J.MITCHELL SIMON SONGWRITING APPROACH

by J.MITCHELL SIMON
(SAN DIEGO CA)

I'LL EITHER START W/THE MUSIC FIRST OR - IF THERE'S
A SPECIFIC LYRICAL THEME, I'LL DEAL WITH THAT FIRST. OR
ALTOGETHER DIFFERENT - I'LL HEAR THE COMPLETED SONG IN
MY HEAD TRACK BY TRACK. GO FROM THERE.

SOME SONGS WILL NOT HAVE LYRICS AT ALL. I'M GOING
INTO MORE FUTURISTIC INSTRUMENTAL COMPOSITIONS AS
WELL AS TRYING OUT REGULAR THEMES. SOMETIMES -
IT'S BEST TO VEER FROM WHATEVER EVERYBODY ELSE IS
DOING AND JUST COME UP WITH SOMETHING TOTALLY ORI-
GINAL. MY LITTLE RULE OF THUMB-IF SOMEBODY ELSE HAS
ALREADY DONE IT - IT'S OLD NEWS!

ANOTHER THING: DON'T TRY TO EMULATE - GARBAGE! THERE'S
ALREADY ENOUGH OUT THERE! I TRY TO WRITE SOMETHING
THAT HAS A GREATER SIGNIFICANCE THAN, WELL JUST SOME
ANTIQUATED LOVE SONG APPROACH.IN FACT - I STAY AWAY
FROM THOSE AND TREAT 'EM LIKE THE PLAGUE!

TRY TO ANALYZE EACH SONG - SAY MAKE UP A CHECKLIST
THAT COVERS THE WHO,WHAT,WHEN, WHERE, HOW, AND WHY
OF THE SONGS MESSAGE. IF ALL THE SONGS ADD UP
I'LL RECORD IT - IF NOT, IT SITS WHERE A LOT OF
OTHER SONGS SIT - IN FOLDERS OR TOTALLY TRASHED.ALL FOR
NOW.