Rock Anthem!

One of the cool things that I get to do in my freelance work is to participate in a corporate program called “The Rock Anthem”.  Basically, I help facilitate a group of people in writing lyrics to their own song, based on the goals they want to achieve in their company.  The music is written based around a questionnaire that they (unknowingly!) participate in; so the style is very much determined by the company, which is then translated by a songwriter.  My role is to arrange the song in the style that’s been chosen, and then be at the session to record and mix it down, ready to go on their video which is also shot on the day.  The group I work with is called The Lab Creative, and it’s headed up by my good friend Trina Gilchrist.  Matthew Robinson is their key composer.  Check them out at www.thelabcreative.com

It’s a hell of a lot of fun to do, and it allows me to dig into my mental collection of material and create a song that “sounds like” whatever their chosen style is.  In the past I’ve had to recreate P!nk, Coldplay, U2, Bon Jovi, and more.  And although I may not write myself in these styles, it’s fun to full other sonic compositions apart and discover what they used to make their track their own.

This is like creative professional development for me, because I learn about how other composers and songwriters form and arrange their songs.  Which in turn opens up my own ears to new sounds, instrumentations, rhythms and dynamics.  For there, I’ll start using that knowledge to inform my own writing and arranging.  Sometimes, it’s just a matter of realising; “Oh, that’s what they used in there.”

Every opportunity is a chance to learn, to develop, to grow and to understand.  I love working on these rock anthems, and really look forward to doing more in the future.

Until tomorrow,

Blog ya later!

Drew