The Unexpected Advice I Got From A Nashville Songwriting Coach

A few years ago, I took a Skype lesson from a well-known Nashville songwriter. At some point during the session, he asked me:

“So, how often do you actually go outside?”

“Umm, why?”, I said.

"I think you need to actually live your life more and not just write songs all day!”

Um, okay. Ouch. Didn't see that one comin’! I thought I was paying this guy for advice about my melodies and stuff.

But he was SO right.

Now, before I come across like a total hermit, I'm technically not even an introvert. More like an ambivert. I can be peopley, and I can also be alone for days. It just completely depends.

But back then, I had some bad habits around being at home too much. A result of working from home for many years (you kinda get used to it), a bit of anxiety, and also a pinch of laziness. I also loved deluding myself into thinking that I would spend two entire days writing da best songs eva if I didn’t have to do anything else. LOL.

Well, that might work on rare occasions. Like when you rent a cabin in the woods for a weekend with a group of badass musicians and everyone turns their phone off. But most of the time, having an unlimited amount of time for your creativity doesn’t work AT ALL. Especially not when you’re alone. Personally, I just get apathetic, lazy AF, and end up scrolling my day away. Relate?

Sometimes, the best way to stay inspired creatively is to do other things entirely! As in: actually LIVE yo life so you have something to write about. Ding ding ding. Not bad advice, hey?

So, the question is… did I implement it? Well, the answer is YES but it happened over years, not overnight.

For example:

• I no longer just work on my music alone. I go to the studio every other week to work on my songs with Simon Poort (my co-producer/mix engineer.)

• I no longer just do a bit of home Pilates when I feel like it. I go to actual CrossFit 3x a week! This habit took me forever to build but my God, I wish I had started sooner.

• I also go co-working regularly now with my entrepreneur friends.

And man, does it leave me feeling SO much more inspired.

So, this brings me to you!

If you're in a rut right now, have you taken a break from yourself and your creativity recently? Have you given your muse a little rest? Your senses some new stimulation?

Doing something entirely different might be JUST what you need to get back in the game. Especially important for bedroom producers like myself who tend to get stuck to our screens :)

Let me know if this resonates.

Love,
Anja