Cara’s Writing Process.

I have been writing music for as far back as I can remember. Breaking down my writing process is actually quite challenging to do. For me, writing is like breathing. It has always been my main coping and processing mechanism. In fact, I can’t imagine not writing. It isn’t very frequently that I actually sit down with the intention to write; a song usually just comes out when it’s ready. I might feel restless or discontent for a time and then I’ll sit down at the piano or with my guitar and write a song. Once it’s written I usually learn something about myself or something I am going through. I can look back at the song and say “Oh, so that’s what that was all about.” Although my process seems a bit whimsical and unspecific, there is still some structure to the chaos:

It always starts with a melody. It is normal for me to regularly sit down at my guitar or piano and noodle around- the same way one might compulsively check social media. My mood or experiences have a great impact on the kinds of things I end up “noodling”. If there is something in the air that I need to process, I will start feeling something I am playing and focus in on a certain chord progression or rhythm. After a time, I might begin to hum or mumble a few things. The song always builds itself from there. I love a good simple melody, so my songs usually have a very basic structure or melody underneath multiple layers.

Finding the right words is sometimes very difficult to do and other times very easy. During the easy times, it’s as if the words are just hanging in the air waiting for me to grab them. These songs usually write themselves in one sitting and require minimal editing before they are complete. Other times it is not as easy. I might have a certain phrase that means a lot to me, so the whole song is written and formed just to accommodate a single phrase. Not all of my songs have a traditional format of verse chorus verse etc. either. When writing, I like to be sure I don’t repeat something unless it is something that needs repeating. Some songs are very short because I’ve said what I need to say and there is nothing else to add to it.

Finishing the song can be the most difficult task for a songwriter. Sometimes a chorus or the first few lines will come out easy but after that, it takes a little but of muscle to finish the job. Luckily for me, I have an internal impulse that drives an obsessive urge to finish things. My Father has the work ethic of a field mule, so I attribute this trait to him. That being said, I have learned to let go and sleep on it. But a song never officially leaves my brain until it is complete. I’m always there thinking of passing chords, lyrics or edits. I have even dreamed my songs from time to time. Some songs have lived with me for a few weeks, while others are done in a few hours. Other times I might think a song is finished, but it won’t leave my brain so go back and rework it until I am satisfied.

When a song is finished, I know. I have usually learned something about myself or given voice to something really important to me.