How to write a song with Lake Street Dive

Songs performed and discussed:
"You Go Down Smooth" (Olson) begins at 5:20
"Look What a Mistake" (Price) begins at 20:30
"Seventeen" (Kearney) begins at 46:20
"I Don't Care About You" (Calabrese) begins at 1:06:05
"Let Me Roll It" (McCartney) begins at 1:51:35
After meeting while students at NEC in the early 2000s, Lake Street Dive has catapulted to stardom. NPR notes that they blend “jazz, folk, and pop in dangerously charming fashion." In this workshop, the band-vocalist Rachael Price '07, trumpet/guitar player Mike Olson '05, stand-up bassist Bridget Kearney '08 Tufts/NEC, and drummer Mike Calabrese '07-returned to NEC to share its wit and songwriting expertise with students.
ABOUT NEW ENGLAND CONSERVATORY
A cultural icon that will mark its 150th anniversary in 2017, New England Conservatory (NEC) is recognized worldwide as a leader among music schools. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, NEC offers rigorous training in an intimate, nurturing community to undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate music students from around the world. Its faculty of 225 boasts internationally esteemed artist-teachers and scholars. NEC alumni go on to fill orchestra chairs, concert hall stages, jazz clubs, recording studios, and arts management positions worldwide. Half of the Boston Symphony Orchestra is composed of NEC-trained musicians and faculty.
The only conservatory in the United States designated a National Historic Landmark, NEC presents more than 1000 free concerts each year. Many of these take place in Jordan Hall (which shares National Historic Landmark status with the school), world-renowned for its superb acoustics and beautifully restored interior.
Follow us!
/ necmusic
/ necmusic
/ necmusic

[@MrLikeAsatellite]

Every musician and every music lover must acknowledge that this band is absolutely extraordinairy.

[@KatBurnsKASHKA]

AGREE!

[@kleenx73]

Yup!

[@lindsay6281]

+MrLikeAsatellite Absolutely! Some of the comments here remind me of the movie idiocracy. :P LSD is indeed a fantastic group.

[@ziz180]

absolutely

[@AnalyticalSceptic]

agree, but generally speaking when listening to their songs he should stop playing trumpet, cuz he sucks at it, too much sloppiness

[@rbs2rt]

Genius: Sometimes playing as little as possible can be the most complicated thing you've ever done.

[@richardjacobs1701]

The band as an ensemble is quite good and their collaboration produced the inspired arrangement of I Want You Back. Rachael Price, however, is a revelation and the diamond in this setting. The voice of a soul sister, the looks of a beautiful 40"s femme fatale and phrasing chops to spare. There is vid of her here singing when she was 12 and anyone with ears knew then that she had the priceless gift of real talent.

[@babuddha]

I cannot imagine that Bridget wasn't the one to hear the potential in that incredibly rubbery Motown bass line from the original. But recently in concert, McDuck began the song with a magnificently bent-noted trumpet intro from which I recognized the song from the first note and the exaggerated rubbery space that followed before he played his second note. They do talk about the necessity of playing the spaces within the sounds created by a sparsely-populated band. It is within the spaces that LSD makes love with the notes.

[@johnisawesomo]

I love her voice, I love the rythms, I love the guitar, I love the bass, and I totally love this band!

[@jacobshirley3457]

I also love the trumpet. It's not technically perfect, but with enough soul, it's those "mistakes" that give it purpose. People say Jimmy Page is sloppy, but that's why he's great.

[@CatManDEW]

This is, indeed, a terrific band with some incredible talent. Rachael Price has a voice so powerful that I'd be afraid to stand directly in front of her once she lets loose for fear of getting knocked on my ass. The rest of the band is amazingly well balanced and multi-talented. It is truly a pleasure experiencing their music.

[@CatManDEW]

Rachel's voice is so strong that she could be put on foggy coasts to warn shipping traffic away from the shoals.

[@jimmeek7849]

And make them wish for thier babe on shore

[@chaimrabinowitz]

Loved Mike's comments about space in music - "it's like an awkward silence when you're on a date". GREAT analogy, Mike!!

[@rloomis3]

I'm really glad you posted this in its entirety, rather than slapping together a bunch of highlights. It's worth the full watch. Thanks NEC!

[@bobpug]

I absolutely love Bridget

[@TommyLikeTom]

Watching Rachel play the guitar reminds me of that of video of Jimmy Hendrix playing an acoustic guitar. That video is so valuable to me and have watched it over and over again, yet somehow this seems even better.

[@mr.c30]

That girl give shivers every time she opens hers mouth!

[@chaimrabinowitz]

This is so awesome! My son cut class to attend this masterclass and I can't get mad at him

[@SteveUnderhill]

Rachael with a guitar I'm over the moon omg.

[@peteschork9461]

damn...Rachael's voice is downright fantastic!

[@eccolibri]

Okay, that was awesome. My 18 year-old daughter just introduced me to this group yesterday, which proves she has great taste in music. I need to hear more, but the fact that they would take time out to speak to and play for this class speaks volumes about their passion for the music and the fact they seem very grounded.

[@jimmeek7849]

You need to pay attention to your daughter. She has showed you the best thing for YOU. That u You could ever imagine. Pack her am extra pb &j tomorrow. Then secretly listen to Lake Street Dive. And watch mom just come out of her skin!!!!! Can't wait. Jim

[@cobberdig]

Wow, I didn't think I'd still be here almost 2 hours later. Fantastic informative video. What a gifted bunch and they all articulate their ideas really well in particular the singer speaks with a confidence and clarity no wonder she is a great singer. I imagine she'd be an awesome teacher if you were lucky enough. Thanks for the upload.

[@goateeguy11221122]

I'm not a music student and I still really enjoyed watching this (and listening to it...hnnng).

[@natecorning]

would love to hear some of those mike calabrese demos. sounds like he thoroughly works out all the instrumentation and vocal harmonies. he seems like the most multi-talented member of this band.

[@annabelfernandez4664]

I am so thankful for this, really valuable insight for songwriting!

[@nataschahoffmeyer7400]

AMAZING. seen them 3 times now. incredibly talented, gifted musicians - every single one of them!

[@thumpdrum]

Love your sound, AND the drummer is an Eagles fan! Nice!

[@MrPhillyguy]

He's from the Philly suburbs.

[@jojo1865]

her voice is pure gold

[@omgaud]

Rachel Price has it all...So damned beautiful. Fantastic voice. The whole band is talented. We need more music like this. So much crap on the airwaves.

[@joematchmusic2232]

Marc Gaudette - Her name is spelled Rachael.

[@johnhill5108]

I saw you folks for the first time at the Greenfield music festival in Greenfield Ma back in 2013 or 14 and fell in love with your music and especially Rachael❤

[@dacole82]

Fanstastic band/songs, and fanstasic songwriting class!

[@DrQuizzler]

I had to watch this in sections, but I've gotten through the whole two hours in one day. Wonderful hearing about each member's songwriting process, and seeing the interplay among such different personalities. I've been binge-watching their videos the past few days, but this gives me a lot more insight into their dynamic. Great questions from the NEC kids, and great hearing about the band's conservatory roots.

[@chriscollman6672]

Thanks so much for uploading this. Probably not for everyone, but it is so nice to have bits and pieces of interviews be in one place....and more. The interplay/teasing between them, the nods of agreement really show how they are friends and are on the same page. A completely different type of live performance, equally as fun. Wow.

[@dasnitra]

Awesome, wonderfull, everything they do is magic !

[@SunnyLowdownMusic]

This video is a real gift to aspiring songwriters. It's great advice given in such a smart way. You guys are one of a kind. Thanks.

[@joelbanaszak3333]

Great video from one of my favorite new bands! It's never a ripoff - in fact, copying a riff is the biggest compliment of all!

[@lindsay6281]

"Crutches help you walk."

[@juancpgo]

I can listen to their album from beginning to end, all great stuff.

[@christinaalyssa2591]

They sound amazing live!!

[@ThunderFields]

First saw this band from their performance in the music documentary "Another Day, Another Time" by the coen brothers. The film is a concert documentary filled with performances of a skilled line up of artists, young and old, popular and not so well known, but this bands performance I believe was by far the most entertaining.

[@arthurkitchen9582]

I love coming back to this.

[@jimroberson9534]

My oh my! I thought the studio recording video of Rachael Price singing "What I'm Doing Here" was sexy but her playing guitar and singing "Let Me Roll It"? O! M! G! Could not be any more sexier! Love LSD! My favorite band for sure! I love how they make such bare arrangements work. From a fellow drummer, I also love that on many videos Mike Calabrese doesn't play his full kit but they are so gifted and talented it works and still sounds awesome! You guys are Grammy bound!

[@BlakeBaker5]

I Am Not A Musician, But I Love These Guys, And I Find Their Processes Infinitely Interesting...

[@greenbow7888]

Glad they got to talking about the double bass. Great instrument............I would have asked them, "Do you ever write stuff that you heard in a dream? Sometimes I hear the most amazing sounds and music in my dreams, that my brain invents during sleep."

[@patcoughlin3104]

best new band out there!and there not new!finally musical integrity, on the the air waves,,hope to catch them live soon,,wish all the best for these wonderful player's

[@teagengreydix1567]

+Pat Coughlin They aren't that new, though. Their first studio song was 2005, and they formed in 2004.

[@_left_eye]

after having heard various songs by LSD I can really tell Rachel is my very favourite singer

[@joematchmusic2232]

Alfie - Her name is spelled Rachael.

[@Cannonbo]

thanks for the upload

[@michaelmacdonell2942]

There's only four of them? What a sound!

[@N4bpp1]

Would love to see this excellent in person, her voice is pure joy.

[@SpineFine]

I love you Bridget

[@TheStuport]

Smiling...get in line SpineFine!!! Cheers

[@RachelBearinger]

So pumped to see these guys in Des Moines on Wednesday.

[@truenorth636]

LSD just makes me happy ... gives me the believe that everything is gonna be OK. Listen to them most every day. The talent among all four is incredible ... but Rachel would have been a star in any era, any genre.

[@juliozion1979]

Just love this guys!

[@jhwk1970]

2-5-1 songs? Take each note in a scale and give it a number. C D E F G A B C 123456678 So, if you are in C a 2 5 1 song would be D G C. It's a quick way to explain a chord progression. A 2 Minor would be a D minor in the key of C. If the singer couldn't sing the song in C and you had to move it to G, for instance,,,,, the pattern is the same. Hope that helps.

[@jhwk1970]

DNdavidsonsnation a G scale is G A B C D E F# G So in G a 2 5 1 would be A D G;

[@jhwk1970]

DNdavidsonsnation Cool. Lake Street Dive is a great example of the more you know about music the wider your creative options are to pick and choose from. It is pretty darn cool to hear the lead vocalist tossing around chord progression short hand. Rachel Price isn't the average singer you'd get off the local musician help wanted bulletin board. She actually knows what she is doing and she certainly uses that knowledge to maximize her God given talent.

[@rodyprieto2071]

Don McKenzie I am also an autodidact guitarist and I swear every time I learn more about music theory it's always an "OOOOHHHH, that's why that works!" kind of moment. Thanks for the tips!

[@_left_eye]

one of the best and concise explainations ever. BIG UP!

[@debracottrill7989]

@@jhwk1970 I have a new appreciation for the gift of music. Thank you for the window into the artistry behind it.

[@KatBurnsKASHKA]

This band is incredible.

[@zinger52]

and she nurses that big db like its nothing and a frank disclosure over origins and so forth very enthusiastic and entertaining music blending light popular harmonies most notable a bluesy/soul 'Look What a Mistake ' quite memorable

[@tjsisneroz8995]

...dope shirt by the drummer!!!

[@aclementemusic]

great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@hottamaletallahassee]

as musicians and songwriters, these people are spectacularly good at doing what they do. But as a retired college instructor (accounting - don't laugh!), I can tell you that the skill and art of TEACHING is distinct and separate from the skill and art of DOING. i think the best way to learn about songwriting from them is to simply listen to their music, which as I said, is spectacularly good. thanks to all of you!

[@ricksilva4544]

Love this band!!!

[@ChuckWatson]

outstanding and great to hear the insight. love it!

[@jimmeek7849]

Yeah . .we doñt have that problem. Have you ever heard a song that sounded alike? They are so original. The nieghbor song. A finely crafted tune. I can hear my nieghbors... brilliant!

[@ThisIsReMarkable]

LOVE. THIS. How to they manage to sound SO good live?

[@wandermethis7097]

It just flows our of that girl....

[@bkscribe]

16:58 - I think he has a great summation of what artists are working through right now in 2023 with AI, as he describes one of the machine learning studies that’s contributed to a music model.

[@ejaywhite4455]

Okay firstly I from New Zealand and never heard of this group. I am long a time muso acutely in search of exploring the song writing process. There- that gives my context. So finding this is a gem for me. Love the honesty and the approach. Very useful for me. BTW she has a beautiful voice.. sorry I didn't pick up on her name.

[@arthurkitchen8896]

I love you guys so much

[@GTP72016]

Awesome!

[@MattGlickmanMusic]

fantastic!!!

[@ResyteTheez]

Wow Rachael speaks a language i'm familiar with in regards to rhythm and feel. Good job to this band, I've become a fan of all four of you. I wish you guys the best. Holler if you need an Audio Engineer.

[@bossfan49]

It's so unusual to hear Mike Olson talk at length because he doesn't make a peep and is the least animated at the live shows. Great musician and COMPOSER!!!

[@babuddha]

At 43:06, a person asks how does one know when to end a song. LSDers talked around (and I could understand that too). Writing a piece of music is -- like any other form of writing -- about telling a story. One may ramble on at will... a composition is at its end when it has told its story.

[@robertparabicoli4257]

World class rock/blues band ❤ 7:45

[@rbs2rt]

Genius: Crutches help you walk!

[@thebluemax100]

That's debatable

[@ralfimale1]

Look at what mistake is such a great song.

[@teagenmeyer5070]

The new album is just on point as a whole

[@jademartin1542]

By the way the song is called mistakes and it is by far one of my favorites

[@FakePlastickTree]

Everybody is all hip and stylish and then the drummer is in cargo shorts and an Eagles t-shirt. He's probably got a plate of nachos back there.

[@gregoryvalentino6998]

when you're part of a group this good then who cares? that's HIS "style"

[@matthewthompson6455]

And he's an incredible musician so who gives a crap.

[@UnBlastRadius]

you sound jealous of his nachos

[@robbo89]

mmm nachos

[@kleenx73]

Haha yeah man most bands have a guy like that

[@ThousandSunAnger]

I will now forever refer to Sir Paul McCartney as "Paul McCartney: The Liar".

[@aydeletteisgar9244]

fantastic

[@ericbaum5918]

Not shocked Rachael knows her way around a guitar.

[@iamdavidsound]

excellent clinic

[@1Ma9iN8tive]

Fuck the first 5 mins were painful ... Then the music healed me

[@robertpendergast2620]

Very nice master class. Perhaps a cigar box 3 string slide guitar would sound nice too.

[@trentalan1525]

I've experienced so many of the things in the songwriting process. The discussion asked, how do you write and how do you compose at 37:18. I completely agree with letting the song evolve by sharing a partial project with some trusted friends or a group. They discussed the writing process at 38:20, I've experienced the same emotions as Rachael when she explained the writing process as a very personal and some songs really do leave you vulnerable. I wrote a song about my decision to be a father when I was very young. I had written and composed this song when I nervously brought it to the band. The strings were added in place of some random ooo's and ah's that I was doing during the recording process. Hailey's Smile - kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJfMqmRqa7GKkLc

[@MagsWonderWoo92]

In "Seventeen", I had thought the line "weight of the band in my left hand" meant something more along the lines of the fact that he is the drummer...he keeps the beat...the left hand keeps the hi-hat rhythm, which weighs the band to the ground. haha wrong.

[@82ndcavdad]

the right hand keeps the high hat rhythm..unless your a left handed drummer wich he is not...just sayin

[@tylerreid1389]

I thought it was a reference to 'The Weight' by The Band. Its all subjective tho.

[@matthewthompson6455]

um actually the right hand keeps the high hat beat... but th eleft hand usually plays the backbeat (Snare, toms, etc.) which are equally important.

[@tomlampros7122]

Suggestion for NEC: patch your mics into the video. They have so many great comments, but it's hard to hear through the camera mic.

[@MarkRankin1353]

Nice!

[@zakkwylde111]

"Look what a mistake" - best song! Grüsse aus Nürnberg (Franken) - wann kommt ihr endlich nach Deutschland??!!

[@dalirfarzan1694]

She has a Broadway voice. She's a very talented and attractive lady.

[@ziz180]

awesome

[@ericbaum5918]

There is a lot of good Life lessons here.

[@skyrideadventures]

I Adore Lake Street Dive! -- They say umm alot

[@rloomis3]

In the time it took me to watch this video, your channel got 10 more subscribers. Congrats on 12,000. :)

[@MarlonOwnsYourCake]

So the drummer is the guy who played Moriarty in Sherlock right?

[@tjhannemann]

The drummer is Charlie Day

[@tjhannemann]

He might be Nick from New Girl

[@peterpumpkineaterrr]

Tim Hannemann Jake Johnson 😂😂 i think that too

[@laurawhite6883]

Dude! Stop talking and let the genius get going. Brutal man speeching...

[@jovisokin7250]

Мне нравиться.

[@storm8331]

McDuck is the cutest man ever

[@dobrodave123]

Thanks NEC. ! Wish the bass was a little hotter; other than that, awesome !!!!!!!!!!!!

[@wykowski]

Wow that was the most idiotic thing ive ever read. Grow up and never try to write music ever you nasty person.

[@marcellustone]

Love you KZbin! Tough your hidden agenda.

[@robertasherbraner4337]

Is Rachael playing a fire engine red gretsch guitar @1:51:35?

[@brianharris7243]

Gibbo Les Paul

[@chriscollman6672]

Mc утка играет на трубе . Я также хотел . McDuck plays the trumpet. I like (also). :)

[@fretfix1]

I pity the fool that doesn't have a 'school boy crush' on the bass player!!

[@monkeyman41333]

Yes, she is stunning. I am not too old for her, but she make me feel young again.

[@davidperkinson4035]

Well, now I know where to go if I haven't heard the word "like" in 2 or 3 minutes.

[@thebluemax100]

I never get lost. There is always someone telling me where to go.

[@zuul2591]

If you could put Lake Street Dive in a stock pot and reduce them down to an injectable serum they would cause a new wave of drug-induced crime to rock the world. HAHAHAHA. I'm certainly already addicted. You guys have got to consider coming closer to the midwest for all of your LSD (lol) junkies here. I'd even take Kansas City if you need a venue that large. Keep on being awesome cause you're doing it right! Wow!

[@thebluemax100]

Obviously you are

[@jdmac44]

McDuck actually looks a bit like John Lennon. :)

[@robertasherbraner4337]

They are at school -- pedantry is a given. Just be glad it's not an Wynton Marsalis exposition, maybe. And that'd be all right too... .

[@willp6661]

End "The"UM!" for Fucks Sake, Please END the "UM!"

[@spopichak]

Will P it's making me insane the way he is speaking. way too much filler. not enough substance,

[@garrettwagner5112]

43:30-45:45 Drummer wants to say something so bad, peeps won't stop talking (Takes breath, faces microphone) "Yeah we need to play a song"