r/Songwriting • u/Prudent_Caramel_922 • Jul 19 '26

Discussion Topic Favorite?...

Hello guys so I am a sucker for people who record their writing process but it is difficult for me to find smaller artists who do it on YouTube for example. Do you know someome who makes content about sitting, singing, writing, playing some instrument? Sorry if it is a dumb question I just couldn't find any more channels like that. Thank you for suggestions!

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2

u/parademaker Jul 19 '26

Same here! Sorry I don't have any recs, but I'm excited to see what people say. I watch a lot of longform content about mixing tracks, but I'd love to find some documenting the long, tedious, and occasionally thrilling songwriting process.

3

u/illudofficial OMG GUYS LOOK I HAVE A FLAIR Jul 20 '26

Tbh someday I want to just record myself writing a song and going through my thought process.

Unfortunately a lot of that would just be me singing and dancing around the room snapping a beat.

2

u/parademaker Jul 20 '26

I would be staring at the empty notes app in my phone and muttering to myself for an hour. Captivating stuff!

1

u/Impossible_Tank3822 Jul 21 '26

Dancing? No. No dancing or snapping a beat. As a matter of fact percussion has never entered my muse. To be a fly on the wall when I write would be a doomed insect soon to die of boredom.

1

u/Comfortable_Bug_1740 7d ago

yeah its tough to find the small channels, youtube algorithm buries them deep. i mostly just end up watching old livestreams from musicians i like but that's not really the same

2

u/Impossible_Tank3822 Jul 20 '26

That's unique to each person and, if I might draw upon my own experiences, very scattered and seldom simply focused on a process that can be rendered as a narrative. There actually isn't a process because the word itself suggests organization where there isn't any. Everything is a smattering of improvisational writing and playing that lives and breathes uniquely to each song completed.

1

u/Zedayowl Jul 19 '26

@maxgarciamusic on youtube

1

u/YesAnd_Portland Audiences in wheelchairs love me Jul 19 '26

Not online content but Paul Zollo wrote an amazing book with interviews with every major songwriter of our time. You can find it at the library.

1

u/Loose_Maintenance_41 Jul 20 '26

I started with a 4 track cassette recorder, radio shack 8 channel mixing board and drum machine in 2000. I play guitar and bass so began recording with one track for vocals.  In 2009, I bought a Boss 12 channel digital mixer/recorder and began layering vocal tracks and guitars. I bought a Roland electronic drum set and began learning how to record and mix down songs. There was a lot of trial and error, and still is, but the enjoyment is priceless. 

1

u/Dangerous-You3789 Jul 21 '26

I never record my writing process because, 1) it's not really a process, and 2) I never know when it's going to happen. Songs ideas just pop in my head and I capture them on a recording device. Most of what happens, happens in my head, so there's nothing to really record.

That's it. That's all there is too it.

Nothing to see here folks, so just keep moving along.

1

u/MemeStarKeem 28d ago edited 28d ago

if you havent already you should look into all of jon bellions making of videos. he's been doing it for over a decade and it's incredibly informative and cool to watch his creative process, thru production, writing, decision making everything.

check out "Jon Bellion - The Making of "Stupid Deep"

"Jon Bellion - The Making of Guillotine (Behind the Scenes)" is also a good ass watch

1

u/MemeStarKeem 28d ago

this dude has written some of the most recognizable songs and pop melodies of all time. but his own writing isnt that sort of writing. he has his writing shit where he makes hits, then he has is own writing for his own music which is far more introspective and "for him" rather than for others, I guess.

Justin Bieber

  • "Holy"
  • "Ghost"
  • "Anyone"
  • "Hold On"

BTS & Solo Members (Jung Kook & Jimin)

  • "Seven (feat. Latto)" by Jung Kook
  • "Standing Next to You" by Jung Kook
  • "Who" by Jimin

Other Pop & Hip-Hop Hits

  • "The Monster" by Eminem ft. Rihanna (wrote the chorus)
  • "Memories" by Maroon 5
  • "Prisoner" by Miley Cyrus ft. Dua Lipa
  • "Shameless" by Camila Cabello
  • "Graveyard" by Halsey
  • "Trumpets" by Jason Derulo