Songwriter's Monthly Feb 10, #122 Issue

Songwriter’s Monthly
Featuring:
Sarah DeLeo,
Melissa Ferrick,
Paige Nichols,
Beth Thornley
http://www.scribd.com/SongwritersMonthly Feb. ’10, #122
Editor’s Notes
First I want to thank each and every one of you for last month.
We had such a flood of readers that scribd made us a featured
publication which, in turn, increased our visibility and allowed
people who had never even heard of Songwriter’s Monthly a
chance to stumble upon the January issue. Consequently, we
ended up with over 4,000 readers for last month’s issue
alone . . . and we’re nearing the 10,000 mark for overall reads.
I have my fingers crossed that now that you’ve found us, you
will realize we’re not the typical music magazine and you will
continue reading month after month. We strive to get you as
close as possible to each and every artist and writer we cover.
We take you away from the gossip and dive deep into what
makes the artist so very human — sometimes uncovering
aspects that even the artist was not aware of.
This month there is a new feature called “First Person.” “First

Person” is all about you! If you have a story, an anecdote, or
something that you think might entertain or enlighten other
folks, I invite you to send it in to be considered for publication.
It does not have to be long (200-300 words is perfect), but it
does have to be personal, something you experienced yourself.
Other than that, if you like what you read here, please, just
spread the word, tell people about us. The more readers we
have, the greater the exposure for each person who appears
within these (virtual) pages. If you’re a writer or an artist, tell
your fans. If you’re a fan, suggest Songwriter’s Monthly to your
favorite artist (and maybe they’ll owe you one?).
Thanks for being involved . . . and thanks for reading!
Allen
a1foster@aol.com
Feel free to drop a note, introduce yourself, comment, or just
say hi. I love getting email!
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“Shine”
“Nice
Monkey,”
Goldilocks
Beth
Thornley
Beth Thornley grew up playing piano, singing Beth!s colorful, image-oriented manner of
in choirs and basically doing “everything that speaking is reflected in her songwriting. Her
parents make their kids do.” The difference smart, memorable lines and inventive way of
with Beth was she didn!t rebel. presenting a story or twisting a phrase to
make it radiate with a brilliant freshness is
“I absolutely loved it and I knew I somehow both startling and worthy of praise.
wanted to make a living in music,“ she
expressed in a delicate yet confident voice. “I “I certainly work really hard on the lyrics,” she
just wasn!t exactly sure how I was going to do noted. “not to say that I don!t work hard on
that. Then I started writing songs and I was melodies and chord changes, but I!m just
like, "Wow, I think this is my thing!! It was like determined to make the words a craft as
finally stumbling across what you think you!re much as the music is. It!s really hard and
suited for and it just feels like a warm, fuzzy when somebody notices, I really appreciate
coat or a lovely pair of comfortable shoes. I it.”
thought, Oh, I may be Goldilocks because
this is just right!" Often, Beth!s hard work is something to
marvel at — the meaning in her words is she laughed. “It!s just such a nice little word
always clearly evident, but at times it is so and such a happy little word . . . if something
cleverly presented that it evokes a smile or is “pony,” then that must mean it!s good! The
that wonderful “ah hah” moment of discovery phrase, "you!re so pony,! popped into my
head and for about two years I had the
“I’m just chorus in my head before I sat down to write

it because I didn!t know what to do with it.
determined to Also, I was working on songs that I thought
were far more "important.! Then one day I
make the words a thought, Let!s just do this, I want this to be
craft as much as
fun, I need to lighten up.”
the music is.” Thornley knew she needed to bounce

around the music tracks with somebody
else, so she asked her producer, Rob Cairns
or revelation. However, the true magic of her for some input on the music. “"Pony! went
lyrics is Thornley!s gift for knowing the down really fast and easy,” Rob informed.
perfect word or collage of words to use. For “We wanted to keep its raw edge, so after a
instance, in her title
track, “Wash U Clean,”
there is a two word
phrase that might seem
like a throw away or a
fi l l e r, b u t i t i s s o
absolutely right for the
moment of the song
that it has become a
kind of cult reference or
secret phrase among
her fans. In fact, at her
CD release party, if you
said, “Nice monkey,” at
the door, you!d get in
for a discount.
Thornley!s ability to
create ideas and
phrases that truly “stick” with people doesn!t simple beat, guitars, bass and a fast double-
stop with monkeys. In another upbeat, fun track vocal, we were 90% done.”
track entitled, “You!re So Pony,” Beth is
trying to do something beyond just writing a “It!s always exciting to work with Beth,”
thoroughly enjoyable song. Cairns added. “I know the material is going
to be good. And since Beth has the same
“I am trying to start a catch phrase . . . and I drive to try to perfect the material as I do,
don!t know why I thought I could do that,” she!s a great person to "go into the trenches!
instinct is to resist adding any
The Story Behind: instrumentation lest I over-arrange. I tried a
“Never Your Girl” version with only tubular bells and timpani in
addition to basic tracks, but Beth shot it
“"Never Your Girl! was probably the down.”
second most difficult song from an
arranging standpoint – and possibly one ”Still Can!t Hide” is a masterful song with
of the most difficult from a songwriting unexpected, yet appropriate harmonic shifts.
standpoint for Beth. There were several
different versions of the chorus, in “If I!m going to do something strange, I try to
different keys, that were recorded. We make it feel like it makes sense,” Thornley
did a little "focus group! on that chorus commented on the somewhat unusual chord
with some close friends whose ears we progression. “It!s okay with me if somebody
trust. That was another song where notices it, but if it!s so noticed that it takes
every additional instrument we added you out of the song, then I need to go back
just killed the mood for us. The electric to do something that transitions everything a
guitar was in there from the beginning little bit better.”
(The "slide down! effect was actually
achieved by Beth adjusting the delay When asked how she achieved such a
time by turning a knob as I played the magical progression, Beth was more than
part, and then quickly returning it to the happy to get specific. “It!s in F major, so it
original setting before I played the next starts on an F major chord and then I move
phrase.), but I resisted the addition of the fifth up to a D while keeping the F and the
acoustic guitar until the very end. There
were also a couple of long nights
worrying about whether or not to use hi
hats.”
— Rob Cairns
with. Even when we have really rough days

in the studio, it!s okay because she
understands that making records is
sometimes very hard work.”
When asked which track was the hardest,

Rob responded, “Every track has its own set
of challenges. I would say that "Still Can!t
Hide! was the one on which I spent the most
amount of effort and time. The basic tracks
went down rather quickly, but getting the
right instrumental layering took some trial
and error.# As is often the case with Beth!s
songs, the writing is so strong that the
simple basic tracks (piano/bass/drums/
vocal) are often very satisfying, and my
A in the bottom. In the next
chord, I keep the F in the “I don’t ever chord, I just liked the way
that sounds. It was hard
bass, but I add the Ab —
which makes it an F minor
want to be but I wanted to give it a try
so it actually kinda started
— and the [top note] goes up weird for out as a "science
weird’s sake,
to the major 7 [E] . . . which experiment.! I don!t ever
is just strange. For a while I want to be weird for weird!s
was a little bit afraid of that
progression, but completely
but I do want to sake, but I do want to try to
see what chords can do.
intrigued by it.” try to see what Maybe it would be better
described as a music
“Then I realized that it was chords can do.” experiment? I!m just
very difficult to put a melody always playing with that to
over it,” Beth continued. “but I was so happy see where I can go.”
with the sound of it and so much wanted to
play with the major and then the minor . . . I Lyrically, ”Still Can!t Hide” is about: “Yeah,
actually did sit down and say I!m going to life is hard, and we do hide sometimes. You
play a chord that!s major and then I!m going can escape under the covers for a little
to follow it by the minor of that very same while, but then you gotta get up and go out
and kinda deal with it all.”
Another song with a similar message is the

tender track “Everyone Falls.”
“I!ve never really thought of it till this

moment,” Thornley realized. “but both songs
have the same thread of how hard life can
be sometimes and how we just have to keep
trying to understand for each other. Life is
difficult, but we!re all in this together. There
is a little bit of relief in that for me to know
that I!m not alone in this, that we all struggle.
It!s part of the human journey, we all gotta
fight sometimes, but then we all get to be
happy sometimes, too.”
When asked about any unifying theme or

philosophy running through the rest of the
album, Rob Cairns responded, “With all of
Beth!s albums, there!s only been one
philosophy — which is simply to serve each
song the best we can, regardless of where
the arrangements and production take us.
For me, Beth!s "voice! as a songwriter has
such a strong signature that I felt it was explore.# Ultimately, we just wanted to make
enough of an anchor to allow us to musically an album that we!d enjoy listening to, and
would be proud of 20
years down the road.”
Speaking of being
“It’s part of the proud, in the track
human journey, “There!s No Way” Beth

takes on a rather
we all gotta fight complex lyrical idea
and manages to pull it
sometimes, but off magnificently. The
then we all get

song is about failing
hard just to make a
to be happy point.
sometimes, too.” “I was really worried

about the entire song
because I knew I had
trying to get back at somebody and trying to
The Story Behind: hurt somebody, but I think the thought
The Sax Riff On crosses a lot of people!s mind!s. I kinda
“Wash U Clean” figure if it crosses mine, it must cross other
people!s, right?”
“The sax was 100% Beth!s idea. She
knew sax was my main instrument at one “And not only did it happen to me,” she noted,
time, but I hadn!t played in years. She “but a friend of mine was telling me a story
approached me with that riff and said that about a friend of his who is just under the
she thought it would be great on baritone. thumb of his incredibly strict father. His father
The problem was that I didn!t own a wants him to go to med school, but this guy is
baritone sax. I was a tenor player. One an artist at heart and he is struggling in a way
ebay auction and some repairs later, we that is just really, really hard. He!s got the
had our opening track.” pride of the entire family resting on his
— Rob Cairns shoulders based on whether or not he goes
to med school and becomes a doctor. I felt for
tackled a kind of upside down and him so much because he!s at that place in his
backward!s concept,” Beth expressed. “I life where he may fall off the edge just to
have learned in the past that it!s best — show them. I don!t think going to med school
when you only have three minutes — to is the answer, but I also don!t think falling off
keep the concept rather simple . . . and the edge and completely crashing is the
there!s nothing wrong with simple. There!s a answer either. Yet, he!s riding those extremes
difference between simple and
simplistic and I try to really pay
attention to that.”
“If you!ve got more than one or two

twists it!s just too much for three
minutes,” she continued. "There!s No
Way! was a challenge for that very
reason. I went through an earlier part
of my life when I was just so down,
not like terrible horrible bad things
were happening or anything, but I
think you can get to a place in your
life where you don!t know what you
want to do and you!re not sure that
anybody believes in you, so you just
think, I!ll show them, I!ll fail big! It!s
not anything that makes any sense,
but it!s what happens to people, they
give up. "I!ll show you that I can!t
learn, I!m going to crash right here!!
It!s just a real backwards way of http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?
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right now: go and be
the savior for his
family or crumble
from the pressure.”
“I don!t know what

he!s going to do. I
hope he finds his
own path. That really
is the harder thing,
but it!s also the best
thing . . . if you can
find it. When you!re
in that situation, it!s
the harder path to
take because it!s not
marked. Yeah, you
can crash, everybody
knows how that path
looks, or you can go
to med school
because everyone
knows how that path
looks, too, but finding
your own way, man,
there are just no road
signs.”
T h a n k f u l l y, B e t h
Thornley has found
her path . . . and
she!s well along her
chosen road.
Songwriting is a
g o o d fi t f o r h e r
because not only
does it seem
comfortable for Beth,
but she!s a warm,
fuzzy coat for her audience, as well. Goldilocks because it truly is just right for
Thornley is a wonderful musician, a clever her. To check out Beth!s latest album and
composer, and a nimble lyricist with a learn more about this gifted artist, visit:
remarkable ear for arranging. As far as
music is concerned, Beth is, indeed, http://beththornley.com
Imelda May Dazzles At
The Grammy Awards
Imelda May performed a show-stopping version of “How
High The Moon” with Jeff Beck during the tribute to Les
Paul at this year's Grammy Awards.
In an exclusive message on her website,

Imelda stated (excerpt): "Music would not be
as it is today with out Les Paul. His
contributions to making one of the first solid
bodied guitars and mastering the multi track
recording systems that changed the course
of recorded music can never be forgotten. I
sang the parts of his amazingly talented
wife Mary Ford on ‘How High The
Moon’ (Hamilton/Lewis). Just as she did
— to highlight Les Paul’s multi tracking
discoveries — I pre-recorded four and five
part harmonies onto a backing track and
then sang the lead vocal along with them live at
the Grammys. To perform this track with such a
genius as Jeff Beck — possibly THE best
guitarist in the world — was a huge thrill and
honour. I will always be very grateful to him for
asking me to do this and I will never forget the
night for as long as I live."
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Paige Nichols
“I want to make
people feel.”
When Paige Nichols moved from Ohio “I wasn’t a huge fan of my recordings
to New York City, she knew she wanted before this,” Paige confessed. “I was
to sing and play piano, however, she still kind of learning how to sing my
didn’t realize there was a piece missing own music and put feeling into it. I was
from her plan. “I got here and I singing it like I was singing somebody
realized that I had nothing to sing else’s songs, you know what I mean?
except for other people’s songs,” Paige The recordings were also in this very
weird in-between zone . . . I would try
“I realized that I to describe my music and I couldn’t.”
had nothing to But that all changed with these five

songs. “The producer, Mikal Blue,
sing.” helped me go in a definite direction,”
Nichols explained, “now I feel that my
noted. “I was like, ‘This is a problem, I music definitely fits in the pop/soul
should learn to write.’ So I started genre.”
writing because I realized I needed to.”
Paige’s songs are crisp, piano-driven
“ W h e n yo u ’ r e s t a r t i n g o u t a s a tunes with dynamic melodies and
songwriter, there’s a fear: What if I’m haunting overtones. Her rich, soulful
not good at this? Will people like it?” vocals and passionate performances
Nichols continued. “You get halfway provide an intriguing depth that pulls
through a song and you think, This is the listener in close and allows him to
bad, no one will like it!
You can’t keep writing
i f yo u ’ r e c r i t i c i z i n g
halfway through. It
wasn’t until I stopped
listening to that voice
that the songs started
coming out more
freely . . . and better.”
In fact, the songs have

come so freely that
Paige is on the verge of
releasing her debut EP.
The five songs on this
project are not her first
recorded tracks, but
they are the first
collection of songs to
utilize a producer and a
full band.
truly feel what Paige was going
through when she first wrote the music
and lyrics. “When you’re
“The songs are from lots of bad
starting out as a
experiences,” Nichols stated. songwriter, there’s
The pain, hurt and confusion of failed a fear.”
relationships is what fuels Paige’s
music, yet she manages to never
sound angry or bitter. Contrary to what something so painful and turn it into
you might expect, her songs are something so positive, she responded,
uplifting, rousing and empowering. “I can only write about someone I felt
When asked how she is able to take really strongly about or whom I was in
love with. Even though it ended
badly, for somebody to have
evoked that strong of a feeling in
me, it had to have come from a
place where I really cared for
them.”
“Also the producer whom I worked

with really helped me not go too
dark. Even though his stuff is deep,
it’s lighter than what mine was
when I originally took it to him. He
helped me add that tone to it:
‘Even though you’re mad we’re not
going to make people terribly
depressed.’”
This ability to take the dark and

place it in the light while allowing a
few lingering shadows to remain is
one of the reasons why Paige
Nichols’ music is so fascinating. She
deftly applies subtle layers of
contrast to offer her audience an
astonishing degree of depth. The
more you listen to her tracks, the
deeper you can go.
Another contrast — one that Paige

continually wrestles with — is her
look vs. her sound. She is a petite
blonde, but she has a
“I can only write powerhouse voice. “I
know a lot of times when
about someone people first see me they
I felt really think I’m going to have
a high voice and not
strongly about really sing anything of
substance. Maybe I’m
or whom I was paranoid about it,”
she worried, “but I
in love with.” think the music does
have depth. I want
to make people feel and I hope they don’t see an
image and decide to not even listen.”
As far as the title of her debut EP,

Paige expressed, “I was worried
that you were going to ask about
that! I’m trying to come up with
the title and I have not yet
because I am completely getting
crazy about it. I don’ t like
labeling because it’s like you do
this whole big thing with a lot of
different feelings — there are a lot of
different emotions in these songs —
and then you have to come up with just
a couple of words to define it all? This is
so hard, it’s driving me crazy.”
“I have all these ideas and I’m testing them

out by calling it that in my head and I’m like,
‘No! That’s not right,’” she continued. “I want
to make sure the title creates a full,
cohesive image.”
Paige Nichols’ debut EP is an engaging

collection of songs that are at once hard- Paige will be playing
hitting and haunting. Her vocals are Room 5 in LA at 8:00
proud, confident, and thoroughly exciting. on March 20th.
For more information on this dynamic
artist, visit:
http://www.myspace.com/paigenicholsmusic
Melissa Ferrick
Changes
“I was playing
probably 180 shows a
year and you really can
only go so long doing
that before you’re on
the verge of dropping
dead from exhaustion.”
Melissa Ferrick is one of the most “I’m in record mode/hoping to write
engaging and enthusiastic performers more mode,” Melissa stated. “I’ve got a
you’ll ever experience. She has a handful of new songs — maybe half a
seemingly limitless stamina that allows record’s worth — but not enough to
her to deliver remarkably high energy make a full record yet. Honestly, I like
shows to her fans night after night to have twice as many songs as I need
when I go in to make a record so I can
really whittle down to the “best ones,”
“Everything’s moving the ones I think are the strongest.”
so fast, you know? H o w e v e r, j u s t b e c a u s e M e l i s s a

currently only has a handful of original
And I don’t know if it’s songs in her pocket, it doesn’t mean
better.” she isn’t getting ready to release a new
album. To switch things up a little,
Ferrick has decided to record a
after night. What ever obstacle or collection of covers. “I kinda got this
challenge is thrown in her path, she idea: If I’m having a hard time writing,
either overcomes it or adapts to it and at least I’m still playing and singing
keeps moving forward. It doesn’t
seem possible to even slow her
down, let alone stop her.
From her early days on Atlantic

Records to her current status of
releasing albums on her own
independent label [Right on
Records], Melissa has continually
evolved as an artist. Throughout
the years, there have been
monumental changes in the music
industry which have forced many
other musicians to abandon their
dreams, but Ferrick has proven
time and again that she is more
than capable of forging ever
onward. When Songwriter’s Monthly
caught up with her, Melissa was
wrapping up her latest studio
project and getting ready to go on
tour. She was also going through a
painful period of loss and mourning,
but true to her spirit, she remained
remarkably strong and focused
throughout the interview.
and being creative — keeping the juices fast the music world turns. “I was on
flowing. And it has helped.” the phone with her yesterday and I
said, ‘What about the Jonas Brothers,
Rolling with the flow is nothing new to they kinda came and went really fast.’
Melissa. Over the course of her career, She told me that Nick has his own solo
she has remained fluid in her approach. project going already?! It used to take
ten records for people to go solo! Or
“It was such a different world when you they never went solo, at all.
and I first met,” she recalled. “Nirvana Everything’s moving so fast, you know?
was huge and they still pressed And I don’t know if it’s better.”
cassettes to sell at Tower Records! It’s
not even like people release regular Ferrick noted that even the vibe at a
records anymore. There’s kind of a live performance has changed
freedom in that,” she considered, “but drastically over just the past few years.
there’s also kind of a sadness because “People are not used to being around
there really isn’t the need to have a other people anymore — the energy at
theme or an order in which you place a live show is chaotic,” the artist
the songs, a lot of that creativity has mourned. “We’re just not all that used
been taken away.” to being around each other anymore
and I think that is sad. I miss people
“My niece is 11 and she loved the Jonas knowing that you shouldn’t really get
Brothers . . . for like 2 seconds!” up in the middle of the song and go to
Melissa continued, reflecting on how the bathroom, you should wait till the
“I just couldn’t go
any more.”
end of the song. There are less kids “I think that essentially what will end up
going to shows where you learn to clap happening, especially at a major label
after a solo and appreciate the artist level,” Melissa predicted, “is that you will
and appreciate the show. There are become incredibly famous in about six
cultural rules within a cultural months and you will get a huge deal with
exposition. For Coke or Mountain
example, you don’t Dew, then you will
really talk that “That’s what I felt the do three youtube
loud in a museum
or a library. All
most sad about, I felt concerts and people
will buy a ticket to
these things are that I had no spirit, I watch you play on a
kind of going by the sound stage . . .
wayside because just felt like a walking and no one will ever
people are sitting
behind a computer, dead person.” actually see you in
person!”
talking, watching
tv, eating and giving their dog a treat all Melissa took a moment to relate an
while they are looking at Picasso amusing anecdote regarding live shows.
online.” “I’ve actually shown up to shows of
mine and had posters up in front of the Ferrick’ and its this big smiley picture of
club where I’m playing and they will my cousin who was selling merch with
have pulled a photo off of my me that night.”
website . . . but it’s not me!” she
revealed, laughing. “It was my On a more serious note, Melissa talked
merch[andise] seller! It would be a about a wall that she hit a few years
poster declaring ‘Live Tonight Melissa ago, a wall that she just couldn’t break
through, and a drastic change she had
to make in order to keep on performing. ENOUGH ABOUT ME
After a frightening experience, she Track List:
realized she needed to slow down her
pace. “I was playing probably 180 1. Deathly (Aimee Mann)
shows a year,” she noted, “and you 2. How to be Righteous (Lori McKenna)
really can only go so long doing that 3. Such Great Heights (The Postal
before you’re on the verge of dropping Service)
dead from exhaustion . . . or having a 4. Babylon (David Gray)
nervous breakdown. I hit a level of 5. Creep (Radiohead)
exhaustion about three years ago and I 6. Call and Answer (The Bare Naked
just couldn’t go any more. I was just Ladies)
done. I had lost a lot of weight. I wasn’t 7. One (U2)
upset or depressed, my body was just 8. Moses (Patty Griffin)
done. My brain was still going, but my 9. Bad habit *produced version
body was like ‘Yeah no, we’re not going (Melissa Ferrick)
to be able to do that this week.’” 10. Hypocrite *produced version
(Melissa Ferrick)
“I took some time off “Without your health and without your
and gained 15 spirit, you don’t have anything.”
pounds. I’m really “I felt that I had no spirit, that’s what I

was the most sad about, I just felt like
healthy and feel a walking dead person.”
fantastic physically But that was then, before the most
and emotionally.” recent change. Melissa was forced to
confront the very real limits of what she
“I remember people asking me — when was doing to her body by constantly
I was in the middle of it and loving being on overdrive. Now Melissa is once
every minute of it — people would be again thriving. “I took some time off
like, ‘I can’t believe you do this, how do and gained 15 pounds. I’m really
you do this?’ I would answer, ‘I don’t healthy and feel fantastic physically and
know, I just do, I love doing it.’ I once emotionally.”
had a fan follow me for 4 days straight
and on the 3rd day they looked at me Melissa Ferrick is currently on tour
and said, ‘I have so much more respect supporting her album of covers entitled,
for you than ever before.’ I was like, ENOUGH ABOUT ME. To find out when
‘Dude it hasn’t even been 4 days, try 4 she’ll be in your town, visit:
months . . . talk to me in 8 years!’”
www.melissaferrick.com
It was only by hitting that wall and http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?
simply not being able to go on any id=hyTjEIK1pMo&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid

=1826&RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F
%252Fitunes.apple.com%252Fus%252Fartist
more that Melissa was forced to realize:

%252Fmelissa-ferrick%252Fid495500%253Fuo
%253D6%2526partnerId%253D30
Sarah DeLeo
Song
Interpreter
Sarah DeLeo is a class act with a silky her hair and the subtle shifts in line
tone that is at once bold and reserved, and phrasing create an arrangement
sultry and innocent. Her latest album is that not only sounds new, but is also
a collection of covers entitled I’M IN perfectly natural and effortless.
HEAVEN TONIGHT.
The opening track, “Rockin’ Robin,” is
Sarah doesn’t just sing the tracks on presented with a laid back swinging
her album, she takes each song and groove that features an enchanting
gently sculpts it, molds it, shapes it flute solo. The song is not quite how
into something that is completely her you’ve ever experienced it before, yet
own. She twirls the melody innocuously somehow it sounds like it’s something
like a girl absentmindedly playing with you’ve listened to your whole life.
But for all her tweaking, Sarah doesn’t
consider herself a writer. “I’m a song
interpreter,” she explained. “I break
down the songs harmonically, I break
them down rhythmically, and I’ve
always considered it to be taking
liberties with the material when I
perform. In some ways, I guess it is
rewriting,” she offered, “but I consider
it interpreting because the bare bones
are somebody else’s.”
Besides breaking the songs down from

a musical perspective, DeLeo applies
practices she learned while studying
acting. Sarah studied with two actors
who introduced her to the Stella Adler as captivating as her performances are,
method. In a very simplistic summary, DeLeo expressed that she gets more
Stella Adler’s approach teaches actors comments on her choice of songs than
to never limit their abilities by drawing anything else.
on real memories and experiences,
instead they should draw from their One attention-worthy cover is the White
imagination in order to be able to Stripes’ “In The Cold, Cold Night.”
express a far greater depth and range. Sarah outlined how she adapted the
song to fit her style: “I had been doing
As enthralling as her voice can be and “In The Cold, Cold Night” for a while
and I didn’t record it
on my first album even
though I had been
singing it at the time. I
have the SEVEN
N ATION A RMY album
and I remember
listening to that track
and thinking, Gee this
sounds a lot like
‘Fever.’ I listened to
the arrangement that
Peggy Lee did — she
basically sings to the
song once, then she
modulates and that
was it. So that’s what
we did in this tune. We
worked on it a little bit
and then we recorded it that way and it humor in that one because it’s very
just really worked out great.” ironic at the end when it says: “no
moon at all up above/this is nothing
A personal favorite of Sarah’s is a song like they told us of/just to think we fell
called “No Moon At All.” “I read the in love/and there’s no moon at all.”
l y r i c s a n d I j u s t l ove d i t !” s h e
expressed. “With a lot of the songs I I’M IN HEAVEN TONIGHT is a lush album,
sing, there’s something kind of serious saturated with atmosphere and supper
and earnest about them, but with that club charm. For more information on
one, I liked that there was a sense of Sarah and her music, visit:
irony about it. I don’t really do a lot of
songs that could be considered ‘funny,’ http://www.sarahdeleo.com
but I thought there was actually some
The Story Behind

The Song:
Ryan Hammer
“Famous”
“Growing up, my Mom suffered
from a lot of depression and
anxiety, and my father was kicked
out of the house for abuse when I
was 14. The first verse of “Famous”
is a summary of every experience I
had when I was a kid, going to
shows and meeting my idols and
telling them how much I wanted to
be like them when I grew up. The
third verse is me now, realizing my
dreams, living the life I love to live
every single day. I never feel like
doing music is a job, it's a passion.
And my life is full of passion.”
For more information on Ryan and his music, visit:

http://facebook.com/RyanHammer826
http://www.myspace.com/RyanSHammer
http://youtube.com/RyanHammer826
Quite often, the more hype, the less
impressive a release. With all the hysteria
surrounding Little Boots’ (aka Victoria
Hesketh) HANDS you might think it’s
impossible for the album to live up to the
anticipation. But if anything, the hype falls
far short of describing what a meticulous
gem this full-length debut truly is.
The entire album throbs with an

invigorating pulse. There is simply not a
single track that is not single-worthy.
Victoria’s voice is as flawless as the edge

of a diamond. She delivers her lyrics with
a sharp, confident thrust. “New In Town”
begins with a pointed staccato verse that
explodes into a rousing, industrial
carousel, i.e., the chorus.
“Earthquake,” on the other hand, offers a

slightly more lush and lyrical listening
experience.
As striking as Victoria’s vocal work is,

ultimately it’s her synth wizardry which will
leave listeners utterly enchanted. Her deft use of beats
and fat, fat sounds is both hypnotic andadrenalizing.
!"#$% “Tune Into My Heart” is a hypnotic track that features a

masterful threading of delicate, airy vocals that
effortlessly manage to dominate the
unyielding, propulsive bass.
Also, don’t miss the supremely gratifying

cameo of Philip Oakey’s (The Human
League) unmistakable vocals on the tasty
“Symmetry.”
With the release of HANDS, Victoria

Hesketh has earned herself a place in the
top tier of the music world. The album is exquisitely-
crafted, immaculately produced and an absolute rush to
listen to. http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?
id=hyTjEIK1pMo&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tm
pid=1826&RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F
%252Fitunes.apple.com%252Fus%252Fartist
%252Flittle-boots%252Fid291346210%253Fuo
%253D6%2526partnerId%253D30
Q & A With
Winston Gay
(Guitarist/Singer/
Songwriter/Author)
A protégé of Gamble & Huff's 'Sound of
Philadelphia,' Philadelphia-born Winston
Gay has toured with an impressive list of
artists such as Maceo Parker, The Stylistics,
The Delphonics, Bunny Siegler, Harold
Melvin and The Blue Notes and many
others. An accomplished songwriter and
composer, Winston has recently written a
charming, insightful how-to book for
songwriters entitled THE ‘MONSTER’
SONGWRITER’S MANUAL.
S o n g w r i t e r ’ s M o n t h l y : Yo u a r e with the God of the Holy Bible. For me

talented in a wide variety of areas, if His Word is the driving force and
you could only have become inspiration behind any of my
accomplished in one of them, which accomplishments to date.
area would it be and why?
SM: How long did it take to write THE
Winston Gay: This is a very ‘MONSTER’ SONGWRITER’S MANUAL?
challenging question for me, because I
thoroughly enjoy the variety of things I WG: A little over a year; however, it
do. Each one gives me a different type took two years for the finished work to
of pleasure. My best answer would be to come to print, because 75% of the
produce original music in different original text was lost due to computer
styles. As a producer, I can sort of ‘have malfunction and a damaged backup
my cake and eat it too.’ copy.
SM: What is the driving force behind SM: Your writing style is engaging,
your accomplishments? upbeat and easy to understand. What is
your background in writing?
WG: My life experiences have
culminated into a personal experience WG: Actually, my major in high school
was Art, not Literature. Though I have no who has been writing for a while? If so
formal training in modern English, I have how?
always been attracted to word usage and
story telling from Shakespeare to Rod WG: Chapter 5 in my book is applicable
Serling, Jane Austin, to for both the new or
James Michener, and a experienced writer. When
handful of other unique
writers. In addition, my
“Writer’s Block building something
tangible, a builder
family is a story telling is a mental or usually constructs from
family. Our tradition is to the bottom up, due
have stimulating emotional largely to the laws of
conversation about
almost anything. I was
condition or physics. In the creative
art of songwriting, one is
the one who took some state that, like free to build his/her song
of my family’s ‘ordinary from any starting point
conversation,’ and began amnesia, should he chooses. In Chapter
to transform their ideas
into a ditty, poem or a
only be 5, I explain how to build
a song using more
song. temporary.” conventional or ‘tangible’
methods. Whether you
SM: As far as song- are a novice or a
writing and music, do you have any p r o f e s s i o n a l w r i t e r, t h e b a s i c
favorite styles or artists/writers that you methodology of composition always
look up to or draw from? yields a skeleton on which to ‘flesh out’
your song. Read section three of
WG: As a ‘baby-boomer’, I certainly had Chapter 5 and you may find a scenario
a select list of favorites pertinent to my that fits your current situation.
own era, but truth is there
are great artists/writers in
every generation and
culture; some, who in due
season, rise to the top of
their game through the sheer
originality of their talent. In
the manual, the chapter
‘Published & Unpublished’
expounds on this in greater
detail.
SM: In Chapter 5, you

explain how to ‘build” a song
in 7 steps. Do you think this
outline is helpful to just the
beginning writer, or do you
think it could help someone
SM: In your book, you have an excellent skilled ‘song-smith’ is able to extract the
line that states: “You can’t write what essence of the text, and lay (not discard)
yo u r m i n d c a n ’ t s e e .” B e g i n n i n g the excess on the side for future use.
songwriters can be very stubborn about
this because they SM: Do you have any quick tips on
do not know all breaking through Writer’s Block?
they do not see.
What advice do WG: Not really. Writer’s Block is a
you have for mental or emotional condition or state
beginning (and that, like amnesia, should only be
seasoned) writers temporary. I know of no quick fix, (short
regarding this of shock therapy), but it is fix-able.
point? Chapter 11 should get the cobwebs out
and start you on the road to productivity.
WG: True enough,
you can’t get SM: Is there anything you’d like to bring
blood from a up that is important to you about
stone, but there is songwriting (or any other aspect of your
another approach or remedy for this. career/s)?
One may say, “I can’t write what I can’t
see.” Granted, but what CAN you see? WG: What is important to me is that
What is the one thing that you CAN get true songwriting is an art and a craft.
from that stone? Everyone has a vision Words and ideas should not be strung
of something whether they realize it or together cavalierly or used carelessly.
not. Focus in on what you CAN see, not All gifts and talents carry with them a
what you can’t. It’s all a matter of degree of responsibility and
perspective. Is your glass ‘half empty’ or maintenance. See: “Standards of
‘half full’? Excellence” in the ‘Monster
Musician’s Manual’.
SM: Could you briefly talk about the
importance of starting a song in a For more information on the many
paragraph format? What are the things Winston is involved in, visit:
benefits of doing this?
http://www.winstongay.com
WG: All songs begin as ideas in search
of a medium of expression. It’s like For more information on
asking a person to tell you what they’re
thinking about. All of us have some THE ‘MONSTER’
opinion, viewpoint, comment, praise, SONGWRITER’S MANUAL
question or criticism about most things.
We all have something to say. These visit:
thoughts form long or short paragraphs
Xlibris
that can become condensed or made
palatable for general use. These Barnes & Noble
paragraphs have songs hidden within. A Amazon
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First Person
This article appears as a response to last
month’s request for first person anecdotes.
The Dubliners
by Haldjas
One night, I crossed the wonderful page of The Irish Descendants http://(
www.myspace.com/210278482) on Myspace, thanks to my friend who picked them
for her profile song. And that encounter reminded me of my long-ago passion for
Irish folk music — which has never really deceased — and The Dubliners. http://
(
www.myspace.com/thedublinersmyspace )
I met the Dubliners when I was about 4. They

lived on a big brown tape and used to sing
to me almost every day. I was given the
ultimate priority right to handle my
father's tape player all by myself
(almost), and later a half-broken
cassette player connected to
stereo speakers (I believe I
learned to attach the speakers
myself, too).
I wonder if they were the only

Irish band known in Soviet
Estonia in those times
(around 1986)? Probably. And
probably their recordings
were not freely available
either. I am not very sure
about that. Maybe it was just
rare (as everything) and you
had no other choice than to
make a copy. We had The
Beatles, too, and that was
surely forbidden stuff.
Though, by that time, the
Soviet state was kind of
already breaking down,
things were changing — I
couldn't quite catch the
whole thing with my child mind,
but from a few years later I
remember my mother anxiously took a break and people went out to
watching the news and broadcasts of the breathe. So, I had a chance to walk
singing revolution gatherings in the around and, of course, I went to see the
capital Tallinn. (We ourselves lived in stage! The musicians were on the stage
Tartu and we had borrowed a little TV and they started speaking to me. I
from a friend for that occasion.) understood nothing, but I was still very
excited because I liked them and their
But in 1986, the Dubliners were part of music a lot! They gave me some things,
my everyday life. I used to go to a of which I had no idea of, but they looked
children's dancing group — we did all interesting and colourful. I ran back to
kinds of stuff there like singing and my mom and together we discovered
playing and dancing with ribbons. I had that these were Irish coins, huge pieces
my personal ribbon-sticks and I made up of metal that had harps drawn on the
my own choreography to the Irish tunes backside and all kinds of other interesting
at home. My special favourite was “Maids pictures as well. I believe there were 4
when you're young never wed an old coins altogether, all different. I kept them
man.” Let me assure you that I didn't in a special place, a small green wallet
understand a WORD of English at that (quite Irish green, actually). From time to
time. But I will always remember that time, I used to take them out and dream
tune. about going to Ireland.
Years later, I rediscovered the song, AND Now, more than 20 years later, I still
the meaning of the words (oh my, my) have the coins, I still love Irish songs and
and I decided to sing it. Now, “Maids...” dream about going there someday :)
has become quite stuck in my repertoire.
I often like to sing this jolly little song. In Long live the Dubliners and may you all
Estonia, half of the people don't get the have hope in your lives!
meaning (and sometimes I pray that
they don't!). http://myspace.com/haldjas
Once an Irish band came to give

a concert in my hometown Tartu.
I have no idea who they were.
Probably not the Dubliners! The
tiny concert hall was
overcrowded, chairs were behind
t h e d o o r, l o t s o f p e o p l e
everywhere. We were sitting
outside on a chair — mainly
because I believe my mom
wanted to have a chance to
escape quickly in case I became
tired or just behaved badly. They
must have sensed the lack of air
in the main room, because they A young Haldjas, circa 1986.
ITEMS OF INTEREST
K e n nett F la sh
Looking for a new venue to enjoy live
music? The Kennett Flash is located
in Kennett Square, PA. This southern
Chester County arts and music venue
is close to Wilmington and only one
hour from Philadelphia and Baltimore.
The all-ages listening concert venue
opened in January 2009 and continues
to bring new fans to enjoy national,
regional and local talent. 2010 started strong with a wide array of musicians. The
next few months will see the Flash hosting such national acts as Steve Forbert,
Johnny A, Jonathan Edwards, Ellis Paul, The Kennedys, John Lilley (The Hooters),
and many others. Local and regional acts include IKE and Ben Arnold.
Most of the shows occur on Friday and Saturday nights in this intimate 100 seat
venue. Local musicians can try their songs out on Sunday evenings for the ever
popular Open Mic Night. There have been occasions when local artists performing
at the Open Mic Night have gained an opening slot for the Friday or Saturday
shows. If you prefer, there is Blue Mondays where local blues musicians get up
on stage to jam and groove as patrons listen and enjoy a snack or beverage.
If live music is not your style, there are movie nights on Wednesdays and the
Flash has had poetry slams and art shows. The Kennett Flash also hosts private
events and fundraisers. There is not a bad seat in the house, although I do
prefer the balcony as my choice to see and hear the live music.
You can keep up to date with the Kennett Flash at www.kennettflash.org or on

their Facebook, MySpace or Twitter pages. The Kennett Flash is an ongoing
program of Historic Kennett Square www.historickennettsquare.com.
Come in and show off your stuff! All levels of

singers, songwriters and musicians, plus comics
and poets. Everyone's invited. You don't have to
perform. Kick back and relax and come early and
check out our menu. Note: Bands are welcome!
David Fiorenza is part of the duo Fiorenza-Dowlin. For more information on David,
visit http://www.myspace.com/fiorenzadowlin
ITEMS OF INTEREST
Open Call!
From FOX:
The executive producers of Glee

have begun a nationwide casting
search to fill three new roles that
will be added to the show's second

season. Auditions will be open to
professional and amateur
individuals between the ages of
16-26. Look for more information
on when you can submit auditions
at http://www.fox.com/glee/
audition. [In the meantime, you can
visit the site to enjoy audition
videos of Glee's season one cast.]
Make The Cut

Make the Cut, hosted by American Idol Matt
Giraud, is a talent contest for singers and
vocalists. The contestant left standing after this
multi-round, progressive-elimination
competition will be declared the Grand
Prize Winner and will – quite literally –
Make the Cut: that is, the winner will
cut a recording at the southeast
Michigan studio with the
encouragement and under the
guidance of Matt Giraud and other
industry professionals.
Make The Cut
ITEMS OF INTEREST
S o n g w r i ti ng Contests
2010 THEME: LOVE SONGS

Deadline for submissions: April 1, 2010
Be creative! This means all kinds of love: for a child, a friend, a pet, a place, your
mom, God, a lover past or present. Love here now, long ago and far away, wished
for, or love gone astray. Whether it be a ballad, dance tune, chant or shanty, we
want to hear your emotion expressed musically and lyrically . . . anything goes.
This year the Winners will earn local, regional and national performances
opportunities at the following venues: The Kimmel Center Summer
Solstice, Bethlehem Musik Fest, The Philadelphia Folk Festival Rose Tree Media
Summer Concerts, Sellersville Theater, BRE Presents: Independent live music
presenter and a National Radio Appearance.
Click Here for all submission details.
Guitar Center has

teamed up with one of
the greatest guitarists
to ever walk the earth
to present YOUR
NEXT RECORD with
SLASH, a ground-
breaking unsigned band competition that will give one up-and-coming band the
chance to win the ultimate career-altering opportunity: record a 3-song EP with the
legendary producer behind Guns N' Roses, Mike Clink, and have Slash write, record
and perform on the winning artists’ single.
From now through April 30th bands across the U.S. are invited to submit their
music at YourNextRecord.com for a chance to win.
Previously . . .
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For those who missed earlier issues of Songwriter’s Monthly,

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Sept-09-117aTawny-Heath
Sept. ’09 Special Edition: Sept. ’09 Oct. ’09
Fe a t u r i n g : C o u n t r y / Po p Featuring: Imelda May, Leona Featuring: The Postmarks,
artist Tawny Heath. Lewis, Jeremy Greene, Pop Black Gold, Nicky, Janet
Tarts, and Elizabeth and the Robin, Miss Issa, The Drums,
Catapult. and Lantana.
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doc/22977118/SM-Nov-09-119http:// doc/24378688/SM-Dec-09-120http:// Atlantic Records CEO,
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Nov-09-119http://www.scribd.com/ Featuring:
Dec-09-120http://www.scribd.com/ Monthly-Jan-10-121-Issue
Featuring:
-lus: Serena Ryder, Mark Wayn
&
Brigitte Zarie Arika Kane
doc/22977118/SM-Nov-09-119http:// doc/24378688/SM-Dec-09-120http:// http://www.scribd.com/doc/
/lasmire, Mishon, Katia & Mor
&
Nov-09-119http://www.scribd.com/ Dec-09-120http://www.scribd.com/
Monthly-Jan-10-121-Issue
Nov. ’09, #119
http://www.scribd.com/SongwritersMonthly Dec. ’09, #120
http://www.scribd.com/SongwritersMonthly http://www.scribd.com/SongwritersMonthly Jan. ’10, #121
doc/22977118/SM-Nov-09-119 doc/24378688/SM-Dec-09-120
Nov. ’09 Dec. ’09 Jan. ’10
Featuring: Andy Chase, Katia, Featuring: Brigitte Zarie, Lisa Featuring: Arika Kane, Jason
Serena Ryder, Mark Wayne Lisa, Beru Revue, Marty Castro, Local Natives, Abby
Glasmire, Mishon, Charlotte Paris, Billy Idol, Rosanne Parks, Atlantic Records’ CEO,
Gainsbourg, and more! Cash, and more! Wallace Collins, and more!

Songwriter&#39;s Monthly Feb 10, #122 Issue

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Songwriter&#39;s Monthly Feb 10, #122 Issue

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Songwriter’s Monthly

This month there is a new feature called “First Person.” “First

Thanks for being involved . . . and thanks for reading!

“I’m just chorus in my head before I sat down to write

the music is.” Thornley knew she needed to bounce

with. Even when we have really rough days

When asked which track was the hardest,

Another song with a similar message is the

“I!ve never really thought of it till this

When asked about any unifying theme or

human journey, “There!s No Way” Beth

then we all get

sometimes, too.” “I was really worried

“If you!ve got more than one or two

“I don!t know what

In an exclusive message on her website,

had nothing to But that all changed with these five

In fact, the songs have

“Also the producer whom I worked

This ability to take the dark and

Another contrast — one that Paige

As far as the title of her debut EP,

“I have all these ideas and I’m testing them

Paige Nichols’ debut EP is an engaging

so fast, you know? H o w e v e r, j u s t b e c a u s e M e l i s s a

From her early days on Atlantic

pounds. I’m really “I felt that I had no spirit, that’s what I

simply not being able to go on any id=hyTjEIK1pMo&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid

more that Melissa was forced to realize:

Besides breaking the songs down from

The Story Behind

For more information on Ryan and his music, visit:

The entire album throbs with an

Victoria’s voice is as flawless as the edge

“Earthquake,” on the other hand, offers a

As striking as Victoria’s vocal work is,

!"#$% “Tune Into My Heart” is a hypnotic track that features a

Also, don’t miss the supremely gratifying

With the release of HANDS, Victoria

S o n g w r i t e r ’ s M o n t h l y : Yo u a r e with the God of the Holy Bible. For me

SM: In Chapter 5, you

I met the Dubliners when I was about 4. They

I wonder if they were the only

Once an Irish band came to give

You can keep up to date with the Kennett Flash at www.kennettflash.org or on

Come in and show off your stuff! All levels of

The executive producers of Glee

will be added to the show's second

Make The Cut

2010 THEME: LOVE SONGS

Click Here for all submission details.

Guitar Center has

For those who missed earlier issues of Songwriter’s Monthly,

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Songwriter's Monthly Feb 10, #122 Issue

Songwriter's Monthly Feb 10, #122 Issue