Navigating music-making may not be like a consistent train journey; it requires tender care and reverence to foster creativity. Understanding this can help prevent technical issues from hampering your creative flow.
In the world of music, two legendary artists, Neil Young and Bob Dylan, share a unique approach to songwriting that emphasises the power of intuition and the subconscious mind.
Neil Young, a renowned musician and songwriter, believes in waiting for ideas to come from a subconscious source rather than forcing them. He is wary of the rational, problem-solving mind taking hold of more abstract ideas. Young expressed that experimenting with different ideas in the Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) or instrumentation can cause frustration because solutions often only arise when doing something else, like walking, reading, bathing, or working on other tracks.
Similarly, Bob Dylan suggests that a problem song should be parked for a while, and that it will tell you when it's ready. He believes that the best songs are written quickly, and that prolonged work on a song can make it difficult to focus and maintain original intention. Dylan warns against thinking too much about technical aspects of song structure, which could cheapen and weaken a more alluring starting point.
Both artists are conscious of the dangers of over-coddling a piece of music and the importance of keeping artistic momentum up. They believe that the success of the music-making process hinges on the belief of the artist in the track they're making. Completing a track, even if imperfectly, can help improve as a songwriter or music producer.
The 'craft' element of songwriting comes later, and is based on material fueled by emotion. Dylan suggests that creativity should be treated with respect and not overthought. The subconscious can be busy behind the scenes, coming up with solutions without the conscious mind knowing.
Interestingly, solutions to thorny issues with a song often manifest when doing different things, such as walking, reading, taking a shower, or working on other tracks. A piece of music, riff, or motif that could slot perfectly into the problem song can be found while working on other tracks. Neil Young believes that the germ of the song comes from a source other than the conscious mind.
Young and Dylan's approach to songwriting underscores the importance of trusting the intuitive process and allowing ideas to develop naturally. By maintaining faith in their work and resisting the urge to overthink, these artists have created some of the most enduring and impactful music in history. Their insights offer a valuable lesson for any aspiring songwriter: sometimes, the best music comes when we let go and let the subconscious take the wheel.
