Got a songwriting question for Kathryn Scott?
I’ll be interviewing Kathryn Scott on the subject of songwriting for OpenSourceSongs.com and rather than dreaming up questions that I think might be relevant to the subject of Christian Songwriting I thought I’d survey you guys.
So here’s what I’d like you to do. Leave your question(s) in the comments section below and I’ll get Kathryn to answer them.
If you’re on my mailing list you’ll get to hear when the interview is published.
September 12th, 2008 at 08:19 pm
Do you think that too many Christian compilation albums covering the same Worship songs(by different artists) are really necessary? Is the whole point of being creative (uniquely) swallowed up in this mass production of other peoples songs? Toadie
September 13th, 2008 at 02:36 am
When you are writing a song, do you start with a melody and then bring lyrics? Or do you take a line or a hook you can’t get out of your head and write as many things as you can about that specic idea contained in that line/hook?
September 13th, 2008 at 02:39 am
For about 3 months or so, I have hit a wall. The business of raising a 4 & 1 year old have taken away some of my energy to write. However, I finally feel that I am turning the corner and hearing some medlodies, lyrics, ideas in my head again. Any advice on how to get the “lyrical Juies” flowing again?
September 13th, 2008 at 02:42 am
I have a friend I feel the Lord has placed on my heart to pursue to write/create music with. I have shared this vision with him and he seems receptive. Any helpful ideas on how to cultivate a writing relationship with someone? Background: same church, same values, beliver, loves the Lord.
September 13th, 2008 at 02:47 am
Finally, I have some people in my life who make comments about my constant singing (can’t help the joy of the Lord is in me), their disbelief that I write songs and have something to say, and make comments about my desire to be a lead worshiper in my church. They make it appear as if it is playful joking, but it is not and is constant. Q: When you know the Lord has spoken something to your heart, and confirmed it through other people, other peoples dreams/visions, what strategies do you have to guard your vision and share w/ them that their actions grieve you and I am sure the holy spirit? I hope that made sense.
September 13th, 2008 at 02:49 am
Oh, and is it safe to video yourself in a car, always in a car? Shooting video while driving? Explaining songs on video while driving a car down the road? Just wondering, thanks.
September 13th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Do you ever get frustrated by the lyrics of a song not quite being able to express the depth of insight or emotion that inspired it?
Are you ever surprised by how much other people seem to benefit from a song in ways that you never thought possible?
Do you use things like a thesaurus or concept maps to help you find fresh ways to express old (ie eternal!) truths?
How does what you are writing currently reflect what God is teaching you currently? Do you find that lessons you are learning one to one with God now come out in songs immediately or do they come out months down the line?
September 14th, 2008 at 04:29 pm
I’m sitting here trying to think of any useful questions to ask. But apart from simply getting proficient at my instrument (guitar), learning music theory, and getting more aware of song structure, songwriting has been a very personal journey for me. I don’t think interviewing other songwriters, however successful, would produce anything that I care to hear. If theirs was the same journey as mine, that would validate my journey, I suppose, but at present, I don’t need that. If it’s totally different there wouldn’t be much I could transpose from their journey to mine. I really like the concept of what you’re doing, but when it comes right down to it, there’s no answer I would want from Kathryn that I think would help me or enhance the personal journey of other songwriters.
September 15th, 2008 at 04:01 pm
I suppose there is a question that arises from the above.
Have the stories of other songwriters journeys affected your own? How?
September 19th, 2008 at 04:44 pm
I was wondering what was happening in your life when you wrote the song “Hungry”. I know for me the best songs come when God is doing something in my life.
September 22nd, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Kathryn, I know this is quite a personal questions, but if you don’t mind answering… do you ever struggle with feeling like you’re producing songs out of a duty to do so, or does the process of songwriting (particularly on a label) develop intimacy with, and passion for God?