In this episode, Ryan Ruff Smith and I talk about a bunch of lyric-writing techniques, including seeing the big picture, using subtext, writing as a character, and focusing your song ideas.
[audio:https://www.charliemccarron.com/mediaftp/composerquest/composer-quest-002-ryan-ruff-smith.mp3]Right click to download, or open in iTunes.
For Ryan’s solo EP, visit his Bandcamp page. You can find his band’s music at SpencerMcGillicutty.com.
Episode Playlist
- 1:15 & 26:25 – “Everything Seemed To Happen At Once” – Ryan Ruff Smith (Everything Seemed To Happen At Once, 2012)
- 2:05 – “Once A Man, Two Times A Muppet” – Ryan Ruff Smith (2012)
- 11:56 – “Dear Abbess” – Spencer McGillicutty (Spencer McGillicutty, 2006)
- 19:02 – “Used To Think” – Spencer McGillicutty (2012)
- 27:33 – “Are You Lonely” – Ryan Ruff Smith (Everything Seemed To Happen At Once, 2012)
- 29:14 – “In Somebody’s Dreams” – Ryan Ruff Smith (Everything Seemed To Happen At Once, 2012)
- 30:32 – “Let’s Get Out Of Here” – Ryan Ruff Smith (Everything Seemed To Happen At Once, 2012)
Suggested Listening
- Bob Dylan – “One Too Many Mornings” (Song title with evolving meaning)
- Bob Dylan – “Momma You’ve Been On My Mind” (Subtext)
- Tom Waits – “You Can Never Hold Back Spring” (Ryan’s favorite Tom Waits song)
- George and Ira Gershwin – “But Not For Me” (Focused song idea)
- Rodgers and Hart – “It Never Entered My Mind” (Focused song idea)
- Magnetic Fields – “I Think I Need A New Heart” (Focused song idea)
- Bob Dylan – “Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again” (Lyrical hook)
- The Beatles – “I Will” (One of Ryan’s favorites)
- Bonnie Prince Billy – “Minor Place” (Unique idea-based song)
- Joanna Newsom – “The Sprout And The Bean” (Bizarre vocabulary, hip-hop style lyricism)
