February 2021
Guild Tidings
The official publication of
The International Songwriters Guild
Volume 26, No. 02
Live meetings are Cancelled due to Corona Virus.
However, we will be having on-line Zoom meetings.
We will send details under a separate e-mail,
and an announcement on the Facebook group page.
We expect it to be scheduled for Sunday January 3rd at 5pm.
If you want the zoom meeting details, please e-mail us
at isgorlando@gmail.com
Any Details not in this newsletter are at:
If you wish to join our Facebook group, please check us out at
https://www.facebook.com/groups/831814850193553/
WebChatter
by CyberToad
Here's an article from Mark Cawley for Songwriting Magazine UK.
Creative Collaborations
By Jackie Mason
I didn’t expect to like Billie Eilish when I first decided to listen to her. Having said that, I do traverse the internet
listening to different kinds of songs. In part to stay current (it’s not possible, not for me) and writing these articles forces
me to keep an open mind. In the last two years I’ve listened a lot to Tom Morello’s “The Night Watchman.” I like one of his bands
Rage Against The Machine. I like the Weekend too. I’ve been listening to Laura Marling. I know she’s been around for quite a while
but I only started listening to her this year. Sometimes other musicians recommend artists to me. The band Tool put out an album
titled “Fear Inoculum.” A drummer that I know told me about them. I like the music but I haven’t a clue what the songs are about!
Not yet anyway! In my quiet morning meditations I have been listening to Beethoven. I was reading a book titled “The Woman in
Moonlight” and in it Beethoven dedicates “Moonlight Sonata” to the woman. Consequently, I started listening to it and “Für Elise.”
It’s a pleasant way to start one’s day. More often than not I gravitate back to the 60’s but I, at least, try. I believe it’s
important for songwriters to step out of their comfort zone. That includes your listening habits.
I do like Billie Eilish. I like her brother and collaborator Finneas. I wanted to see how the songs were written and produced.
I started by listening to her 2019 debut album “When We Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?” At the 2020 Grammy Awards, it won Album Of
The Year, Best Pop Vocal Album, and Best Engineered Album, while "Bad Guy" won Record Of The Year and Song Of The Year; Finneas
also won the award for Producer Of the Year, Non Classical.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/When_We_All_Fall_Asleep,_Where_Do_We_Go%3F
I found it an easy album to listen to. It inspired me because it was all recorded at their parents’ home in Los Angeles. They used
Apple’s Logic as their DAW(Digital Audio Work Station.) It’s proof that we can record at high standards from our homes. If we know
what we are doing. It’s clear that Finneas knows exactly what he’s doing and so does Billie. They’ve been supported creatively by
their parents throughout their lives. They’ve been exposed to musical instruments too. They’ve also been in choirs. You can hear it
in the complexity of their harmonies and how they’ve layered tracks over tracks in their recording process. Last month I left you
with a link to this video. “FINNEAS Explains How He Builds Songs For Billie Eilish/Critical Breakthroughs/ Pitchfork.” I’m providing
it again because it’s a great lesson on production.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsSkRjgjFvU&t=271s They are honest enough to cite their own inspirations too. The video provides
a list of the songs that he is talking about. The comment section is also very informative. The big hit from the album is “Bad Guy.”
This next link, “Billie Eilish and Finneas Break Down Her Hit Song “Bad Guy.” is also informative. Here she explains her ideas for
what the song is about. They also discuss the recording process. I’m impressed with their generosity by sharing this. I don’t see
any “I’m a star stuff” when they are talking here. It’s all about the music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpx2-EMfdbg
I realize and I am aware that Billie has come in for lots of criticism. Some of it has been very cruel. Sadly that’s the
nature of our fractured society. In researching this article I found a new songwriting teacher. His name is Friedemann Findeisen
and he has a teaching site called Holistic Songwriting. He has a very good grasp on Billie and Finneas’s songwriting approach.
In this next video “How Billie Eilish Writes A Song/ Artists Series” he also talks about her image.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eEEYOE8HvA
Let me remind you that Billie has a neurological condition called synesthesia I’ve written about this condition before. Songwriter
Steve Dorff has the same condition. Here is a good explanation of the condition. “Dorff was born with synesthesia, a cross-sensory
phenomenon that allows some people to hear colors, see sounds, or perhaps see numbers or letters as inherently colored. “I do
remember banging my head against the crib when I was a baby.”
So it’s important to remember that Billie thinks in a visual way. You can see it in her videos that she produces herself. She is a
visual artist.
More next month on these talented people. Stay safe.
ISG Bulletin Board
Meeting space graciously provided by Central Florida Musicians Association,
Local 389. You are invited to join the largest union in the world, representing the
interests of the professional musician. Visit their website at afm389.org for more
information. You may reach them by phone at: 407-894-8666.
Why isn't your gig or live stream announced here? Members in good standing call SusieCool
with your appearance schedule! 407-760-2153 or e-mail her the details at isgorlando@gmail.com
If you are interested in open mics in the Central Florida area, SusieCool has compiled a list.
https://sites.google.com/site/susiecoolsongs/Home/open-mic-directory-central-florida
SusieCool is the admin for a Facebook group called "Orlando Creative Music Network"
where we give out info on songwriter meetings, playing circles, open mics, workshops and concerts.
We have a Facebook page for this group if you want to join.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/274152179716552/
No Critique scores for January, since no live meeting.
New members and guests are always welcome!
© 2021 ISG