Tonight we’re talking about authenticity, the song of your life, you know, and I don’t mean one song, I mean, how to empower yourself through your using and reminding yourself to be authentic and vulnerable and open, and the power that that brings within your long-term relationships, your network, your writing, the styles and genres within which you work. Your choices, your choices, and the comfort that working within your choices, your authentic self brings.
So I’m gonna dive straight in. so great to see you all. The song of your life, finding and using your authenticity. This has been something that, as with seemingly so much of my life, I have to learn it the hard way, the long way around. you know, on a positive tip, people would say that’s the hero’s journey, you know, through struggle learn. well, let’s try and make that struggle as short as possible.
So, I took the long way around in finding that actually being who I am, playing to my strengths and being the best of myself, resonates far more, more ably with people than my trying to be what I think people need me to be or what I think in writing the chart needs or what, the market is, is, requiring. So we’re gonna dig into this, really unpack it, because it’s too glib and too easy to just say, be yourself, be authentic.
As I said, it can be quite hard to, grapple with and get actual, tangible, mindsets and actions based on this stuff. But I really hope I’ve done my very best to document and pass on and share a way that you can find faith in being your best self and how that impacts your writing connection and hence, success on many levels.
So here’s a really important one, and I do want you to write this down either now or later. It’s amazing how we dive into, writing or any other pursuits in our life, not really knowing what we want. This is a practice that is so profound when you don’t assume you know the answer That sounds, like a paradox, but just don’t assume that you, that you know the answer until you ask yourself, what do I truly want?
Really ask yourself that. What do I truly want? So often we think it’s, the financial security that comes with a billboard number one hit in, in the States. And believe me, that can be part of it. But actually there’s more to it. I’ve discovered this and I’ve discussed it many times on songwriting academy events and panels and things that actually there’s so much more closer than I thought that lifts me up, fulfills me, and I now consider success.
so I want you to truly ask yourself, what do I truly want? When we talk about authenticity in songwriting, it’s so often considered to be lyrical.
Honesty. Authenticity is much, much more than lyrical honesty. Once you’ve answered the question, what do I truly want, the answer to that question will inform the decision making along the path of your career as a writer. It the number of nos that you will be able to give when you know what you truly want. That alone, if you get that from this evening, saying no to yourself and to others to not, oh squirrel, chase the squirrel to not do that whilst else.
Keeping a broad eye on opportunity. That alone, when you know what you truly want and base your decisions on it and have that vision, that will change everything for you. If you’ve not already got that solidly in place, it is far more than lyrical honesty. And it’s more than being true to yourself.
It’s being who you know you can be using everything you already are. Now, I spent so much of my life focusing on the being who you know you can be, and not in a good way, in a way of self-flagellating self punishment. Oh, I’m not who I can be. No, no, it’s not that. It’s being who you can be your best today, using everything you already are.
You have a great future behind you. Use it. Who we already are is where our authenticity is found. And believe me, it is more than an honest lyric. This will dictate your choices and, collaborations and choices of where you, focus your attention. And really, when it comes to writing, this is so much of what we are doing.
We want to ignite the sparks that light, the fires we want to see burn, not just scatter them around and hope one catches. So really ask yourself today, tonight, what do I truly want? That authentic answer, which only you will know, will dictate the choices you make Using who you already are, allowing yourself, forgiving yourself, your failings, but doubling down on your strengths.
I’m gonna talk about that later. Allowing who you already are to be successful and to speak and to share, and to create that authenticity. It will profoundly change your songwriting career. So be careful what you wish for. That’s the saying we all hear, isn’t it? Be careful what you wish for in case you might get it well, in which case, wish for what you want, answer the question and then truly wish for it.
Truly know you can achieve it. Truly know what that is, and don’t assume that it’s only, and I use only lightly financial freedom by having a huge international smash hit song that is too linear and shallow an answer. We need to know why we are doing this. Validation, affirmation, expression, emotional connection. Find your why and follow it.
That’s what you wish for, wish for what you want to achieve. When you align your actions with what you truly want, then the doors that open, the opportunities that come are your way, are the right ones. If we spend too much time chasing, avenues that aren’t right for us, they’re opportunities, but they’re not really what we’re great at. I’m not talking about you. Believe me, you’ll be outside your comfort zone, plenty just wishing for what you truly want, doing what you truly want, being the best that you can be today following the path of your intention, that’s gonna be challenging enough.
So in no way am I saying don’t get out of your comfort zone. I’m saying, when you choose the correct path that aligns your why with your actions, then we truly get opportunities that we can fulfill. People then hear about fulfilled opportunities, and you become that person.
You get asked for more of that. This has happened to me and it’s the, it’s the closest definition to flow that I’ve ever felt is when I do something that’s true and me at my best, I work hard at it, I’m outta my comfort zone, but I know it’s my strengths that I’ve worked hard at, and it’s not me being someone else or appealing to some other aspect that I think they want. Then when people resonate with that, they want more of that. And here’s the question you want more of that can do.
Yes, I can do more of that. So we want to get this right at a foundational level. It doesn’t need to narrow our gaze and we’re open to opportunity, but know who you are, know what you want. It will close so many overwhelming seemingly infinite options that you will have, a path that you can use as a guide to your choices and your actions. This takes us to the wonderfully simple but profoundly impactful statement.
Make the music you want to hear. Of course, we’re gonna work in it. As you’ve just seen some of my, show reel. I work in lots and lots of different genres and areas, but I, in those moments, I am making those songs how I want them to sound. Make the music you want to hear. This does not just mean one song will, we can start there and it’s a great place to start.
but this can be a fresh page. Every time you come to write a fresh version of making the music you want to hear, this is an infinite source. The well never runs dry. We can put ourselves in inspirations way, but then when inspirations we, we will allow it to flow. Make the music you want to hear, don’t allow, thoughts of what others want to hear to cloud it too much. Of course, with our collaborations, we’re we’re taking on board opinions.
You know what I mean? Here, this is about not thinking, oh, you know, the, grime is all the rage at the moment, but I really like musical theater, but I’m gonna make a grime track. I’ve not seen anyone find what they are looking for, and I don’t just mean commercial success. I mean, find what they are looking for when they make that level of leap away from what’s authentic to them. So be aware of that. Often it’s a pitfall for all of us when we get into an arena, of commercial songwriting, songwriting, non-commercial songwriting to fill us up.
We can still take the wrong turns in thinking. We want to make music that someone close to us wants to hear, so we’ll change something. So it’s about allowing and honoring what we want to hear to be what guides us before we then of course, allow flex and flexibility to come into place when we’re producing or mixing or having vocalists and other people cut our songs.
Make the music you want to hear.
