approach-Music/dp/087639151X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2P

Part 2 Hank Williams in Hell live co-write with Mark Simos

Aug 10 2023 57 mins  
In this episode of a two part series, Berklee Professor and Grammy winning writer Mark Simos and I try out his unique approach to writing using different chord configurations in a writing exercise he calls Hank Williams in hell. This is a live co-write so if you are curious about how people write songs collaboratively or want to explore new ways to use the classic three chords, thi