Why Do You Write Your Own Music?
Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2018 6:58 pm
I've been thinking about this for a few days now, and I'm interested on hearing others' thoughts/opinions on it. Why do you write/create your own music? This is a completely subjective question/answer obviously...I'm sure that there is some level of satisfaction with seeing something go from abstract thought to a finished physical thing, but I'm more interested in the deeper reasons why we write our own.
Don't get me wrong, I like doing covers song as much as the next guy/girl; it is oftentimes (for me, anyways) less frustrating than trying to create a complete composition/song from the ground up. Personally, I like doing covers because I can almost "hide" behind the emotions/thoughts of the original songwriter. I feel "safer" expressing someone else's pre-conceived thoughts or feelings than my own. That's an odd way to put it, I know...it leads into my next thought about self-made music.
One thing about making my own music is that I feel I really expose myself in a very raw way. When I write a song, especially about something that triggers a strong emotion or emotions, it's almost as if I'm taking a piece of myself that I keep hidden and I show it to the outside world. I never feel like I can properly express these inner thoughts with words, so I always end up somewhat satisfied with whatever it is that I've made but I'm left wanting more. Wanting to be able to leave more of myself out there in the words and the sounds. On the flip side of that, I tend to get really self-conscious about exposing myself like that. Fear of rejection, or humiliation, or whatever.
I still get plenty of satisfaction out of writing my own music (and not sharing it quite yet), but I suppose it's all part of the growing process of being a musician. I may never feel totally comfortable releasing my deepest and darkest thoughts/fears outside of my own headspace, but I'm getting there slowly and surely.
I'd love to hear some thoughts on this!
Don't get me wrong, I like doing covers song as much as the next guy/girl; it is oftentimes (for me, anyways) less frustrating than trying to create a complete composition/song from the ground up. Personally, I like doing covers because I can almost "hide" behind the emotions/thoughts of the original songwriter. I feel "safer" expressing someone else's pre-conceived thoughts or feelings than my own. That's an odd way to put it, I know...it leads into my next thought about self-made music.
One thing about making my own music is that I feel I really expose myself in a very raw way. When I write a song, especially about something that triggers a strong emotion or emotions, it's almost as if I'm taking a piece of myself that I keep hidden and I show it to the outside world. I never feel like I can properly express these inner thoughts with words, so I always end up somewhat satisfied with whatever it is that I've made but I'm left wanting more. Wanting to be able to leave more of myself out there in the words and the sounds. On the flip side of that, I tend to get really self-conscious about exposing myself like that. Fear of rejection, or humiliation, or whatever.
I still get plenty of satisfaction out of writing my own music (and not sharing it quite yet), but I suppose it's all part of the growing process of being a musician. I may never feel totally comfortable releasing my deepest and darkest thoughts/fears outside of my own headspace, but I'm getting there slowly and surely.
I'd love to hear some thoughts on this!