For better or worse, over the years I’ve come to find that when writing music for myself (as opposed to other artists or projects), I’m not a disciplined, “Write something every morning” kind of writer. Instead, I generally find myself reaching for the guitar or sitting at the piano when I feel in the mood to play, if not necessarily in the mood to “write."

As the demands and distractions of our modern, ultra-connected existence attempt to claim every minute of our day, it’s often hard to find the time to do what we, as songwriters, want/need to do the most: write. Texts, email, phone, the web, etc. As important and as necessary as each may be, they can also sometimes act as mini-detours on the road to creative productivity.

Within the songwriter’s universe much attention is given to the chorus section or “hook” of a tune, but perhaps of equal, if not obvious, importance is a song’s verse section. When you really think about it, it’s pretty crucial to have strong verses. Most popular song structures feature a verse on their song’s timeline before their venerable chorus makes its grand entrance.

With the line between home and studio recordings blurring daily, writers/artists are now finding themselves, more and more, in the role of de facto producer when looking to capture their latest creations. With that thought in mind, Songcraft’s “Becoming Your Own Producer” looks to dissect, simplify and offer insight into the (sometimes daunting) process and art of DIY music production.