Godspeed Collaboration

Track Creation

May 2021

Idea

Bryan sent me a guitar track idea to listen to with a lovely picking motif. I didn't listen to it straight away as I like to be in the right frame of mind when creating melodies to music. I find I am more creative in the evening if I am tired as the logical side of my brain doesn't fight with the emotional side. On the first listen I tried to connect emotionally with the music and created a melody with some scattered phrasing whilst trying to define a theme. I created a lyrical framework and sent it to Bryan. Luckily he liked it and together we crafted the lyrics further and ironed out the sticking points.

Collaboration:

Bryan Matthews

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Debbie and I began writing Godspeed in December 2020, having met earlier in the year at The Songwriting Academy summer bootcamp. In preparation for our first co-writing session, I forwarded Debbie a couple of bits of music I’d recorded, one on guitar and another on piano.  Taking the guitar piece, Debbie then created some wonderful melodic ideas and a first draft of a lyric, I think by repeatedly singing over the track I’d sent her.  When Debbie then sent the track back to me with her scratch vocal, I knew then that this was going to be a special song.

Since then, we’ve been working to complete the lyric and refine the melody and arrangement.  Its really nice, as we seem to have quickly developed a rapport that enables us to work on the song separately, and then come together – via Zoom of course – to talk about which bits of what each of us has done works to improve the song; and to agree what else might need doing. 

I think we’re currently at a great stage with Godspeed; I’m really proud of it and I’ve really enjoyed working with Debbie.  The difficulty now is knowing whether it should be a stripped back guitar and vocal arrangement, or whether the addition of drums, percussion, piano and strings serve to enhance it.  Sometimes less is more, but other times those extra layers can take it to another level.

Lyrics and Structure

The singer seeks to take the listener with them on their journey physically and emotionally. I feel the phrase 'Godspeed' is evocative, it is used as a hook and sums up what the singer is feeling as well as alluding to forward motion. The song form is verse, pre-chorus, chorus including a middle 8 which helps take it to a different place.

Instrumentals

We will be creating two versions, stripped back and one with instrumentals to really help kick the chorus and give it more impact.

Next Steps

The instrumentals are currently being recorded and once I have them I will re-record the vocals with my new Aston Spirit microphone. I shall then create a simple mix with the stems from Bryan and once song has been signed off we shall look to make it broadcast ready.