Molly Beanland about 'How i like to write'

After listening to hear latest demo on mySpace I Can Hardly Breath!
I take that opportunity to republish an exerpt from her blog. I think it can be interesting for others (including musicians) - not only because she uses the most common (& also from my point of view rewarding) way to write music, in collaboration - but also because her thoughts about writing unfortunatly not just are a matter of course.
Molly about "how i like to write":
Next week we'll be working on a song which I wrote with Tom Ingleby, my favoured co-writer. Tom is a really talented writer, his tracks are always so full of beauty and meaning. The way we usually work is that he will work on a piece of music and then give it to me. Then, I will write a melody and the lyrics to it, and maybe the bvs at that point too. I will make a little version of it at home, put down a rough vocal and then we will have a look at it together.I think this is a good way to co-write, at least, it's the way i prefer.
I find song-writing such a personal thing, I dont want to write a song simply so that people will like it or buy it but because i want to actually say something or I want to live out an emotion. I mean, I want my songs to be good, of course i do, but what I think is good not what I think others will like. Because, that is what can be beautiful about music. It can be an expression of the soul, writing for "the market" is not that. Of course I want people to like my music but I dont want to force it upon them. and I dont want to second guess other peoples emotions and play on that, I dont want to trick my listeners. Does that make sense? I guess I say this having worked with a few high profile songwriters who are constantly saying things about saleability, like "hmm that lyric.... it's not clear enough... your audience might not get it" ....what is that about I think, why should I patronise my "audience". Where's the beauty in that? Where's the poetry in that?
Sure a simple line can be very effective and I love to use them but in cases where a lyric isnt clearcut, needs a little thinking through, maybe even needs a glance at the lyric book is the shading of the painters brush, its in the details, the meaning. I want to convey something in the way it demands to be conveyed, for example, if i'm writing about the universe and how beguiling it is, shouldn't the lyrics be a little beguiling too? If I'm writing a lyric about being honest and frank then the lyrics should be so too. A song about a twisting turning emotion that isnt quite figured out needs lyrics that embrace that.
But most importantly it's about expressing YOU, and not expressing the "you" that you think people want to buy into. I find that type of writing really sad. Depressing. There's nothing real about it......"stick a drum loop on it then people will buy it".... unless the drum loop is speaking to you and says what you want to say of course!So, I like to write in my own space, in my own time. When I'm feeling it. I dont think you can necessarily give that on cue... sometimes you can, but it's always less fresh and felt than had you got up at 4 am with an idea that you just cant contain... that's why i find these "song writing days" I sometimes get sent on a little but of an insult. I want to write a song with earnest not a "bish-bash-bosh here it's done" situation because thats not what music should be about, or thats not what it's about for me. I wish the world would see song-writing as a craft again. Doesnt matter what type of music it is, just look at Sean Paul, his lyrics are crafted, he puts his passion into it and you know he never writes for "the sell", and that's what we like about him.... the same goes the arctic monkeys, the foo fighters, shakira. I'm not saying I've got a problem with manufactured pop really. I like catchy songs just like anyone else... although I think it's a different approach because it's usually not the singer/band writing the songs. But anyway, I'm not complaining about music and not even the way some people like to write... just that I dont want to do it like that! I just cant write without meaning it, without being proud of it I cant sell it, I cant sing words that I have no conviction in. That's all I'm saying, I dont want to write for commercial appeal...I just want to be me and hope that maybe that appeals to some people anyway.
So please mr music industry dont send me on anymore soul destroying days.
This was seized 4 u at Molly Beanlands mySpace blog