Seasonal Songwriting Inspiration
Along with the changing seasons, as the year draws to a close, we inevitably start reflecting on the past, whilst turning our thoughts to the future. As songwriters and artists, our creative energy is directly influenced by these seasons, and the changes and evolution of nature.
In this month’s Session Notes blog, Project 7 Songwriting Retreats Creative Director, Lisa Fitz, looks for inspiration in the changing seasons as she shares some top tips on how you can harness this inspiration for the greater good of your songwriting practise.
Here in the UK the days are getting colder and darker, and I find myself retreating to a more reflective place creatively. If, like me, you tend to juggle several music projects at once, these seasonal changes can both inspire and overwhelm. My days are jam packed with all the admin it takes to keep my practice progressing, and sometimes my stamina tank feels a bit depleted. If you can relate, then I hope these top tips can help you re-charge your seasonal songwriting inspiration.
Listen to it: Sometimes I forget to listen to music. Properly listen. Taking the time to sit and immerse yourself in a favourite album, or to find a totally new artist to dive into, can feel self-indulgent. I’ve recently re-discovered Peter Gabriel’s ‘Passion’ soundtrack and have allowed myself the time to plunge myself into his magical musical landscapes. This has inspired some vocal arrangements for a project I’ve been working on for the past few months.
Imagine it: Give yourself permission to let go of any rules or boundaries you’ve set around your songwriting practise. You could do this by opening up a new track on your DAW and finding some inspirational beats or sounds that are outside your usual songwriting lane. Do a Spotify random search and find a song way out of your comfort zone and use it as a template for a new idea.
"I have followed the Pro7ect journey since the very beginning, and have always felt that there are synergies between our two brands. Now feels like the perfect time to get Headliner officially involved, and we're delighted to be partnering with Lisa and her team on this special 10th Anniversary edition at the iconic Rockfield Studios.”
– Paul Watson, Headliner Magazine CEO
Book it: schedule a time for your next songwriting session. Commit it to your diary and clear the air around it so you can focus on the creative task at hand. Start with a couple of hours once or twice a week, and your productivity will soar. Note to self: turn your phone and WIFI off.
Share it: find someone new to share your idea’s or collaborate with. For some people this is a scary step, as songwriting is a very private art. I’ve found that there are times to be alone in this practice as well as time to share. Our Project7 (Pro7ect) residential songwriting retreats at the world famous Rockfield Studios are designed specifically to give you the opportunity to find your tribe. You’ll work with songwriters and producers in our daily writing teams in the rooms where Oasis, Queen, Bowie and many more musical greats have written and recorded. Now in our 10th year, Pro7ect offers artists a unique opportunity to upskill, get results (a songs a day) and meet future collaborators. It’s a no-brainer. Apply to join us this May at: www.pro7ect.com/apply
★★★★★ “…one week here is worth more than a year at music tech Uni.”
- YOUTH Pro7ect Headline Producer (The Orb, The Verve, Paul McCartney)
Shake it: Give yourself 5 creative goals for the next 6 months. Write them down in order of importance and make a project plan for the top goal. I’m great at starting projects, that’s the fun bit. The rubber hits the road about half-way through and then I regularly feel the inspirational slump between half-time and endgame. This is when I need support and inspiration. I have many coping strategies for this kind of slump, and the most useful one is..
Walk it: Yup, go for a good, old-fashioned walk. In nature, in suburb, in city, wherever you find yourself. By getting up and moving you can unblock the most stagnant creative ruts and actually find many new ideas and inspirations along the way. I find most of my creative idea’s whilst walking. It also helps me process difficult decisions and the inevitable ups and downs of living an artistic life.
“The retreat was a great experience in terms of all my expectations. I couldn’t recommend the P7 retreat more highly for those
from a solo writer / self-producer background.”
- Mark Jones P724 artist
Songwriting inspiration is the holy grail of our craft, and we need to hone the skills required to turn this tap on whenever we need it. We don’t have to leave it to chance, we can take active steps to develop and cultivate our songwriting inspiration… and it starts now! Write down how you are feeling right now about someone or something you have been thinking about. These thoughts and feelings are the beginnings of a whole new creative adventure. Your job is to Make It Happen.
Pro7ect is proudly sponsored by Headliner Magazine.
To register you interest in joining us at Rockfield Studios for Pro7ect’s residential retreat and Masterclass in May 2025 go to: https://www.pro7ect.com/apply
About Pro7ect:
Pro7ect is the UK’s premier residential songwriting retreat, based at Rockfield Studios in Wales. Now in our 10th year, Pro7ect offers artists, musicians, songwriters, and producers the unique opportunity to work with internationally respected music producers at our events. Invest in your future. Record a song a day. Find your tribe. Get results!
