5 Benefits of Solo Writing
Over the years I’ve heard from publishing and music industry execs about the virtues of co-writing. This is what I‘ve heard:
"Co-write with people to capitalize on each one’s strengths.”
“Co-write to get better.”
“Co-write because it increases the marketing advantages.”
“Co-write because the cost for demo-ing is halved."
And it’s not that I think they’re wrong. It worked for Lennon and McCartney. Who can argue that? Countless hit songs are the result of collaboration. In fact, these days there are way more resulting from collaborations than from solo writes.
Nashville, in particular, has a love affair with the co-write. Pop/EDM and hip-hop have camps of songwriters taking credits on songs.
But I’ve never thought that co-writing just for the sake of co-writing is all that fun or even productive.
I think it needs to be the right collaboration…. a fun experience and a productive one.
And in the past I’ve had a love/hate relationship with it. I do it now, but only with certain people with whom I share some similar production values and with whom I am inspired and challenged.
Agree with me or not, I just don’t buy into the notion that writing a song has to be a team sport. Sometimes, all I want to do is go into my own studio and write quietly. I don’t want any embellishments on a subject or to have a conversation with someone else and then travel down a winding road that might be different from the one I started on. I don’t welcome someone else's subjectivity to the words and music. Truth be told, I want the whole responsibility, for better or for worse.
Although people preach and praise about the co-write, there are benefits to solo-writing. So, here are five, in particular:
YOU CULTIVATE YOUR OWN VOICE. This, to me, is the biggest benefit of solo writing. You say what you want to say, how you want to say it. No one is questioning your thoughts and feelings, or putting a lien on them with their own.
YOU DON’T HAVE TO COMPROMISE YOUR VISION. Sometimes only you can say, in the way that you say it, what’s in YOU. You can take the praise or blame. But no one alters or colors it.
YOU WORK ON YOUR OWN TIME FRAME.There are no external pressures to getting the song finished or started. You’re the boss. You start and stop the clock. If self-discipline is an issue though, then this might be a problem.
YOU OWN THE WHOLE COPYRIGHT. Ok, this could amount to a hill of beans. But they’re all your beans.
YOU HONE YOUR SONGWRITING SKILLS . Instead of having to rely on someone else. You’re forced to play an instrument or sing in your shower or whatever way it is you communicate the music. It forces you to have a complete game. You have to self-learn, course correct, and self-edit. If you solo-write and stay open and also remain aware, there is little chance you won’t get better, unless stubbornness or pride prevents it.
So, these are 5 benefits of Solo Writing.
If you haven’t ever tried, start a song solo and see where it takes you! You might just be surprised. If you get stuck you can always enlist the help of a collaborator.