Rethinking Taylor Swift
blog Shelly Peiken blog Shelly Peiken

Rethinking Taylor Swift

I sincerely hope she didn’t share that post because it’s “good for business” but because she’s growing up and feels the need to stand up for what she cares about — whatever it is she cares about — because it matters. It matters as much as the music.

Read More
Why Can't I Get This Song Cut?
blog Shelly Peiken blog Shelly Peiken

Why Can't I Get This Song Cut?

We’ve all written one. At least we think we have. You know…that song that’s just so good, you can’t figure out for the life of you why nobody has recorded it. 

Read More
We Did It
blog Shelly Peiken blog Shelly Peiken

We Did It

If music delivered to us by an invisible digital stream was here to stay (and don’t get me wrong, I love streaming—it’s versatile, convenient and an all-you-can-eat buffet), then laws had to change to bring digital royalty distribution into a digital age. But how?

Read More
Happy Birthday, Kay Hanley
blog Shelly Peiken blog Shelly Peiken

Happy Birthday, Kay Hanley

Age is relative. I have friends who are 70 who are younger than others who are 40. They never lose their sense of wonder, curiosity and the capacity to be inspired. Their imaginations are alive and well. They’ll be young forever, at least at heart. I want to be one of them. Like Kay!

Read More
Filling The Empty Nest
blog Shelly Peiken blog Shelly Peiken

Filling The Empty Nest

I wouldn’t exchange a minute of my mommy years with songwriting sessions I turned down, or didn’t get called for because I skewed...too mature. Feh. And even though the empty nest has it’s advantages I still stand in Layla’s bedroom and take in “the shrine” — artwork, nick-nacks, photographs and memories. The only thing that’s missing is her. 

Read More
SongSex Gone Wrong
blog Shelly Peiken blog Shelly Peiken

SongSex Gone Wrong

Every co-write is a like a blind date. You were psyched about that session. You had this killer idea—at least you thought so—one that made your heart beat faster. Sadly, it just didn’t have the same effect on your co-writer. So what do you do? 

Read More
Bebe Rexha is a Classy Mess
blog Shelly Peiken blog Shelly Peiken

Bebe Rexha is a Classy Mess

Inquiring minds have been inquiring and the answer is yes. Meredith Brooks and I received co-writing credit on Bebe Rexha’s “I’m A Mess.” The writers, Justin Tranter, Jussifer & Bebe herself, felt the hook on Mess had enough of a likeness to “Bitch” to offer up a piece. Most writers would have gone into denial and skipped merrily along onto their next co-write.

Read More
The Johnny Mercer Songwriters Project
blog Shelly Peiken blog Shelly Peiken

The Johnny Mercer Songwriters Project

I’ve heard it said, “those who can, dothose who can'tteach.” I reject that notion. I’m enjoying “doing” (writing songs) more than ever. I may not be making as much money as I did when physical albums were flying off the shelves but is that how we measure success?

Read More
Up Close & Personal
blog Shelly Peiken blog Shelly Peiken

Up Close & Personal

No matter how gloriously any recording artist delivers a song, there’s simply nothing like hearing the songwriter who wrote it sing it. Perhaps it's not as glamorous or controlled but there is a primal element in the the voice of the writer from whom the song emerged and that's something that nobody else can own. 

Read More
Say Yes
blog Shelly Peiken blog Shelly Peiken

Say Yes

"Yes" opens doors. Not necessarily the ones you are knocking on. Sometimes the goal in mind totally falls through but some other magical thing happens instead. By accident? Random luck? I think not. I KNOW you know what I mean. 

Read More
Teachable Songwriting
Uncategorized Shelly Peiken Uncategorized Shelly Peiken

Teachable Songwriting

For a successful destiny, one has to have the fire in their belly—which is usually recognized at a young age—and the desire to communicate within a 3.5 minute boundary. If these parameters are already in place then maybe one can learn to get better. 

Read More
Living Room Live
Uncategorized Shelly Peiken Uncategorized Shelly Peiken

Living Room Live

I’ve narrowed a 7 hour audio book down to an hour’s worth of the best bits. I put a mic and an amp in the corner of my office and every night I've been firing up the purple lights and running through the script. I'm enjoying myself immensely. So are my cats. I'm not sure how to proceed next, but I'll figure it out. One foot in front of the other. Like everything. If you build it they will come. 

Read More
What's Next
Uncategorized Shelly Peiken Uncategorized Shelly Peiken

What's Next

Indeed, life, career, love have their ups and downs. Perhaps the lulls are necessary, albeit not as thrilling, as the excitement. I’ve always enjoyed unscheduled time to collect my endless thoughts. Examining is where we get material. We need to take time to replenish. 

Read More
10,000 Hours
Uncategorized Shelly Peiken Uncategorized Shelly Peiken

10,000 Hours

Sometimes I feel invisible. I am a singer/songwriter who has yet to write a hit. I go to a party and when you ask what I do I tell you: I wake up every day and write songs. It’s like breathing. 

Read More

Confessions.