top of page
Writer's pictureBobbi Fallon

Embracing My Creative Process: A Journey In Songwriting

Rituals and processes fascinate me. When people ask about my creative process, I find it challenging to provide a concise answer. Many imagine a songwriter's life as a series of late-night writing sessions, fuelled by caffeine or other stimulants, perhaps even indulging in substances to unlock creativity. While this works for some, my approach is quite different. A full night’s rest is all I need to get my creative juices flowing beautifully. I thrive in the mornings, after a moment of meditation, green tea, and a long walk. For a long time, I felt like I was doing it wrong because I wasn’t in a dark room with my mind on another planet. However, as I’ve continued my songwriting journey, I’ve come to appreciate my routine, which resembles that of someone working a corporate 9-5 more than a self-employed creative. That is until gigs come along—but that’s a whole other story.



When it comes to collaborating, individual creative processes can sometimes clash, hindering the natural flow. Some people thrive in quiet solitude, while others need to spit bars and let their mouths mumble until something magical happens. For me, finding a compatible collaborator is crucial. I often work separately from producers, allowing me to be in my own space and follow my own process. I've encountered situations where other creatives tried to impose their methods on me, feeling judged if I didn’t comply. Let me be clear: I do not judge anyone’s creative process, but I expect respect for mine. For instance, I once had a session with a talented producer who liked to drink while writing. I find it hard to write when I’m not sober, as drinking clouds my clarity and disrupts my natural flow. When I explained this, he felt highly offended, as if I were judging him. This was an eye-opener and a test of my resolve to stand firm in my beliefs. While I understood his feelings of loneliness, his reaction was driven by selfish intentions. This is why I prefer day sessions.


When I am in a creative spell, it often lasts a couple of weeks. Melodies and lyrics flow out of me like Victoria Falls. I could be walking down the street and get an idea—voice memos are my best friend. I record a melody with either lyrics or gibberish into my phone, and when I sit at a piano, I find the perfect chords to accompany them. From there, my brain combines flow and academic application. I flow until I reach a block, then use my knowledge of music and songwriting to overcome it. The biggest part of doing what I do is not judging myself. I trust myself to write what I mean. Delivering my message in a clever and thought-provoking way makes the process even more enjoyable. As a writer, I love to hide messages and double meanings in my phrases. My statements are straightforward on the surface, but if you listen closely, there's another story unfolding. I love stories, characters, and ideas. Getting swept up in a world of words and imagery thrills me, whether I’m listening or writing.


For me, writing is a luxury, a very special gift and an outlet through which I process trauma, excitement, love, and sorrow. I freeze moments in time through sound—magic! I get to relive the feelings I had when I wrote the songs, even if they are never heard by anyone but me. Sitting at my piano and making music is a feast for my soul. Sharing my music and seeing it resonate with others is humbling and difficult to process. It's not imposter syndrome, but rather a profound gratitude. When I write, I focus solely on the moment and the song, never on how it will be received. Considering how my music might be received would kill the honest and open atmosphere I've created for myself. I make music that I enjoy. Writing this now makes me emotional because I realize how much making music can help others—it has certainly saved me.


Spontaneity in Songwriting: A Few Examples

I’d like to share some examples to illustrate how spontaneous and in-the-moment my writing process can be:


A Starry Night Inspiration: After a night out dancing with friends, I noticed the sky looked particularly clear and starry. I thought, “How nice would it be if someone looked at the same sky and thought of me.” In four minutes, I wrote a full song called “I Have a Love That’s Mine,” which opens with “I have someone who looks at the stars and thinks of me.” The rest flowed easily as I imagined things that would remind someone of me and vice versa.


A Goofy Moment in LA: Walking down the street in LA, I felt particularly goofy. I hummed to the rhythm of my footsteps and started rapping to myself. This led to the creation of “Little Ah Ah,” a carefree, fun song:



Little ah ah here

Little ah ah there

Out here messing

Catch ya staring

At my ah ah flare

Every day of the week

Get 'em weak in the knees

Different boy

Different day

Got 'em thinking that I care.


A Boredom-Induced Song: During a tinnitus research test in college, I had to listen to sounds being played in my ears for two hours. Succumbing to boredom, I wrote a song in my head about a boy I hadn’t thought of in years. “What if I told you that I still think of you” was later translated onto the piano in 10 minutes.


I work best when I’m not stressed—the less pressure, the better. I believe this applies to most things in life. Panicking about writing a song usually doesn’t lead to great results. People can sense honesty and authenticity, and my goal is to deliver just that. If you ever feel a song coming on, ride the wave! You never know—it might just be a hit.


Recent Posts

See All

Comments

Rated 0 out of 5 stars.
No ratings yet

Add a rating
bottom of page