Life After Pop Songwriting
I remember asking my friend, hit songwriter Jon (“Crazy For You,” “Boogie Wonderland”) Lind – he took that pic of me during one of our writes – if he missed writing pop songs. He had recently had his fill of sessions and joined the other side – A&R at Hollywood Records. This was about twenty years ago.
He didn’t even flinch. He said, quite definitively, not at all. He doesn’t miss it. If he never writes another it would be too soon.
I thoughts about that for years.
At the time I was still in the room and couldn’t imagine that one day I wouldn’t seek to be there any more. For the longest time I was in the habit of believing there was only one goal for a song: to get someone to record it and get it on the radio. Heard by millions. Rinse and repeat.
But time is a funny thing.
There are other adjacent sports.
If you’re privy to my adventures you know I’ve been working on a musical. And writing a YA novel. And writing an album of songs to accompany that novel. New endeavors can be humbling. You put yourself back in harms way. The learning curve. The rejection. You turn back into a small fish. 😳
I kinda dig it.
We’re doing a reading of the Musical in NYC in Oct. If you’d like to be kept aware of the progress of SNIPPED! scroll to the bottom of this. If seats allow, maybe you can even come see it. I promise – you won’t be receiving a newsletter every week, even though I wish there was something to report that often. Musicals are a slow moving animal.
At least it’s moving.
As for my book … there’s nothing to sign up for yet. You’ll hear about it in this very space when it’s ripe. I’ve had about 30 passes on the manuscript so far, but about 3 asks for more. I’m good with those numbers. During the months and months of waiting for bites, I’ve combed through the pages daily and made it stronger. The frustration from all the waiting has actually been a blessing. 🐟
I finished writing the songs. I found a delicious 22 year old singer who’ll be the voice of my protagonist.
My point is, when I think back to that conversation I had with Jon, I wish I could tell him that I get it now. That there is indeed life after being the go-to girl. Or guy. Or however you present. Sadly, he left the planet in 2022. I fucking miss him so much.
The other day my friend Brad told me he gets exhausted from just reading my blogs. He said he worked for so many years and when he stopped having fun he stopped working. I hear that. It’s just that I’m still having fun.
Just as I was about to publish this piece, I got an email asking if I would do a write. With a cool band. One I’ve been a fan of. Back in the room?Life is what happens when you’re busy swearing shit off. I’m in!
Thanks for being here. Subscribe to my blog here. Get a signed CD or copy of Confession of a Serial Songwriter. And visit me on my Serial Songwriter Facebook Page. Oh and, if you’d like to be kept in the loop of what’s happening with SNIPPED! the Musical, sign up for newsletters here.