Atypical & Awesome “Songwriters’ Oxygen”

Being a songwriter is pretty much a bad idea. You work your tail off for years chasing those elusive cuts and then have to fight for the few pennies we make. But we do it anyway. Every day. All day. Why? Because we have no other choice. It is as much a part of us as breathing. We can say we’re quitting the business or “giving up” but we don’t. The songs keep coming- whether or not we want them to- it’s almost a curse. Almost. But then, there’s the payoff. No, not money, fame, or accolades…. the real prize and end goal for us as writers- to hear our song performed. No feeling on earth like it. It is intoxicating. Those thoughts we scribbled down on a napkin or sang into our voice recorders on a phone- the ones that come at midnight, in the shower, or while driving to work- living and breathing as a song. This weekend I had this experience with four songs by two different artists in two different countries- Alice Nelson-USA and Jessica Lavallee-Canada. I also got to watch one of my best songwriting buddies Dennis Powell get that experience this weekend. The first time was Friday with his Frank Fletcher cut, “Midnight Makes Me Crazy” He got to experience it again on Saturday with Alice Nelson performing a new song the three of us wrote, “Here Comes the Rain”. His eyes literally glowed. I know that feeling- it is indescribable. Almost. Let us have our moments. Songwriting is a lonely, tough, and often frustrating gig. When all the world is right and that song is given life on a stage…that’s it. That’s our glory, our medal, and what keeps us going to write the next song. It is what we live for and I am breathing great today!!!