If you’re not creating on your own, you’re not creating your best work.
It’s even known (years after the fact) that most of the Lennon/McCartney songs came from one of them bringing the other one an idea 70 or 80 percent of the way there.
You have to be willing to walk into the wilderness alone.
There you can wander, chase melodies, chase words, stumble, keep going, find chords, see a million mirages before finally arriving at the waterfall.
In a co-write starting from scratch it’s a victory to come away with a song that’s mediocre. A victory for the writers, not the listeners. (You chose to do this for a living, so you’re going to need some listeners.)
When you go it along, you don’t celebrate mediocrity as much. There’s no one to impress, so when you arrive at mediocre you either push through or change direction…you don’t spend the afternoon gloating in it.
Write with other people, create with other people, bring unfinished ideas to people, be willing to accept help and creative direction. But don’t forget the difficult, thankless, un-sexy, scary, time suck, amazingly life-giving and fulfilling part of mapping new territory on your own.
Tell everyone when you find something good.
I’m always interested in your perspective, whether affirming or dissenting. Continue the conversation anytime: gabethebassplayer@gmail.com