Writing Myself out of a Music Rut

[@reggiebellamy7112]

Thank you for sharing this process I can really appreciate you and talent! 🎸

[@MusicMakesMyDay]

Oh yea, i know that! And it is so hard to put things in the trash can that you wrote but for me that is such a big help to be brave and do exactly that

[@bobtebbs7766]

if your struggling to write...take a walk ,look around and just write about what you see... you are a great talent and will overcome this easily

[@timchalmers1700]

Cool! Take a break, but don't stop. You got this.

[@TheViliukas]

My favorite kind of videos are about writing process, nice one!

[@davebrown7174]

LOVE seeing you play the bass!

[@bluray561]

Recording a track ..fabulous...love your work👍

[@terrysbookandbiblereviews]

Mary Spender on bass guitar awesome!

[@jaredjenkins1310]

Ride with you!!!

[@CraigHinrichs]

I didn't even know there was a course. WOW. I love Collier. Very cool.

[@flatpickerd28]

That’s a nice-looking mic stand.

[@mikewentworth9819]

Enjoyed watching your process. And you were quite good with the guitar licks.

[@gregoryb2999]

1 and two and jazzercise!!! Mary I know you won't read this but take a break find a hobby and live some take it in and let it out. Not saying long break maybe a week or two and a few days off per week. Trust me you are doing fine.

[@jordanheal5760]

Nice concept writing for the sake of writing

[@fairytalejediftj7041]

Like those Yellow Ledbetter-esque lyrics. 😉

[@mt16650]

Thank you Mary, this video has inspired me to go play!

[@jintaejoo]

I feel you

[@winkywankywoo531]

Hooonaaa neeee you wannnaaaeeeyyy hoooey ya neeee ya wannney. Great lyrics Mary.

[@brucehunt4262]

like every session I've ever done......

[@JulianSnow]

Love these types of videos

[@andrew011010]

Thanks for a glimpse of your process! Love those faces)

[@brandonparson2554]

Beautiful

[@paveltc]

"Writing for the sake of writing" is a quote I want to print out and hang on my wall. It's exactly what I need to do more of, rather than waiting for the right time to write when I feel inspired.

[@DaveDickens]

Great video Mary. I write with Cubase on the PC or Cubasis on the iPad and both are littered with short pieces that I put together over a couple of hours. Very often I’ll listen to one weeks later and a whole piece just springs out of it, i suppose it’s like planting a musical seed that just needs time to grow. Cheers Dave

[@roeenidam936]

Amazing! I would love to see more videos like this!🤩

[@sabrinagarcia1222]

This was such a cool process to watch.

[@rizkyridwan9829]

this project has a Tracy Chapman Fast Car vibe

[@GabeWilliams]

I applaud you for showing your gibberish and I'm glad I'm not the only one. I already use Ableton and I need to try this writing approach with the loop workspace!

[@suhishanbhandari4008]

You have single-handedly motivated me to learn and play guitar. A week ago, I was able to play a riff of one of my favourite songs and now I come here to thank you. It has been six months and now all day, every day I play, live and breathe guitar. Thank you so much for your videos, your songs which are absolutely fantastic and for showing your creative process, all the quirks in your vlogs, honesty and everything. Just everything. Thank you, A lot.

[@Nevada_Dan]

I give it a solid '8'... it's got a good beat!

[@DrewMonge]

I kinda like this tune. That, "Something that you wanna say", is a very catchy motif, or hook- as some may call it. I hope to hear a completed version soon. I hear a little John Mayer in this song. Not something that he's already written, but something along the same vein of what he's been writing in his last couple LPs. Same caliber of songwriting if you ask me 😉👌. Also, props to you for putting yourself out there in your creative process in this video. That's a highly vulnerable place to be. And also the time and energy it must've taken to film and edit this video. That's quality in and of itself. Cheers.

[@Harold_That_Guy]

Love the gibberish. Putting down your basic lyric sounds/tones is such a great idea.

[@ringohanson4840]

I fuckin love you! Thank you for doing that.

[@johnkirkgasser]

fan of ableton. have used it for 100+ songs but all in arrange view....you have inspired me to re-explore session view. thx

[@davidself5235]

I love these bts/studio session type videos. As much as I love music it's better sometimes to understand where the sound/lyrics come from.

[@coreybirch2472]

Miss Spender, you made me smile hard on a hard day. You’ve got my awe, and gratitude. Awesome videos.

[@RachelKCollierRKC]

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! I feel so proud :) lol

[@mgano7700]

Composing faces 10/10.

[@gillesflorid]

Hello Mary ! Thanks for the fun video about the writer's rut. Been following your channel for quite some time and I think you're a very talented vocalist & songwriter, and it's great to see watching you grow as an artist. I also like your fingerstyle rhythm guitar playing, like that downstrum thing you do! When it comes to your tune in the video, I think you got a good vocal hook on the bass riff, and a good bridge transition. I think you're right in saying the harmonic content is not as interesting, and people my age will probably say it's too much like Learning to Fly from Tom Petty or Fast Car by Tracy Chapman...And even when those songs came out, we thought the chord sequence came from even older stuff. That's not a problem, cause if you got a good hook and a good riff, which you do have here, you gotta keep'em but you can just change the chord sequence underneath. Instead of the stock IV I vi V, you could try a IV (G) vi (Bm7) V (A) ii (Em7), or I vi V ii, or even get out of the main key. You can use these reharm techniques Adam Neely or Rick Beato are experts at teachin and using. Keep up the great work, your videos are excellent !!!!

[@thorstenkrampe5975]

Great. Thank you for this insight in your creative process. Im still writng with my guitar and pen/paper. Should use the DAW for more than just recording. Keep up the good work.

[@evilscientress]

Interesting Video. Thanks for sharing your progress on how you work on a song with your newly learned Ableton Live skills. I really like session view and it was one of the things that made me chose Live as my DAW as it opens up so much creative possibilities and session view is also awesome for live performances.

[@darrenross9168]

Hi Mary, love the way the melody of your vocals made it all make sense , really wonderful, all the best.

[@celineellis]

I kind of follow the same process, but with just an acoustic and music memos on my phone. I play around til I like something. Then record it in music memos with me just adlibbing lyrics and melody and see how it goes. I have hundreds of part song ideas and it’s my first port of call in any song writing session.

[@jessesowell8996]

Just started Ableton with the Launchpad, Akai MPK mini and Axiom 49 so we will see.

[@jvblhc]

Very interesting video. Looks like a pretty good thing to work with for working out new musical ideas.

[@sylvaincote8216]

it is like two mary spender

[@AlonzoWhite]

That was soooo cooool!!!! Thanks for sharing! btw -Luv the song! ;-)

[@Mabe456]

You and Rachel pulled me back into recording after a 10-15 year hiatus. I'm currently going through y'all's course. It's an amazing shift coming from 4 track tape recorders in the 90s and very basic multi-track digital recording in the early 2000s to the tools around today. From feeling like a lost soul in a desert by myself with a decade of song sketches ... getting these glimpses into other artist's honest raw creative process is an invaluable drink of water!

[@gapalp]

Thanks for sharing Mary! Composition is great! Reminds me of myself when I am writing in my studio as well. Now I need to learn to write for the sake of writing instead of waiting to have an album project going on.

[@toblue7451]

Prof. Rick BEATO Just Hit 1.9 MILLION Subscribers ! 👍 Headed To 2 MILLION ! Ol West 👍 ✌ ☮

[@RichardVodden1]

I love the honesty of this video. When I'm in a rut I hide. I can't look at myself in a mirror. I feel like I don't deserve to be in the world. I love that you just put the whole escape process on the internet.

[@makesthingsxyz]

Seeing all this raw work-in-process footage, and the incredibly real, honest commentary is super inspiring. It makes the process of creating seem so much more organic and approachable. Thank you so much for putting this out there. Please please do this more often.

[@williamwilkinson2959]

ableton s like swimming at the beach: arrangement view like following the shore line, session view like heading for the horizon

[@PaulHunt3]

More streaming while writing I say Mary

[@andrij.demianczuk]

Hi Mary I’m really in love with the course! Just like you I’ve had Ableton for years and just been too afraid to really explore it. You’re such an inspiration to us newer musicians, and I can’t thank you enough for helping me build the courage to try something different :). I’ve never listened to much Electronic music but I found myself also loving RKC’s album on Spotify.

[@acacioalmeida2044]

Hey Mary Brazil loves you

[@Gotblade]

Write to be writing. I get that. I'm trying to get out of my own way with painting like that too. Letting things happen and not being exhausted by absolutes I created.

[@rogerbranton1752]

First off, kudos on choosing a P. Bass, Mary (the only bass anyone really needs!). That pretty blue Strat is classy enough to be Mary Spender's guitar too, by-the-way. So might as well just sell the others. Kidding! So....I realize this was a writing exercise and certainly valid enough in that sense. Can I just say something about drum loops though? I'm so damned sick of drum loops. Sick in my music-loving soul of the things. You write to a drum loop and you're gonna get a song that sounds like....well....need I type "drum loop" yet again? This is only one person's opinion, of course. The answer? OK - here's one answer: when I started my music journey, all those years ago, I got myself a drum kit. As I learned guitar & bass and a bit of keyboard, I learned to play drums too. I can do it, anyone can do it. Now, I have "low volume" drum heads & cymbals and can play them in my apartment without complaint from the neighbours. PLUS....those quiet heads & cymbals actually RECORD well! Drums without drum loops. Something to think about, perhaps?

[@tonybrooks476]

13.41 that little repeated riff. That was when it really came together for me.

[@shinjial]

Kinda sounds like Fast Car. It's amusing to watch, but I'm sure it can be a pain to experience it. The creative process isn't always pretty, so it's cool to see something so grounded. I guess sometimes stuff just comes to you, but beyond that there's hard work and discipline, patience.

[@bradleyard4195]

If I'm sitting down trying to write something, and after about an hour I hit a rut or a wall like this, I get up and walk away from it, sometimes for a few minutes, sometimes longer, sometimes forever. Usually, if and when I come back to it, when I listen back, I can hear what direction I want to go in.

[@iaincollins5743]

I know how difficult it can be, really I do. Right now I don't even own a computer, tho. So I can only work on my actual playing and (quite rarely) on my singing. I have faith, tho, that when I do have the opportunity to play it can come out naturally in a non-panicky relaxed way. Trying too hard? Not you. I'm up all night waiting for the window guys to spend all day wrecking my flat... Lotus position, on the sofa with the telecaster, mostly...

[@stickytentaclesmusic]

I love seeing other people's process, always interesting to see how different people approach songwriting. Session view looks like a fantastic tool, wish I had something similar in my DAW (Cubase)...would buy Ableton to use for electronic music if I had unlimited money but so far I haven't been able to (almost a pun there, deffo intended) justify it. Time will show how long I can withstand the pressure :-P Great video, loved the behind the scenes approach to it.

[@stephenghudson6179]

Can I just say, you make amazing music. Recently as a bass player and sometimes guitarist I've been trying to get into this sort of thing, producing music all by myself. Watching this video has reaffirmed my attempt to carry on through the difficulty of teaching myself. I cant thank you enough for these kind of videos. It makes a huge difference to a very amateur musician such as myself.

[@davidbenoit7818]

Besides finding you absolutely adorable in the facial expressions you make, it is absolutely fascinating to me, watching this as I was thinking of going in for some audio engineering training. Keep moving forward Mary, no matter what obstacles you yourself put in your own way, or others put in your way. You are a talented singer, writer, musician and composer. You are appreciated!!!

[@corey747]

I'm so glad you posted this struggle! I experienced similar frustrations with Ableton Live. Sometimes unlimited options can be a curse not a blessing. I sold my Ableton Push 2 and gave up on Live.

[@jonprudhomme7694]

"Prepare for Gibberish" would be a great band name

[@jonprudhomme7694]

Debut album "Higgledy Piggledy"

[@BlueJayWaters]

I have notebooks full of writing to write songs that paved the way for some really good music. Sometimes you just have to sit on a song for awhile for it to click, but it really sounds like you have a catchy tune in there. Don't write this one off

[@benjaminz.l.9617]

Ah the important lesson of doing the work, not for the projects sake but the sake of honing ones edge in the craft

[@JoelWilliamHarrison]

Love this groove!

[@chiragsharma_]

CAPÉTAN DOES WHAT CAPÉTAN MUST ❤️

[@almendratlilkouatl]

kinda was sounding like Fast Car

[@anthonybomberry9935]

Mary is like the doll you're afraid to because you might break it she is a darling.

[@anthonybomberry9935]

You

[@toblue7451]

Miss Mary ! The Up's and Down's of Life epitomized In the Highs and Lows of the MUSIC World ! The Good Energy - High and Antipation of the Beautiful Creations ! and, , , Then the relief, tiredness, and down-ness When It Done and Over ?? Ol West (left Over Woodstock Hippy) and PLEASE Think about Performing "Carl WILSON's - I Can HEAR MUSIC"" ! It Fits Your Voice So, so Well ! ! ! ! ! West 👍👍👍 😉 😊 ✌ ☮

[@timpanda3780]

Well done Mary. You’ve a lot of exploring/experimenting to do there with that amazing technology. Maybe it’s about not being overwhelmed by it, but getting stuck in & simply playing about?

[@loveless8241]

+1 for that thumbnail.

[@kenbeckman3014]

I think right now its a simple thing like Beatoven single string Twinkle Twinkle little star for the course and your best words and put those little peices of music inside your head together and then record don't write.

[@jasonsimmons7479]

Sounds like that fast car song.

[@3.k]

“Writing for the sake of writing” I’m writing a novel and I’ve learnt that writing for the sake of writing can help a lot!

[@lenah9027]

Yeah but writing constantly can allow you to capture those moments of inspiration, if you don’t have the discipline you can often miss out. Also things still need to be refined, and that takes plain old work

[@3.k]

If course, people are different, and writing a novel is different from writing music in some ways. If I write a page a day, I can complete a raw draft in a year. Then, I must start reviewing it, maybe completely rewrite it, but I have a thing to work with. Writing music is done in a shorter amount of time (hopefully ^^), but still, you come up with ideas while playing, then you write it down and refine it. So writing a novel is actually quite similar to writing music, just a lot slower. :)

[@lenah9027]

@@3.k Of course, I'd imagine writing a novel takes a while. I also wonder if there's even a correlation between feeling inspired and writing well. I find that whether or not I write well usually has no connection to how I was feeling when I wrote it.

[@3.k]

@Lena H Yeah, I think, inspiration is not an emotion, so one might feel the “flow” in any emotional state, I suppose. :)

[@lenah9027]

@@3.k true, what I mean is sometimes I feel a "flow" (regardless of emotional state) and write no differently than usual, and sometimes I force myself to write when I'm in a rut and find that I've written something really good even though I didn't feel like I had

[@Rednef]

Really appreciate this peek behind the curtain. Makes us amateur songwriters feel better about ourselves and what can sometimes be an awkward, almost embarrassing process. The first time I learned other vocalists sing gibberish while developing their songs was very validating!

[@prpleskies]

Is it even a song if you don’t sing gibberish first? Jk yes but that’s how I start almost all my songs. Then I plug in real lyrics :)

[@N8Dawgg94]

This is a great video! I love seeing other peoples writing process. I would welcome seeing more videos this style!

[@soulofash2112]

I don't normally even open the DAW until I have a solid foundation worked out. That may or may not be a good thing, but it's my process. I usually come up with music first, then will go and see if any lyrics I've written in the past fit with it, if not, I'll roll with it and see if anything lyrical happens. Most of my writing comes from a dark place, though. So that flavours everything. /shrug Nice to see your process. I may see if going in and just kind of... going for it here after my surgery does anything. I dunno.

[@NicMac]

Man that’s so coooool! It’s a whole world I have no idea about so it’s so fascinating seeing how you put all the pieces together! 🙌🙌🙌 loved this video

[@3.k]

Gotta love your “work faces” :)

[@brianribeiro9845]

Mary 😍😉👍🎤 guitar KZbin 👏👌👌👌👌👋

[@adamlemmon]

This is fantastic! Thanks for making it and for sharing it... "I need to do more of this." Yes. Yes we all do. So cool to see your maker session condensed down to this short video. I love it -- it's an inspiration and nudges me to do the same. Thanks again for sharing -- Good things!

[@joewilliams5396]

Mix it a bit, put a piano part in to interplay with the bass melody. Post it in a music library. Its catchy enough. If you are not going to make it a finished song.

[@juliegagnemusique]

I love writing process videos like this one and they are so rare (I started to make some myself because of that)! Thanks for sharing this, hope you'll do this kind of video again soon! 😊

[@larsvommars4261]

Your new Strat sounds awesome. By the way: nice song.

[@tamifayette]

Thank you for sharing this! I like you a lot.

[@dancing.fire.fractal2334]

Love this behind the curtain-peek! As a poetry writer (and beginner musician) I'm more than familiar with the messy stages of creativity 😄. Sharing from that place and stage is as vunareble as it gets!...and can deliver the best kind of motivational inspiration to others who are in creative processes aswell. So thanks so much for sharing this one! I realy enjoyed watching! And a question: what equipment (microphones, gear, programs) would you recommend to start out with? 🙋👍✨🎶!

[@toblue7451]

Miss. Spender: Question, Do you prefer PRS or Viper Guitars ?? Which suites you the best ?? THANK You ! Ol West Your, Sean Daniels; Beato's and Rhett's subscriber -follower ! PS: Can a 71 yr old, partly disabled, male (working on getting My 10,000 hours in) Still learn The Rhythm & Blues ???????????????? On the Guitar, Piano or BASS ?? Thanks again ! URs Truly,

[@danielok0280]

It's so amazing Mary...

[@areonz]

I really enjoyed this Mary.. Keep it up! ❤️

[@Tom-oz7wk]

How am I only just getting notified about a new video that's been out for an hour

[@MrZedoude]

Here are the lyrics: "You got a fast car, I want a ticket for anywhere, maybe we make a deal..."

[@ruBenes94]

I'm just low energy atm myself, but finished mixing and mastering the first song today :D Followed the course with you and Rachel, hope to get it out via distrokid before new-years!

[@PrinceWesterburg]

Careful saying that, at the start of the First World War they said gleefully that "It'll all be over by Christmas." They where there for four years! Motivational speaker Tony Robbins says "Don't plan it, Schedule it!" Few have any reasons not to work on their craft right now so get on with it and good luck. Also, if its a chore, don't do it. Above all, enjoy what you do! :o)

[@ruBenes94]

@@PrinceWesterburg It's not a chore but I work as a teacher all week and it's just kinda draining. So the hours I spend with my music is what keeps me motivated

[@JadedAlice]

How long did it take to record and finish your song? (I get discouraged when working on recording, so I like to see how long things take for other people as like a reality check)

[@ruBenes94]

@@JadedAlice This one has taken 2weeks I guess. I did 3 pretty long sessions, so yesterday was 1 of 3 4hour sessions. I try to focus on getting an outline by using session-view in ableton and then I record bits and pieces. I started recording guitar DI, then the same with a stereo mic setup. After that I did the clean vocal track, added some bass, removed the drums (because I couldn't get them to work), and yesterday I did some mixing and mastering. I'd say it probably took around 10hours of work in total.

[@JadedAlice]

@@ruBenes94 sounds cool! Thanks!

[@rayschoch5882]

VERY interesting. Kind of fun to see at least a couple things come together, sometimes by serendipity. On the other hand, this could crush the dreams of a lot of what I'll call poseurs - people who think writing and / or playing music that's worth listening to is a fun hobby, by which I mean "easy," and "easily learned." Obviously much more work involved than a casual listener would realize, and that's a valuable insight all by itself. I can barely play the guitar, don't read music, and have no illusions about becoming a real musician, but I enjoy and appreciate the skill and work required to be any good at it at all.

[@bryantwalley]

So ironic how your random gibberish while working is better than 99% of what we have on modern radio.

[@wiktoria_dyszy]

Hi, anyone knows what VST is Mary using for guitar amps? 😅