*This episode originally aired on May 7th, 2024*

Dear songwriter,

Are you overwhelmed by the plethora of sounds and instruments you have at your disposal once you open up your Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)? I've been there too, and this episode is designed to be your friendly guide through the seemingly daunting terrain of music production. We're diving into the art of creating purposeful music with insights from my own journey from creating sounds to forging music with intention and precision.

You will be guided through a step-by-step process aimed at helping you make decisions about which instruments to use in your tracks and which ones to boot. Learn how to externalize and implement a mental checklist that brings clarity as you write, arrange, and produce your new songs.

Four Questions I Ask During the Demo Production Process:

1. What is the role of the instrument I’m adding?
2. What is the context for this instrument (AKA why is it even there?)
3. What is its relationship with the other instruments and voices?
4. Do I even need this instrument?

Take this chance to transform your DAW session from a daunting challenge into a playground of limitless potential!

Like what your hearing in the Dear Songwriter... podcast? Leave us quick review or 5 star rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts!

Mentions and Links:

Social Media:

• Instagram: @connorlfrost

Songs/Artists:

• While My Guitar Gently Weeps - The Beatles

Digital Audio Workstations(DAWs):

• GarageBand
• Pro Tools
• Logic Pro

Podcasts:

• 108. Analyzing the Songwriting of The Beatles' George Harrison

Episode Summary (this was made w/ ChatGPT):

In this episode, we’re diving deep into the strategies and steps you need to take to get your music featured on music blogs, playlists, and more. I’m sharing a recorded masterclass originally created for my Songwriter Accelerator students—those working to turn their musical ideas into finished songs and take their first steps as artists.

Using examples from my experience with my band Dizzy Bats and my solo project Connor Lin Frost, I outline the actionable steps I took to gain press coverage and why it matters for your music career. From SEO benefits to building legitimacy, I cover the reasons why being featured can be a game-changer for your music journey. Spoiler: it takes more than just waiting for opportunities to come to you—you’ve got to do the grunt work!

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why Getting Featured Matters: The benefits of SEO, building legitimacy, and generating opportunities.
• Types of Features: Interviews, premieres, reviews, round-ups, and playlists.
• Essential Materials: What you’ll need to prepare, including album art, private streaming links, bios, and press kits.
• Crafting the Perfect Pitch: Tips for writing professional and engaging emails to music blogs.
• Real-Life Examples: I share email templates and past press features that worked for me.

Key Takeaways:

1. Optimize Your SEO: Getting featured increases your online visibility and helps potential fans find you.
2. Build Credibility: Press coverage can set you apart from other artists and showcase your professionalism.
3. Preparation is Key: Make sure you have professional photos, a polished bio, and streaming links ready to go.
4. Pitch Like a Pro: Personalize your emails, be concise, and include all requested materials.

Links and Resources Mentioned:

• SoundCloud: Create private streaming links for unreleased music.
• Dropbox/Google Drive: Use these for sharing high-quality images and press materials.
• Hype Machine: A platform to discover and connect with music blogs.
• Example email templates and press kits discussed in the episode.

Who This Episode is For:

Whether you're just starting your music career or prepping for your next release, this episode will give you the tools to build a stronger presence in the music world. Tune in for actionable advice and inspiration to help get your music heard by the right people.

Enjoy the episode and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review!

Episode Description:
As we close out the year 2024, it’s the perfect time for reflection. In this final episode of the year, I share a candid look back at the triumphs, challenges, and invaluable lessons I learned as a songwriter and artist. From releasing my first solo single to battling self-doubt, overcoming perfectionism, and confronting the realities of a creative life, this episode is packed with insights for any songwriter navigating their own journey.

Whether you’re celebrating successes or wrestling with obstacles, these 12 lessons will inspire you to keep creating, learning, and sharing your music with the world.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

1. No One Owes You Their Time or Attention: Why your effort and passion don’t guarantee a reaction—and why that’s okay.
2. The Only Way to Figure It Out is to Do It: Overcoming the fear of starting and embracing the learning curve.
3. Talent Means Nothing Without Action: How natural ability can lead to overthinking and inaction—and why action wins every time.
4. Success Can Strain Friendships: Navigating the inevitable drift as your career grows and priorities shift.
5. The Pain of Inaction is Greater Than the Fear of Releasing Music: How to overcome the fear of what others think and finally share your art.
6. Impact Comes From What You Share, Not What You Plan: Why the songs you release matter more than the ones you only talk about.
7. Comfort Zones Become Uncomfortable Over Time: The importance of pushing boundaries and embracing growth.
8. Prioritizing Your Music Without Guilt: Giving yourself permission to invest time in your creativity every day.
9. Post-Release Disappointment is Better Than Regret: Why sharing your music—even if it doesn’t meet your expectations—is always worth it.
10. Comparison Paralysis is Counterproductive: How to focus on your unique path instead of justifying someone else’s success.
11. Perfectionism Will Hold You Back: Accepting that your early work might feel flawed in hindsight—and why that’s okay.
12. Whether Life is Meaningful or Not, Make Music Anyway: The ultimate reminder to do what you love, regardless of existential questions.

Why You Should Listen:
This episode is perfect for songwriters, musicians, and artists who are looking for real talk about the highs and lows of a creative career. If you’ve ever struggled with self-doubt, procrastination, or the challenges of pursuing your passion, this episode will resonate with you and remind you why you started in the first place.

Resources & Links:

• Listen to my new single Real Friends on Spotify
• Connect with me on Instagram: @connorlfrost

Thank you for being part of this journey in 2024. Here’s to a new year of music, growth, and creativity. See you in 2025!

Episode Summary:
In this episode, Connor Frost breaks down the process of transforming a single lyric idea into a fully realized, release-ready song. Using his latest track Real Friends as a case study, Connor shares the step-by-step process, key insights, and lessons learned along the way. Whether you're an experienced songwriter or just starting out, this episode is packed with actionable tips to help you craft your next hit.

What You’ll Learn:

1. The Journey: How Connor turned the concept of "What is a real friend?" into a full-fledged song.
2. The Process: A seven-step framework for taking a lyric idea to a completed song, including:
   • Crafting a clear concept.
   • Defining the narrator and ideal listener.
   • Structuring your verses and chorus.
   • Building a roadmap for the rest of the song.
3. Lessons Learned: What Connor wishes he had done differently in Real Friends and how you can avoid similar pitfalls.
4. Implementation Tips: Practical advice to streamline your own songwriting process.

About Connor Frost:
Connor Frost is a musician, international touring artist, producer, and professional songwriting mentor. Since 2019, Connor has helped hundreds of songwriters confidently write and release their first collection of songs. He has toured internationally, opened for renowned bands, and been featured in American Songwriter.

Highlights of Connor’s Story:

• Transitioning from a middle school teacher to a full-time musician.
• Touring internationally in places like China and Taiwan.
• Helping clients achieve milestones, from publishing deals to hearing their songs played in public.

Key Takeaways for Songwriters:

• The importance of defining your song’s narrator and ideal listener.
• Why understanding your listener’s struggles and language can make your lyrics more relatable.
• Tips for avoiding common songwriting mistakes, like spending too much time setting the scene or missing opportunities to build impactful outros.

Connor’s Seven-Step Framework:

1. Develop a one-sentence concept for your song.
2. Define the narrator’s perspective and your ideal listener.
3. Flesh out your concept into a chorus.
4. Outline your verses with clear settings, transformations, and details.
5. Use stream-of-consciousness journaling to develop lyrics.
6. Create a structure or roadmap for your song.
7. Flesh out the remaining sections and finalize your melody and chords.

Want to Work with Connor?
If you’re ready to take your songwriting to the next level, Connor offers personalized mentorship programs. Learn how to find your unique songwriting sound, streamline your writing process, and build your career as an artist.

📞 Book a Free "Just Start" Call: connorfrost.com/startcall

• Step 1: Book your time to speak directly with Connor.
• Step 2: Identify your struggles and leave with clear strategies.
• Step 3: Discuss mentorship opportunities tailored to your goals.

🎶 Listen to Real Friends: (Link available above or below this episode).

Connect with Connor:

• Website: connorfrost.com
• Instagram: @connorfrost
• Podcast: Dear Songwriter

Enjoy the episode?
If you found this breakdown helpful, leave a review and share this episode with fellow songwriters. Your support helps us bring more valuable content to creators like you!

Dear Songwriter! In this episode, originally released on June 29th, 2023, we're analyzing Sia's empowering song "Unstoppable" from her album "This is Acting," released in 2016. This mid-tempo track showcases intriguing songwriting choices that align with contemporary pop music trends. Join me as I explore three key insights from this song, including the concept of an "elevated prechorus," the incorporation of a "postchorus," and the effective use of vivid metaphors in the chorus.

Discover how Sia's songwriting techniques contribute to the overall impact of "Unstoppable" and see if this can apply to your own musical creations!

Mentions and Links:

Sia - Unstoppable
Sia - This is Acting
Green Day - Redundant
Dear Songwriter: 3 Things We Can Learn from Green Day’s “Redundant”
Dear Songwriter: What We Can Learn about Songwriting from Pearl Jam’s “Jeremy”
Pearl Jam - Jeremy

Episode Summary:
Are you focused on making money from your music? Who isn't? In this episode, host Connor Frost takes a step back from the usual "how to make it big" advice to explore the real value of being a musician—experiencing meaningful, life-changing moments that money can’t buy. Connor shares two powerful stories from his own journey as an independent artist and gives you practical steps for embracing your music as a vehicle to connect with the world and others in ways that will last a lifetime.

Key Points Discussed:

• Why Experiences Matter More Than Money:
  Our society often fixates on financial success, but as a musician, the journey is full of experiences that are worth far more than a paycheck.
• Story #1: The Best Show I Ever Played in Taipei, Taiwan
  Connor shares the story of an unforgettable night performing in Taipei—an experience made possible not by a hefty budget, but by taking a chance and putting his music out there.
• Story #2: A 25th Birthday Invitation
  After a quiet show in Pennsylvania, Connor's band gained a loyal fan, Amanda, who later invited him to perform at her birthday party—a unique opportunity that reinforced the value of genuine connections with listeners.
• Two Major Reframes for Artists:
  1. Planning is Overrated: Sometimes, the best moments happen when you let your music guide you instead of trying to control every outcome.
  2. Seek Experiences First, Money Second: Focusing on genuine connections can often lead to unexpected opportunities, including paid ones.

Actionable Steps to Create Your Own Memorable Experiences:

1. Put Yourself Out There
   • Attend an open mic, reach out to other artists, or release a song you’ve been holding back.
2. Nurture Connections
   • Keep in touch with the people you meet—building relationships can lead to lifelong supporters and surprising opportunities.
3. Embrace the Journey
   • Repeat steps one and two and let go of rigid planning. Embrace every unique, unexpected, or even strange opportunity that comes your way.

Follow Along with Connor’s Music Journey:
Connor is documenting his single release process in his newsletter, with his upcoming single dropping on December 13th. Get unfiltered insights by subscribing at connorfrost.com/vaultpodcast.

Listener Invitation:
If this episode resonated with you, Connor would love to hear from you! Leave a review, or shoot him a DM on Instagram at @ConnorLFrost to share your thoughts or your own experiences in music.

Episode Summary: In this episode of Dear Songwriter, we dive into the art of storytelling in songwriting. Host Connor Lin Frost explores how Noah Kahan, a popular folk-influenced pop artist, uses three key songwriting techniques to elevate his music. You'll learn how to incorporate these tools into your own songs to create stronger, more compelling lyrics.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Detailed Two-Part Chorus
   Noah Kahan breaks from the norm by creating choruses that are more intricate and story-driven. This method helps progress the narrative without sacrificing the listener's ability to sing along. Conor analyzes the chorus from Kahan's song Dial Drunk to illustrate this point.
2. Wordplay
   The clever use of language—whether through alliteration or reinterpreting meanings—can add depth and catchiness to your lyrics. Conor uses examples from Kahan's songs Homesick and Dial Drunk to show how wordplay can advance a story in just a few concise lines.
3. The Dialogue Bridge
   Lyrics that mimic real-life conversation help immerse the listener into the song's world. Conor highlights how Kahan employs direct address in Dial Drunk's bridge to create a genuine dialogue between two characters, enhancing the emotional impact of the song.

Actionable Challenge: Try incorporating one of these techniques into your next song. Choose between a detailed two-part chorus, clever wordplay, or a dialogue bridge to elevate your storytelling.

Listener Engagement: We’d love your feedback! Do you enjoy these episodes? Are they too detailed, or not detailed enough? Shoot Connor a DM on Instagram @ConnorLFrost and share your thoughts in 3-5 sentences.

Resources Mentioned:

• Noah Kahan's songs: Dial Drunk, Stick Season, and Homesick
• Machine Gun Kelly’s song: Emo Girl

Thank You for Listening!
Make sure to subscribe to Dear Songwriter for more songwriting tips, and as always, happy writing!

Feeling frustrated with your home vocal recordings? You're not alone! In this episode, I share my personal journey and the biggest lessons I learned while recording vocals at home for the first time. From overcoming perfectionism to fine-tuning your process, these insights will help you produce better-sounding vocals and make your home recording experience more fulfilling. Whether you're struggling with dry, flat vocals or just looking for tips on vocal production, this episode is for you.

Key Takeaways:

1. Record Section by Section:
   • Forget the idea of nailing the vocal in one take. Recording vocals piece by piece, starting with the verses, allows for better control and consistency. Don’t be afraid to copy and paste choruses if needed.
2. Edit as You Go:
   • Save time and avoid perfectionism by editing while recording. This method keeps your digital workspace tidy and encourages quick decision-making.
3. Imperfections Can Be a Strength:
   • Don't obsess over hitting every note perfectly. Slight imperfections in your voice add character to the performance, and pitch correction can be done during editing.
4. You’re Your Harshest Critic:
   • It’s easy to be overly critical of your voice, but remember, listeners might love the unique qualities that you’re so critical of. Trust yourself, make decisions, and know when to call it done.

Free Resource:
Need help turning your voice memo ideas into finished tracks? Book a Just Start Call with me! Let’s discuss your goals and see if we’re a good fit to work together.
🔗 connorfrost.com/startcall

Connect with Me:

• Website: connorfrost.com
• Instagram: @connorlfrost

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and subscribe!

Until next week, happy writing! 🎶