"There's two facets to writing a song. There's you sitting in your room writing the sentiments of the song; the lyrics, the melody and the changes, and then there's the part where you go into the studio and you put clothing on it"

Songwriting unfolds as a two-stage journey, mirroring the creative process itself, a dance between intimate inspiration and communal craftsmanship. At first, the songwriter is alone, perhaps in a small room, facing silence and a blank page. Here, the artist distills personal thoughts and emotions into lyrics, shapes melodies humming in their mind, and selects chord changes that evoke their internal landscape. This solitary phase is deeply introspective; it is an act of self-discovery as much as art-making. Every word, note, and motif mirrors the songwriter’s raw experience, unfiltered by external influence. The song reveals its foundational narrative during this phase; it exists in a pure, unadorned state, shaped solely by the creator’s hand.

Yet, a song doesn’t remain a private confession. The next stage transforms it, offering it to the world. Moving into the studio, the process becomes social and collaborative. The phrase “put clothing on it” evokes the idea of dressing up these intimate thoughts for public presentation. In the studio, arrangements expand with the addition of instrumentation, harmonies, and production techniques. Rhythms are locked in, textures are layered, and seemingly small choices, reverb, tempo, the timbre of a backing guitar, become the song’s wardrobe, influencing its mood and appeal. Here, creative decisions intertwine with technical craftsmanship, as a team polishes, shapes, and colors the work for its intended audience.

This duality echoes the contrast between vulnerability and presentation. The heart of the song is always there, but clothing it allows it to step beyond its origins and resonate widely. The artistry lies not just in the poetry or melody but in the careful crafting of how it’s delivered, ensuring the finished work both honors the songwriter’s core intent and amplifies its impact for listeners everywhere.