How to be a lazy songwriter
One way, at least, to put an end to perfectionism
Since July, I’ve been going to a weekly open mic. It’s hosted by a friend, who works to keep the energy open and easy. It’s the kind of space where people falter trying out a new song and get cheered on by the audience. Self-deprecating remarks are frequently—lovingly—booed. It’s my kind of open mic.Â
One of the reasons I’ve been going is as part of a commitment to weekly songwriting practice. I use the word ‘commitment’ lightly. I’ve been feeling my way in, giving myself tons of room to not write every single week. However, weekly is the aim, and to get close to achieving it I have been doing a lot of what I now think of as lazy songwriting.Â
I want to be clear: this is not the same as ‘being lazy about songwriting.’ In this practice, the doing of the songwriting is essential. It’s just that you get to be lazy about it while you do it. You get to lean on cliches, write obvious melodies, use your go-to chords, and be entirely derivative.
To be a lazy songwriter is to not give a fuck about making the song any better than what comes out naturally, with minimal effort. Â
It’s not the only mode you can or should engage when making music, but it will get you moving if you’ve been stationary. Just like any basic exercise, you will almost certainly feel better (if just a little) after you’ve done it, no matter how tedious.Â
For some, lazy songwriting may come very easily. You may not need my thoughts. For others, it might be harder to let go. For you, below I share my thoughts on how to be a true lazy songwriter.Â
Big love and keep going,Â
LucyÂ
On lazy songwriting …
MEMO - Surrender to unoriginality
It seems impossible that its the first time you’ve been told that chasing originality is a rookie error, but just in case … you must let this go. At least for lazy songwriting, but honestly, I’d hazard for all songwriting. Just let the thing be whatever the thing is. Honestly, trying to be original is kind of cringe anyway. Concretely this might look shamelessly writing in the style of a favorite artist because it’s easy, or it might look like using go-to chords in the same key you always gravitate towards. Whatever though, it doesn’t matter. Which brings me to my next point …Â
MEMO - Write about whatever
Truly, whatever: the text you just got, how your stomach feels, the stain on the wall, your fears about tomorrow. Anything. Whatever. What’s more, write about whatever, HOWEVER. In particular, I would say throw rhyming out the window if you find that difficult. OR, if rhyming is so easy as to be an embarrassment for you, embrace that rhyme crime. Â
MEMO - Satisfice to finish
The word ‘satisfice’ is a mash-up of ‘satisfy’ and ’suffice’. It means you do enough to meet the requirements of the task, and nothing more. In songwriting, this looks like making sure a song has a verse, chorus, and bridge and then calling it done. It means writing a second, kinda mid verse because most songs need two verses. Or, it means writing as much as you can and then calling it done because songs can be as long as you need them to be these days. Get it down, and call it done. You’ll feel fucking great afterwards. Â
Let me know: How much are you already a lazy songwriter?